Republican National Convention Opening in New York

By Deborah Tate The Republican National Convention, which will nominate President Bush for another four-year term opens in New York Monday. Republicans chose New York, a mostly Democratic Party strong

'Gay' Marriage Pushed to Center of US Political Debate

Stephanie Ho Recent developments on both U.S. coasts have pushed the issue of marriage between two people of the same sex into American headlines. Authorities in San Francisco have officially married

Powell: Progress Being Made in Speeding Security Checks on V

David Gollust Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday the Bush administration is making headway in speeding the processing of foreign visitors, despite increased security needs following the 9/

4 Palestinians Killed as Gaza Fighting Continues

Sonja Pace Israeli helicopters have fired missiles into a neighborhood of Gaza City on Wednesday. Initial reports say at least three Palestinians were killed and more than a dozen others injured. The

Israel Says It Will Not Negotiate with Hamas for Soldiers' R

Ross Dunn Israel says it will not negotiate for the remains of six soldiers killed in Gaza Tuesday after the militant Islamic group Hamas paraded what it said were the body parts in its possession. Th

Another Israeli Armored Vehicle Destroyed in Gaza

Ross Dunn A second Israeli armored vehicle has been destroyed in Gaza, one day after six soldiers died when an anti-tank bomb wrecked their personnel carrier. The radical group Islamic Jihad claimed r

Annan Urges Israel to Stop Demolishing Palestinian Homes

Peter Heinlein U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is urging Israel to stop bulldozing Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip. As Israeli troops backed by tanks and bulldozers converged on the Palestinian

Israel Kills 15 Palestinians in Raid on Gaza Refugee Camp

Ross Dunn Israeli forces launched air strikes in the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza Tuesday killing at least 13 Palestinians and wounding 30 others. Israeli ground forces have also moved into the

Israeli Army Expresses Regrets for Palestinian

Ross Dunn Israel's Army expressed sadness Wednesday for the killing of at least 10 Palestinians in southern Gaza. All the dead are reported to be under 18. More than 50 were wounded after an Israeli t

UNICEF Warns of Growing Child Trafficking Problem in South A

By Anjana Pasricha The United Nations is urging governments in South Asia to intensify efforts to tackle the growing problem of child sexual exploitation. UNICEF says the problem has worsened since So

20 Years after Tragedy in India, New Report Accuses US Compa

In the early morning hours of December 3, 1984, deadly gas leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, India. The accident would result in the worst industrial disaster of the 20th centur

UN Seeks $1.5 Billion in Aid for Sudan Refugees

By Lisa Schein The United Nations is appealing for $1.5 billion for humanitarian assistance next year in conflict-ravaged Sudan. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports almost half the money will go towards li

Top US Toy Store Teams with Marines to Donate Holiday Presen

By Faiza Elmasry The weeks leading up to Christmas make up the busiest shopping season of the year, especially for toys. But there are millions of children whose families can't afford a shopping trip

Debate on New Tobacco Control Bill Rages in Kenya

By Josiah Obat For months, lawmakers in Kenya have been debating a new bill seeking to regulate the consumption, sale, and advertising of tobacco products in the country. The Tobacco Control Bill 2004

US Dollar's Decline

By Jeffrey Young Americans crossing borders groan in dismay as they exchange their dollars for less and less in other currencies. Holidays in Europe, for instance, that once seemed reasonably priced h

Foreign Oil Companies in Nigeria Undeterred by Threats from

By Carrie Giardino Major oil companies operating in Nigeria's oil-rich southern region say they will not give in to threats of attacks on their facilities and employees by militias. The threats are be

Sinai Attacks Appear to Have Limited Effect on Egyptian Tour

By Ursula Lindsey The terrorist bombings last week at resorts along Egypt's Red Sea coast raised fears of another slump in the country's tourism industry, a key sector of its economy. The industry is

Yukos' Main Subsidiary Up for Sale

By Lisa McAdams Russia's justice ministry has announced plans to break up giant oil and gas producer Yukos by selling its main subsidiary, Yuganskneftegas. The announced sale prompted an immediate sli

West African Diamond Smuggling Traced to Terror Financing

By Leah Krakinowski Diamond smuggling in West Africa has become a steady, almost untraceable source of funding for U.S.-listed terror groups like al-Qaida and Hezbollah, according to information disco

Japan's Current Account Surplus Rises

By Steve Herman Japan records an increase in its current account surplus, despite a drop for the country's trade surplus. A debt-ridden retail chain accepts a government-backed rescue, and there are m