News
Nicaraguans celebrate mass for dogs, pray for cures
Nicaraguan Catholics pray to saint to protect pets from illness.
To Anglo-Saxon prayers, 3,000 skeletons return home
Three thousand skeletons dating back over 1,000 years and used for research for three decades were returned to their original resting place in eastern England on Friday accompanied by Anglo-Saxon and mediaeval prayers.
Lichfield churches celebrate half million pound windfall
Nine churches in the Diocese of Lichfield are to receive a share of more than half a million pounds in the latest series of grants announced by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Spanish Socialists win short of majority
Spain's governing Socialist Party won Sunday's election but fell short of the absolute majority that might have helped them act more quickly to cushion an economic slowdown.
Left gains at Sarkozy's expense in French vote
President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party suffered losses in the first round of French municipal elections on Sunday but avoided the crushing defeat some had predicted.
Malaysian Front regrouping after shock poll setback
Malaysia's ruling coalition tried to regroup on Monday after a shocking electoral setback that decimated its ranks and sent markets swooning over the political uncertainties ahead.
Azerbaijan reopens church ruined in Soviet times
Azerbaijan unveiled on Friday a new church for its tiny Catholic community, making good on a promise made to late Pope John Paul II to restore a parish ruined in Soviet times.
Venezuela restores Colombia relations, ties fragile
Venezuela will immediately restore diplomacy with Colombia but ties are still fragile, the government said on Sunday, after this week's resolution of a regional dispute that had raised fears of war.
Pakistan parties to join in coalition
Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif agreed on Sunday to join the late Benazir Bhutto's party in a coalition, raising the prospect of a government hostile to U.S. ally President Pervez Musharraf.
Iranian election fails to fire student passions
Iranian students, who spearheaded a reform movement blunted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's election in 2005, doubt that voting for a new parliament on Friday can promote real change.
Serbia faces months of instability and stark choice
Serbia faces renewed uncertainty on Monday under a caretaker government which will lead the country into its most important election since voters ended the era of the late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic.
Housing Justice works to transform old churches into affordable homes
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice has launched a new project which will enable churches to create affordable homes from redundant church land and property across England.
India police arrest man in Keeling's murder case
Indian police have arrested a man suspected of raping a 15-year-old British girl found dead last month on a beach in Goa, in a case highlighting worries about the security of women visitors.
Millionaire lifestyle proves pricey for Britons
Britons need a lot more than a million pounds to enjoy the lifestyle of the rich and famous, a report said on Monday.
Britons don't trust government building plans
More than two-thirds of Britons don't believe the government can achieve its goal of building three million new homes by 2020, according to a survey published on Monday.
'Hairspray' scoops four theatre awards
The flamboyant retro musical "Hairspray" swept the board on Sunday at the prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards in London.