News
Irish to decide fate of EU reform treaty
Irish voters go to the polls on Thursday to determine the fate of the European Union's reform treaty in a referendum that could easily go either way.
Pakistan condemns U.S. attack
Pakistan lodged a strong protest with the United States over what it called an unprovoked and cowardly air strike by U.S. forces in Afghanistan that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers at a border post.
China and Taiwan start talks but avoid politics
China and Taiwan began talking for the first time in almost a decade on Thursday, though the two often bitter diplomatic rivals are focusing on just a few practical issues and avoiding sensitive political problems.
Afghan hashish haul may be world's biggest
Afghan police have seized 237 tonnes of hashish in what NATO-led forces and the British government called the biggest narcotics haul in history.
Cuba oil plans could put hole in U.S. embargo
Sometime next year, Cuba plans to begin drilling a major oil field off its northern coast that might do what little else has done - bring change to U.S-Cuba relations.
U.S. says to pledge about $10 billion for Afghans
The United States will pledge about $10 billion in aid for Afghanistan at a donors conference on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said as she flew to the Paris meeting.
Commodity tax proposed to fund 'Bank of the South'
Ivory Coast's president has proposed introducing a special tax on developing countries' exports of raw materials like oil and cocoa to finance a "Bank of the South" to fight world poverty.
Southern Baptists worried by decline in baptisms
Baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention have fallen to a 20-year low, a trend that is setting off alarm bells in America's largest evangelical denomination.
Vatican cardinal says world obsessed by Islam
The world is obsessed by Islam, according to the Vatican's point man for relations with other religions.
Obama in private meeting with Christian leaders
Barack Obama has shared his position with US Christian leaders on a wide range of issues including gay rights, abortion and the Iraq war in a private meeting on Tuesday.
Brown faces major test in detention vote
Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces a major test of his authority on Wednesday when parliament votes on whether to extend the period terrorism suspects can be held without charge.
Woman kept quiet about London terrorist plot
The partner of a man who tried to carry out a suicide bombing in London in July 2005 was found guilty on Wednesday of not telling the authorities about the plot and helping him escape.
MS victim wins assisted suicide review
A woman with multiple sclerosis has won the right to mount a challenge in the High Court to force the country's top prosecutor to clarify the law on assisted suicide.
Investor summit to be held on new nuclear build
The government will meet around 80 senior nuclear power industry players on Thursday to help the government draw up a road-map towards the building of new nuclear power stations.
Portrait competition explores age and faith
All four portraits shortlisted for this year's BP Portrait Award are by male artists featuring female subjects, and several works selected for a special exhibition deal with ageing and faith.
Bush issues Iran warning on farewell Europe tour
U.S. President George W. Bush threatened Iran on Wednesday with more sanctions if it failed to stop enriching uranium and said all options were on the table to thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
