Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon forests has flipped from a decreasing to an increasing trend, according to new annual figures released yesterday by the country's space agency INPE. Commenting on the figures, Brazilian environment minister Carlos...

A tough new power to close premises involved in persistent anti-social behavior comes into force today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced at a conference for front line anti-social behavior practitioners. Police and local authorities can now...

Former South African cabinet ministers who resigned in solidarity with ex-president Thabo Mbeki have slammed the move by the African National Congress (ANC) to pressure the government to withdraw its intention to appeal against Judge Chris Nicholsons...

Eyewitness reports indicate that the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border is closed again. ITAR-TASS confirmed it, with references to Sharaf Faizullayev of the Directorate of Border Service Directorate of the Tajik National Security State Committee. All...

The beginning of the holiday shopping season was much better than retailers predicted, but profits were hurt by bargain basement prices, analysts said. Typically, holiday sales account for 25 to 40 percent of annual sales for retailers, but...