News
NHS dental changes 'force patients to go private'
Dental patients are being forced to go private, prompting many to go without treatment or even fix their teeth at home because of NHS changes last year, according to a survey.
China's president offers Taiwan talks, peace pact
Chinese President Hu Jintao offered on Monday to enter into negotiations with Taiwan to reach a peace agreement in an overture to the self-ruled island which China claims as its own.
Envoy urges UN to quit Mideast mediating group
The United Nations should pull out of the Quartet of Middle East mediators unless the group starts taking Palestinian human rights seriously, a U.N. envoy said on Monday.
Breakaway Somali republic advances into Somalia
Troops from the breakaway Somali republic of Somaliland on Monday captured a village inside a rival region of Somalia, killing at least 10 people, witnesses said.
Religious row takes over Hollywood blockbuster of Philip Pullman novel
A row over religion has engulfed the movie version of 'The Golden Compass', one of Philip Pullman's children's novels from the series His Dark Materials, as critics say that the Hollywood film waters down the anti-Catholic themes in the book so as not to offend.
Outrage as police question priest after religious hate crime accusations
Police have interviewed a church priest on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, after he offered insight into the Muslim veil controversy in his parish newsletter.
Anglican diocese in Canada votes for same-sex blessings
The Ottawa Diocese of the Anglican Church in Canada has shocked the worldwide Communion by voting in favour for blessing same-sex relationships in church.
Church celebrates relationship with Building Society with £100,000 donation
The Diocese of Lichfield has celebrated its successful ten-year relationship with the West Bromwich Building Society by announcing it will donate £100,000 to various community groups in the West Midlands over the next ten months.
Pope urges release of two priests kidnapped in Iraq
Pope Benedict appealed on Sunday for the release of two Catholic priests kidnapped in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, with reports in Iraq saying they were being held for $1 million ransom.
Polish election stirs debate over role of church
The mood is of quiet contemplation as the faithful leave the Lagiewniki sanctuary in the southern Polish city of Krakow on a cold autumn afternoon.
Southerners to hand demands to Sudan president
Former south Sudanese rebels said they would hand a list of demands to Sudan's president on Sunday to try to resolve a crisis that saw them withdraw their ministers from the country's coalition government.
Brown under pressure as polls turn against him
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown came under pressure to set out a clear vision of where he wants to take Britain on Sunday after a poll showed opposition Conservatives enjoying their strongest support for 15 years.
Mental health alert for UK troops leaving Iraq
As Britain prepares to pull hundreds of troops out of Iraq, doctors and nurses at home are getting ready to treat not only their physical wounds, but also the psychological ones.
Five Asian nations to study flood, climate risks
A new U.N. course will help five Asian nations cope with a predicted worsening of floods due to climate change that may threaten cities from Beijing to Hanoi, the U.N. University said on Sunday.
Germany says China cancels human rights meeting
China has cancelled an annual German-China human rights dialogue meeting scheduled for December, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, declining to comment on the reasons.
Rice starts Middle East trip, sees no breakthroughs
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice began a Middle East visit on Sunday by playing down the chances of major progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace during her four days of talks with officials from both sides.