News

Colombian smugglers take cocaine under the waves

Colombians who thought they had seen everything in the war on drugs were treated to something new this year: cocaine smuggling in a submarine.

Casting Crowns to release The Altar and The Door Live

Casting Crowns DVD captures one of Christian music's top-attended tours of all time.

Bush welcomes Vietnam's steps on religious freedom

US President George W Bush on Tuesday welcomed steps by Vietnam toward permitting greater religious freedom after meeting with the communist government's prime minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Former Indonesian president urges religious tolerance

Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday slammed government restrictions on a controversial Islamic sect and urged the "silent majority" of moderate Muslims to speak out in defence of religious tolerance.

Monitors say impossible to observe vote

Zimbabwe election monitors said on Wednesday they could not effectively observe Friday's presidential vote because of threats to their safety.

Exxon Valdez oil spill ruling overturned

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the record $2.5 billion (1.3 billion pounds) in punitive damages that Exxon Mobil Corp had been ordered to pay for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska.

Kremlin's new man strikes a different pose

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev played down differences with his predecessor Vladimir Putin in an interview with Reuters but the contrast in style and tone between the two men was striking

Irish goverment to study treaty vote

Ireland's government will commission a study to find out why voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty in a referendum this month, Prime Minister Brian Cowen said on Wednesday.

'Systematic failures' led to data loss scandal

Systematic failures and "woefully inadequate" processes for handling data at the country's tax authority led to the loss of personal details of nearly half the population, two scathing reports said on Wednesday.

Tourist dies as salmonella suspected at Italian hotel

An elderly British tourist has died at a hotel on Italy's Lake Garda where dozens more visitors were taken sick with suspected food poisoning, officials said on Wednesday.

MPs could end 'John Lewis' list expenses

Members of Parliament will no longer be able to claim for furniture and renovations for their second homes under new House of Commons recommendations.

West to pursue twin track in Iran nuclear dispute

Western powers will continue a twin track policy of sanctions and diplomacy towards Iran over its nuclear programme, the EU's top diplomat said on Wednesday, despite Tehran's warnings it could backfire.

Flood planning needs 'urgent' changes

Flood risks are growing, and planning for them should be taken as seriously as preparations for flu pandemics or terrorism, a government-commissioned review said on Wednesday.

Police say baby survived Thames fall

A 18-month-old girl initially thought to have died when she fell into the River Thames on Wednesday was found to be alive after further hospital checks, police said.

Nazir-Ali: Christians must 'recover nerve', testify Christ

Christians must "recover their nerve" and remain committed to spreading the Gospel among those who have not yet heard it, says the Bishop of Rochester.

Christian leader says Obama distorting the Bible

A leading conservative evangelical on Tuesday said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had distorted the Bible and espouses a "fruitcake" approach to the US Constitution.