News
DNA database discriminating against black people - church leaders
Church leaders and the human rights group Black Mental Health UK have expressed their support for a debate on the discriminatory impact of the national DNA database on black and ethnic minority people that will come before Parliament on Friday.
Church group proposes European churches council to include Catholics
The President of the Conference of European Churches has proposed the creation of a new Council of European Churches that would include for the first time the Roman Catholic Church.
'Hannah Montana' star says faith keeps her grounded
Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus recently credited her family and faith for keeping her grounded and out of trouble at a time when many young fellow celebrities are making headlines for their reckless lifestyles and brushes with the law.
Jesus third most popular role model for children - poll
Jesus Christ comes third in survey to find the top role model for children in Britain.
Papal mass could lead to Belarus visit - archbishop
A weekend papal mass to be broadcast in Minsk's Catholic cathedral could help improve Belarus's standing in the world and eventually lead to a visit by Pope Benedict, the country's top Catholic cleric said.
Kenya tragedy a warning to churches - world Reformed head
The crisis in Kenya should serve as a warning to churches to be prophetic leaders in their communities, says the head of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
'Chemical Ali' hanging approved
The long-delayed execution of "Chemical Ali", a cousin of Saddam Hussein and once one of the most feared men in Iraq, is to go ahead after the last legal obstacle was removed, Iraqi officials said on Friday.
Kenyans celebrate historic power-sharing deal
Kenyans sighed with relief on Thursday as two months of wrangling over disputed presidential polls finally produced a power-sharing deal to end a crisis that killed more than 1,000 people.
Israel minister warns Palestinians of 'holocaust'
Deputy Israeli Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said on Friday the Palestinians would bring on themselves what he called a "bigger holocaust" by stepping up rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Turkish ground offensive in N.Iraq is over
Turkey's major land offensive against Kurdish PKK rebels in northern Iraq has ended, the private broadcaster NTV said on Friday.
Iran U.N. sanctions vote seen likely Saturday
Western envoys said the U.N. Security Council would probably vote on Saturday to impose a third round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, which Tehran said would be an illegal gesture to be ignored.
Bomb explodes in Spain's Basque area
ETA guerrillas detonated a small bomb outside the headquarters of Spain's ruling Socialist Party in a Basque region town on Friday but there were no casualties, officials said.
Beijing opens new air terminal
Beijing opened a huge new $3.6 billion (1.8 billion pounds) airport terminal on Friday ahead of the expected influx of millions of visitors to this summer's Olympics, part of a multi-billion infrastructure boost for the capital.
Army considers prince's Afghan role after leak
Britain's military commanders were considering on Friday whether to withdraw Prince Harry from Afghanistan after Internet leaks he had been secretly serving as a combat soldier on front lines for 2-1/2 months.
Council tax going on public service pensions
A fifth of council tax receipts are spent on local government pensions, a new report shows.
Brown aims to regain initiative at party rall
After months of worry over failed bank Northern Rock, Prime Minister Gordon Brown will this weekend want to seize the initiative from the opposition and prepare his party for local government elections in May.