News

Psychologist warns of 'educational television' myth

He's been characterised as the ultimate killjoy, the extremist fringe thinker who refuses to recognise the realities of modern life.

Charity offers workers a day off for the planet

It has always been known for its loving care of some of the greatest estates and now its not just gardens that the National Trust wants to keep green.

Teen alarm should 'buzz off'

A high-pitched sonic device hailed as the perfect weapon to disperse unruly teenagers should be banned because it demonises young people, the children's watchdog said on Tuesday.

Council pays psychic to evict ghost

A local council in County Durham has paid a psychic to exorcise a ghost from one of its properties after the spooked occupants threatened to leave and make themselves homeless.

Shock horror for would-be power cable thief

Police in central England are hunting for a badly scorched would-be copper power cable thief after finding a hacksaw embedded in an 11,000 volt power cable on Saturday night.

Obama on a roll after three big U.S. wins

Democrat Barack Obama's three decisive wins over rival Hillary Clinton propelled him on Wednesday into the next round of presidential contests on a wave of momentum and sent her scrambling to find an answer.

Kenya's churches driving peaceful resolution to crisis

Church leaders are working alongside the Kofi Annan peace talks to play a leading mediation role at the centre of the current crisis in Kenya, according to Christian relief agency Tearfund.

Australia apologises to Aborigines

Australia apologised on Wednesday for the historic mistreatment of Aborigines, heralding a new era in race relations and moving indigenous people to tears as huge crowds cheered across the nation.

East Timor seeking arrests over assassination attempts

East Timor's prosecutor-general said on Wednesday he would issue arrest warrants for 18 people believed to be involved in assassination attempts on the Southeast Asian nation's president and prime minister.

Malaysia PM calls for early general elections

Malaysia's premier called on Wednesday for fresh elections he is certain to win, and kicked off a campaign likely to be dominated by racial issues as religious tension rises in the southeast Asian nation.

Iraqi row over key laws deepens

Scores of Iraqi lawmakers stormed out of parliament on Tuesday after blocking a vote on the 2008 budget and other key bills, prompting calls for the legislature to be disbanded.

Conservative rabbis 'dismayed' over Catholic prayer

An assembly representing Conservative rabbis worldwide expressed dismay on Tuesday over a revised Roman Catholic prayer calling for the conversion of Jews and voted to ask the Vatican to clarify the text's meaning.

Tasteless Jesus cosmetics pulled from Singapore Topshops

Jesus-branded cosmetics have been pulled from the shelves of Topshop stores in Singapore following some complaints from Catholics.

Australia's biggest terrorism trial starts

Australia's biggest terrorism trial started on Wednesday, with 12 Muslim men appearing in court charged with being members of an unnamed terrorist organisation planning violent jihad in Australia.

Darfuris return to charred homes after attack

The stench of burning hung in the air of Sirba, a town in West Darfur, as its inhabitants returned home to find their belongings in a charred pile, their animals dead and their food gone.

Kidnapped German aid worker freed in Somalia

A German aid worker kidnapped in northwestern Somalia has been freed, his employer said on Wednesday.