News
Taiwan issues typhoon warning
A typhoon will hit Taiwan late on Thursday, sparking land and sea advisories and becoming the island's first major storm of the year before moving on to China, weather forecasters said.
World food crisis drives up U.N. aid funding need
The global food crisis is largely responsible for driving up the United Nations' need for funding to confront disasters and emergencies around the world this year by one-fifth, the U.N. said on Wednesday.
Indonesia denies execution of Bali bombers imminent
The execution of three Indonesian men convicted for the 2002 Bali bombs is not imminent since the Supreme Court still needs to respond to a legal appeal, a spokesman for the Attorney-General's office said on Thursday.
Half a million workers strike over pay
Hundreds of thousands of local government workers went on strike on Wednesday in a dispute over pay that paralysed services from education to rubbish collection.
Israel frees 5 Lebanese in swap with Hezbollah
Israel handed over five Lebanese prisoners to Hezbollah via the Red Cross on Wednesday after the Shi'ite guerrilla group returned the bodies of two Israeli soldiers seized in a cross-border raid in 2006.
Religion satire to see the light at Toronto fest
"Borat" director Larry Charles is bringing his follow-up project to the Toronto International Film Festival for its world premiere in September, organizers said Thursday.
Schools go green and join carbon trading scheme
State schools are to be included under the government's new domestic carbon emissions trading scheme from April 2010, the environment minister said on Wednesday.
Motorway hard shoulders to be opened up
The government is to open up more motorway hard shoulders to drivers during congested periods after a successful trial in the Midlands under a package of proposals announced on Wednesday.
Christian politicians go 24 hours as slum dwellers
Christian MPs were among a group of six parliamentarians who spent the last 24 hours in a makeshift slum to draw attention to the plight of the one billion slum dwellers worldwide.
The Psalm Of Life
What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist. Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.
Bishops to stay in Lords under new reform proposals
New proposals to reform the House of Lords that could see Church of England bishops retain their privileged status have been announced by Justice Secretary Jack Straw.
Feed each other
The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, 'Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.' But he said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' They said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish-unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.'
US study asks, 'Who are the unchurched?'
With churches largely mapping out their local mission around what they identify to be an "unchurched" population, a research firm set out to paint a clearer picture of who unchurched Americans really are.
Fuel duty rise delayed
Chancellor Alistair Darling is delaying a fuel duty rise planned for October for at least another six months, the Treasury said on Wednesday.
Council workers strike over pay
Hundreds of thousands of local government workers went on strike on Wednesday in a dispute over pay that threatened to paralyse services from education to rubbish collection.
Iran says deterring foes
Iran can deter any threats against it, the head of the Revolutionary Guards said in comments published on Wednesday, after the country's air force announced plans for a military exercise to help deter its foes.