News

Christian leaders praise BBC's worship milestone

Christian leaders have joined forces to praise BBC Radio Stoke's weekly broadcast act of worship, In Praise of God, which this week celebrates it's 40th anniversary.

US Lutherans issue human sexuality statement for review

In an unprecedented social statement on human sexuality, a task force of the US's largest Lutheran denomination said the church should continue to uphold marriage between a man and a woman.

Iraqi archbishop laid to rest by mourners

Mourners have laid to rest on Friday a Chaldean Catholic archbishop known as a "man of peace beloved by all Iraqis", after he was found dead following a kidnapping.

Dalai Lama blamed for 'masterminding' uprising

Independence protesters burned shops and cars in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on Friday and Chinese police were reported to have shot dead at least two people, in the fiercest unrest in the region for two decades.

Shannon Matthews found alive

Missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews was found alive on Friday, hidden in the base of a bed in a house in West Yorkshire, police said.

Conservatives seen victors in Iran polls

Iranians voted on Friday in a parliamentary election weighted in favour of conservative supporters of the Islamic Republic's clerical establishment.

The Queen opens new Heathrow terminal

The Queen opened a giant, luxury terminal at London's Heathrow airport on Friday, despite security breaches by protesters opposed to expanding the world's busiest international air gateway.

Revealed - what MPs can expense

Members of parliament keen to spruce up their second homes can spend thousands of pounds at taxpayers' expense, House of Commons documents showed on Friday.

Man charged over Heathrow security alert

A man who caused a major security alert at Heathrow Airport after getting onto a runway was charged on Friday with "aircraft endangerment", police said.

Christian group approves US dropping China from rights blacklist

A Christian religious freedom group has given its approval for the U.S. State Department's removal of China from its human rights blacklist despite reports of the government's increased crackdown on house churches ahead of the Olympic Games.

Bible Society presents 'Poverty and Justice Bible' to MPs

The Bible Society has said that on 13 March, Members of Parliament were presented with the first Poverty and Justice Bible to highlight more than 2,000 verses reflecting God's attitude to poverty and justice.

Iraq archbishop kidnappers wanted $1 million ransom

Kidnappers of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop found dead in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul had demanded a $1 million ransom, a senior police official said on Friday.

Kay Warren to speak at Tearfund conference

Development charity Tearfund is set to hold a conference for churches to promote awareness of the global HIV and Aids pandemic on Saturday 15 March.

Anglicans worldwide prepare for Holy Week

Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world will join with other Christians in observing the most solemn time in the church's calendar, Holy Week, beginning Sunday 16 March.

Priest sentenced to life for role in Rwandan genocide

A United Nations war crimes court for Rwanda sentenced a Roman Catholic priest to life in prison for his role in Rwanda's 1994 genocide that left 800,000 dead.

Conservatives tipped to win in Iran election

Iranians voted on Friday in an election likely to keep conservatives firmly in control of parliament after unelected state bodies disqualified many reformist foes of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from the race.