News

Lebanon forms government with Hezbollah

Lebanon ended weeks of wrangling on Friday and formed a unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies hold effective veto power, as agreed under a deal that ended a paralyzing political conflict in the country.

Cuba's Castro warns world economy may slow reform

Cuban President Raul Castro moved to dampen rising expectations on Friday, warning that global economic problems may slow increases in worker pay, one of the key economic reforms he has proposed since taking office.

Fruit juice tied to modest rise in diabetes risk

Women wanting to ward off type 2 diabetes should load their plates with green leafy vegetables and whole fruits, but perhaps stay away from fruit juice, new research suggests.

EPA says climate rules are the job of U.S. Congress

The top U.S. environmental regulator on Friday declined to make rules to regulate planet-warming emissions under existing pollution laws despite a Supreme Court decision that has pressured his agency to act.

Green Olympics yield mixed record on green building

It's been billed as the "Green Olympics," but do the showpiece venues that will host the Games' key events live up to the theme?

London's black majority churches launch violent crime awareness project

Hackney Independent Black Minority Churches (BMC) in London are calling on the community to unite in the fight against gangs, guns, drugs, and knife crime.

World evangelicals, Salvation Army unite to speak out on human trafficking

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine MacMillan, Director of the International Social Justice Commission of The Salvation Army, as a spokesperson for the WEA on human trafficking issues.

Ecumenical leaders: Zimbabwe crisis needs 'courageous faith'

Church and community leaders from across Africa and beyond will come together next week in Johannesburg for an international ecumenical summit on Zimbabwe.

Bishops waver as Lambeth beckons

With the once-in-a-decade Lambeth Conference just days away, hundreds of bishops are planning to stay away whilst others remain in two minds after this week's vote in support of women bishops.

Four more stabbed to death in a single day

The number of fatal stabbings in London this year has risen to over 50 with four more cases in a single day, but Scotland Yard said on Friday the city is not suffering an epidemic of knife crime.

Indictments sought in Kercher murder

Italian prosecutors have requested the indictment of three suspects for the murder of 21-year-old exchange student Meredith Kercher, judicial sources said on Friday.

July 21 bomb plot fiancée jailed

A woman engaged to one of the failed July 21 London suicide bombers was jailed for three years on Friday for helping him escape the capital dressed in her mother's burqa.

Cross Pollinate: Fundraising with a heart

A novel new Christian initiative is hoping to take fundraising from the awkward and impersonal to intimate and involved.

Gay man files $70m suit against Bible publishers over 'homosexual' verses

A homosexual man has filed a $70 million lawsuit against Bible publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, alleging that their version of the Bible that refers to homosexuality as a sin violates his constitutional rights and has caused him emotional distress.

Evangelical Alliance welcomes ruling in favour of Christian registrar

The Evangelical Alliance has hailed an employment tribunal's ruling in favour of a Christian registrar "a triumph for the place of conscience in public duties".

Pope Benedict 'rock star' of World Youth Day in Sydney

Pope Benedict arrives in Sydney on Sunday as the headline "rock star" act in the Catholic Church's World Youth Day - its version of Woodstock, five days of peace, love and Christianity.