News
Church investors speak out on Sudan shareholder responsibility
The ecumenical Church Investors Group (CIG) has condemned the continued war and human rights abuses in the Sudan, and the direct or indirect part certain companies are playing in prolonging the conflict.
Ecumenical observers challenge Zimbabwe election process
The 29 March elections in Zimbabwe were "far from being free and fair", says ecumenical report.
Think you know church? Think again, says Share Jesus
No pews, no walls, no barriers, this is church as it was meant to be; alive, passionate and open to all, says Share Jesus International.
Judge to decide on mayoral candidate's BBC 'censorship' case
A High Court judge will today decide whether the BBC 'politically censored' a London mayoral candidate's party election broadcast, just one day before polling booths open.
U.N. council pressed to send mission to Zimbabwe
The U.N. Security Council took up Zimbabwe's election standoff for the first time on Tuesday and Western powers pressed for a U.N. mission or envoy to visit the crisis-stricken southern African country.
Beijing marks 100-day countdown to Games
China marked the start of the 100-day countdown to the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday with songs, a mass run and even prayers, hoping to put behind it the tumultuous events of the past month which have taken much of the gloss off preparations.
France says Andean region ties key to hostage release
Easing tensions between Andean neighbours Ecuador and Colombia is vital if efforts to release dozens of hostages held by Colombian guerrillas for years in hidden jungle camps are to succeed, France said on Tuesday.
Afghans clash with suspected Taliban in Kabul
Afghan security forces clashed with a group of suspected Taliban militants holed up in a house close to Kabul's old city on Wednesday, witnesses and police said.
Tibetan policeman and suspect die in China gun battle
A police officer and a suspected riot leader were shot dead in a gun battle in an ethnic Tibetan part of western China, state media reported on Wednesday, in a sign that tensions remain high following a wave of unrest.
Two U.S. troops die in Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers were killed in Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, taking the American troop death toll in Iraq for April to 46.
Philippine army says seizes Islamic militant base
About 300 Philippine soldiers, backed by heavy artillery and mortar shelling, overran a base of Islamic militants deep in the hills of a remote southern island on Wednesday, a senior general said.
Democrat Obama 'outraged' by former pastor
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, trying to quell a political firestorm that has roiled his presidential campaign, strongly denounced his former pastor on Tuesday and called his racially charged comments "appalling."
Colossal squid examined by New Zealand scientists
A colossal squid caught from deep Antarctic waters was defrosted on Wednesday by New Zealand scientists keen to discover more about the little-known giant predator.
Death in childbirth a health scourge for Afghanistan
A woman haemorrhages to death as she lies screaming in agony in a spartan hut in a remote region of Afghanistan. There is no doctor or midwife to help and the hospital is several days journey away.
N. Korea seen heading towards famine
Soaring global food prices and reluctant donors are pushing North Korea back towards famine, which could see the secretive government turn even more repressive to keep control, a paper released on Wednesday said.
Free speech reform said approved by Turk parliament
Turkey's parliament approved a long-awaited revision of a law criticised by the European Union for limiting free speech in the candidate country, but writers and activists say the reform does not go far enough.