News
New head for WCC Faith and Order Commission
The Rev Canon Dr John Saint Helier Gibaut of the Anglican Church of Canada has been appointed to head the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Faith and Order, starting from January 2008.
Jordan bishop cautiously optimistic after Middle East conference
"So far is just a signature, now they have to walk the talk", says Munib Younan, the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, commenting on the results of the Annapolis Middle East conference on Tuesday.
Trial begins on the murder of Christians in Turkey
The first hearing has taken place in the trial of five men accused of torturing and murdering two Turkish and one German Christian in Turkey in April.
Climate change to take heavy toll on Bangladesh
Disaster-prone Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, which could worsen water scarcity and force mass displacement, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Lebanon president seen delayed again
Lebanon's divided parliament is unlikely to hold a session this week to vote on a new president but a move by the majority bloc appeared to boost the chances of a deal, politicians said on Wednesday.
Bangladesh delivers aid, slowly, to storm survivors
Keramat Ullah was among dozens of people lined up on a Bangladeshi riverbank on Wednesday who received their first supplies of rice, medicines and a blanket, two weeks after a cyclone destroyed their homes.
U.S. envoy sees progress before North Korea visit
The U.S. envoy to North Korean nuclear talks said on Wednesday there had been progress on disabling the North's atomic facilities under an international agreement.
Iran minister ready publish details in atom spy case
Iran's intelligence minister said on Wednesday he was ready to publish details about the case of a former nuclear negotiator whose espionage charges were dropped but who the ministry has said is guilty, a news agency reported.
Speaker says Russia's Putin may talk on president vote
Russian President Vladimir Putin may on Wednesday make an important announcement about the presidential election, the speaker of the upper house of parliament told reporters.
Envoys say no deal in last hour of Kosovo talks
Serbs and Kosovo Albanians were unable to agree on Wednesday on the future of the breakaway province of Kosovo, EU envoy Wolfgang Ischinger said.
Wolseley cuts 3,000 jobs
Building products retailer Wolseley reported a 15 percent drop in quarterly pretax profit and said it was cutting 3,000 jobs as it expects the U.S. housing market to worsen, knocking its shares to 4-year lows.
Yellowing pages offer a glimpse of phone history
The old home phone numbers of former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, composer Edward Elgar and poet John Betjeman are among millions being made available online for the first time on Wednesday.
Rail passengers face above-inflation fare rises
Rail commuters will see their fares rising by an average of 4.8 percent next year, more than the rate of inflation, the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said on Wednesday.
Pay-by-mobile trial starts in London
Shoppers will be able to buy Tube tickets and newspapers with a wave of their mobile phone rather than cash during a trial starting in London on Wednesday.
Jailed British teacher says Sudan treating her well
A British teacher detained in Sudan for insulting Islam after her students called a teddy bear Mohammad has said she is being treated well, British diplomats said on Wednesday.