HELSINKI, Oct 28, 2008 (AFP) - The rare Saimaa ringed seal, which lives only in Finland and whose population is estimated at just 260, is increasingly threatened by fishermen's nets and the melting of its icy habitat due to climate change, experts say.

DOHA, Oct 28, 2008 (AFP) - The fast growing Sharia financial system may receive a further boost as an alternative to capitalism amid the credit crunch and banking crisis, Islamic academics and clerics believe.

FORT-DAUPHIN, Madagascar, Oct 27, 2008 (AFP) - Madagascar is throwing its all into the mining sector to vanquish poverty but the environmental and social risks are high and the guarantee of returns is doubtful.

MUMBAI, Oct 27, 2008 (AFP) - Hindus around the world on Tuesday celebrate the festival of lights, Diwali -- a traditional time to splash out on new clothes, jewellery, rich food and extravagant house decorations.

GONDER, Ethiopia, Oct 27, 2008 (AFP) - In a makeshift synagogue painted in the colours of Israel's national flag, thousands of Ethiopian Jews listen as a sermon is relayed live by mobile phone speaker from the Israeli city of Haifa.

BUCHAREST, Oct 27, 2008 (AFP) - It's like a bad movie: Romanian filmmakers have become the darlings of world cinema, but many in their own country have never seen their work, with just 70 mainly dilapidated theatres nationwide.

HATFIELD, England, Oct 24, 2008 (AFP) - As the financial crisis kicks in and stress levels surge, one British boffin claims to have invented the world's most relaxing room -- just the thing to soothe away the troubles.

Professor Richard Wiseman has examined 30 years' worth of research to concoct what he believes is the most relaxing combination of colours, sounds and smells.

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 24, 2008 (AFP) - When thousands of Palestinians gather in a stadium, it is usually for an anti-Israeli demonstration. But on Sunday they'll be turning out to watch their national football team play their first ever home game ... at home.

TOYAMA, Japan, Oct 24, 2008 (AFP) - The technology is the same as that of the simple inkjet printer found in homes and offices, but Japanese scientist Makoto Nakamura is on a mission to see if it can also produce human organs.

The idea is for the printer to jet out thousands of cells per second -- rather than ink droplets -- and to build them up into a three-dimensional organ.

FRANKFURT, Oct 23, 2008 (AFP) - Anyone who thinks air travel is a jungle should trek through the Frankfurt Animal Lounge, Europe's most modern airport site for just about everything from worms and fish to wolves and hippopotamuses.