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SYDNEY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Thursday told a huge gathering of young people that they were inheriting a planet whose resources had been scarred and squandered to fuel insatiable consumption.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank and U.S. lawmakers, concerned with how Americans' tax dollars are being spent, launched a new forum on Wednesday to improve cooperation between the poverty-fighting institution and Congress.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The global food crisis is largely responsible for driving up the United Nations' need for funding to confront disasters and emergencies around the world this year by one-fifth, the U.N. said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans pressured U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday to set a vote on a free trade pact with Colombia, which they said would die if Congress does not approve it this year.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Reuters) - Two men often mentioned as possible running mates to U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama joined him on the campaign trail in Indiana on Wednesday, further stoking speculation about the Democrat's closely guarded search for a No. 2.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said on Wednesday he would visit Myanmar next week to check on aid delivery to the isolated country that initially shut out foreign relief workers after a deadly cyclone in May.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Human rights activists sent a letter to President George W. Bush on Wednesday urging him to raise the cases of 23 political prisoners when he attends the Beijing Olympics next month.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States hopes to conduct its first ever humanitarian disaster relief drills with the Chinese military in late 2009 or 2010, the head of the U.S. Pacific Command said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush, asserting executive privilege, has rejected Congress' request for documents on FBI interviews with Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney from a probe to find who leaked the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers defied a White House veto threat on Wednesday and voted to bar CIA contractors from interrogating suspected terrorists, in the latest clash over detainee treatment in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats and the Bush administration were scrambling on Wednesday to shore up support for a major housing market rescue bill, as Republican backing for it faltered on doubts about adding on a plan to bolster Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

UMUAHIA, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least 17 people died at a prayer meeting in rural Nigeria after apparently breathing noxious fumes from their power generator while asleep, police and witnesses said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it was sending an envoy to join nuclear talks with Iran to signal to Tehran and others that Washington wanted a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Debit cards linked to retirement savings accounts would be banned under a bill set to be introduced in the U.S. Senate.

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's Constitutional Court rapporteur has recommended that the ruling AK Party not be closed for Islamist activities, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia misused the symbol of the Red Cross in this month's military rescue of politician Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other rebel-held hostages, it said on Wednesday, admitting a possible violation of the rules of war.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - A U.N.-African Union peacekeeper was shot and killed in Sudan's western Darfur region, a week after militiamen killed seven peacekeepers, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it had decided to send an envoy to join nuclear talks with Iran as a signal to Tehran and others that Washington wanted to find a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he wanted a peaceful end to political turmoil in Zimbabwe and was examining more U.S. sanctions after a U.N. resolution was blocked by Russia and China.

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain praised Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday in a speech to black leaders and outlined what he called honest differences with Obama over taxes, spending and education.