News
WITNESS - Burial abroad brings double loss
I was a child when my dad died. Johan Cruyff's great Holland side had just lost the soccer World Cup and my father had been in southern France, on his way to Spain to join us on holiday.
Zimbabwe's MDC to start talks with ruling party
Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change will on Thursday hold preliminary talks with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party on ending the country's political crisis, an MDC source said on Thursday.
Verification tops agenda for N.Korea nuclear talks
A new round of talks aimed at disarming North Korea will focus on verifying the North's own account of its nuclear programmes, the chief U.S. envoy said on Thursday.
Faster, cheaper iPhone to draw crowds around globe
The new iPhone is expected to attract hordes of buyers when it goes on sale on Friday in more than 20 countries, helping Apple Inc handily beat its target to sell 10 million of them by the end of 2008.
Newest fertility treatment may be a diet
The newest low-tech fertility treatment may be a diet, researchers said on Wednesday after learning that obese men have more abnormal sperm and make less semen.
South China tigers teeter on brink of extinction
Dragging on a cigarette between his wrinkled lips, Hou Fengqi fingered a dusty bamboo bow and rusty iron-tipped arrows, before recounting his days as a "tiger hunting hero" in the rugged hills of southern China.
Report calls for end to detention of child asylum seekers
Britain should stop detaining thousands of children of foreigners seeking asylum, the Independent Asylum Commission said in a report published on Thursday.
Six dead in Leicestershire crash
Six people have been killed after a serious crash involving a car and a lorry near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, police said on Thursday.
Pentagon reopening aerial tankers contest
Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday reopened a bitter $35 billion (17.7 billion pounds) aerial tanker contest after the selection process that picked Northrop Grumman Corp and EADS over Boeing Co was found to be flawed.
Bank likely to hold interest rates for now
The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates at 5.0 percent on Thursday and will probably sit tight until it has a better idea of which is the greater evil, surging inflation or slowing economic growth.
Prince William takes part in hurricane exercise
Prince William has taken part in a hurricane disaster exercise in the Caribbean, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday. The Prince flew ashore by helicopter from the frigate HMS Iron Duke to Montserrat on Monday as the volcanic island tested the readiness of its emergency services should it be struck by a category five storm.
Four teenagers charged with boy's stabbing
Police said on Thursday they had charged four teenagers, including one girl, with the murder of Shakilus Townsend, stabbed to death in south London last week.
'Highest ever' lead theft levels threaten community churches
The church buildings we so often take for granted throughout the UK are under threat because of the massive rise in metal theft - a national church insurer has warned today drastic action needs to be taken to combat the theft of lead from church roofs.
Zimbabwean churches now "ultimate challenge" for Catholic Mugabe
Zimbabwean churches could provide the "ultimate challenge" for Catholic Robert Mugabe as the African leader seeks to legitimise his recent re-election, says Progressio's Dr Steve Kibble.
Informed consent will 'dramatically reduce' abortion rates, says coalition
Research carried out for the Alive and Kicking Alliance suggests that simple measures like insisting that women receive abortion counselling and have a cooling-off period to reflect on their decision could dramatically reduce abortion rates in Britain.
Methodist Conference elects new President and Vice President Designate
The Rev David Gamble has been elected President Designate of the Methodist Conference for 2009-2010, and Dr Richard Vautrey has been elected Vice President Designate.