News
Darfur Rebel: Sudan Escalating Attacks Before Talks
A senior Darfur rebel leader accused the Sudanese government on Wednesday of trying to grab land ahead of October peace talks, and threatened to pull out of the negotiations unless attacks stopped.
Serbia Warns EU, Russia Aims at U.S. Over Kosovo
Serbia warned the EU on Wednesday it would not accept any decision on Kosovo taken outside the United Nations, and its ally Russia told the United States to stop backing Kosovo independence while talks continue.
US Tours N. Korean Reactor, Gets All Access Sought
U.S. officials and nuclear experts toured the five megawatt nuclear reactor at North Korea's Yongbyon atomic complex on Wednesday and were allowed to see everything they wished, the State Department said.
Resigned Zimbabwe Archbishop Expected to Remain Defiant
Zimbabwe's state media on Wednesday cheered the resignation of Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube over a sex scandal, but commentators doubt the fierce critic of President Robert Mugabe will be easily stifled.
EU Urges Ex-Colonies to Reach Trade Deal by Dec 31
The European Union's trade chief warned former colonies on Tuesday they would lose out if they miss a Dec. 31 deadline for new trade and investment deals with the bloc.
West Africa Draws Up Plan to Fight Drug Smuggling
West Africa is drawing up a plan to fight drug trafficking, in particular of Latin American cocaine and Asian heroin being smuggled to lucrative markets in Europe, a regional crime fighter said on Tuesday.
Zimbabwean Targets Poverty in Fight Against Rape
Having had some success dispelling the myth that the blood of virgins cures AIDS, Zimbabwean Betty Makoni is now also fighting what she calls a root cause of the disease -- poverty.
Hilary Benn: Sense of Urgency Greater Over Climate Deal
The world is at last waking up to the perils of climate change but time is running out to translate that realisation into serious action, Britain's environment minister Hilary Benn said on Tuesday.
Envoy: China Had 'unique role' in Darfur Peace Bid
China's Darfur envoy said on Tuesday Beijing had played a "unique role" in efforts to bring peace to the Sudanese region and defended its policy of economic ties with Sudan without political strings.
US Urges Humanitarian Access to Myanmar Prisoners
The United States demanded on Tuesday that Myanmar let humanitarian groups visit people arrested in recent protests against fuel price increases, citing unspecified reports they have been brutally beaten.
Tangerine Peel Could Help Fight Cancer
Tangerine peel could help in the fight against certain cancers, researchers said on Wednesday.
Support Builds for Carbon Cash to Save Forests
The use of carbon offsetting as a way to fund tropical forest protection drew backing from a range of environmental and research groups this week, ahead of international climate change talks in December.
UN Agency Names Panel to Probe its North Korea Actions
The U.N. Development Program, under fire from the United States, named a Hungarian, an Indian and an American on Tuesday to an outside board to investigate its practices in North Korea and the case of one whistle-blower.
Bush-Kim Jong-il Summit Possible Next Year
The removal of all nuclear weapons from North Korea next year could pave the way for a summit meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and the reclusive state's leader, Kim Jong-il, a U.S. envoy said on Wednesday.
Commonwealth says EU Should Invite Mugabe to Summit
The EU should invite Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to a planned summit with Africa because barring him would jeopardise relations between Africa and Europe, the Commonwealth's secretary general said.
Taiwan Leprosy Sufferers to Stay Put at 'Colony'
About 50 ageing Taiwan leprosy patients have won their fight against eviction from a pre-war "colony", but part of their land will go despite protests from preservationists who chained themselves to boxes.