World
Bell ringing is a sport now? Five other church activities that deserve a medal...
In honour of the latest sporting craze, here are five more church based activities that might one day be classified as sports...
Obama axes funding for 'abstinence-only' sex education
Barack Obama has cut all funding for sex education programmes which teach it is best to wait until marriage.
The 13.8 billion year Bible: Scientists create eternal data storage
Scientists at Southampton University have recorded a Bible on a revolutionary new storage device capable of surviving for billions of years.
Turkey removes 'religion' category from ID cards
Turkey has ditched the requirement for citizens to name their religion on identity cards as part of the country's bid to join the European Union.
Egypt orders closure of centre that fights against torture
As well as assisting people who have been victims of torture, the centre also serves women who have been victims of domestic violence and advocates for human rights.
We must get used to being offended. Without free speech democracy crumbles
Offence has become the metric by which some university students define whether a view should be heard or not. This doubtless comes from good intentions but no one has the right to live without being shocked. No one has the right to spend their life without being offended.
World War 3 knocking on Mideast door as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and their allies gird for Syria invasion
World War III could explode at any moment in the Middle East as military forces from Iran and Syria, backed up by Russia, as well as those from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and many of their allies, backed up by the United States, are gearing for a colossal battle.
Already the hungriest country in the world, Burundi faces 'total implosion'
Burundi is on the brink of a "major crisis", Unicef has warned, as political strife continues to dominate the country.
Pakistani Christian couple claim they were tortured into confessing blasphemy
A disabled Pakistani Christian was forced into a confession of blasphemy because he could not bear to watch his wife being tortured, he says.
Escaped Boko Haram rape victims persecuted and ostracised by own communities
Victims of rape and kidnapping at the hands of Boko Haram are often rejected and ostracised after they are released, reveals a new study by UNICEF and International Alert.
Primates 'sanctions' against Episcopal Church 'fail to heal tear in fabric of Anglican Communion'
The imposition of penalties by Anglican leaders on The Episcopal Church has failed to heal the tear in the fabric of the Anglican Communion, conservative leaders said,
What's the secret to Icelanders' long lives? Top neurologist says it's all in the genes
What's the secret to the longevity of the people from Iceland? Neurologist Kari Stefansson, founder of DeCode Genetics, thinks the staying power of Icelanders has something to do with their genetic makeup.
At Mexico-US border, Pope condemns suffering of migrants
Pope Francis on Wednesday railed against immigration policies that force many underground and into the hands of drug gangs and human smugglers, praying at Mexico's border with the United States.
Fewer Americans think U.S. is still world's superpower, Gallup survey shows
Less than half of the American populace believe that the United States is still the number one military power in the world, according to the results of a Gallup survey released this month.
Iran dismisses Saudi plan to send troops to Syria to fight ISIS, calling it 'political bluff'
The Islamic Republic has played down plans of the Saudi government to send Special Forces soldiers to take part in ground operations in Syria as part of the U.S-led coalition, saying it is "a bluff and a psychological war."
Young Nigerian suicide bomber gets cold feet, tears off vest to avoid killing people
A young Nigerian girl, packed with explosives around her body and sent on a mission to bomb a refugee camp, tore off her vest and ran away from her handlers to avoid taking part in the attacks, Nigerian officials said.