News

Church of Ireland launches 'Jump' youth programme

New year out experience to give young adults a jump start in work within the Church of Ireland.

Website revamps to help Archbishops reach new audiences

Archbishops' websites undergo revamp to reach fresh audiences with their beliefs, activities and personalities.

Sharif says danger hinders vote campaign

Pakistan's perilous security situation is hindering campaigning for February 18 elections with politicians putting their lives at risk when they go out to seek votes, opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

Afghan court sentences journalist to death

An Afghan court has handed down the death sentence to a local journalist found guilty of blasphemy, an official said on Wednesday.

Gunmen kill dean of Baghdad dental school

Gunmen killed the dean of Baghdad University's dental school while he was driving home from work on Wednesday, Iraqi police said.

Prodi holds talks with president

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi paid an unexpected visit on Wednesday to the presidential palace for talks with the head of state, witnesses said.

Iran vows to follow nuclear path despite sanctions

Iranian leaders vowed on Wednesday to press on with Tehran's disputed nuclear work regardless of any new U.N. sanctions, one day after world powers agreed the outline of a new resolution.

Kenya opposition and police clash at funeral

Kenyan police fired teargas to disperse stone-throwing youths at a funeral on Wednesday held by the opposition for slum residents killed in a crackdown on protests against President Mwai Kibaki's disputed election.

EU executive adopts climate fight blueprint

The European Union's executive adopted landmark proposals on Wednesday that will make the 27-nation bloc a world leader in the fight against climate change, but tradeoffs will include higher energy bills.

Police to view video of Winehouse

Police said on Wednesday they would investigate video footage of soul singer Amy Winehouse allegedly smoking crack cocaine. Still images from the footage first appeared on the front page of the Sun tabloid on Tuesday, and the Times newspaper quoted the head of Winehouse's record company saying that it may abandon plans to promote her in the key U.S. market.

Johnson to urge food label clarification

Health Secretary Alan Johnson will call on retailers and food producers on Wednesday to end a split over health labels on food and agree to a single scheme to help tackle obesity.

Straight As no longer enough for top universities

Achieving three A grades at A-level will no longer be enough to ensure a place at a top university, academics warned on Wednesday.

ID card scheme 'to be postponed'

The multi-billion pound plan to introduce national identity cards, one of the world's biggest IT projects, is to be postponed until after the next election, the Conservatives claimed on Wednesday.

Arrests made over fatal hotel fire

Detectives said on Wednesday they had arrested two men in connection with a fire, believed to have been started deliberately, which gutted a hotel in Cornwall last summer leaving three people dead.

Man held over 'frenzied' attack on girl

Police said on Wednesday they had arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the frenzied knife attack on a teenage girl who was left for dead in a Lancashire park.

Thousands of police march over pay 'betrayal'

About 18,500 off-duty police officers marched through central London on Wednesday in an angry protest at the government's decision not to backdate a pay rise.