News

Japanese cars dominate reliability survey

Japanese cars swept the board in a survey of the most reliable used cars on Friday, taking nine out of the top 10 places.

Punctuality at decade high for Network Rail

Rail infrastructure firm Network Rail said on Friday its first-half profit rose 4 percent and train punctuality hit a 10-year high, as it strives to meet government demands for expansion and performance improvement.

Litvinenko 'naive' about alleged killer

Alexander Litvinenko was fooled by his alleged killer because he was "naive like a child", his father said on Thursday as the Russian's family prepared to mark the anniversary of his death from polonium poisoning.

Auditors say govt undersold QinetiQ

The government got too little for a stake it sold in defence firm QinetiQ and was wrong to let top executives pocket 200 times what they invested, the country's National Audit Office said on Friday.

Ex-defence chiefs turn on Brown

The government scrambled to defend its record on Friday after five former defence chiefs accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of neglecting the armed forces and risking soldiers' lives.

Kobia condemns Philippines human rights abuses

World Council of Churches head, the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, expresses "grave concern" over increasing militarisation of the Philippines.

Bishop backs plans for Black Country Urban Park

The Bishop of Wolverhampton has today urged people to support the Black Country bid to win £50 million lottery cash for the area.

Approaching winter leaves cyclone victims in race against time

A leading aid worker has warned that thousands of destitute cyclone survivors in Bangladesh face a race against time for food and shelter in the face of the approaching winter.

Hard Gospel exhibition hopes to break paramilitary past

An upcoming exhibition by the Church of Ireland's anti-sectarian initiative Hard Gospel hopes to reveal a different side of life from the paramilitary past of one north Belfast area.

Commonwealth suspends Pakistan over emergency rule

The 53-nation Commonwealth suspended Pakistan's membership on Thursday, after President Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency rule and resign as army chief.

Beaten Indian students speak of 'privilege' to suffer for Christ

Two Gospel for Asia Bible college students were beaten by a mob of anti Christian extremists in Haryana state, India. The incident took place on 14th November.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian man in Gaza

Israeli troops killed one Palestinian man in the central Gaza Strip, Gaza medical officials and the army said on Thursday.

Russia's election -- a tale of two Putins

Vladimir Putin would like to take his election campaign out into the countryside but there is a problem: his party cannot afford the petrol.

Fake Muslim flyer row flares in Australia election

A fake letter linking Muslim extremists to Australia's opposition Labor Party and blamed on conservative supporters on Thursday entangled Prime Minister John Howard in a damaging row two days before a national election.

Teaching on the frontline in Gaza and Israel

Working in a classroom on the frontline of the conflict between Israel and Hamas Islamists requires a lot more than good teaching skills.

Philippines evacuates thousands as typhoon nears

The Philippines began evacuating tens of thousands of people from coastal areas in the central Bicol region as typhoon Mitag gathered strength, officials said on Thursday.