EU says it reaches international agreement to limit catches of threatened bluefin tuna. The EU Commission says over 45 countries who catch tuna have agreed to cut catches of the threatened Atlantic bluefin tuna next year.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The United States will attend an International Criminal Court (ICC) meeting this week as an observer for the first time since the Hague court was set up in 2002, President Barack Obama's war crimes envoy said Monday.

Official says US to attend annual war crimes court meeting as observer for first time. The United States will attend an annual meeting of the International Criminal Court, a body it has so far refused to participate in, the U.S. envoy for war crimes said Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats will attempt to pass a climate-change bill in "early spring" of 2010, Senator John Kerry told reporters on Monday, further complicating prospects for an international summit on global warming next month.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A binding international treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions will slip to mid-2010 or beyond and a summit in Copenhagen next month will fall short of its ambitions, the United Nations and Denmark said on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats will attempt to pass a climate-change bill in "early spring" of 2010, Senator John Kerry told reporters on Monday, further complicating prospects for an international summit on global warming next month.

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States and China want next month's climate change talks in Copenhagen to culminate in a global accord that has "immediate operational effect."

Survey: Gov'ts consider climate change the biggest humanitarian challenge facing the world. A global network of aid agencies says world powers consider climate change the most significant challenge to humanitarian work.

Danish PM: Industrial countries must bring specific pledges to Copenhagen climate conference. Denmark has told the United States and all other developed countries they must bring specific pledges to cut greenhouse gases to next month's climate change conference, the Danish prime minister said Tuesday.

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States and China want next month's climate change talks in Copenhagen to culminate in a global accord that has "immediate operational effect."

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - African leaders agreed on Tuesday on how much cash to demand from the rich world to compensate for the impact of climate change on the continent but kept the figure secret ahead of next month's Copenhagen talks.

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States and China want next month's climate change talks in Copenhagen to culminate in a global accord that has "immediate operational effect."

Survey: Gov'ts consider climate change the biggest humanitarian challenge facing the world. A global network of aid agencies says world powers consider climate change the most significant challenge to humanitarian work.

US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States and China want next month's climate change talks in Copenhagen to culminate in a global accord that has "immediate operational effect."

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Environment ministers made progress on Tuesday toward a scaled-down climate deal in Copenhagen next month, with Washington facing pressure to promise deep cuts by 2020 in greenhouse gas emissions.

Danish PM: Industrial countries must bring specific pledges to Copenhagen climate conference. Denmark's premier indicated Tuesday he expected the United States to bring specific pledges to cut greenhouse gases to next month's climate change conference.

BEIJING/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday next month's climate talks in Copenhagen should cut a deal with "immediate operational effect," even if its original aim of a legally binding pact is not achievable.

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for talks that will focus on how to tempt North Korea back to nuclear disarmament talks and a delayed trade pact between Seoul and Washington.

Pope marks anniversary of UN treaty on rights of child, prays for all kids who suffer. Pope Benedict XVI called Wednesday for greater international efforts to ensure basic human rights for children, saying he was praying for all young people who suffer.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he wants to iron out remaining issues with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on a stalled free trade pact and that the agreement could benefit U.S. exporters.