News
Iraqi school guard and wife beheaded as children watch
Three suspected al Qaeda militants, including two sisters, beheaded their uncle and his wife, forcing the couple's children to watch, Iraqi police said on Friday.
French public transport strike draws to a close
A transport strike that crippled the French rail network for nine days, petered out on Friday after workers voted to give talks on pension reform a chance.
Commander says Iran is ready to defend itself
Iran is ready to defend itself if the West decides to attack it over Tehran's nuclear programme, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards said on Friday.
U.S. Navy vessel arrives in Bangladesh for relief efforts
A U.S. Navy vessel arrived in Bangladesh on Friday to help relief efforts after the country's deadliest cyclone in 16 years killed around 3,500 people and left thousands missing or injured.
Pope's second encyclical out next week
Pope Benedict's second encyclical will be released next week, the Vatican said on Friday.
Passengers escape after Antarctic ship hits iceberg
More than 150 passengers and crew escaped unhurt after their cruiseship struck an iceberg in the Antarctic Ocean and started to sink, an Argentine coast guard official and a spokeswoman for the ship's owner said on Friday.
Second conservative bishop leaves Canada Anglicans
A second retired bishop with conservative views parted ways with the Anglican Church of Canada on Thursday over its pro-homosexual stance.
Divine Healing Ministries to hold special service
On Monday 3 December 2007 a special healing service organised by Divine Healing Ministries will take place at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.
'Strength to Strength' conference for African organisations
The Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) has begun its first conference in Addis Ababa for its African partner organisations. The conference runs from 22-26 November and is entitled "Strength to Strength".
Philippines hunkers down as Typhoon Mitag nears
Typhoon Mitag intensified as it moved slowly towards the Philippines on Friday, triggering mass evacuations, flight cancellations and exacerbating flooding from a previous storm.
New ministry to reach skaters for Christ
Christian surfers, skaters, roller bladders and BMX ministry representatives came together last week to hash out plans for the development of a brand new skate ministry in the UK.
Australia soldier killed on eve of national poll
An Australian commando was killed by the Taliban militia in Afghanistan on Friday, on the eve of elections at which staunch U.S. ally Prime Minister John Howard will battle for survival after 11 years in power.
Arab ministers to discuss Annapolis talks
Arab foreign ministers began talks on Friday aimed at forging a common position ahead of a U.S.-sponsored peace conference next week on the creation of a Palestinian state.
Blasts in three northern Indian cities kill 10
Nearly simultaneous blasts outside courts in three northern Indian cities killed at least 10 people in what a senior government official said were terrorist strikes.
Musharraf relents as Sharif to return to Pakistan
Exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the man President Pervez Musharraf deposed, is set to return to Pakistan within days, aides said on Friday, after a deal to lift his exile in Saudi Arabia.
Bomb at Baghdad pet market kills 13
A bomb hidden in a box of birds killed 13 people and wounded 57 at a popular pet market in central Baghdad on Friday, police and witnesses said, describing the deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital in two months.