News
Drug cost watchdog NICE expects funding boost
The healthcare cost-effectiveness watchdog NICE is expecting a funding boost from the government to allow it to evaluate more treatments, its chairman said on Friday.
Blair urges G8 2050 climate pact
Former prime minister Tony Blair urged the Group of Eight rich nations on Friday to agree to a global goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, despite signs top carbon emitter the United States would not back the target.
Pope doesn't wear Prada - Vatican newspaper
After years of speculation that Pope Benedict wears shoes by Prada, the Vatican's official newspaper denied such talk as "frivolous".
Russian Orthodox Church tells rebel bishop: repent or leave
A bishop who has accused Russian Orthodox Church leaders of forming an unholy alliance with the Kremlin will be defrocked unless he repents, clerics ruled on Friday.
Conservative Anglicans reluctant to break away
Conservative Anglican leaders meeting at a rebel summit expressed frustration with the church's leadership on Thursday but indicated that an outright schism might be avoided.
Princess Royal praises 'selfless commitment' of Mission to Seafarers
"The Mission to Seafarers is a wonderful example of practical Christianity," Princess Anne told hundreds of Mission supporters at its annual AGM in central London on Thursday.
Christian youth confront Northern Ireland's troubled past
Ireland's biggest Christian youth festival to bring together Northern Ireland politicians and young Christians to tackle their difficult past.
Egypt visit focuses on church unity, inter-religious dialogue
Challenges facing Christians today are too strong for a divided church, said World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia.
Egypt crackdown on African migrants hits Eritreans
When 17 Eritrean migrants crept down from a hillside to a central Egypt highway, after slipping undetected into the most populous Arab country, security forces quickly swept in to pick them up.
Catholic rebel snubs Pope call to rejoin Rome
The leader of a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group has rejected a Vatican offer to rejoin Rome, accusing Pope Benedict of trying to silence dissenting voices.
Lutherans lament 'suffering creation' in Tanzania
Member church representatives from around the global Lutheran World Federation (LWF) are in Tanzania for a six-day meeting on climate change and its impact on Africa's highest mountain.
Pay deals pick up to 3.3 percent
Wage settlements picked up to 3.3 percent in the three months to May but held a full percentage point below retail price inflation, a survey showed on Friday.
Mugabe defiant as voting starts
Zimbabweans began voting in a one-sided presidential run-off on Friday after President Robert Mugabe defied mounting world condemnation and calls to postpone an election which the opposition says is a farce.
N.Korea to destroy reactor cooling tower
North Korea is set to blow up the cooling tower at its nuclear plant on Friday, a symbolic move to show its commitment to a disarmament deal a day after it handed over a long-delayed account of its nuclear programme.
Toxic pesticide on Philippine ferry halts search
The Philippines halted the search for hundreds of bodies feared trapped on a capsized ferry on Friday after salvage divers discovered 10 tonnes of toxic pesticide on board.
Obama and Clinton to make first joint appearance
Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton take the first step toward healing the wounds of their bruising presidential nominating fight with a joint appearance on Friday in the symbolically named New Hampshire town of Unity.