News
Pope urges release of two priests kidnapped in Iraq
Pope Benedict appealed on Sunday for the release of two Catholic priests kidnapped in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, with reports in Iraq saying they were being held for $1 million ransom.
Polish election stirs debate over role of church
The mood is of quiet contemplation as the faithful leave the Lagiewniki sanctuary in the southern Polish city of Krakow on a cold autumn afternoon.
Southerners to hand demands to Sudan president
Former south Sudanese rebels said they would hand a list of demands to Sudan's president on Sunday to try to resolve a crisis that saw them withdraw their ministers from the country's coalition government.
Brown under pressure as polls turn against him
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown came under pressure to set out a clear vision of where he wants to take Britain on Sunday after a poll showed opposition Conservatives enjoying their strongest support for 15 years.
Mental health alert for UK troops leaving Iraq
As Britain prepares to pull hundreds of troops out of Iraq, doctors and nurses at home are getting ready to treat not only their physical wounds, but also the psychological ones.
Five Asian nations to study flood, climate risks
A new U.N. course will help five Asian nations cope with a predicted worsening of floods due to climate change that may threaten cities from Beijing to Hanoi, the U.N. University said on Sunday.
Germany says China cancels human rights meeting
China has cancelled an annual German-China human rights dialogue meeting scheduled for December, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, declining to comment on the reasons.
Rice starts Middle East trip, sees no breakthroughs
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a Middle East visit on Sunday by playing down the chances of major progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace during her four days of talks with officials from both sides.
Bluetongue outbreak detected in Denmark - EU
An outbreak of the bluetongue virus has been reported in Denmark in a sheep herd near Sakskobing on the island of Lolland, south of Zealand, the European Commission said on Saturday.
UK obesity crisis could be 'on par with climate change'
Obesity could be as big a crisis as climate change unless the nation starts to lose weight soon, Health Secretary Alan Johnson warned on Sunday.
Anglican archbishops to star atop Christmas tree
The Anglican leaders of the Church of England are available to star on top of your Christmas tree.
UK relief agency launches Zimbabwe emergency appeal
UK relief and development agency Tearfund is launching an emergency appeal to support Zimbabwe churches bringing help to the poorest families affected by Zimbabwe's spiralling crisis.
British union to decide on deal to end mail strike
British union leaders are to meet on Monday to decide whether to recommend a deal to end a postal dispute that has left 60 million items of mail undelivered.
Archbishop of Canterbury opens historic reconstructed church
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has opened a 13th Century church, which was taken apart piece by piece, transported 50 miles, and then rebuilt again at a museum in Cardiff.
Vatican bars gay priest for 'anonymous' TV confession
The Vatican has suspended a senior priest in the Holy See who acknowledged homosexual relations in a supposedly anonymous television interview, but was identified by superiors from background shots of his office.
Burma junta rallies forces, arrests top dissident
Burma's junta staged a massive pro-government rally in its main city on Saturday and arrested a top dissident as its relentless and ruthless response to last month's pro-democracy uprising showed no signs of easing.