News
Major powers look at ways to get Iran to talks
Major powers are looking for new ways to draw Iran into negotiations over its nuclear programme while simultaneously pushing for more U.N. sanctions, U.S. officials and diplomats said on Tuesday.
Russian ship held in North Korea heads home
A Russian cargo ship held by North Korean authorities at the weekend for illegally entering the peninsular republic's territorial waters during a storm was released on Wednesday, Russian rescue services said.
Israel air strikes kill six Gaza militants
Israeli air strikes killed at least six Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian medical staff and militant groups said.
Vatican broaches Cuba prisoners with Raul Castro
Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone raised the Catholic Church's concern about prisoners in Cuba in a meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro on Tuesday.
Quake shakes Britain
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 shook parts of Britain on Wednesday but officials said there were no reports of anyone being killed or serious damage.
FSA says cheap credit era is over
The head of the Financial Services Authority warned on Wednesday that the age of cheap credit may be over.
Study sheds light on parental instinct
Scientists believe they have located the part of the brain key to forging the parental instinct to care for and nurture an infant, according to a study published on Wednesday.
Firms seen doing better if obey governance rules
Companies with best corporate governance practices yield higher returns for shareholders than their poorly governed peers such as troubled mortgage lender Northern Rock, new research showed on Wednesday.
Iraq condemns Turkish incursion
Iraq on Tuesday condemned Turkey's incursion into northern Iraq to fight Kurdish guerrillas in the strongest terms so far and demanded an immediate end to what it called a violation of its sovereignty.
Rice demands action as Kenya talks stall
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticised Kenyan leaders on Tuesday for failing to end their political stand-off and said Washington would take "necessary steps" unless a solution was reached.
'Osama bin London' found guilty
A Tanzanian-born Muslim man who dubbed himself "Osama bin London" was found guilty on Tuesday of encouraging his followers to murder non-believers and of running terrorist training camps in Britain.
Iraqi group releases video of British captive
One of five Britons held hostage in Iraq since May was shown in a video aired on Tuesday by Al Arabiya television, which said the captive called for the release of nine Iraqis in return for their freedom.
New report exposes abuse of Burmese refugees in Malaysia
Burmese refugees in Malaysia live in "severe and desperate poverty and deprivation" and face exploitation, abuse and other mistreatment, stated a new report by a Christian human rights group Monday.
Nigerian tribunal rejects challenges to president
A Nigerian tribunal upheld the 2007 election of President Umaru Yar'Adua on Tuesday, rejecting challenges from rivals who wanted the vote annulled because of massive rigging.
Bus stop murderer jailed for life
Former nightclub doorman Levi Bellfield will remain in jail for the rest of his life for bludgeoning to death two female students and the attempted murder of a third in southwest London.
Frijoles for Fairtrade Fortnight
Eating frijoles (Spanish for beans) and rice every day in Honduras gave Fairtrade campaigners Brenda and Gordon Wilkinson of Felbridge, East Grinstead, the idea for their fund-raising book, Recipes for Disaster... Relief and Development.