News
Muslim feast spat offers Senegalese extra holiday
A dispute among religious leaders in Senegal over the timing of a Muslim feast means Senegalese may end up celebrating not just one day's holiday but three this year.
Baghdad Santa is back to hear wishes for peace
Here's what Karrar Haider, a 10-year-old Shi'ite boy at a school in eastern Baghdad, told Santa he wants this year for the holidays: "I have one wish to ask Santa Claus. Please bring peace to my country. Stop the bombs so I can play with my friends again."
Muslim pilgrims stone wall and cut hair at haj
Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at a stone wall outside Mecca, shaved their heads and bought sacrificial animals on Wednesday, the third day of the annual haj pilgrimage to the Mecca area.
French court finds ex-Guantanamo inmates guilty
Five former Guantanamo Bay inmates were found guilty on Wednesday of terrorism-related charges by a French court and sentenced to one year in prison.
New $16.5m Bethlehem hospital unites Abrahamic faiths
Christians broke ground Tuesday on Bethlehem's first speciality hospital, which organisers hope will be a centre bringing together Christians, Jews, and Palestinians to heal the sick in a land rife with sectarian violence.
Assad says Mideast peace in 2008 unlikely due to U.S. vote
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said achieving Middle East peace in 2008 looked unrealistic because the United States would be preoccupied with the presidential election.
Putin is Time magazine's 'Person of the Year'
Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2007 on Wednesday for bringing his country "roaring back to the table of world power."
Jesus' birthplace to host major Christmas Eve festival
Bethlehem's Manger Square, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, will host its largest event since 1999 on Christmas Eve this year.
'Reasonable assumption' BoE's King will get 2nd term
It is reasonable to assume that Bank of England Governor Mervyn King will be appointed for a second five-year term as head of the central bank early next year, a government source told Reuters on Wednesday.
Bradford & Bingley not eyeing N.Rock
Britain's biggest buy-to-let lender Bradford & Bingley (B&B) denied a report it was considering a bid for part of troubled lender Northern Rock.
Lily Allen expecting first child
Pop star Lily Allen is pregnant with her first baby, her publicist announced on Wednesday.
Rule change to stoke London housing shortage
Plans by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to force small property developers to build more affordable housing could exacerbate the capital's housing shortage, CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) said on Wednesday.
Police officers face charges over man's car death
Two police officers face charges of causing death by dangerous driving after a pensioner died when his car collided with a police vehicle carrying out speed checks.
MP doubts his existence over Facebook ban
An MP has had his Facebook account suspended after the site decided he wasn't real.
LibDems pick Clegg to revive fortunes
The Liberal Democrats elected 40-year-old Nick Clegg as their third leader in two years on Tuesday, handing him the task of improving their battered electoral fortunes and restoring party harmony.
Church head praises leading South African presidential candidate
The man widely predicted to become South Africa's next president has been praised as a patient and caring leader by the church which ordained him as pastor.