News

Iran says sanctions won't help end nuclear row

Further U.N. sanctions will not solve the row with the West over Iran's disputed nuclear plans, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, a day after six world powers discussed imposing new penalties on Tehran.

Bali talks to seek global climate deal in 2009

About 190 nations meet on the Indonesian island of Bali from Monday to build on a "fragile understanding" that the fight against global warming needs to be expanded to all nations with a deal in 2009.

South Africa's Mbeki may call early polls if loses ANC

South African President Thabo Mbeki has said he does not rule out an early national election if he loses the race to lead the ruling ANC to Jacob Zuma.

China cheers first Miss World title

China gave a cheer to its first Miss World on Sunday, with Internet chat rooms filled with praise for the 23-year-old beauty queen.

Duke of Edinburgh meets Christian microfinance workers in Uganda

Duke of Edinburgh meets staff of the Five Talents microfinance programmes in Uganda where they are working to help 1,500 people achieve financial independence.

Clinton's 'gutsy' church appearance softens evangelicals

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton made what some called a "gutsy move" last week when she appeared at a conservative evangelical megachurch in California to talk about Aids.

Kidnapped priest released in southeast Turkey

A Syriac Christian priest kidnapped last week in southeast Turkey was released unharmed on Friday.

Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Pope Benedict, in an encyclical released on Friday, said atheism was responsible for some of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in history.

Pope accepts Muslim call for dialogue, plans meeting

Pope Benedict has accepted an unprecedented call by Muslim scholars for dialogue between Christians and Islam, inviting them for meetings in Vatican City, the Vatican said at the end of last week.

Turkey says inflicts heavy casualties on PKK in Iraq

Turkey said it inflicted heavy casualties on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Saturday in an "intense intervention" involving helicopters, artillery and a cross-border raid by special forces.

S.Africa cites progress on AIDS

South Africa, which has one of the world's worst AIDS epidemics, has made headway in fighting the HIV virus, but condom use is still insufficient, government leaders said on Saturday.

Death-toll rises from Uganda's Ebola outbreak

Two more Ugandans have died of a new strain of the deadly Ebola virus in an outbreak near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the death-toll to 18, health officials said on Saturday.

Daredevil Evel Knievel dies after long illness

Daredevil Evel Knievel, who dodged death in spectacular motorcycle leaps and crashes in a life full of showmanship, died on Friday at age 69, according to his lawyer and a message on his Web site.

World powers fail to agree on Iran

World powers held a "positive" meeting on Iran on Saturday but failed to reach a decision on further sanctions to punish Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, a French diplomat said.

Six Palestinians, including militants, killed in Gaza

The Israeli army on Saturday killed six Palestinians, including five militants, in two separate incidents in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials and Hamas said.

Three South Africa mineworkers die in accidents

Three South African mineworkers died in separate accidents on Saturday, the country's biggest mining union said.