News

'Phenomenal' Demand for Places at Church of Scotland Youth Assembly

Youth in the Church of Scotland have reported a "phenomenal" demand for places at their forthcoming national assembly.

Parliamentary Committee Accused of Dodging Ethics in Abortion Inquiry

Parliamentary committee slammed for taking ethics and morals out of abortion inquiry.

Rugby World Cup Dedicated to 'Tackle Hunger' Campaign

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed the dedication of Rugby World Cup 2007 to "Tackle Hunger" - a campaign which aims to raise public awareness about the 850 million people around the world who know what it is like to go hungry.

Indians Pay Homage to Mother Teresa, Some Protest

Thousands of devotees thronged to the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in the Indian city of Kolkata on Wednesday to offer prayers for Mother Teresa on the tenth anniversary of her death.

Miliband Reaffirms British Support for Turkey EU Bid

Britain's new Foreign Secretary David Miliband on Wednesday reaffirmed London's support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union and also urged the Muslim country to play a bigger role in the Middle East.

Africans Still Seething Over French President's Speech

A month after French President Nicolas Sarkozy laid out his vision for African relations, intellectuals across the continent are still seething over a speech they say may have poisoned a chance for better ties.

Bush, Howard Back Nuke Power Ahead APEC Summit

U.S. President George W. Bush says nuclear power is a key to tackling climate change, along with new energy technologies, but green groups want Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Sydney to commit to greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Iraqis, Like Americans, Split Over What Happens Next

As Americans debate how long to keep their troops in Iraq and whether the government of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki can deliver peace, Iraqis too are torn over the same questions.

United Nations Chief in Darfur Urges Political Progress

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the Darfur region of western Sudan on Wednesday, promising to step up pressure for a political solution to the conflict.

Commodity Boom Eats into Aid for World's Hungry

Food donations to the world's hungry have fallen to their lowest level since 1973 as surging grain and shipping prices outpace the aid budgets of rich nations.

In Poor Countries, Spinal Injury Still Means Death

A 6-year-old Palestinian girl may be about to experience at first hand the gulf between care of spinal injuries in the rich world and developing countries.

Abortion in the Philippines: A National Secret

Minda is a masseuse with a difference. Her caress is used to abort foetuses. The 50-year-old grandmother has lost count of the number of pregnancies she has terminated in this largely Roman Catholic country where abortion is illegal and strictly taboo, but where about half a million women end their pregnancies every year.