News
McCann friend speaks out over Madeleine
A woman who believes she saw a man carrying Madeleine McCann through a Portuguese resort shortly before the girl disappeared in May has insisted she is not a fantasist.
German amateur cracks World War Two code
British computer experts acknowledged defeat on Friday after a German amateur radio enthusiast won a challenge to crack secret messages encoded by a World War Two cipher.
Web site locates 9 child sex offenders
A police Web site has tracked down nine of Britain's 13 most wanted paedophiles in the past year, the specialist crime team in charge said on Friday.
Three die in Uganda as floods submerge slum
Flash floods in Uganda's capital Kampala killed at least three people on Friday and washed away scores of houses, shops and vehicles, witnesses said.
Russia readies nuclear fuel bound for Iran
Russia said on Friday that the United Nation's nuclear watchdog would soon start inspecting and sealing nuclear fuel bound for an Iran's first atomic power plant.
Art lover fined for kissing painting in France
An art lover who kissed a $2-million (980,866 pound) painting, leaving red lipstick smears on the canvas, was fined by a French court on Friday and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community work.
Spain's aloof king suffers
Decades of immunity to bad publicity seem to have ended for Spain's King Juan Carlos, who is suffering an "annus horribilis" with his picture burnt on the street and family strife spilling into the open.
Iran wants Western
Iran called on its Western foes on Friday to apologise to the Islamic Republic after the release of a U.N. nuclear agency report which Tehran said showed it had been telling the truth about its atomic plans, according to state media.
Georgian president said to name new PM
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili will sack his prime minister and name a replacement after a cabinet meeting on Friday evening, the presidential press service said.
Turkey urges Kurd rebels to disarm amid Iraq tension
Turkey will not send troops into northern Iraq against Kurdish separatists should the militants disarm, ruling AK Party members were quoted as saying on Friday, in an apparent change of tack aimed at ending the border crisis.
CAFOD responds to 'worst humanitarian crisis in Africa'
As violence escalates in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, CAFOD is providing desperately needed humanitarian assistance to those forced from their homes by the fighting.
Christians to join in ecumenical service to God's creation
Christians of all denominations will share a service of worship and will demonstrate against climate change in London next month.
Kobia to visit Philippines amid human rights concerns
The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, is to visit the Philippines amid ever greater threats to human rights in the country.
Poll shows Putin party on 67 pct before December 2 vote
President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party will win an overwhelming majority of seats in parliamentary elections next month, according to a poll by the independent Levada Centre published on Friday.
Thaksin proxy set to win Thai poll but not power
Candidate registration closed on Friday for Thailand's December 23 election, a poll meant to usher in a revitalised democracy after last year's coup but which looks set instead to sow instability and confusion.
Keeper Carson to make England debut
Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson will make his England debut in Friday's friendly against Austria.