News
Ugandan LRA rebel officer surrenders in Congo -UN
A senior officer of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group has surrendered to U.N. peacekeepers in northern Democratic Republic of Congo, a U.N. spokesman in Kinshasa said on Tuesday.
EU proposes 'blue card' for high-skilled migrants
The European Union is planning a "blue card" to lure highly skilled migrants by offering financial and housing benefits, and cutting red tape.
Somalia releases U.N. food aid boss
The Somali government on Tuesday released a senior U.N. food aid official held for nearly a week after dozens of intelligence officers stormed the world body's compound in Mogadishu.
Human rights expert says will visit Burma soon
The United Nations expert on human rights in Burma said on Monday he would visit the reclusive military-ruled Asian country next month to look into its fierce crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Cameroon plans UN peacekeeper training school
Cameroon plans to set up an international training centre for African police to prepare them for U.N. peacekeeping operations on the continent, diplomats at the United Nations said on Monday.
Malaysia reviews laws on religious conversion
Malaysia is reviewing its laws on religious conversion after a recent run of legal battles over freedom of worship inflamed tensions in the mainly Muslim nation, media said on Monday.
Sudan polio campaign targets 8 million children
More than 8 million Sudanese children will be vaccinated against polio, health officials said on Monday, following the country's first case of the disease in more than two years.
UK says will not use carbon revenues for climate
Britain will not use money the government gets from auctioning carbon emissions permits to help it in the fight against climate change, it said on Monday.
Carbon dioxide levels up faster than thought - study
Humans are pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at an increasingly quicker pace while natural reservoirs such as oceans and trees are soaking up less and less of the greenhouse gas, researchers said on Monday.
HIV spread most by those with moderate virus level
People with moderate levels of HIV in their blood are the most likely to infect others, researchers said on Monday in a study that provides a better understanding of how the deadly virus spreads.
Obesity becoming a global problem, survey finds
People are getting fatter in all parts of the world, with the possible exception of east Asia, doctors found in a one-day global snapshot of obesity.
Catholic condom ban helping AIDS spread in Latin America - UN
The rapid spread in Latin America of the virus that causes AIDs is made worse by the Roman Catholic Church's stand against using condoms, a U.N. official said on Monday.
UNHCR concerned at Turkey-Iraq border tensions
The United Nations refugee agency expressed concern on Tuesday over escalating tensions along the Turkish-Iraqi border, noting that Iraq's northern region was already home to more than 800,000 displaced people.
Iran won't negotiate over atomic rights - president
Iran will not negotiate with anyone about its right to nuclear technology, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday, hours before talks aimed at defusing an atomic row with the West were to start in Rome.
Muslim scholars urge Benedict to back dialogue appeal
Muslim scholars pressing Christian churches for a high-level dialogue to improve inter-faith relations have urged Pope Benedict to publicly back their appeal already supported by several non-Catholic leaders.
Report details systematic abuse in Burma
A new report from Norwegian Church Aid partner the Thailand Burma Border Consortium accuses the Burmese military regime of intensifying its oppression of ethnic minorities.