BBC News with July Chandler
Pope Francis has supported the right of parents to choose the size of their families, saying good Roman Catholics did not have to be like rabbits. He says population experts recommended 3 children per family.
The pope was on his way back from Philippines when he met several former street children who were abandoned by parents unable to afford to look after them. He was asked by one journalist what he say to families having more children than they can afford because the church doesn't allow artificial contraception. Pope Francis responded by saying that some people believe in order to be good Catholics, they have to be like rabbits to have more children that were safe and responsible. Asking those present to forgive his language, he said that was not the case when the responsible parenting was the answer.
European Union foreign ministers have agreed to cooperate more closely with Arab government and others around the world to prevent attacks by Islamic militants following the killing earlier this month in Paris. The EU foreign affairs chief say the ministers meeting in Brussels have for the first time to state a real and deep awareness of the need to work together.
What we need is an alliance and dialog and work together in cooperation because we are all facing the same threat. And this, I think it's going to be something we need to work on more and more, not only European Union and other countries but also inside the European Union with the Muslim communities and old concept of minorities.
Scientists investigating the way that Malaria parasites are able to resist the most powerful treatment say they have identified the mutation that is responsible across southeast Asia parasites to developing tolerance of the main drug used to treat Malaria.
Artemisinin is the most effective Malaria treatment ever developed. But across Southeast Asia resistance to it is a growing concern. Now in the largest genetics study to date, scientists have identified several mutations on genes in the Malaria parasites. Some of these genetic changes are links directly to resistance while others make the parasites more accessible to it. The researches say that they don't fully understand the mechanism but tracking down the parasites with the genetic variation could help them to identify the area where resistance may spread next.
A government spokesman of Yemen has said Houthi fighters have surrounded the Republican Palace in the capital Sanaa where the prime minister lives. The development comes despite an earlier ceasefire which appeared to be holding. In a day of heavy fighting between Hussein rebels and the army, gun fires echo across the city and more had fell around the presidential palace. Yemen information minister said that the president was safe following what she called an attempted coup.
World News from the BBC.
Police in Kenya capital Nairobi have fired tear gas to primary school children who have protested the seizure of their school playground by a property developer. The police, some accompanied by dogs or carrying rifles, disperse the protestors after they pushed over a newly built board placed between the school building and playing field.
The Argentine security secretary Sergio Beirne said one special prosecutor was found dead after accusing the president Christina Fernandez of catching a cover-up, appeared to have committed suicide. Alberto Nisman was found shot dead in his Buenos Aires apartment. He was due to appear before an inquiry today after accusing president of destructing his investigation into the bombing of Jewish community center more than 20 years ago.
United Sates officials have been quoted to saying that they knew North Korea was behind the cyber attack of Sony pictures because the US had infiltrated the country's network in 2010.
The United States was quick to point the finger to North Korea for the devastating hack on Sony picture last year and quick to impose sanctions. North Korea continued to deny any role and some independent cyber security experts also express doubts. Now leaked documents and testimonies from former officials are found to answer public domain, appearing to back up Washington's case.
In the latest game with football Africa Cup of Nation Tournament, one of the favorite Algeria has beaten South Africa 3-1. South Africa took the lead shortly after half time but miss the penalty minutes later and then conceded an own goal. In the day Senegal came from behind to guard at 2-1 and the wining goal was scored in the last minute.