News
Five foreign troops killed in Afghanistan
An improvised explosive device (IED) killed four U.S.-led coalition soldiers on Saturday in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, the scene of a large anti-Taliban offensive and an insurgent jail break.
At least 17 dead as typhoon lashes Philippines
At least 17 people were killed as Typhoon Fengshen lashed the Philippines on Saturday causing flash floods and landslides.
Ethiopia: aid workers exaggerated drought threat
Ethiopia accused some aid agencies on Friday of exaggerating the impact of a drought afflicting the country to raise money under false pretences.
Iran presses on with nuclear enrichment 'non-stop'
Iran is pressing on with uranium enrichment "non-stop", its envoy to the U.N. nuclear agency was quoted as saying on Saturday, despite a world powers' offer of economic incentives to coax Tehran into halting such activities.
Chinese couples queue for Olympic 'I do'
More than 1,000 Chinese couples queued for hours for marriage licenses to wed on August 8, the date of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, state media said on Saturday.
New doubts seen on N.Korean nuclear plan
The United States has obtained new intelligence that raises new questions about whether North Korea pursued an alternative route to producing a nuclear weapon, The Washington Post reported in Saturday editions.
'Grave concerns' over witness rule
Some of Britain's most dangerous criminals could be freed after a court ruled that defendants should know the identity of witnesses testifying against them, a senior policemen said on Saturday.
Energy plan for 'green revolution'
As many as a quarter of British homes could be fitted with solar heating systems and thousands of wind turbines erected across the country under government plans for a "green revolution" to be set out next week.
Railways consider biggest expansion in a century
Britain will consider building five new main rail lines in a strategic review that could lead to the biggest railway expansion in more than a century to try to cope with booming demand, Network Rail said on Saturday.
Smokers offered food money if they quit
Smokers in deprived parts of one of Scotland's biggest cities are being offered food vouchers worth 50 pounds a month if they give up smoking, the National Health Service said on Saturday.
World Vision Hong Kong rebuilds homes, schools, in China earthquake zone
World Vision Hong Kong building homes and schools more than one month after a huge earthquake flattened large parts of Sichuan Province in China.
US Presbyterians ready for debates, major changes
Delegates to the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country will open discussions on several contentious issues as they meet for their 218th General Assembly beginning Saturday.
Churches worried over rising water bills
Alarm is growing among hundreds of churches across England over huge increases in water bills.
Egypt moves more Eritreans slated for deportation
Egyptian police moved some 350 Eritrean migrants to Cairo from detention on the Red Sea coast on Friday in preparation to fly them home, police sources said.
Accusations of illegal worship and expulsions in Kyrgyzstan
Two foreign Protestants - Edward Sands from New Zealand and Alastair Morrice from Scotland - have been expelled from Kyrgyzstan in the past month at the insistence of the National Security Service (NSS) secret police.
Small churches flourish in global communion, says Lutheran leader
Small churches need to feel part of a worldwide communion in order to grow, says the President of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU) in Argentina and Uruguay.