News

Darfur Rebel Leader Says No Truce for Talks

Darfur rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim said on Tuesday he would carry on fighting during upcoming peace talks until a final settlement is reached to end the conflict in western Sudan.

Service Sector Can Help Cut Emissions - China Premier

China should push development of its service sector and invest in new technology to curb growing pollution and thirst for energy, state television on Tuesday quoted Premier Wen Jiabao saying.

EU Lawmakers Eye Bold Targets for Renewable Energy

European Union lawmakers agreed on Tuesday to seek ambitious targets for renewable energy sources in negotiations next year on details of the bloc's programme to fight climate change.

Lack of Funds Could Cause UNHCR Cutbacks in Darfur

The United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday it would have to cut back its humanitarian operations in Sudan's Darfur region unless it received more funds immediately.

China, India Could Face CO2 Tax on Goods

Retaliatory steps that comply with world trade rules could be found against China and India if they fail to help international efforts to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, a senior U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday.

Bush Says Open to Expanding U.N. Security Council

U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he was willing to consider expanding the U.N. Security Council and pressed for Japan, a close American ally, to get a permanent seat on the panel.

WFP to Begin Air Drops to South Sudan Flood Victims

The U.N. food agency said on Tuesday it would begin month-long air drops for some 43,800 people in southern Sudan, where devastating floods have washed away crops and roads.

Mozambique Debt Eases 22 pct to $5.2 bln

Mozambique's total debt fell by 22 percent to $5.2 billion at the end of August 2007 compared to the same period last year, deputy Finance Minister Pedro Couto said on Tuesday.

UN Rights Envoy Fears Severe Repression in Myanmar

The United Nations human rights investigator for Myanmar said on Tuesday he feared a "very severe repression" by the military junta and called on major powers to mediate in the southeast Asian country.

Letting Iran Go Nuclear Could Cause War says Sarkozy

Allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons could destabilize the world and lead to war, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the United Nations on Tuesday.

Sudan Border Documents Lost, Damaged

Experts trying to demarcate Sudan's north-south border face the mammoth task of locating and restoring missing and damaged documents central to the implementation of a peace deal that ended decades of civil war.

Council of Europe to Vote on Creationism Next Week

Europe's main human rights body will vote next week on a resolution opposing the teaching of creationist and intelligent design views in school science classes.

UN Chief Warns of Daunting Challenges in World

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned world leaders on Tuesday of daunting challenges in the year ahead and vowed to leave "no stone unturned" to resolve the crisis in Darfur.

WHO Reports 2,100 Cholera Cases in Iraq

More than 2,100 people in Iraq have cholera which is spreading across the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Ethiopia Says May Call off Eritrea Border Pact

Ethiopia said on Tuesday it may terminate the pact ending its border war with Eritrea, accusing its smaller neighbour of breaching the deal on several fronts including coordinating "terrorist activity".

Britain Reports Third Case of Bluetongue Disease

Britain's farm ministry on Tuesday reported a third case of bluetongue disease in an animal in Suffolk in eastern England.