News
Sarkozy says will listen to Irish
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would listen to Irish objections to the EU reform treaty when he visits Dublin next week but that the view of the 23 countries that have adopted the treaty could not be overlooked.
Houston refinery crane collapse kills 4
Four people were killed and seven were injured when a massive crane collapsed at LyondellBasell's Houston refinery on Friday afternoon, a refinery executive said.
Two French aid workers kidnapped in Afghanistan
Two French aid workers were abducted in Afghanistan after gunmen tied up guards and broke into the guest house where they were sleeping, humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger said on Friday.
Brown says wants to cut troops in Iraq
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he wanted to reduce British troop levels in Iraq but he refused to set any timetable for their departure.
Darling considering fiscal reform
Chancellor Alistair Darling said in an interview published on Saturday that he was considering reforming the rules governing public finances and expected the economic downturn to last for years.
Welsh minister resigns after gaffes
A Welsh Assembly minister has resigned after a series of gaffes including walking into a pub smoking a cigar.
Sri Lanka: Buddhist monks destroy church, attack pastor
Buddhist monks have destroyed a church in Thalahena, and attacked a pastor and church workers , with the police were powerless to stop them
Oxford professor warns of increasing opposition to Christianity
"History has come full circle and Christianity is seen once more simply as one among a plethora of competing alternatives, all of which are regarded by an increasing number of influential intellectuals as dangerous," stated Dr John Lennox, speaking at this year's Keswick Convention.
Lutheran head assures Zimbabwean churches of solidarity
The President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Mark S Hanson, has expressed the Lutheran communion's solidarity and support toward Zimbabweans in in the midst of the ongoing political and economic crisis.
Saudi inter-faith conference ends with anti-terrorism pact
Religious leaders concluded a historic inter-faith conference on Friday with a call for an international pact to combat terrorism.
Pope apologises for Church sexual abuse in Australia
Pope Benedict apologised on Saturday for sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia, saying those responsible should be brought to justice.
Chambers fails in Olympic bid
Sprinter Dwain Chambers cannot take part in the Beijing Olympics next month after failing to gain an injunction against a British Olympic Association ban in the High Court on Friday.
MoD admits loss of 747 laptops and secret data files
The Ministry of Defence said on Friday more than twice as many laptops had been lost or stolen in the last four years than previously thought, along with 121 computer memory sticks, some containing secret information.
Record borrowing ups heat on Brown
Fiscal rules may have to be relaxed after data on Friday showed public borrowing at record levels, threatening to breach the restrictions the government set itself on how much debt it can take on.
'Scrap school tests' call after results delay
The government faced calls on Friday to scrap national testing of 14 year-olds in England as it was announced that nearly three out of ten pupils would not receive results for English by the end of term.
Gang attacks policemen after complaint
A gang of up to 30 people attacked two policemen - biting one of them - in south London after the officers asked a teenage girl to pick up some litter she had dropped, Scotland Yard said on Friday.