News
World's oldest geisha looks to future
Her face creased with age and her hearing faltering, 98-year-old Kokin is proud to have dedicated her life to being a geisha, feted by men for her charm, wit and beauty.
Archbishop welcomes British teacher's pardon in Sudan
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has welcomed the pardon of the British school teacher who was jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name the class teddy bear Mohammad.
Chavez's bid for new powers rejected
President Hugo Chavez crashed to an unprecedented vote defeat on Monday as Venezuelans rejected his bid to run for re-election indefinitely and win new powers to accelerate his socialist revolution in the OPEC nation.
Pakistan's Sharif barred from January vote
Pakistan's Election Commission on Monday barred former prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif from a January 8 general election because of his criminal record.
Adviser says British teacher in Sudan pardoned
A British teacher jailed in Sudan for allowing her students to name a teddy bear Mohammad has been pardoned, a Sudanese presidential adviser said on Monday.
Methodist Church launches audio Bible study
A Word in Time, the Methodist Church's online Bible study for daily life, was launched at the beginning of September and has been hugely successful, with around 300 visitors to the site every day.
Welsh clerics express 'concern and dismay' over plans for women bishops
A hundred clerics and ordinands of the Church in Wales have expressed "concern and dismay" at the wording of a Bill meant to allow women to join the episcopate, reports the Church Times.
Catholics get ready to welcome back lapsed believers this Christmas
'O Come All Ye Faithful' is the cry of the Catholic Church this Christmas with the launch of its new campaign this Christmas to welcome lapsed believers.
Indian cardinal calls for alcohol-free Christmas to save families
A Roman Catholic Cardinal in Kerala, India, has urged Christians to celebrate an alcohol-free Christmas this year.
Church of England releases virtual Christmas cards on Facebook
This Advent, the Church of England has blessed a selection of virtual Christmas cards to be released on social networking site Facebook.
Putin scores landslide win
President Vladimir Putin's party scored a landslide win in Russia's election, results showed on Monday, but the opposition vowed to challenge an outcome that could help Putin keep a grip on power after he leaves office.
Australia ratifies Kyoto pact
Australia's new prime minister, Kevin Rudd, took the oath of office on Monday and immediately signed documents to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, ending his country's decade of opposition to the global climate agreement.
Brown accused over rising child poverty
Tens of thousands more children in Britain are living below the poverty line, a report found on Monday, as MPs questioned Gordon Brown's commitment to eradicating child poverty.
Spice Girls kick off world tour in Canada
"Girl Power" returned on Sunday as the Spice Girls kicked off their long-awaited world reunion tour with a more sophisticated look than when they first stormed the pop world in the 1990s.
Report shows ethical spending on the rise
A report from the Co-operative Bank has found that UK households spent twice as much on ethical goods last year as they did five years ago.
Iraqi Christian leader speaks of improving security situation
Emmanuel Delly III, the Iraqi head of the Chaldean Christian church has said that security for Christians is improving Iraq. Delly was one of 23 church leaders recently appointed as Cardinals by the Pope.