News
Duke of Edinburgh meets Christian microfinance workers in Uganda
Duke of Edinburgh meets staff of the Five Talents microfinance programmes in Uganda where they are working to help 1,500 people achieve financial independence.
Clinton's 'gutsy' church appearance softens evangelicals
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton made what some called a "gutsy move" last week when she appeared at a conservative evangelical megachurch in California to talk about Aids.
Kidnapped priest released in southeast Turkey
A Syriac Christian priest kidnapped last week in southeast Turkey was released unharmed on Friday.
Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope
Pope Benedict, in an encyclical released on Friday, said atheism was responsible for some of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" in history.
Pope accepts Muslim call for dialogue, plans meeting
Pope Benedict has accepted an unprecedented call by Muslim scholars for dialogue between Christians and Islam, inviting them for meetings in Vatican City, the Vatican said at the end of last week.
Turkey says inflicts heavy casualties on PKK in Iraq
Turkey said it inflicted heavy casualties on Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Saturday in an "intense intervention" involving helicopters, artillery and a cross-border raid by special forces.
S.Africa cites progress on AIDS
South Africa, which has one of the world's worst AIDS epidemics, has made headway in fighting the HIV virus, but condom use is still insufficient, government leaders said on Saturday.
Death-toll rises from Uganda's Ebola outbreak
Two more Ugandans have died of a new strain of the deadly Ebola virus in an outbreak near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing the death-toll to 18, health officials said on Saturday.
Daredevil Evel Knievel dies after long illness
Daredevil Evel Knievel, who dodged death in spectacular motorcycle leaps and crashes in a life full of showmanship, died on Friday at age 69, according to his lawyer and a message on his Web site.
World powers fail to agree on Iran
World powers held a "positive" meeting on Iran on Saturday but failed to reach a decision on further sanctions to punish Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, a French diplomat said.
Six Palestinians, including militants, killed in Gaza
The Israeli army on Saturday killed six Palestinians, including five militants, in two separate incidents in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials and Hamas said.
Three South Africa mineworkers die in accidents
Three South African mineworkers died in separate accidents on Saturday, the country's biggest mining union said.
Turkey's Gul approves army sackings of 'Islamists'
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has approved the sackings of seven military personnel suspected of Islamist leanings, the military General Staff said, in a move that may help ease secularist reservations about him.
Chad president sacks defence minister after clashes
Chadian President Idriss Deby sacked his defence minister on Saturday following a week of clashes between government troops and rebels in the east of the landlocked African country.
Russian liberals accuse Putin over pre-poll speech
A Russian liberal party accused President Vladimir Putin of abusing his authority in the run-up to Sunday's parliamentary election that is expected to consolidate his grip on power.
I struggle to keep believing, Colombia hostage says
In dramatic detail, a letter from Colombian rebel hostage Ingrid Betancourt portrays how she struggles to survive and maintain hope after nearly six years in secret guerrilla camps.