Environmental disaster is looming in the Galapagos Islands, the Pacific archipelago whose unique wildlife inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Already under pressure from a rapidly growing population and mass tourism, the waters around the Galapagos face being devastated by one of the world's most wildlife-damaging fishing methods. The Galapagos have been officially protected for nearly 20 years and form part of the Galapagos World Heritage Site. But now the islands' 1,000 fishermen want to introduce long-lining - a technique involving lines many miles long holding hundreds of thousands of baited hooks, which catch and kill as many birds and animals as the fish that are targeted.

the Vatican said Wednesday that the 84-year-old pontiff was getting nutrition from a tube in his nose and acknowledged his convalescence from throat surgery last month has been "slow."

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said John Paul was fitted with a nasogastric tube to "improve the calorie intake" and help him recover his strength.

The statement was issued shortly after the pope tried unsuccessfully to speak to the crowds in St. Peter's Square for the second time in a week. After managing just a rasp of his voice, he blessed well-wishers by making the sign of the cross with his hand and withdrew from his window.

About one million chanting protestors have converged on Taiwan's capital to protest China's Anti-Secession Law. Ten columns of demonstrators started out Saturday afternoon from different places in Taipei, the Taipei Times reported, to symbolize the 10 clauses in the law.Organizers used Global Positioning System technology to coordinate the marchers. The recently adopted law allows China to use non-peaceful means to bring Taiwan under its government.