ON Thursday representatives of states from around the world will gather to sign an agreement aimed at strengthening the protection of economic, social and cultural rights for individuals.

MILLIONS of people in poor countries are dying because free health care is not available, a British report warned yesterday.

More than two million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV, almost all in sub-Saharan Africa where there is no access to treatment and death is virtually guaranteed, seven leading child advocacy organisations said in a report yesterday.

Aid agency World Vision Ireland has called for support for its aid efforts in Mauritania, where more than one million people are facing hunger.