News
US Methodists defer key Israeli divestment measure
United Methodist Church officials on Thursday put aside a proposal that called for the church to divest some of its holdings in companies profiting from Israel's West Bank occupation.
Pope's baseball park mass mixes sacred and secular rituals
A lone man waved from the lip of the dugout at Washington's new baseball field on Thursday, basking in the adulation of the 46,000 who had come to see him knock one out of the park.
No priority for Christian Iraqi refugees - EU Presidency
The EU presidency said on Friday there could be no priority for Christian Iraqi refugees, after German ministers said Europe should take them in.
Society still needs religion, says Archbishop
Interest in spirituality may be on the rise, but traditional religions still have a crucial role to play in a genuinely plural society, the Archbishop of Canterbury said in a lecture at Westminster Cathedral last night.
Avalon - Still testifying to love
Avalon - Janna Long, Greg Long, Melissa Greene, Jeremi Richardson - have been gracing our ears for 12 years. Here, they tell us what keeps them so humble and their relationships so strong.
Church of Scotland sees real progress in battle against HIV
The Church of Scotland's HIV/AIDS Project will tell next month's General Assembly that its efforts to scale back the spread of HIV is starting to show signs of impact on the world stage.
Christians welcome High Court ruling on BAE and Saudi Arabia
Christian campaigners have called for the reopening of a corruption investigation into the arms company BAE Systems following a landmark ruling in the High Court last week.
U.S. attacks Africa on Zimbabwe
The United States criticised Africa for lack of action on Zimbabwe on Thursday and South Africa expressed concern for the first time over a long delay in issuing results from a March 29 presidential election.
South Korea says agrees on U.S. beef imports
South Korea agreed on Friday to open its market to U.S. beef, boosting prospects for a sweeping trade deal, ahead of a Camp David summit between leaders of the two allies later in the day.
U.S. and UK united against Iran nuclear programme
The leaders of the United States and Britain on Thursday pledged a united effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, possibly by expanding sanctions against Tehran.
China state media seeks to cool nationalist anger
Chinese official media have sought to temper nationalist calls to boycott foreign businesses accused of backing Tibetan independence, urging angry citizens to focus on economic development.
Suicide bomber kills 50 at Iraq funeral
A suicide bomber struck a funeral in northern Iraq on Thursday, killing 50 mourners and wounding 55 in an attack that suggests militants have launched a new campaign of violence in the north.
Israeli troops kill militant in West Bank
Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant and arrested another during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Friday, witnesses and medical officials said.
Carter calls Gaza blockade a crime and atrocity
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter called the blockade of Gaza a crime and an atrocity on Thursday and said U.S. attempts to undermine the Islamist movement Hamas had been counterproductive.
Georgia demands Russia drop pro-rebel plans
Georgia demanded on Thursday that Russia drop plans to forge closer ties with two rebel regions of Georgia and urged the international community to help it put pressure on Moscow.
U.S. may block UK-Saudi Eurofighter deal
A British government contract to supply Saudi Arabia with Eurofighter Typhoon planes could be in jeopardy because of an internal U.S. administration debate over whether to approve the deal, The Financial Times reported on Friday.