News

UK skate ministry to hold first ever conference

The UK Skate Ministry Network will host a conference next month for leaders involved in ministry to skate culture.

Chinese Christians celebrate first church permission in 70 years

The Chinese Catholic community in Yan'an, a city in the Shaanxi province in China, is celebrating a landmark decision that has allowed it to build its first church in more than 70 years.

New Prophet Muhammad cartoon riots kill Christians in Nigeria

As religious violence breaks out again in Nigeria in a row over cartoons of Mohammed, a Christian student has been describing how he had to run for his life after being accused of drawing of the Muslim prophet Muhammed.

Recipes for Disaster cookbook raising thousands for Tearfund

Fast-selling charity cookbook Recipes for Disaster... Relief and Development tops 3,000 sales.

EU urged to renew Uzbekistan sanctions amid deteriorating human rights

EU member states have been urged to recognise the deteriorating human rights situation and continuing limitation of religious freedom in Uzbekistan as they meet to consider the renewal of sanctions against the country.

An Old Testament prophet inspires 21st century action in Africa

Christians in Zambia are living out the call of the Old Testament prophet Micah to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God in their efforts to halt the spread of HIV and Aids.

New research reveals drastic cuts in hospital chaplaincy

New research reveals for the first time the extent to which overspending and financial pressures in the NHS are leading to cuts in chaplaincy provision.

Race, religion still divisive issues in Malaysia

Fifty years after independence, race and religion remain divisive issues in Malaysia, with the nation at times coming "close to the brink of disaster", Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Brown under fire after ruling out election

Gordon Brown came under the first real pressure of his premiership on Sunday as newspapers, opponents and even allies accused him of stoking election fever only to retreat in the face of collapsing polls. After weeks of hinting an election was coming, the British prime minister ruled out calling an early vote after opinion polls showed a double-digit lead over his opponents had evaporated in a week.

Global warming changes face of high Alps

The Trient glacier looming ahead of me on a trek through the Alps this summer looked very different to the frosty heights that once provided ice for pastis drinkers in France.

Mynamar junta takes soldiers off Yangon streets

The Myanmar junta reduced security in Yangon sharply on Sunday, apparently confident it would face no further mass protests against military rule, but the streets remained unusually quiet and arrests continued.

Norway, Sweden in new territory with Darfur force

If accepted, the 400 Norwegian and Swedish army engineers offered for peacekeeping in Darfur will be far the largest Western contingent -- a bold step from Nordic countries unused to fighting overseas.

Iran rejects idea of talks on nuclear programme

Negotiations over Iran's nuclear enrichment activities would be meaningless because the country has a legal right to pursue the technology, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Palestinians see rifts with Israel on peace draft

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are deeply divided over the content of a joint document they are drafting for next month's U.S.-sponsored statehood conference, Palestinian officials said on Sunday.

Prominent Palestinian Christian killed in Gaza

A prominent Palestinian Christian in the Gaza Strip was found dead on Sunday after being abducted near his home, six months after the religious bookshop he ran was blown up.

Up to 67 killed in worst Vietnam floods in decades

At least 67 people were killed or missing after a typhoon, floods and landslides cut power and closed roads in what officials in two Vietnamese provinces on Sunday described as some of the worst flooding in decades.