News
Canada says Afghan mission will end in 2011
Canada's minority Conservative government, bowing to a key opposition demand, said on Thursday its military mission in southern Afghanistan will end in 2011 and would not be extended.
Uganda's LRA rebels walk out of peace talks
Negotiators for Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels walked out of peace talks in southern Sudan after their demands for cash and cabinet jobs were rejected, the government said on Thursday.
Chad rebels deny government talks, EU troops fly in
Chadian rebels denied a government statement on Thursday that they had begun peace talks, dampening hopes for a negotiated settlement as European peacekeepers flew in to the central African country.
Tearfund campaigners meet the people behind the fair trade goods
With Fairtrade Fortnight fast approaching (25 February - 9 March), Tearfund volunteers are encouraging their local communities to switch to fairtrade products, fresh from a visit to Tearcraft producers in India.
Kenya athletes deny helping Rift Valley killings
Senior members of Kenya's athletics fraternity reacted indignantly on Thursday to an accusation they funded some of the worst post-election violence in the Rift Valley area.
Global church body moves ecumenical journey forward
The World Council of Churches (WCC) closed a weeklong conference in Geneva on Wednesday with a commitment to make progress on the ecumenical movement and released several public statements on key global issues.
Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons fastest-growing 'churches' in US
The two fastest-growing church bodies in the United States and Canada, according to a newly published report, are ones whose beliefs are known to conflict with traditional Christian teaching.
Catholics complain of unfair pressure in Algeria
Algeria's tiny Catholic community is in trouble with the authorities because of a mistaken belief that it wants to convert Muslims, the country's Roman Catholic archbishop said on Wednesday.
Philippine bishops expect slow road to end of corruption
The influential Catholic leadership in the Philippines expects a slow burn anti-corruption drive against the government rather than a sudden toppling of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo due to a kickbacks scandal.
Papal trip to China 'unthinkable' - Vatican official
A trip by Pope Benedict to China would be "unthinkable" at the moment because there is not enough religious freedom there, a Vatican official said on Wednesday.
Christian campaigners launch new viral against embryology Bill
The Lawyers Christian Fellowship (LCF) and Christian Action Research Education (CARE) joined forces with the All Party Pro-Life Group on Wednesday to launch a new viral campaign video into cyberspace.
World Council of Churches begins search for Kobia's successor
The search committee for a new World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary has already begun to work.
Day of reckoning for Cuba's suppressed Catholics
Catholics in Cuba are hoping that Fidel Castro's retirement and a visit from the Vatican Secretary of State are the start of a breakthrough in relations between the Catholic Church and the Cuban state.
U.S. missile hits spy satellite
A missile from a U.S. Navy warship hit a defunct U.S. spy satellite 133 nautical miles (247 km) above the Earth in an attempt to blow apart its tank of toxic fuel, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.
Kenya agrees in principle to PM post
Kenya's government has agreed in principle to the creation of a prime minister's post sought by the opposition, but the terms and duties are still being discussed, a government negotiator said on Thursday.
Clinton sharpens message in attack on Obama
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton criticized rival Barack Obama as a big dreamer with little substance on Wednesday as she sought to slow his momentum from 10 straight victories in the race for the party's U.S. presidential nomination.