News

Six Kurdish rebels killed in clashes in SE Turkey

Six members of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed in a clash with Turkish military forces in southeastern Turkey late on Friday, security sources said.

Zimbabwe to introduce 100 bln dollar bank note

Zimbabwe's central bank will introduce new higher-value 100 billion Zimbabwe dollar notes on Monday as part of a desperate fight against spiralling hyperinflation, the bank said.

Ethnic Madheshi set to be Nepal's first president

Nepal was set to elect its first president on Saturday, from a marginalised ethnic community whose violent demand for a greater say in running the government once threatened a peace deal with Maoist former rebels.

Geneva nuclear talks are seen as 'crucial'

A new round of talks between Iran and world powers over Tehran's nuclear programme will make or break the negotiations, a senior Iranian official said on Friday.

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.