News

Missile hits Pakistan's Waziristan

A missile struck a house in a Pakistani region known as a safe haven for al Qaeda militants early on Thursday, killing at least eight people, residents and intelligence officials said.

Turkey gives U.S. no timeframe on Iraq operation

Turkey has given no clear timeframe for ending its military operations against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters on Thursday after talks with Turkish officials.

Israel steps up Gaza air strikes after Hamas rockets

Israel stepped up air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing five Palestinian gunmen after the first death in Israel in nine months from a rocket attack launched from the Hamas-controlled territory.

Colombian rebels free hostages

Marxist rebels freed four Colombian hostages from their "living death" in the jungle on Wednesday in a victory for Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez, who brokered the deal.

China urges West to put pressure on Darfur rebels

China, under international pressure to do more to end bloodshed in Darfur, urged Western powers Wednesday to persuade rebel groups to attend peace talks with the government of its Sudanese ally.

Singapore says suspected JI leader escaped from toilet

A "security lapse" led to the escape of the leader of the city-state's wing of the Islamic militant network, Jemaah Islamiah (JI), Singapore said on Thursday.

Church calls for Government warning to gambling industry

The Church of England has encouraged Culture Secretary Andy Burnham to issue a warning to the gambling industry that he will enforce a statutory levy that will go towards the care of problem gamblers.

Australian fisherman swims 12 hours to raise alarm

A fisherman swam 12 hours to reach the shore while another survived 30 hours at sea until a helicopter spotted him on Thursday after their trawler sank off the Australian coast, rescuers said.

Network Rail fined over engineering delays

The rail regulator said on Thursday it would fine rail infrastructure firm Network Rail 14 million pounds after engineering projects over-ran, causing New Year train delays.

GP pay bill 1.8 billion above budget

A new pay contract for family doctors in England cost 1.76 billion pounds more than budgeted and has failed to deliver expected improvements in patient care, the government's accounting watchdog said on Thursday.

Government to appeal Algerian pilot ruling

The government said on Wednesday it would appeal against a ruling ordering it to consider compensation for an Algerian pilot who spent five months in jail wrongly accused of training September11 hijackers.

School sealed off over suspect packages

Firefighters sealed off a building in Edinburgh on Wednesday after three packages suspected to contain radioactive materials were discovered, emergency services said.

Drivers set for London to Beijing by double-decker bus

London bus drivers are being asked to go the extra mile for the Olympics by signing up for a three-month journey from Trafalgar Square to Beijing.

Government urged to replace VAT with environment taxes

The government should replace VAT, a European Union-regulated tax on goods and services, with environmental taxes to encourage green products, an environmental lobby group said on Thursday.

Compassionart songwriters record at Abbey Road

Michael W Smith, Israel Houghton record Compassionart song "So Great" for April's WOW Hits 1 Release.

Holistic youth work at the margins - the story of the Bradford e:merge project

Just Walk With Me is an engaging, no holds barred look at the work of e:merge through the eyes of seasoned youth worker, Yan, who established the project in 1994, and new recruit, Niki.