Jennifer Gold and agencies

Obama keen to distance from pastor's controversial comments

US presidential candidate Barack Obama will use a speech on Tuesday to distance himself from inflammatory race comments from his former pastor.

China makes room for faithful during Olympics

Officials in China announced on Wednesday that preparations are in full swing to accommodate religious believers attending the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.

Islamist extremism creating 'no-go areas', says bishop

The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, warned on Sunday that Islamic extremism had turned some areas of Britain into hostile "no-go areas" for people of a different faith.

Madeleine parents hopeful six months after disappearance

The parents of Madeleine McCann said on Saturday that they remain hopeful their daughter is still alive, six months after she went missing while on holiday in Portugal.

Russia schools ban Halloween

Moscow schools have been ordered to ban students from celebrating Halloween despite the widespread popularity of the imported festival to Russia.