News
Iraqis increasingly 'trapped' - UNHCR chief
Iraqis trying to flee conflict and persecution at home are increasingly trapped, especially after Syria reimposed rules this week virtually blocking their last escape route, the U.N. refugee agency said on Friday.
Germany's Merkel says Zimbabwe crisis is 'disastrous'
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Zimbabwe's crisis "disastrous" on Friday and said she had made the point to South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has been criticised for not taking a tough line on the issue.
Flooding, landslides kill 18 in Vietnam
Rising floodwater and landslides triggered by a typhoon have killed 18 people and left 23 missing in northern and central Vietnam, where the lives of thousands are at risk, officials said on Friday.
France, Germany keep EU sanctions pressure on Iran
France and Germany signalled on Friday the European Union could punish Iran for pressing ahead with its nuclear programme before the world's top powers agree on further sanctions at the United Nations.
World moves into the ecological red
The world moves into 'ecological overdraft' on Saturday, the point at which human consumption exceeds the ability of the earth to sustain it in any year and goes into the red, the New Economics Foundation think-tank said.
UN envoy warns Myanmar; opposition rejects talk offer
Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party dismissed the Myanmar junta's offer of talks as a surrender demand on Friday and a U.N. envoy warned of international consequences from its brutal suppression of pro-democracy protesters.
Britain expects no new cases of foot and mouth
Britain does not expect any new cases of foot and mouth, but another major livestock disease, bluetongue, is continuing to spread, the country's deputy chief veterinarian officer Fred Landeg said on Friday.
Myanmar finally attracts the world's attention
For years, Western campaigners against Myanmar's ruling generals have struggled to rise above the B-list of world causes.
Travel & TV feed religious tensions, says UN chief
World travel and live satellite television have fed cultural and religious tensions and alienation among nations, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a U.N. conference on Thursday.
Climate campaigners tipped for Nobel Peace Prize
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and other campaigners against climate change lead experts' choices for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, an award once reserved for statesmen, peacemakers and human rights activists.
America's largest abortion clinic opens
America's largest abortion clinic opened Tuesday amid peaceful protests by pro-life activists who had charged the group behind the facility of defrauding the city when it applied for building permits.
Vast African dump poisons children - U.N.
Willis Ochieng, 10, scavenges through smoking refuse piled as high as a house at one of Africa's biggest rubbish mountains, his friends sitting nearby sucking on dirty plastic bottles of noxious yellow glue.
Germany's Merkel to meet South Africa's Mbeki for Zimbabwe talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will try to convince South African President Thabo Mbeki on Friday to take a harder line on Zimbabwe, officials said.
Bush says 'very optimistic' on Middle East peace
President George W. Bush said in comments aired on Friday he was "very optimistic" a Palestinian state could be set up alongside Israel and that next month's Middle East conference could lead towards peace in the region.
Myanmar opposition dismisses junta offer to talk
Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party dismissed the Myanmar junta's offer of talks as surreal on Friday, while China said the ruthless suppression of pro-democracy protests did not require international action.
Anglican panel says Episcopal bishops met directive
A high-ranking Anglican panel acknowledged Wednesday the effort of Episcopal bishops to keep the worldwide Anglican family together and said they have complied with a directive by Anglican leaders on gay bishops and same-sex unions.