News
Refinery strike may halve UK NSea oil output
A strike planned this weekend at a major Scottish refinery would force the closure of the key Forties North Sea pipeline, its owner BP said on Thursday, halving Britain's crude oil output.
Hamas offers Gaza truce with Israel
Hamas leaders handed over on Thursday proposals for a truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip, with a timetable for extending it to the West Bank, at a meeting of the Palestinian Islamist group with Egyptian mediators.
Syria denies U.S. accusation over nuclear reactor
Syria on Thursday dismissed U.S. accusations that North Korea was helping it build a nuclear reactor that could produce plutonium.
US says doubts accuracy of Zimbabwe poll results
The United States would question the accuracy of any results from Zimbabwe's presidential election, now more than three weeks overdue, the top U.S. diplomat for Africa said on Thursday.
Britain hit by strikes across public sector
Britain was hit on Thursday by the most wide-ranging wave of work stoppages since the Labour government came to power 11 years ago, with up to 400,000 public sector employees on strike.
Thousands flock to exhumed body of saint Padre Pio
The exhumed body of Padre Pio, a saint considered a miracle worker by his devotees, attracted thousands of pilgrims on Thursday when it went on display 40 years after his death.
China recalls Zimbabwe arms amid election crisis
A shipment of Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe will be recalled after South African workers refused to unload the vessel and other neighbouring countries barred it from their ports, China said on Thursday.
Hopes of finding ballooning Brazilian priest fade
Rescue workers were losing hope on Thursday of finding a priest who disappeared off the southern coast of Brazil after drifting out to sea four days ago suspended from hundreds of helium-filled party balloons.
Mothers' Union meeting disbanded by Zimbabwe riot police
A prayerful meeting of over 3,000 Mothers' Union members in Harare was recently forcefully disrupted and halted by riot police.
Christians quiz mayoral candidates on faith issues
London mayoral candidates were last night quizzed on their commitment to the faith community at a hustings event organised by the Evangelical Alliance.
Hannah Montana star's new book to focus on family relationship
Miley Cyrus, 15-year-old teen star who attributes her family and Christian faith for keeping her grounded in her fast-pace lifestyle, will write about her life before becoming Hannah Montana in a book deal that was confirmed by the publisher for Disney on Tuesday.
Tutu backs US church initiative to end poverty in Africa
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has endorsed an interfaith initiative to partner congregations in the United States with African villages in the fight against poverty.
World Vision cuts back food aid, sounds alarm
It is one of the largest and most trusted humanitarian organisations in the world that leverages compassion and generosity to help the most needy. Yet on Tuesday, World Vision announced a cutback on the number of people it can feed this year as it gets to grips with a slowing economy.
Nuns, monks call on UK to kick carbon habit
Hundreds of nuns, monks and clergy descended on Westminster yesterday to demand MPs strengthen the Climate Change Bill and 'kick the carbon habit' for the sake of the poorest in the world
Teachers hold first national strike in 20 years
Thousands of schools will be forced to close on Thursday as teachers stage their first national strike in 20 years, in a dispute with the government over pay.
Strike to close Grangemouth refinery Sunday
Refinery workers at Grangemouth refinery will begin a two-day strike on Sunday that will shut the plant and squeeze fuel supplies in Scotland and northern England.