News

New bid for UN resolution to ban death penalty

More than 70 countries opposed to the death penalty launched a fresh bid on Thursday to have the U.N. General Assembly pass a resolution urging an end to the practice, diplomats said.

Uganda's LRA rebels make first peace trip home

On a historic return to Uganda to meet government officials, The Lord's Resistance Army rebels said on Thursday they might make peace even if the International Criminal Court upholds indictments against them.

Fall in hospital superbug infections brings hope

Cases of Clostridium difficile have fallen, but it is too soon to say whether the corner has been turned on tackling the hospital superbug, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

UN launches MDG monitoring website to end global poverty

The United Nations has launched a new Web site on Thursday that will show how and where the world is succeeding or failing in meeting the Millennium Development Goals on ending poverty.

Brain stimulation sparks out-of-body experience

Electrodes implanted into the brain to treat a man with a stubborn case of ringing in the ear instead sparked an out-of-body sensation.

C-section raises risk to mother and infant

Compared with vaginal deliveries, cesarean deliveries have twice the risk of complications and deaths of both infants and mothers.

World powers to discuss Iran sanctions on Friday

World powers will meet in London on Friday to discuss further sanctions against Iran.

Vodafone launches MusicStation service in Britain

Vodafone Group launched its mobile music service in Britain on Thursday to allow users to download and share unlimited tracks.

Republican field still up for US evangelical grabs

White evangelical Protestants, a key support base for the Republican Party, still have not united behind a single candidate for the 2008 White House race.

Metropolitan police guilty over Brazilian's shooting

London's police chief defied calls to resign on Thursday after a jury convicted his force of endangering the public by shooting dead an innocent Brazilian on an underground train, mistaking him for a suicide bomber.

Turkey aims for targeted sanctions in north Iraq

Turkey said on Thursday planned economic sanctions would only target outlawed Kurdish militants and groups providing them with support in northern Iraq.

Rogue US church fined $10.9m for military funeral protest

The 'God Hates America' cult, famous for its merciless protests at some of the most inappropriate occasions imaginable, have been ordered to pay nearly US$11 million in damages to relatives of a US Marine, after its members cheered his death at his funeral.

Rains flood southern Mexico, one dead

Around half a million Mexicans were made homeless and one man died on Wednesday as heavy rains devastated the southern Mexican state of Tabasco and flooded 70 percent of the swampy region.

China pulls export licences of 764 toy makers

China suspended the export licences of 764 toy manufacturers in the southern province of Guangdong last month because of quality problems, state media said on Thursday.

Enzyme may play role in aggressive lung cancer

Higher levels of an enzyme that makes estrogen may be the hallmark of a more aggressive type of lung cancer in older women, a finding that could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.