News

Thousands flock to exhumed body of saint Padre Pio

The exhumed body of Padre Pio, a saint considered a miracle worker by his devotees, attracted thousands of pilgrims on Thursday when it went on display 40 years after his death.

China recalls Zimbabwe arms amid election crisis

A shipment of Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe will be recalled after South African workers refused to unload the vessel and other neighbouring countries barred it from their ports, China said on Thursday.

Hopes of finding ballooning Brazilian priest fade

Rescue workers were losing hope on Thursday of finding a priest who disappeared off the southern coast of Brazil after drifting out to sea four days ago suspended from hundreds of helium-filled party balloons.

Mothers' Union meeting disbanded by Zimbabwe riot police

A prayerful meeting of over 3,000 Mothers' Union members in Harare was recently forcefully disrupted and halted by riot police.

Christians quiz mayoral candidates on faith issues

London mayoral candidates were last night quizzed on their commitment to the faith community at a hustings event organised by the Evangelical Alliance.

Hannah Montana star's new book to focus on family relationship

Miley Cyrus, 15-year-old teen star who attributes her family and Christian faith for keeping her grounded in her fast-pace lifestyle, will write about her life before becoming Hannah Montana in a book deal that was confirmed by the publisher for Disney on Tuesday.

Tutu backs US church initiative to end poverty in Africa

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has endorsed an interfaith initiative to partner congregations in the United States with African villages in the fight against poverty.

World Vision cuts back food aid, sounds alarm

It is one of the largest and most trusted humanitarian organisations in the world that leverages compassion and generosity to help the most needy. Yet on Tuesday, World Vision announced a cutback on the number of people it can feed this year as it gets to grips with a slowing economy.

Nuns, monks call on UK to kick carbon habit

Hundreds of nuns, monks and clergy descended on Westminster yesterday to demand MPs strengthen the Climate Change Bill and 'kick the carbon habit' for the sake of the poorest in the world

Teachers hold first national strike in 20 years

Thousands of schools will be forced to close on Thursday as teachers stage their first national strike in 20 years, in a dispute with the government over pay.

Strike to close Grangemouth refinery Sunday

Refinery workers at Grangemouth refinery will begin a two-day strike on Sunday that will shut the plant and squeeze fuel supplies in Scotland and northern England.

Some pension schemes need more regulation

The pensions watchdog needs step up regulation of defined-contribution pension schemes and raise governance standards at many schemes, a parliamentary committee said on Thursday.

Financial companies 'underestimating ID fraud'

Financial services companies must change their attitude to security to curb the rise in identity fraud, the City watchdog said on Thursday.

Major pro-Beijing rally for Australia relay

In the biggest pro-Beijing rally of the protest-marred Olympic torch relay, more than 10,000 Chinese Australians rallied in Canberra on Thursday, bringing a sea of red Chinese flags and drowning out Tibetan demonstrators.

Brown and Zuma call for Zimbabwe election results

Britain and South Africa's ruling party leader Jacob Zuma made a united call on Wednesday for an end to the election stalemate in Zimbabwe, stepping up pressure on President Robert Mugabe to release results.

Bush seeks boost for Abbas and Mideast peace bid

President George W. Bush hosts Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House on Thursday to try to bolster him and shore up a fragile U.S.-backed peace effort with Israel.