News

Betancourt reunited with children

Ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt, rescued from leftist rebels in a stunning Colombian military operation after six years in captivity, was reunited with her children on Thursday.

Hitler wax figure unveiled in Berlin amid criticism

Berlin's new waxwork museum on Thursday unveiled a figure of a glum-looking Adolf Hitler in a mock bunker during the last days of his life, an exhibit that has been criticized as in bad taste.

House arrest for Qaeda suspect

An Algerian suspected of links to Osama bin Laden and bomb plots in the United States and France has been freed from prison after more than seven years but placed under house arrest while he fights deportation.

At 60, the NHS needs reality check

The National Health Service is famous for being free at the point of need, but analysts say that if the 60-year-old NHS is to serve an ageing and expanding population, the reality of its cost must be accepted.

Cardinal presses MPs on protection for unborn children

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland has written to all 646 MPs asking them not to go further in withdrawing legal protection from unborn children.

WCC head rejoices at release of Colombian hostages

World Council of Churches head rejoices at release of Colombian hostages, urges FARC to release hundreds more remaining hostages.

Brazil Indians seek pope's support in land battle

Brazilian Indians locked in a land dispute in the Amazon met Pope Benedict at the Vatican on Wednesday to enlist Church support in their efforts to defend their three-year-old reservation.

Sunni 'infidels' edict may de-rail Saudi inter-faith efforts

Shi'ite Muslim clerics in Saudi Arabia have criticised a religious edict from Sunni Muslim counterparts branding them infidels, a statement some say is a swipe at King Abdullah's inter-faith dialogue efforts.

Windrush Generation Church hopes to make spiritual, social impact

The Church founded by a member of the Windrush generation aims to galvanise members to impact their local communities at forthcoming national convention.

Shares tumble worldwide on 'Super Thursday'

A global sell-off knocked world shares to a five-month low on Thursday as surging oil fanned concerns about inflation and slowing growth, ahead of an expected euro zone interest rate hike and a key U.S. jobs report.

Colombia tricks rebels in hostage rescue

Colombian troops tricked rebels into freeing politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans in a bold but bloodless jungle rescue that dealt a severe blow to Latin America's oldest left-wing insurgency.

French students murdered and set alight

Two French DNA research students were tied up, repeatedly stabbed and left in a burning flat in an attack described by one senior detective on Thursday as the most shocking he had ever seen.

Britain signs deal for biggest-ever warships

Defence chiefs signed a three billion pound contract on Thursday to build two aircraft carriers that will be the biggest warships in the Royal Navy's history, the government said.

Darling says oil price 'real problem'

The oil price is a real problem and production needs to rise, Chancellor Alistair Darling said on Thursday.

CofE campaign targets young people for ordained ministry

There's more to ordained ministry than you might think - so don't miss the 'Call Waiting', says Church of England

Christian group concerned over human-pig embryo licence

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's decision to grant a licence for the creation of human-pig hybrids is a "foretaste of things to come", warns the Christian Legal Centre.