News
Yemen army warns rebels to heed truce
Yemen's army has warned rebels led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi that it will move to subdue them if they fail to implement a truce brought to the verge of collapse by a mosque bombing and days of clashes.
Turkish PM reportedly to form new party if AKP closed
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will form a new party if his ruling AK Party is closed down by the Constitutional Court for Islamist activities, local media reported on Monday.
Three children killed by blast in Afghan capital
Three children were killed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Monday by an explosion of ordnance left over from in the country's long civil war, the Interior Ministry said.
WHO says child-killing virus no threat to Olympics
A virus that has killed 25 children and infected thousands across China will not threaten Beijing's Olympic Games in August, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in comments published on Monday.
Malaysia drops idea of travel restriction for women
Malaysia's home ministry rejected on Monday a proposal to impose restrictions on women travelling overseas on their own following an outcry from women's groups.
Manila scraps rice purchases
The Philippines scrapped its largest rice tender of the year on Monday and said it preferred to hold back importing until prices fall, sending a signal to world grain markets that rice prices might have peaked.
At least 16 people killed in Mexican massacres
Heavily armed men killed at least 16 people, all members of a ranchers' association, in two different massacres in southern Mexico over the weekend, Mexican media said on Sunday.
World can reach climate change deal in 2009 - UN
The world can reach a significant new climate change pact by the end of 2009 if current talks keep up their momentum, the head of the United Nations climate panel said on Sunday.
Pope absent from Time most influential list, Vatican not alarmed
The Vatican says it is happy that Pope Benedict was left off Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people, which included the Dalai Lama and the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians.
US urged to put Vietnam back on religion blacklist
A US religious freedom watchdog group urged the United States on Friday to put Vietnam back on a religious rights blacklist, two years after the communist country was removed from the list.
Muslim rebels expel Christians in southern Philippines
Muslim rebels have forced hundreds of mainly Christian families off their farms in the southern Philippines, escalating tensions in the region ahead of the withdrawal of Malaysian peace monitors next week.
Chalke announces charity sector 'parliament'
New Oasis Centre to act as 'parliament' for the charity section to enable more effective relationships with government and media around the role of faith groups in public life.
Evangelical Cizik among Time's 100 most influential people
The Rev Richard Cizik, the face of the green evangelical movement, was named among Time magazine's top 100 most influential people in the world for 2008.
Over 350 dead as cyclone pounds Burma
A cyclone killed more than 350 people in military-ruled Burma, ripping through Yangon and the Irrawaddy delta where it flattened at least two towns, officials and state media said on Sunday.
Boat with 80-plus people sinks in Amazon
A boat carrying more than 80 people sank on Sunday at dawn on a major river in the Amazon rain forest, rescue workers and media reports said.
Rice presses Israel on roadblocks and settlements
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday pressed Israel to ease travel restrictions on Palestinians and called Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank "particularly problematic".