News
Turkey's Gul approves army sackings of 'Islamists'
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has approved the sackings of seven military personnel suspected of Islamist leanings, the military General Staff said, in a move that may help ease secularist reservations about him.
Chad president sacks defence minister after clashes
Chadian President Idriss Deby sacked his defence minister on Saturday following a week of clashes between government troops and rebels in the east of the landlocked African country.
Russian liberals accuse Putin over pre-poll speech
A Russian liberal party accused President Vladimir Putin of abusing his authority in the run-up to Sunday's parliamentary election that is expected to consolidate his grip on power.
I struggle to keep believing, Colombia hostage says
In dramatic detail, a letter from Colombian rebel hostage Ingrid Betancourt portrays how she struggles to survive and maintain hope after nearly six years in secret guerrilla camps.
UK peers seek freedom for Sudan teacher
A British Muslim politician said on Saturday he had not given up hope of an early release for a British teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her class to name a teddy Bear Mohammad.
Brown calls for shake-up in party funding
Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for a change in political funding rules on Saturday after the millionaire businessman at the heart of a secret donation scandal said Labour was at fault.
One in three in G7 ignorant about Aids - survey
One in three adults in the world's top industrial democracies say they know little or nothing about AIDS, a disease thought to have killed more than 28 million people in the past 26 years, a poll showed on Thursday.
Friends and Heroes receives Gold Award
Friends and Heroes, the animated action-adventure TV series for children, today received the Christian Broadcasting Council's Gold Award as the Best Youth/Children's Programme 2007.
US Episcopal report highlights concerns over church attendance drop
An Episcopal Church committee has released an interim report that reveals positive trends as well as concerns in declining membership and church conflicts.
Turk army gets green light to hit rebels in N.Iraq
Turkey's prime minister said on Friday his cabinet had authorized the armed forces to conduct a cross-border operation against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq, but analysts said major action did not appear imminent.
Russians say being forced to vote in election
Students in Siberia, doctors on the Volga river, and office workers in Moscow say they are being threatened with disciplinary action if they do not vote in Sunday's parliamentary election.
ETA gunmen kill Spanish policeman in France
ETA suspects shot and killed a Spanish Guardia Civil policeman in France on Saturday, French police said, the Basque separatist group's first killing since it abandoned a ceasefire in June.
Indian minister hands cyclone aid to Bangladesh
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday for a short visit to see areas devastated by a cyclone two weeks ago, and meet government leaders.
Secret donor to Labour blames party
The millionaire businessman at the centre of the scandal over secret donations to Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party laid the blame at the political grouping's door on Saturday.
India's Supreme Court delays Dalit Christian hearings
The Supreme Court of India has postponed hearings on demands made by Dalit Christians and Muslims for full constitutional rights after the central government again failed to officially respond.
Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka fightback
Kumar Sangakarra scored 86 not out as Sri Lanka reached 180 for 7 at tea on the first day of the first test against England on Saturday.