News

China recalls war massacre

China marked 70 years since Japan's Nanjing massacre on Thursday, invoking memories of the atrocity to remind Tokyo that the wartime past remains a bitter backdrop to an improving relationship.

Five die as bomb explodes under Indian train

A bomb exploded under a packed passenger train in India's troubled northeast early on Thursday, killing at least five people, officials said.

Social mobility not improved in 30 years

Social mobility has not improved in Britain in 30 years with bright children from poor families being overtaken by less able youngsters from rich homes by the age of seven, a report released on Thursday said.

Darling welcomes central banks' action

Chancellor Alistair Darling welcomed the coordinated move by central banks to combat the credit crunch, telling a newspaper on Thursday that the action was needed to send a clear signal to the world.

US poll: One in six would not vote for Mormon president

A poll conducted immediately following presidential contender Mitt Romney's faith speech last week found that about one out of six Americans still say they would not support their party's nominee if that person was a Mormon.

Youngsters risking injury by drink driving

Almost half of young drivers get behind the wheel the morning after a heavy drinking session despite the fact that they are likely to be over the legal limit, road safety research said Thursday.

Christian Aid says US must be 'named and shamed' at climate conference

Christian Aid has said that the time is coming for UK and EU countries to "name and shame" the United States for what it calls its "blatant attempts to derail any meaningful international agreement on climate change".

Anglican head urges 'moral vision' on climate change

Archbishop Dr Rowan Williams told participants at an ecumenical gathering that a clear moral vision is needed to deal with global warming.

Maxco and Stewardship announce merger

Two Christian charities that provide personal charitable trust accounts for donors who make substantial donations have announced plans to merge.

Sailors' Society celebrates 189 years of ministering to seafarers

The newly branded Sailors' Society held a moving and thought-provoking service at St. Columba's Church of Scotland in London recently to mark the 189th anniversary of the charity.

Brown says no talks with Taliban

Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday urged Taliban fighters to down their arms and join Afghanistan's political process, saying they had a legitimate role to play.

Rock music pioneer Ike Turner dead at 76

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Ike Turner, who rose to fame in the 1950s and became a star performing with his ex-wife Tina Turner, has died at age 76, said an official with the performer's management company.

Families of kidnapped Britons make appeal

The families of five Britons held hostage in Iraq appealed to their kidnappers on Wednesday to release them and said they would explore all options to ensure their safe return.

Bush vetoes children's health bill a second time

U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bill expanding a popular children's health-care program for a second time.

Tropical storm flooding kills 9 in Caribbean

Flash flooding from Tropical Storm Olga's torrential rains killed at least eight people in the Dominican Republic and forced tens of thousands out of their homes, government officials said on Wednesday.

Stepmother says Diana was madly in love

Princess Diana's stepmother told an inquest on Wednesday she thought Diana and Dodi al-Fayed were "madly in love" and planning to wed before their deaths in a 1997 Paris road crash.