News
Persecution group condemns church beatings in Cuba
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today expressed grave concern regarding reports that Cuban security agents entered a church by force on Tuesday evening and proceeded to severely beat around eighteen human rights activists who were attending Mass.
Social cohesion needs religion - Archbishop
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has argued that religion is fundamental to maintaining social cohesion.
Black evangelicals emerging as US' new conservatives
A number of black evangelical leaders in the US are rising up as a new voice in the conservative movement traditionally dominated by white Protestants.
Graham Kendrick's Christmas project inspires musical
Celebrated British musician Graham Kendrick will collaborate in a Christmas musical with a church in Connecticut, based on his latest holiday album Dreaming of a Holy Night.
U.S. commander says al Qaeda still dangerous foe
Al Qaeda remains a dangerous foe in Iraq despite a decline in violence, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said on Thursday, a day after the deadliest bombing in Baghdad since September.
Bush unveils plan to slow U.S. home foreclosures
U.S. President George W. Bush announced a plan on Thursday aimed at slowing a wave of home loan foreclosures that has threatened to knock the U.S. economy into recession and rattled investors worldwide.
U.S. spy official says Iran ambitions not 'benign'
Iran retains key nuclear capabilities despite having frozen weapons development in 2003, and its ambitions cannot be considered benign, a senior U.S. spy official told Congress on Thursday.
Swiss Evangelicals heat up creationism debate
Evangelicals in Switzerland recently sparked controversy when they successfully moved school authorities to include creationism alongside evolution in a science textbook.
Romney reassures U.S. over Mormonism
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney vowed on Thursday the Mormon church would not run the White House if he is elected, as he sought to reassure Americans wary of his religion.
Kosovo mediator seeks retraction of Serb comment
The European Union's mediator on Kosovo demanded on Thursday that a Serbian negotiator retract comments apparently suggesting war was an option if Albanians in the breakaway province declare independence.
Bush writes North Korea on nuclear program
U.S. President George W. Bush has written to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il to say Pyongyang must fulfill its promise to reveal all details of its nuclear programs, the White House said on Thursday.
One killed in Paris parcel bomb blast
A parcel bomb killed a legal secretary and injured five other people on Thursday in a central Paris building housing a law firm partly owned by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Winehouse gets six Grammy nominations
Rap star Kanye West scored a leading eight nominations for the 50th annual Grammy Awards, the music industry's highest honours, organizers said on Thursday.
Bank cuts rates to shore up growth
The Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time in over 2 years on Thursday in order to shore up the economy in the face of a global credit crunch after a week of feverish speculation over what it would do.
Flood plans need overhaul and review urges
Flood prevention strategies need a complete overhaul to better protect Britain's infrastructure, a government report said on Thursday.
New terrorism power plans unveiled
The government unveiled plans on Thursday for controversial new powers to allow police to hold terrorism suspects for up to 42 days without charge -- but the compromise deal failed to appease critics.