News

Pope says unilateral acts undermine United Nations

Countries that act unilaterally on the world stage undermine the authority of the United Nations and weaken the broad consensus needed to confront global problems, Pope Benedict said on Friday.

Methodists respond to Zimbabwe food crisis

In the face of growing political instability and desperate food shortages in Zimbabwe, The Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) is supporting an appeal through ACT International (Action by Churches Together) that will distribute emergency food supplies to vulnerable households.

Barnabas Fund requests urgent prayer for Somalia's persecuted Christians

Barnabas Fund, a ministry supporting the persecuted church worldwide, has made an urgent appeal for prayers to support Christians in Somalia in the wake of the murder of four Christian teachers last Sunday.

Bank eyes 50 bln pounds mortgage rescue

The Bank of England will next week announce plans to swap 50 billion pounds of government bonds for UK bank mortgages in an effort to break a lending squeeze gripping the home loan market, the BBC said on Friday.

Brown sets out post-Bush foreign policy

The United States should take the lead in driving closer global cooperation, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Friday in a speech that looked beyond the George W. Bush presidency.

Zimbabwe starts partial recount of vote

Zimbabwe began a partial recount of votes from the March 29 elections on Saturday, despite opposition efforts to block it and widespread fears political stalemate could erupt into violence.

Show of force as Iraqi forces advance in Basra

Iraqi government troops said they captured a stronghold of fighters loyal to anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Basra on Saturday after a massive show of force by U.S. warplanes and British artillery.

Pope to rally Catholic Church leaders in New York

Pope Benedict on Saturday turns his attention to the present and future leaders of the U.S. Roman Catholic Church by celebrating Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral and visiting a seminary near New York City.

Chinese take to streets to oppose Tibet independence

Chinese people in several cities took to the streets on Saturday to denounce Tibetan independence and call for a boycott of French goods following anti-China protests on the Paris leg of the Olympic torch relay.

Bush and South Korea meeting turns to nuclear issues

Finding ways to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions will likely top the agenda at U.S. President George W. Bush's weekend talks with South Korea's president after a fight over U.S. beef exports was resolved.

Australia's brightest brain-storm for progress

Inscribing Aboriginal rights into Australia's constitution, abolishing states and a fresh push for a republic led ideas at a summit of the nation's top minds on Saturday, bringing Hollywood together with corporate chiefs.

Carter sets out ceasefire plan in Hamas talks

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter set out plans for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel at a meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Friday.

Saving youth from church exodus not enough, says youth leader

The defensive youth ministry approach of saving young people from exiting the churches isn't up to speed with one youth leader who sees tens of thousands of teens' lives changed every year.

Texas creation college to defend science degrees

A Christian research institute, which is seeking to grant science degrees in Texas, is asking for prayers and support as it faces the final hearing before state education officials next week.

Ben Stein's 'Expelled' releases across US despite controversy

"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed", the film that attempts to bring to light the silencing of anti-Darwinian scientists and thinkers, hit theatres across the US on Friday, but its not been an easy road to get it there, say the film's producers.

What divides Catholics and Protestants?

As Pope Benedict XVI continues with his highly publicised visit to the United States, some may wonder what the major differences are between Catholicism and Protestantism - the two main Christian bodies in the world.