In-depth coverage of current social issues. Insights into the philosophical, moral and ethical values in society today—health care, science and environmental news and articles

Baghdad blasts death toll over 150 This is what's left of a building in Baghdad after one of the country's deadliest attacks in over two years. More than 150 people were killed after two suicide bomb blasts targ

German on trial for Muslim murder Egyptian Marwa El-Sherbiny was stabbed to death in a German court in July. The 31-year-old mother-of-one was pregnant at the time. Now the man accused of killing her

Uruguay faces election run-off A former guerilla leader has taken the lead in the Uruguyan presidential elections after the country turned out at the polls on Sunday. Results from almost a quarter of polling sta

Hamas supporters rally in Gaza Note: No reporter narration, natural sound only On Sunday morning, Israeli police stormed Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, hurling stun grenades at Palestinians who threw rocks

S.Korea gives aid to North Images like this will soon become a reality again -- South Korean aid bound for its old enemy, North Korea. After a series of conciliatory gestures by its destitute rival, South Korea

Obama declares H1N1 national emergency Across the United States, people line up for a limited supply of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. The vaccines are in short supply because companies are having trouble making th

Giant spider discovered It may not be to everyone's taste but this is the body of a gigantic female spider. It was assumed to be extinct until two Slovenian scientists discovered the creature still existed in So

Solar cars race across Australia 32 solar powered vehicles set off on a race across the Australian outback. Cars from 16 countries are taking part in the run from Darwin to Adelaide. They have 3,000

Police killed in Mexico. NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration A Ciudad Juarez police commander and two of his agents were killed when unknown gunmen shot them at a local bar. Commander Francis

Merkel seals coalition deal German Chancellor Angela Merkel can smile now. After a marathon of talks, the conservative leader sealed a coalition agreement with the Free Democrats (FDP). The deal allo

Palestinians react to election call The morning press reflects mixed reactions among Palestinians to their to president's call for January elections. Mahmoud Abbas insists the vote must include all Palestinians -

IAEA inspectors head to Iran NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration Iran only recently acknowledged it had been building the enrichment plant and agreed to allow inspection after high level talks in Geneva

France's Kouchner laments Iran move NOTE: Original sound with the French foreign minister, and English translation Iran on Friday failed to accept a U.N.-drafted plan for it to cut a stockpile of nuclear fuel th

Sarkozy's son won't go for top job There's just one young man on the cover of most French newspapers. Jean Sarkozy, son of President Nicolas. He has given in to mounting public and political pressure

"Courage" training centre under fire It's these pictures that have parents up in arms. UPSOT Now Taiwanese authorities are investigating parents' claims that their children were made to

Thai king appears in public This was the first public appearance by Thailand's king after more than a month in hospital. King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been undergoing treatment for fever, a lung infec

Far-right leader's TV slot rocks UK A fresh face on the BBC's flagship political debate programme. Nick Griffin is the leader of the controversial right-wing British National Party and he's joining a panel of Qu

Asian leaders in human rights row Leaders from the Association of South East Asian Nations are expected to sign at least 42 agreements - from climate change, food and energy security, and, of course, trade. But

Blast targets Pakistani air force NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. The bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body at a checkpoint outside the Pakistani Aeronautical Complex in Karma, aroun

China to rescue hijacked ship Much fanfare was made when China sent its ships to join an anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean. But its three warships that accompany merchant shipping convoys through the Gul

U.S.-Mexico crackdown on drug cartel It is a crack down of massive proportions, a direct blow at the U.S. and Mexico operations of the powerful Mexican drug cartel La Familia. U.S. law enforcement a

U.S. takes aim at executive pay Taking direct aim at rich Wall St. pay packages, the US Treasury announced new guidelines cutting in half the salaries of top executives of seven firms that took taxpayer bailouts.

Anti-fascist protesters target BBC NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration EDITOR'S NOTE: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, is due to appear on the BBC's

Pakistan on edge as forces fight on Pakistani commandos prepare to enter a house in South Waziristan. There's not much left inside. The building has been pounded with heavy weapons. This footage was

Blast targets Geogia railway NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. A Georgian Railway spokeswoman told Reuters that according to preliminary information, trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used to carry out t

Disease hits Manila after floods These patients were casually wading through floods four weeks ago when Typhoon Ketsana hit Manila. Little did they know, a disease was lurking in the flood waters. L

 China plans to move 15,000 people living near its biggest lead smelter base, after over 1,000 children were found with excessive levels of lead in their blood.

The European Milk Board says this is not enough and the lack of concrete, long-term measures has angered the milk farmers' representatives.  Dairy farmers are upset over the low price of milk. They say is costs more to produce than they can sell it for.

Sharon Commins, from Dublin, and Hilda Kawuki, from Uganda, were seized in their north Darfur compound by armed men in July.  Sudanese officials had been negotiating with the kidnappers through tribal elders and the government said no ransom had been paid.

Rescuers and villagers tend to the wounded from a bomb attack in southern Thailand.

At least 28 people were injured when a bomb exploded at this busy market.

Police said two suspects hid a device in a motorcycle which was parked close to the scene.

Olympic flame lit for Vancouver NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration The event at the Temple of Hera includes a re-enactment of the ancient, sacred ceremony by 21 'priestesses'. The first

Pint-sized dinosaur discovered NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. The fleet-footed species - called Fruitadens haagarorum - was only 28 inches (71 cm) long and weighed less than a rabbit.

Indonesia lets boat refugees dock Merak Port in Indonesia is the nearest these Sri Lankan refugees have come to land in a while. But their docking here is only temporary, their fate uncertain.

Mail strike hits Britain British Royal Mail workers protest outside a post office in London. 42,000 have walked off the job in a two-day strike, another 78,000 will join them on Friday. The workers

Japan's H1N1 flu simulator Japan, home to cyborgs and robots that work or play, is host this week to a human-like simulator with H1N1 flu symptoms. At the Security and Safety Trade Expo in Tokyo, the METIman off

Colombian drug lord gets 45 years This man was reportedly once responsible for 60 percent of the cocaine exported from Colombia to the United States. Diego Montoya - one time head of Colombia's Norte del Valle dr

Tiny pet pig sales surge in UK Meet the Micro Pig. The latest line in pint-sized pets grows to be just 35 centimetres (14 inches) tall. They've become the latest must-have animal accesso

ASEAN security beefed-up Out in force - 20,000 security personnel are in Thailand's town of Hua Hin as preparations for ASEAN are underway. Leaders will descend on the seaside town for Friday's meeti

Nook e-reader launched Stand back Kindle, Nook is just around the corner. Barnes and Noble has launched its new e-reader, and Nook will hit the stores in time for the holiday season. Retailing at a

Seven more die in new drug violence in Rio. EDITORS NOTE: NATURAL SOUND ONLY. NO REPORTER NARRATION. Rio de Janeiro police kill seven suspected drug traffickers, raising the death toll from violence to 33 since

Shortage of vaccine as H1N1 spreads Lawmakers in Washington got the news Wednesday: H1N1 flu is spreading rapidly thoughout the U.S., but health officials admit the H1N1 vaccine is in short supply. Health and H

It's a historic moment for the Kurdistan Workers Party and Turkey.

PKK supporters turned out in force to wave off eight members of the group as they leave Iraq and head to Turkey.

 The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, was on hand at the IAEA in Vienna to discuss details of tentative agreement to enrich Iran's uranium abroad.

 Iran says U.S., Britain and Pakistani secret services backed the perpetrators of a suicide bumbling attack which killed six Guard commanders.

 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Afghan President Hamid Karzai will announce how he plans to proceed in the Afghan elections on Tuesday, saying that she is encouraged by the way events are headed.

 As many as 300,000 people have died and more than 2 million have been driven from their homes in Darfur since 2003, according to the UN. Khartoum puts the death toll closer to 10,000.

As the wind picks up at dawn in a Vermont park, hundreds of lights glow subtly. This is artist Patrick Marold's "Windmill Project".

 Indonesia's president takes oath Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono takes the oath for his second term in office as President of Indonesia. Despite some progress in his first five-year term

French rail workers strike It's rush hour in northern Paris and the platforms are busier than usual. A national rail strike, the first for a year, is creating delay and confusion.

Pink diamond set to dazzle Hong Kong. Christie's said the diamond was mined in South Africa and mounted by the jeweler Graff.

 Pakistanis flee fighting The winters in Waziristan are bad enough. But with fighting between Pakistani militants and the army showing little sign of abating

Fire threatens homes in Australia It's been burning for 11 days but now the fire is too close for comfort. Scores of firefighters are tackling a string of fires - this one on the outskirts of Rockhampton is only

Runoff for Karzai in Afghan election No reporter narration; natural sound only. Afghanistan will hold a second round in its presidential election after a U.N.-backed panel said it had evidence of widespread fraud

University blast in Islamabad NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Witnesses and police said one suicide bomber detonated a device in a canteen, while the other went off elsewhere on the campus.

Somali pirates extend their reach A rescue operation is underway in the Indian Ocean. Chinese authorities said they're doing all they can to find the 25 member crew on board a coal ship hijacked by Somali pirates

Asylum seekers in Thai abuse row Ahmedullah and Nuran Nahar make another attempt to contact their son from a Bangladesh village. Salim is in a detention centre in Thailand. He and dozens

Suspect charged in mall attack plot A Massachusetts man has been charged by federal prosecutors with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. According to prosecutors 27-year-old Tarek M

IAEA gives Iran and powers deal draft The U.N nuclear watchdog has presented a draft deal to Iran and three of the world's big powers over Tehran's nuclear programme. Its is attempting to alleviate concerns that

France's ultimate vintage wine sale It's a collection to get even the most discerning wine buff salivating. 450,000 bottles of the world's finest - and 18,000 of them are up for sale. (SOUNDBITE) (E

Blast targets Geogia railway NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. A Georgian Railway spokeswoman told Reuters that according to preliminary information, trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used to carry out t

Olympic city tackles drugs war Police seize drugs and weapons in Rio de Janeiro's 'favelas' after a weekend of unrest. The raid is part of increasing efforts to clean up the shantytowns in one of the world's mos

Draft nuclear deal for Iran NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Diplomats said ElBaradei's draft contained the powers' call for Iran to send some 75 percent of its enriched uranium reserve abroad b

French police swoop on armed raiders NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Heavily armed police took up position around the low-cost supermarket, Lidl, in an impoverished suburb northeast

Beijing starts mass H1N1 flu shots Beijing city officials have begun a mass vaccination programme aiming to immunise 5 million residents against the new H1N1 flu strain. Starting Wednesday, the most

Many die in India train crash The Goa Express was travelling near Mathura city on route to New Delhi when it crashed into a stationary train in the early hours of the morning. Hundreds of passengers were on boar

Security fears shut Pakistan schools Students in Pakistan have been given the day off. But they aren't happy. Every school and college in the country has been closed to protect pupils from militants.

Filipinos prepare for 3rd typhoon Fishermen in the northern Filipino town of Aparri are preparing for the third typhoon of the year. Securing their boats, they're expecting Typhoon Lupit - which means 'fierce' i

Pakistan violence hits life, trade Pakistani bomb disposal experts work carefully to dismantle two home-made bombs planted in a school compound in Peshawar. There's a blast... to diffuse the bomb and there's reli

U.S.-Japan talk defense U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Wednesday, with eyes on a deal on U.S. troop realignment, despite calls from Tokyo for more time. The Hatoya

Bush fire terrifies Australian town A girl screams desperately for her Dad as bush fire flames come perilously close to her and her family. Fires like this can travel incredibly quickly and residents

Russia reject nuclear waste claims Authorities in the Russian town of Tomsk are accused of storing radioactive waste from power stations in a nearby closed town. The allegations surfaced after a French newspaper

Guinea following deadly crackdown STORY: On the 28th of September, Guinea's capital Conakry resembled a war-zone; the sound of gunfire ringing out across the rooftops, fighting in the streets. But t

Pakistani's angry over bombings TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE** Residents in Peshawar wake up to the aftermath of a suicide bombing. On Friday a bomber struck here killing at least 12 people.

Pakistan attacks concern U.S. In the latest in a bloody wave of militant attacks in Pakistan, a suicide bomber kills at least 12 people in the city of Peshawar. The attack brings a warning from the Pakistani government that

Controversial Dutch MP incites UK protest The controversial Dutch anti-Islamic MP Geert Wilders arrives in London's Heathrow airport. For Wilders, who says the Koran incites violence, his arrival in the UK repr

Remembering the end of the Stasi January 1990. The Berlin Wall has fallen. But these demonstrators say it is a scandal that East Germany's hated secret police - the Stasi - is still at work at its h

Elite Indian troops show their moves NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration The force shot to fame after intervening in last year's mulitiple attacks on civilians in Mumbai, which India has blamed on Islami

Australia terror plotters convicted A prison van carries five men accused of plotting terrorist violence in Australia to court. The court room was specially built for their trial as it was concluded that no othe

Power plant in plutonium scare What looks like an average nuclear plant from the outside, turned out to be much more interesting on the inside. The french nuclear safety watchdog has suspended work at the Areva

In a surprise announcement, Tobu Tower Skytree President Kinya Miyasugi told reporters that the planned height of 610 metres (2001 feet) would be stretched to 634 metres (2080 feet), making it the tallest structure in East Asia

Fiery French farmers protest NOTE: No reporter narration; natural sound only. Protesters rolled haystacks onto the famous Champs Elysee avenue early in the morning, before setting fire to tires and crates. Fir

New blast in Pakistan kills more Even as the early editions of the Pakistan press hit the streets headlining the violence which has killed 100 people this week - there is more bad news. A bomb blast in Peshawar

Vietnam rice rare success story This picture perfect rice paddy is one of many in Vietnam helping the country produce nearly 39 million tonnes of the crop last year. It's already exported 5 million tonnes so far

Australia fire-fghters see success Water-dumping planes were deployed to help Australian firefighters put out a blaze in the state of New South Wales. This was one of several bush fires that saw 22 d

Day of violence in Pakistan A day of violence across Pakistan. Militants launch five separate attacks aimed at police in the country's heartland and the northwest -- killing a total of at least 31 people. In La

Italy denies ''paying off'' Taliban TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE French soldiers took over security in part of Afghanistan from the Italians last year. A few months later 10 of their soldiers were

German uproar over Nazi gnomes Garden gnomes - but not as you know them. If you look closely - you'll see these little fellows are giving a stiff-armed Hitler salute. They're part of German artist Ot

Thais pray for king's recovery Thais have been praying for the recovery of their ailing king. After nearly a month in hospital it seems their prayers are being answered. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was

Blast rocks Pakistan's Peshawar NOTE: Local TV broadcast - no Reuters reporter narration The blast went off in a residential part of the north-western city, which is near the Afghan border and the capital of the

Japan kids wash hands of H1N1 Japan and other nations are taking all precautions in the fight against the deadly H1N1 flu virus, starting with the hands of one high risk group -- children. At this Tokyo kinderga

Deadly attacks on Pakistan police Pakistani police officers move in to retake control of the Federal Investigation Agency in Lahore from militants. Initial police reports said seven people, including some police

Australia braces for fire season The Australian bush-fire season is still two weeks away, but authorities are already warning that it could rival last season's damage and loss of life. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW

US forces focus on training Afghans Editor's note: Reuters journalist Deborah Gembara was embedded with the 1-501rst Infantry Battallion in Kushamond, Afghanistan. The 1-501rst Infantry battalion is based out of Fort Richar

Mummy finds a home after odyssey Josefina Petronila Margarita Ponce de Leon Heredero has lived a longer odyssey in death than she did in life. The woman was born to a prominent Spanish family and died in Havana

Obama war council meets again Less than seven weeks after General Stanley McCrystal laid out a new strategy for the U.S. war in Afghanistan, President Obama met for the fifth time with his war council in the White House Sit

Big drug busts in Mexico, Colombia After a series of setbacks, Mexican and Colombian authorities are stepping up their crackdown on drug traffickers. More than 430 miles off the coast of Mexico, four

Snow, floods hit Europe's east Winter storms arrived to Europe early this year, leaving severe damage behind. Cold weather and strong winds struck various parts of Poland. Thousands were left withou

Clothes no cover for airport scanner Don't fancy a frisking at the airport? Here's the next high-tech alternative. This scanner on trial at Manchester Airport in northern England can see right thro

UK boosts Afghan troop contingent British Prime Minister Gordon Brown spent four minutes reading out the names of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since parliament last sat in June Then he announce

Clinton unveils Whitman statue NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration. The unveiling took place near the end of Clinton's visit to Moscow where she reiterated Washington's wish to 'reset' relations with Rus

Nepotism? Moi? Nicolas Sarkozy's rarely far from the headlines but the rise of the French President's son as head of a powerful public agency has sparked widespread allegations of nepotism. The agen

Clinton quizzed on Russian radio NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. As she brought her visit to Russia to a close, the U.S. Secretary of State answered listeners' questions on 'Echo Moscow' - the

Dam project blamed for deadly flood Carrying placards that read, "San Roque Power Corp" should pay, activists took to the streets of Manila's business district. They're blaming some of the recent flooding in the

Bangladesh-Myanmar border moves This is the serene Naf river in Bangladesh - it borders Myanmar, the secretive state run by a military junta. These are reinforcement soldiers from the Bangladesh Rifles.

Healthcare bill clears a key hurdle STORY: President Barack Obama's push for sweeping healthcare reform cleared a key Senate hurdle on Tuesday, as the Senate Finance Committee passed an $829 billion bill -- mai

Clinton mulls Iran in Russia Russia and the United States haven't always seen eye-to-eye on the issue of Iran. But, Hillary Clinton played down the two countries' differences during her first visit to Moscow sin

Kenya's hippos in drought crisis Hippos wallow in what little water they have to protect themselves from the sun's rays. A severe drought in Kenya is threatening their habitat and food supply. Some

Reserve in Mexico protects macaws This is one of just 400 Military Macaws left in the wild in Mexico. The bird known for its bright green feathers is in danger of being wiped out. Illegal poachers a

Massive blaze in Sao Paulo slum ((EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a repeat of an earlier Tuesday story 2045, testing a full audio fully split for broadcast clients. Voice track is on Audio 1 (left) with natural sound on Audio 2 (R

China minting super-rich China's super-rich are bouncing back from the global financial crisis with a vengeance. According to this year's Hurun Report, known as China's rich list, the country now is home to 130

N Korea tests short-range missile Anger over North Korea's bravado. These South Korean demonstrators are not impressed with the short-range missile test their neighbour and old enemy, North Korea, conducted.

Landslide leaves thousands homeless Rescuers in the Philippines continue with the long search for bodies after a landslide last week destroyed almost everything in its path. Hundreds of people were killed when T

Australia's arson attack asylum row The tragedy happened in April. Five people died when fire broke out on board a boat carrying Afghan refugees to Australia. Police believe the blaze was started del

Priest abducted in Philippines This is the van police say an Irish Catholic priest was bundled into after being taken by six gunmen from his home on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. Accor

Deadly blast in Pakistan Survivors of a deadly blast in Northwestern Pakistan are rushed to a nearby hospital. The attack in the Shangla district near the Swat Valley killed 41 people and injured some 45, accord

Battle heats up over healthcare bill Less than 24 hours before a key Senate committee votes on an $829 billion bill to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, the health insurance industry released a report that said the legis

First woman wins Nobel Economics Elinor Ostrom -- an American professor who developed ways to manage common property - is the first woman to win the Nobel prize for economics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Scienc

Death sentences for Xinjiang riots A Chinese court in the far western region of Xinjiang has sentenced six people to death. They are the first to be convicted for involvement in the ethnic rioting last July wher

Author revives Hitchhiker's Guide Don't Panic, the much-loved, ill-billed 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' trilogy is back for a sixth instalment to mark the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first book.

Clinton makes peace push in N. Ireland U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Northern Ireland to push forward with the final steps in its peace process during a visit to Belfast. She is lending diplomati

African sights and sounds in Germany NOTE: A Reuters Africa Journal report. Sounds of Africa in a museum of anthropology in the northern German town of Hamburg. Lydia Mamsie Tsosane is a

300 chefs extol French gastronomy NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Over the next week, chefs across France will visit schools and universities to drive home the message that good food is worth g

Deadly end to Pakistan army siege Pakistani commandos guard an army headquarters in Rawalpindi after a rescue operation to release 39 hostages. Suspected Taliban gunmen staged a brazen attack on the heart of Pak

Edgar Allan Poe's final send off When American writer Edgar Allan Poe died in 1849, only seven people turned up to his funeral. Now, 160 years later, the master of the macabre, has finally received a proper send

Military convoy bombed in Pakistan NOTE: Natural sound only from coverage by Pakistan's Express TV. Up to 41 people are believed to have died in the attack. Top military officials say the bomber hit

Greenpeace rooftop parliament protest Environmental group Greenpeace took their protests to new heights. Protesters spent the night on the roof of the British Parliament, having set up camp here on Sunday.

Philippines preps floods funerals Teresita Andrada can not believe her loss. In all, seven members of the the 60-year-old's family have been killed after floods triggered mudslides which swept through her villag

Clashes over al-Aqsa mosque Unrest continues over Jerusalem's Old City. Friday clashes in the West Bank broke out between Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces -- in an ongoing dispute over entrance into the al-Aq

Moon "bombed" in search for water NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. The first section of the spacecraft crashed into a dark crater at the lunar south pole, kicking up a six-mile high dust cloud th

Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize. In the end, the long-awaited announcement took almost everyone by surprise.. (SOUNDBITE) (English) "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel

Floods in Philippines kill over 100 Thousands are trapped by flood waters in the northern regions of the Philippines. Typhoon Parma first hit the region last Saturday. It triggered floods and landslides in popul

Barack Obama awarded Nobel Prize The first African American to hold his country's highest office, Obama has called for disarmanent and worked to restart the stalled Middle East peace process since taking office in January.

Padang looks to rebuild Running for their lives - that's what the people of Padang did over a week ago when an earthquake shook the Indonesian Island of Sumatra. It wasn't the first and it won't be the last: Pad

NATO trucks set ablaze in Pakistan Until a few hours ago this truck was full of supplies vital to Western military forces in Afghanistan. But shortly after midnight, militants crept into the NATO depot in Peshaw

No resolution in Honduras The crisis following the June military coup that ousted Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya rages on as negotiations between the ousted leader's camp and the new government continue.

Rocket to smash into Moon It's a mystery scientists have been trying to uncover for years. How much water is there on the moon? On Friday -- NASA will get one step closer to answering that question -- when one

Mueller wins Nobel literature prize Herta Mueller, winner of the 2009 Nobel prize for literature, better get used to dealing with the media. The 56-year-old writer made her debut in 1982 with a colle

Cameron's vision for UK, Afghanistan NOTE: Original sound only. No reporter narration. During a speech to the party faithful at the Conservative's conference in Manchester, Cameron said Britain was not fighting

East Germany's peaceful revolution A Monday night in East Germany in October 1989. Thousands demonstrate peacefully against the Communist regime on the streets of Leipzig. Twenty years a

Anti-swine flu suit goes on sale If the new swine flu vaccine doesn't give you the right dose of inner peace, there's another layer of protection at your disposal. The suit comes from Japan, and is aimed at the

Nissan eyes "electric" future Japan's No.3, Nissan Motor, says the future is electric with possibilities -- literally. Nissan estimates 10 percent of all cars by 2020 will be electric vehicles and i

Quake survivors lacking basic needs. They might be getting food aid, but with no homes or kitchens to cook in, thousands of Indonesians made homeless from last week's earthquake can't eat proper meals. Many have

Bomb outside India's Kabul embassy This is the damage to the Indian Embassy in Kabul after a large explosion outside the building. At least twelve people have been killed and more than 40 wounded.

Typhoon hits Japan Typhoon Melor barrelled into Japan's main island Thursday, with its strong winds and heavy rain disrupting travel but so far causing only mild damage. Japan's weather service issued flood and

Turkish protesters rock IMF meeting Demonstrators clash with police in Istanbul. They're protesting about the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings taking place in the city. Police used

Atom-mapping trio share Nobel Prize NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration While DNA molecules contain the blueprint for life inside each cell of every organism, it is the ribosome that translates that

Violent protests again as IMF meet Natural sound only; no reporter narration. Several hundred students and members of Turkish unions and left-wing political parties carrying banners reading "IMF get out" clashed

Rwandan genocide suspect arrested Idelphonse Nizeyimana was once an Army captain and an intelligence officer in Rwanda. He's was also one of the world's most wanted men - until now. Police in Uganda

Indian anger grows over flood aid First there was the drought, but now there's too much water. The outflow from this dam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh doubled, submerging two powerhouses. The

Typhoon nears Japan's main islands Strong waves pound the shores of Japan's southern islands. Gusts of up to 150 kilometres wreaked havoc in Kagoshima with more than 10,000 households experiencing power failure a

China's twins celebrate siblings Yes, you are seeing double. Triple. And even quadruple. In the Chinese capital where the nation's one-child limit is rigidly enforced twins,

Turkey IMF protests turn violent Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the Turkish capital showing their dismay towards the International Monetary Fund meeting. But the protests soon turned violent.

Koreans unhappy with reunion Hahm Ok-yeop waited nearly 60 years to see the brother and sister she left behind in North Korea when war tore the peninsula apart. Now she wishes she hadn't met them again.

Storm hits Philippines and Taiwan What was Typhoon Parma is now downgraded to a tropical storm but it's still packing a punch. In the Philippines the storm was heading towards the tobacco-producing

Van Gogh letters show sane artist The truth behind Vincent Van Gogh's personality may finally have been revealed. Hundreds of letters written by the Dutch artist show him to be a methodical and disciplined man.

N. Korea nuke talks back on? Chinese premier Wen Jiabao was never likely go home from his trip to North Korea empty-handed. Talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il have led to announcement that P

Health workers get H1N1 vaccine They're on the front-line in the battle against swine flu. Healthcare workers in Tennessee and Indiana are among the first to receive the H1N1 vaccines, part of what t

Samoan tsunami dead mourned Mourners gather at churches across Samoa on Sunday in remembrance of those who died in last week's tsunamis. Over 100 people died and thousands were left homeless after a

Storm soaks Philippines and Taiwan. Typhoon Parma might have weakened into a tropical storm but not before leaving swaths of the Philippine's main island of Luzon underwater. So far over twenty people have been

No Lycra please, we're British It's called the Brompton folding bike world championships but it really is an awfully British affair. Buttock-hugging Lycra, sporting attire of cyclists everywhere wit

Kim and Wen's night at the opera NOTE: An edited clip of Chinese state television - no reporter narration Video broadcast by Chinese state television CCTV showed Kim and Wen laughing as they politely tried to ur

Bomb targets UN in Islamabad This UN World Food Programme office in the Pakistani capital was the target of a suspected suicide bomber. Police and agency officials say three staff have been killed.

Deadly Thai train derailment ++EDITORS PLEASE NOTE QUALITY AS INCOMING++ Rescuers in Thailand search for survivors after a passenger train derailed. The train was on its way to the capital Bangkok wh

Indonesian schools reopen after quake Back to school for these Indonesian students, five days after a devastating earthquake struck the city Padang. A make-shift school is better than nothing for these students,

Grassroots reconciliation in Rwanda SCRIPT: Fifteen years ago, it would have been impossible for most Rwandans to even imagine a scene like this. These men, working side-by-side to construct a house,

Greek socialists in landslide win There were widespread scenes of celebration in the streets of Athens as Greek voters ousted the ruling conservatives for the opposition socialists. The PASOK party swept to a la

Iran agrees date for nuclear check Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meets the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed El Baradei for talks in capital Tehran. Iran sparked new international con

Floods kill 200 in southern India, hit thousands. Death and destruction in southern India. Here in Karnataka state alone around 167 people have been killed after five days of heavy rain.

Tango gets cultural UN approval. To many the tango is the very essence of Argentina -- and now it's official. UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, believes this passionate dance must be prote

Eight U.S. soldiers killed in east Afghan battle. (ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) NATO said eight Americans and at least two Afghan soldiers died. Afghan provincial authorities said they had lost

New violence in Baghdad The remains of a burnt out oil tanker in Baghdad marks the place where a bomb attached to it went off. Five people were injured and the fire then spread to four other fuel tankers.

Iran agress date for nuclear check Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meets the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed El Baradei for talks in capital Tehran. Iran sparked new international con

Argentine singer dies at 74 Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa, who fought South America's dictators with her voice, has died at age 74. Sosa was one of the leading voices in contemporary Latin American music d

Rescue teams arrive in Indonesia Zamzimarlis has come to a village close to the epicentre of a devastating earthquake which struck Indonesia's island of Sumatra this past week. She came to Kepala Kota in the hop

Typhoon death toll mounts A powerful typhoon slams into northern Philippines. Typhoon Parma - the strongest to hit the country since 2006 - tore through the north of the main island of Luzon with sustained wind

Greece holds snap poll Dawn in Athens on Greek election day. As the muted light brightens the ancient Greek Acropolis it seems a timely reminder that Athens was the birthplace of democracy. The des

Zimbabwean musical shows in London SCRIPT: In a small theatre in London, England, the final dress rehearsal for a new musical is underway. Zambezi Express tells the story of Mzilikazi or

Hopes fade for quake survivors This pile of rubble is all that is left of Jhony Bago's motorcycle shop in Padang Indonesia. Until last week it was a thriving business with many clients. Now its dest

Grassroots reconciliation in Rwanda SCRIPT: Fifteen years ago, it would have been impossible for most Rwandans to even imagine a scene like this. These men, working side-by-side to construct a house,

Lights stay on in the French capital NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. The Eiffel Tower staged a special sparkle to mark the event, while contemporary art was on offer on the streets

Floods wreak havoc in India. Rescue and relief efforts were underway after severe floods caused by incessant rains continued to wreak havoc in parts of western and southern India. Indian Air Force personnel took

Ireland voters approve EU Lisbon treaty A key victory for supporters of the European Union -- Ireland voters vote to approve the Lisbon reform treaty by an overwhelming margin. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRISH RETURN

Irish PM declares victory in EU treaty vote NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Irish voters' approval at the second time of asking was important for the bloc because the treaty streamlines EU deci

Twenty dead in Sicily storms. The lives of at least 20 people have been claimed on the Italian island of Sicily, as heavy rain and landslides destroyed houses and washed away roads. The death toll could more tha

Typhoon hits Philippines Typhoon Parma tears tree trunks, telephone poles, and galvanized iron sheets as it strikes the northern Philippines. The raging winds came on the heels of massive flooding brought about

Mali women pool carpet-making skills SCRIPT: Segou is Mali's third-largest town and the carpets these women are weaving are its claim to fame. The women belong to the Nieleni cooperative

Rescue teams arrive in Indonesia Zamzimarlis has come to a village close to the epicentre of a devastating earthquake which struck Indonesia's island of Sumatra this past week. She came to Kepala Kota in the hop

Kenyans struggle against drought SCRIPT: Grewan Lesakut has driven his cattle hundreds of kilometres from home in search of water and pasture. Lesakut comes from the pastoralist Samburu community tha

Irish look to back Lisbon treaty Vote counting in Ireland for a crucial vote. The country has held a referendum over the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty ... the only one of the union's 27 count

Quake animals rescued An earthquake survivor - but also a victim. This turtle was found under a house in tsunami-hit Samoa completely disorientated. As Samoans came to grips with the tsu

Trapped Quake victims text rescuers Days after an earthquake destroyed thousands of buildings in western Indonesia, survivors are still calling out from under the rubble according to rescuers. Here

Shadow of the Sword The battles for Falluja in 2004. US troops faced some of their toughest fighting in the Iraq war, in battles that took place in April and relented in November. Marine Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Workman, was

Relatives bury loved ones in Samoa Relatives of victims began burying their loved ones on Friday (October 1) as authorities continued to recover more bodies from Samoa's tsunami-hit areas. The waves, which flatt

Obama reacts to bleak jobs data Upon arriving back at the White House - after a quick trip to Copenhagen to back Chicago's failed effort to win the 2016 Summer Olympics - President Barack Obama reacted to the latest dismal U

Letterman details alleged extortion Late night chat turned serious when comedian David Letterman admitted he had sex with female employees and was being blackmailed for $2-million (USD) over the affairs. SOUNDBI

An Iran breakthrough? Was it a breakthrough between Iran and major powers, or just more of the same? Analysts said Iran appeared flexible enough at talks in Geneva this week to quiet talk of more sanctions, but

Man accused in Letterman extortion is indicted Late night chat turned serious when comedian David Letterman admitted that he had sex with female employees and that someone tried to extort $2-million (USD) from him over the a

More gloom in September jobs data The U.S. labor market hit a speed bump on the way to the road to recovery. For the first time in three-months the number of jobs lost were larger than the prior month's.

Showbiz Week: Polanski arrested Film director Roman Polanski is fighting extradition to the United States after being arrested in Switzerland this week over a charge of having sex with a minor in 1977. The 76 y

Israeli solider hostage video shown Looking fit but slightly ill at ease Gilad Shalit - the Israeli soldier taken prisoner by Hamas three years ago - appears in a proof of life video. The two minute footage was

Ireland votes on EU's Lisbon Treaty Ireland goes to the polls to vote in a key referendum on weather to ratify the European Union's Lisbon Treaty. It's the second attempt to secure approval for the t

Video shows captive Gilad Shalit NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Wearing olive-green military fatigues, the seated soldier read out a lengthy statement in Hebrew. His voice sounded shaky but he

Drought victims trade cattle for food The people in northern Kenya have always been able to cope with harsh, dry weather. But, a devastating drought following four failed rainy seasons in a row is proving too mu

Giants re-enact German reunification There's something stirring outside Berlin's city hall. The giants are coming. But you shouldn't be afraid. This 7-metre tall Little Giant

Olympic bid: Madrid's royal approval Note: Original Sound Only -- No reporter narration

Woman rescued from quake building The final tense moments as rescuers seek to free a woman trapped in a collapsed school gymnasium in Indonesia's city of Padang which has been devastated by this week's earthquake.

Olympic bid: Rio ready

Huge dinosaur eggs found in India Scientists in southern India have discovered hundreds of fossilised dinosaur eggs which could be up to 65 million years old. The hoard of football-sized eggs lying in clusters w

Water dogs make a big splash in UK They have cheeky characters and make adorable pets. But little was known about the breed in the UK until President Obama gave one to his daughters Malia and Sasha.

Olympic bid: Tokyo passion NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration

Cities plead the 2016 Olympics case U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Copenhagen for a meeting of the International Olympic Committee to support Chicago's bid to hold the 2016 Games. He's pitching for the W

Olympic bid: Obamas for Chicago

Early human skeleton discovered NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Researchers described the partial skeleton as a female representative of the genus Ardipithecus ramidus. "Ardi" - as

Olympic leaders lunch with royalty NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Brazil's president Lula Da Silva were among the t

Frantic search as toll hits 1000 Rescuers continued to frantically search on Friday (October 2) through the rubble of collapsed buildings in the Indonesian port of Padang, two days after a quake hit. The United

Relatives bury loved ones in Samoa Relatives of victims began burying their loved ones on Friday (October 1) as authorities continued to recover more bodies from Samoa's tsunami-hit areas. The waves, which flatt

Lobbying for the 2016 Olympics In a bit of hands on diplomacy -- U.S. President Barack Obama travels on an overnight trip to Copenhagen, Denmark to make a pitch on behalf of the city of Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olymp

Obama calls for action from Iran U.S. President Barack Obama called talks between Iran and major world powers in Geneva "constructive" but said he wanted to see Iran take concrete actions. SOUNDBITE: U.S. Pre

Talk of the Town: Peas on top for 26 weeks The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" has held firm at number on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart for 14 weeks - that matches Mariah Carey's 2005 hit "We Belong Together" for the

Iran's Mottaki says ready to engage (ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, told reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Iran was acting on

And Finally... Pardon My French. MORE INFO: Morning after over the counter. Heathrow Airport's literary loudspeaker. Eyes on the Seine. English lessons for Frenc

Iran agrees to nuclear inspection International diplomats meeting in Geneva for face to face talks with Iran over its nuclear programme have announced a measure of success. European Union foreign po

Fireworks, protests mark HK's Oct. 1 Tens of thousands of people lined Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for a spectacular fireworks display to mark China's 60th National Day on Thursday. The 23-minute display that r

Olympic leaders lunch with royalty NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Brazil's president Lula Da Silva were among the t

Iranians protest at Geneva talks Diplomats from six world powers arrive in Geneva, Switzerland to meet with Iran for talks in the hope of creating a turning point in the long and bitter stand off over Iran's nuclear ambition

East Germans remember 1989 exodus All aboard - for a journey to freedom. East Germans are retracing their steps from 20 years ago - when they their country and travelled on trains from Prague in Cze

Rio's beautiful Olympic bid NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration. Rio also hopes to shrug off the image of a land of 'extremes'. Brazil's former capital remains sharply divided between the ap

McChrystal: Afghan outlook serious NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, McChrystal delivered what he called an honest assessme

Rio's beautiful Olympic bid NOTE: Natural sound - no reporter narration. Rio also hopes to shrug off the image of a land of 'extremes'. Brazil's former capital remains sharply divided between the ap

Tokyo hopes for carbon-free Olympics NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. Japan has made staggering progress since its capital last hosted the Olympic Games in 1964 when the government u

Russian car giant cuts workforce The picture in Russia is bleak, after a decade of boom, the global downturn is taking it's toll. Job losses and poverty are spreading fast. This is Togliatti, sometim

Tsunami survivors go home Exhausted survivors of the tsunami in Samoa arrive home at the airport in Auckland in New Zealand. They have flown from horror and death but their relief is mixed with deep sorrow for t

Protester throws shoe at IMF chief NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration The incident happened at Istanbul's Bilgi University as Strauss-Kahn made a speech to students ahead of the IMF's annual meetin

Crowds turn out for Madrid Olympic bid NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration Madrid is one of four cities that could emerge as the host city of the 2016 Olympics when the International Olympic Committe

Obamas boost Chicago's Olympic bid NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration. The 2016 contest has been declared too close to call by most Olympic observers though President Barack Obama's presence has ra

Tibetans rally against China As China showed its might to the world with a massive parade in Beijing to celebrate 60 years of the People's Republic - in India, Tibetan exiles showed their continuing anger over China's occup

Indonesia hunts for quake survivors Indonesian rescue workers searched through rubble and debris for any sign of survivors on Thursday (October 1), a day after a quake hit the city of Padang on Sumatra island.

China parade marks anniversary The Chinese government put on a massive military parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the birth of the People's Republic of China. High-stepping troops, gaudy floats and nuc

Beijing life halts on anniversary Businesses and ordinary life around Beijing came to a halt on Thursday as the country celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding with a huge military parade. W

Samoa survivor recalls tsunami Rescuers searched debris for bodies in Western Samoa on Thursday as the death toll from a series of tsunamis continued to rise. Four powerful tsunamis generated by a hu

Aid heads to Samoan Islands US C-130 military planes head for the earthquake and tsunami ravaged Samoan islands, as local residents begin the long process of recovery. Waves reported up to 20 feet high crashed i

Iran, major powers head to Geneva Iran's chief nuclear negotiator leaves Tehran for talks with world powers in Geneva. Thursday's talks follow Tehran's test-firing of missiles over the weekend, and less than a w

The new Broadway drama "A Steady Rain," starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, has set the record for the highest weekly ticket sales of a non-musical play. The play about two Chicago policeman earned just under 1.17 mi

Healthcare bill setback for Obama A setback for President Barack Obama in his effort to overhaul the US healthcare system. The Senate Finance Committee has rejected a government-run insurance option - handing in

Counter-insurgency at a crossroads TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~ Fighting the insurgency in Afghanistan. Attacks by insurgents have become deadlier this year than at any time in the eight-year-o

Speeding up the drawdown in Iraq The United States is accelerating its draw down of troops from Iraq. Some 4,000 soldiers are now expected to return home by the end of October as a sign of improved security. Ge

The Italian Job lottery Quite a novel way to pull in the customers and by the look of this supermarket, quite a success. Grocery supermarket chain store Tigros is offering the ultimate lottery prize in a time of

Irish prepare for Lisbon vote Campaigners for and against the European Union's Lisbon Treaty narrowed their arguments ahead of Friday's vote. Heading the "yes" camp was budget airline Ryanair chief M

Economy key in Greek elections TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~*NONE*~ Its been a year of social unrest in Greece, farmers, students, workers, even pensioners have taken to the streets, angry over government corruption,

Amateur video captures Samoa flood NOTE: Natural sound only - no reporter narration The people who made the video can be heard praying as the water rushes in. A series of tsunamis smashed into the Pa