News
Sri Lanka state behind 'disappearances'
Sri Lanka's government is responsible for widespread abductions and disappearances as it fights a new phase in a 25-year civil war with the Tamil Tigers, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday, calling for a U.N. monitoring mission.
U.N. envoy returns to Myanmar
U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar on Thursday amid waning optimism about his mission to get the military junta to start talks with the opposition on political reform.
ID cards expected to go to airport workers first
Airport workers are expected to be the first to be given identity cards under plans to be announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith on Thursday.
National minimum wage to rise 3.8 percent
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the national minimum wage would go up on Oct 1 this year by 3.8 percent to a rate of 5.73 an hour.
No relief yet for bruised banks
Banks made over 40 billion pounds of profits last year, but they have seen twice that amount wiped off their market value since July and face a grim outlook.
MPs call for higher aviation taxes
Air passengers should face a "significant increase" in taxes, including a new charge for the longest flights, to help combat climate change, a group of MPs said in a report on Wednesday.
Israel-Gaza fighting provokes church response
Recent Israel-Gaza missile exchanges have sparked renewed concerns over the delicate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and prompted church bodies to offer moral voices in the ongoing conflict.
Global warming needs help of churches - UN chief
"Global warming will only be resolved through a global common response and we need your help," the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told the head of the World Council of Churches, Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, this week.
Search on for hymn to honour John Calvin
Church bodies looking for hymn to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Reformer John Calvin.
Christians Against Poverty 'Best Small Company to Work For'
Christians Against Poverty is celebrating after being awarded first place in the Sunday Times 'Best Small Company to Work For' Awards.
Religion can promote social harmony in China - official
In the face of intense international scrutiny, China's leaders are keen to reassure the international community that the country respects religious freedom.
Clinton stays alive and McCain wins nomination
Hillary Clinton swept critical showdowns with Barack Obama in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday to keep her Democratic presidential bid alive, and John McCain clinched the Republican nomination and looked ahead to the November election.
Ecuador lobbies for support in Andean crisis
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa visited Latin American powerhouse Brazil on Wednesday on his regional tour to push Colombia to apologize for a military operation in Ecuador as an Andean crisis escalated.
Ukraine leader tells PM to restart Russia gas talks
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Wednesday to urgently restart talks with Moscow after Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom halved supplies to Kiev in a pricing row.
Rice pushes for Mideast peace talks
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will push Israelis and Palestinians on Wednesday to return to peace talks and stop violence in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Kenyan parties agree constitution road map
Kenya's rival political parties agreed on a roadmap for reform of the constitution on Tuesday, moving closer towards an agreement on divisive issues exposed by the country's post-election crisis.