News
U.S. House defeats stopgap extension of spy program
In a victory for President George W. Bush, the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday defeated a Democratic bid to temporarily extend an expiring spy law instead of replacing it with a new measure that also would immunize telephone companies from lawsuits.
U.N. East Timor police called 'cowards'
The brother of East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta on Thursday accused United Nations security forces of behaving like "bloody cowards" and said they hid, rather than defended the wounded leader against rebels.
Gunmen kill nine Iraqis from same family
Gunmen shot dead nine members of an Iraqi family after storming their house in the village of Awja, north of Baghdad, on Thursday, police said.
Malaysian polls: anything possible, except new govt
Malaysia's March 8 election is likely to shape the course of economic and social policy over the next five years, even if it doesn't deliver a new government.
'Silent emergencies' stalk Africa's hungry children
While world attention is gripped by major crises such as Darfur and Kenya, malnutrition threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in "silent emergencies" elsewhere in Africa, the United Nations said.
Bolivians fear floodwaters could rush Amazon city
Floodwater topped a highway protecting the Bolivian city of Trinidad on Tuesday, threatening to inundate 95,000 residents already suffering from severe flooding in the Amazon region.
State of emergency extended in E.Timor
East Timor's parliament approved an extension of the state of emergency until Feb. 23 as Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao called for calm on Wednesday following an assassination attempt on President Jose Ramos-Horta.
Fresh Expressions giving birth to new forms of church
Fresh expressions under the spotlight: evidence from theologians and other academics supports continued growth of new forms of church alongside traditional ones.
Rock School's Lil' Chris visits World Vision education projects in India
Leaving behind the comforts of home, young musician and contender on Rock School, Lil' Chris, took time out last month to witness firsthand the vital education work that World Vision's School Aid is doing in India.
Zollitsch succeeds Lehmann as Germany's top Catholic
A liberal archbishop, Robert Zollitsch, was voted in as chair of Germany's Catholic bishops' conference on Tuesday to succeed Karl Lehmann as the country's top Catholic prelate.
Burma roadmap to democracy will rubber-stamp regime authority - CSW
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has called the 'roadmap to democracy' announced by the Burmese military regime on Saturday a sham, which will serve only to "rubber-stamp the authority of this brutal regime".
Christian councillor hinges mayoral bid on 'mega-mosque' opposition
One of the leading opponents to plans for a giant mosque to be built next to the site of the 2012 Olympics has launched his campaign for Mayor and the London Assembly. If approved, the so-called mega-mosque will be Europe's largest.
Bank of England to cut growth forecasts
The Bank of England's quarterly forecasts on Wednesday are likely to signal a deterioration in both growth and inflation prospects, suggesting future interest rate cuts will be gradual.
Northern Rock bidders told to improve offers
Two suitors competing to rescue bank Northern Rock have been told to improve their offers to beat the alternative of nationalisation, sources familiar with the matter said.
WFP and Vodafone to work on emergency communication
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has joined forces with Vodafone to work on a standard telecommunications system for aid agencies around the world to improve logistics and response times to disasters.
Climate change may kill thousands in UK by 2017
There is a 25 percent chance that a severe heat wave will strike England and kill more than 6,000 people before 2017 if no action is taken to deal with the health effects of climate change, a report said on Tuesday.