News
Scottish Churches to launch new Children's Ministry Network
Scotland's main Churches are to launch a new ecumenical organisation to support their workers in children's ministry.
Italy seeks way out of crisis after Prodi quits
Italy's president will hold crisis talks with political leaders on Friday to see whether he can avoid calling snap elections after a no confidence vote forced Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government to resign.
Bush and Congress strike deal on economic plan
President George W. Bush and congressional leaders agreed on Thursday on a $150 billion (76.1 billion pound) package of tax rebates and business incentives meant to ward off a recession in the world's largest economy.
China train runs down and kills 18 workers
A high-speed Chinese train ran through a group of maintenance workers, killing 18 and injuring nine, the Railway Ministry said on Friday.
Israeli strikes kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza
Two Israeli air strikes on cars killed at least four Palestinian militants in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Friday, security officials and medical staff said.
Singers turning 'American Idol' into platform for abstinence
The teens aspiring to become the next "American Idol" for the 2008 season are vocal about more than just their passion for singing.
Sri Lanka says kills 30 rebels
Sri Lankan warplanes bombed a Tamil Tiger base in the far north on Friday, a day after ground troops killed 30 rebels in clashes across the region, the military said.
New team takes up posts after Hain exit
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's revamped ministerial team begins work on Friday following a reshuffle forced on Brown by the resignation of Peter Hain.
Widespread failings found in maternity care
The largest ever survey of maternity care in England has found widespread failings, with services in London criticised as the worst, the government's health watchdog said on Friday.
Brown calls for global financial reforms
The turbulence in the world's financial markets provides a chance to make widespread reforms to help avoid more crises, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a newspaper article on Friday.
Teachers to be balloted over strike
Teachers are to be balloted on a strike over pay, their union said on Friday, a move that could result in the first national walkout by teachers in two decades.
Orissa Christians told to 'convert or die'
Christians in India's Orissa state who were victims of the recent wave of communal violence are now being told to "covert or die" by Hindu extremists.
Obama plays defence on faith issue
Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama revived talks on his personal Christian faith this week in an effort to dispel rumours that he is a Muslim.
Obama dips, but still has South Carolina lead: poll
Democrat Barack Obama's big lead over rival Hillary Clinton slipped slightly but is still substantial two days before South Carolina's presidential primary, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
U.S. diplomat says Iran resolution 'punitive'
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said on Thursday a new draft resolution against Iran agreed by major powers over its nuclear work would be punitive, despite Russian remarks to the contrary.
Doctor says U.S.-led air raid kills 11 in Afghanistan
Nine police and two civilians were killed in an air strike by U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, a provincial doctor said on Thursday, but the coalition said Taliban fighters had been killed.