News
Archbishop of Canterbury call to protect environment
The Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams is expected to speak of the need to protect the environment in his Christmas sermon this year.
Cardinal says immigrants 'need to be welcomed'
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has called upon the nation to be more welcoming to immigrants.
Romney facing challenges in presidential bid
In a topsy-turvy Republican race for the 2008 presidential nomination, conservative favourite Mitt Romney suddenly found himself under threat in the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire on Monday, less than two weeks before voting begins.
Thaksin to return as Thai political mess churns on
Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Tuesday he was confident the party he backed in weekend elections could form a coalition government, unless prevented unfairly, allowing him to return from exile.
Settlement dispute stalls Mideast talks
Israel is considering easing criteria for freeing Palestinian prisoners, a move one Israeli official said on Monday could pave the way for the release of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi.
Opposition holds poll advantage in tight Kenya vote
Two heavyweights of Kenya's post-independence politics square off in a presidential vote on Thursday that has overshadowed Christmas and seen the opposition hold a small lead in opinion polls during the campaign.
Pope says find time for God at Christmas
Pope Benedict led the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into Christmas with a midnight mass on Tuesday, urging people to find time and space for God, the needy and the suffering.
Truck bomb kills at least 20 north of Baghdad
A suicide truck bomb killed at least 20 people and wounded 80 in the northern Iraqi city of Baiji on Tuesday, the U.S. military and police said, in one of the deadliest attacks in Iraq in two weeks.
Churches celebrate busy Christmas season
Thousands of worshippers have squeezed into packed churches this Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Iran said to seek bids for 19 atomic power plants
Iran said on Monday it rejected any preconditions for talks with the United States, which suspects it wants an atomic bomb, and a member of parliament was quoted as saying Tehran planned 19 nuclear power plants.
Afghans detain woman with suicide bomb under burqa
A woman carrying a waistcoat filled with explosives under her all-enveloping burqa was arrested on Monday in eastern Afghanistan, provincial officials said, in the first possible reported case of a female suicide bomber in the country.
Kenyan presidential campaigns wrap up with rallies
Kenyan police fired teargas to disperse stone-throwing supporters of the country's main presidential contenders on Monday after the candidates made a final push to win votes in a race deemed too close to call.
No let-up for Christmas for U.S. troops in Iraq
Christmas Eve, late afternoon, and U.S. soldiers from 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment piled into their Stryker armoured vehicles for a patrol out on the streets of Baghdad.
Uzbek leader Karimov re-elected
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan's only president since independence from Soviet rule, swept to victory with 88.1 percent of the vote in a weekend election criticised as undemocratic by Western observers.
Sharif says Musharraf made a mockery of Pakistan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made the country an international laughing stock by purging the judiciary after he imposed emergency rule in November, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday.
Thai parties start coalition deal-making
Thailand's political parties got down to hard bargaining on Monday after voters roundly rejected last year's military coup but failed to give supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra an outright majority.