News

Bishop backs plans for Black Country Urban Park

The Bishop of Wolverhampton has today urged people to support the Black Country bid to win £50 million lottery cash for the area.

Approaching winter leaves cyclone victims in race against time

A leading aid worker has warned that thousands of destitute cyclone survivors in Bangladesh face a race against time for food and shelter in the face of the approaching winter.

Hard Gospel exhibition hopes to break paramilitary past

An upcoming exhibition by the Church of Ireland's anti-sectarian initiative Hard Gospel hopes to reveal a different side of life from the paramilitary past of one north Belfast area.

Commonwealth suspends Pakistan over emergency rule

The 53-nation Commonwealth suspended Pakistan's membership on Thursday, after President Pervez Musharraf failed to meet a deadline to lift emergency rule and resign as army chief.

Beaten Indian students speak of 'privilege' to suffer for Christ

Two Gospel for Asia Bible college students were beaten by a mob of anti Christian extremists in Haryana state, India. The incident took place on 14th November.

Israeli troops kill Palestinian man in Gaza

Israeli troops killed one Palestinian man in the central Gaza Strip, Gaza medical officials and the army said on Thursday.

Russia's election -- a tale of two Putins

Vladimir Putin would like to take his election campaign out into the countryside but there is a problem: his party cannot afford the petrol.

Fake Muslim flyer row flares in Australia election

A fake letter linking Muslim extremists to Australia's opposition Labor Party and blamed on conservative supporters on Thursday entangled Prime Minister John Howard in a damaging row two days before a national election.

Teaching on the frontline in Gaza and Israel

Working in a classroom on the frontline of the conflict between Israel and Hamas Islamists requires a lot more than good teaching skills.

Philippines evacuates thousands as typhoon nears

The Philippines began evacuating tens of thousands of people from coastal areas in the central Bicol region as typhoon Mitag gathered strength, officials said on Thursday.

Karzai says Taliban make contact for Afghan peace

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday Taliban insurgent leaders were increasingly contacting him to try to find ways of making peace.

Sports retailers slump after Euro flop

Shares in sporting goods retailers slumped on Thursday, after the England football team's failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 Championship finals sparked fears of a plunge in sales of replica kits.

Full roll-out for controversial HIPs

The controversial home information packs scheme is to be extended to all homes from next month, the government said on Thursday.

Watchdog condemns film's violent gun ads

The advertising watchdog on Wednesday upheld complaints that images used to promote an action film glamorized guns amid growing public concern about youth violence.

Fashion retailer Topshop plans China stores in 2008

Fashion retailer Topshop plans to open its first China store early next year, following rivals such as Inditex's Zara and Hennes & Mauritz AB in setting up shop in the world's fastest growing major economy, sources familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

Nationwide profits and savings jump

Nationwide, the country's largest building society and second biggest-mortgage lender, said it continued to fund its business through normal channels as it unveiled a 29 percent rise in half-year profits on Thursday.