News
Europe urged to act on abuses in Africa
Human rights groups urged European and African leaders gathering for their first summit in seven years on Friday to act on Sudan's Darfur crisis and confront Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe over rights abuses.
No deal at Kosovo talks hands world the problem
Mediators on Kosovo's future dumped the problem on a divided international community on Friday, saying that rigid positions on sovereignty over the Serbian province had foiled agreement in four months of talks.
Bush to press U.S. firms for N.Ireland investment
President George W. Bush promised Northern Ireland's leaders on Friday that he would press for more U.S. investment in the province to help its reconciliation process after decades of sectarian conflict.
Kieren Fallon cleared of race-fixing
Six-times champion jockey Kieren Fallon and five members of an alleged race-fixing syndicate walked free from court on Friday after a judge dismissed the evidence of the main prosecution witness.
More time to quiz 'missing' canoeist
Detectives have been given more time to question "back from the dead" canoeist John Darwin, police said on Friday.
Church head - Europe will sign 'death warrant' if loses Christian roots
The spiritual leader of the Russia Orthodox Church has given an ominous warning to Europeans, urging them not to abandon Christianity or it risk being vanished from history.
NATO nations pledge tough Kosovo force
NATO ministers pledged on Friday to keep their KFOR peace force in Kosovo at current strength as it heads towards independence and to make more troops available as necessary to deal with any violence.
Sons of 'dead' canoeist enraged over case
The sons of a canoeist they thought had died five years ago said on Thursday they wanted nothing more to do with their parents if their father and mother were found guilty of concocting an elaborate fraud.
Action sought on Darfur, Mugabe at EU-Africa summit
European and African parliament members told their leaders on Friday they would be ignoring the plight of thousands of civilians if they failed to tackle the crisis in Sudan's Darfur at a weekend summit in Portugal.
US military ends cyclone aid mission to Bangladesh
Bangladesh's armed forces bid farewell on Friday to U.S. Marines and sailors who had helped in a daunting emergency relief operation after a killer cyclone ravaged the low-lying country's coasts last month.
AIDS crisis looms over ANC ahead of leadership vote
AIDS has driven a wedge between the leadership and rank-and-file of the ruling African National Congress, with top officials accused of ignorance and activists aghast at the government's handling of the pandemic.
Uganda has 101 Ebola cases and 350 more at risk
Uganda now has 101 suspected cases of the lethal Ebola virus and 350 more people are being closely monitored because they were in contact with those infected, the Health Ministry said on Friday.
Christian charity denies religious discrimination
A tribunal is looking at the employment policies of Prospects, a Christian charity which supports those with learning disabilities, following claims of religious discrimination by two former employees. Prospects has denied discrimination.
MPs tell EU-Africa summit to tackle Darfur
European and African parliament members told their leaders on Friday that they would be ignoring the plight of thousands of civilians if they failed to tackle the crisis in Sudan's Darfur at a weekend summit.
US presidential candidate Romney not likely to ease Mormon suspicion
Some experts predict Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's speech on Thursday addressing his Mormon faith will not likely allay suspicions, but rather open the floodgate for more questions.
CofE figures want shorter shopping hours this Christmas
The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Peter Price, has called for shorter shopping hours this Christmas, adding that he found the prospects of shops being open on 26 December depressing.