News
Putin's party wins majority in election
President Vladimir Putin's party won a large majority in Russia's election on Sunday, but opposition parties cried foul and vowed to contest results which the Kremlin hailed as a big endorsement for Putin.
Chavez wins Venezuela referendum
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared headed for victory on Sunday in a referendum on allowing him to remain in power as long as he keeps winning elections, two government-linked sources said, citing exit polls.
Church Urban Fund invites people to 'blog your bauble'
Church Urban Fund has launched a new "Blog Your Bauble" page on its website for Christmas year. The idea allows people to have their own Christmas bauble on which they can blog their own thoughts and prayers about poverty in the UK.
Russia votes for parliament
Russians voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election expected to hand President Vladimir Putin a big personal endorsement, but opposition figures said widespread fraud undermined the vote's legitimacy.
Chavez for life? Venezuelans to vote on re-election
Venezuelans voted in a tightly contested referendum on Sunday on whether to allow left-wing President Hugo Chavez to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections or hand him his first defeat at the polls.
Hong Kong votes in symbolic by-election
Hong Kong voters cast ballots on Sunday in a legislative by-election, a contest which has been likened to a referendum on democracy in the city that returned to Chinese rule 10 years ago.
U.S. seeks Iraq political gains; Sunnis end boycott
Iraq must take advantage of improved security and enact laws aimed at reconciliation or risk a resumption of sectarian violence, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said on Sunday.
Turkey reaffirms army's right to act in Iraq
Turkish President Abdullah Gul reaffirmed on Sunday Turkey's readiness and right to intervene in northern Iraq one day after the Turkish army said it carried out an operation there against Kurdish rebels.
Christian Aid to be named top non-governmental performer
Christian Aid will be named the top non-governmental performer in the second annual Global Accountability Report when it is released next Tuesday. The report, produced by The One World Trust, ranks 30 of the world's most powerful corporate, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations on accountability.
Sudan orders release of opposition leader
Sudan has authorised the release of Mubarak al-Fadil, a high-profile opposition leader detained for more than four months, defence lawyers said on Sunday.
Brown under fire over secret donations scandal
Opposition parties stepped up attacks on Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government on Sunday, demanding to know who knew about illegal secret donations to the Labour Party.
MPs hope to meet Sudan president over teacher
Two British Muslim politicians said they hoped to meet Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Sunday to secure the early release of a British teacher jailed for allowing her class to name a teddy bear Mohammad.
'Look beyond Christmas,' say Scotland's Churches
The leaders of Scotland's major Christian denominations have made history by speaking as one voice in their first ever joint Christmas message this week.
Russia goes to the polls
Russians voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election widely viewed as a referendum on President Vladimir Putin and overshadowed by opposition accusations that pro-Kremlin forces enjoy an unfair advantage.
Commander says violence possible if Darfur force delayed
Failure to deploy a joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission could push Sudan's Darfur region back into a spiral of violence, the military head of the mission said on Saturday.
Venezuelans to vote on re-election
Venezuelans vote in a tightly contested referendum on Sunday on whether to allow left-wing President Hugo Chavez to stay in power for as long as he keeps winning elections or hand him his first defeat at the polls.