A "statistical error" that resulted in an upper limit being set for daily folic acid intake may have contributed to hundreds of children being born with common birth defects, scientists say.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend the summit of the Nonaligned Movement of mainly developing countries in Tehran next week despite strong opposition from Israel and Jewish groups outraged at Iran’s calls for the destruction of Israel, the UN announced today.

LEADERS of Islamic countries yesterday threw their support behind an initiative by France and Germany to avert war on Iraq and said they were considering using their oil to exert pressure on those favouring an attack.

North Korea’s number two leader assured a summit today that his government currently had no intention of developing nuclear weapons, amid anger over its launch of a missile near Japan.

DEVELOPING nations yesterday agreed on draft recommendations that Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas be treated as war crimes, delegates said.