News
Obama dips, but still has South Carolina lead: poll
Democrat Barack Obama's big lead over rival Hillary Clinton slipped slightly but is still substantial two days before South Carolina's presidential primary, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
U.S. diplomat says Iran resolution 'punitive'
U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said on Thursday a new draft resolution against Iran agreed by major powers over its nuclear work would be punitive, despite Russian remarks to the contrary.
Doctor says U.S.-led air raid kills 11 in Afghanistan
Nine police and two civilians were killed in an air strike by U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan, a provincial doctor said on Thursday, but the coalition said Taliban fighters had been killed.
EU agrees goal for climate deal by April 2009
EU President Slovenia and the three countries that will succeed it in the EU chair agreed with European Parliament leaders on Thursday to aim to enact ambitious laws on energy and climate change by April 2009.
Kenya's Kibaki to meet rival Odinga for first time
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will meet his rival Raila Odinga on Thursday for the first time since a disputed election fuelled weeks of riots and ethnic violence, the United Nations said.
Prodi braves Senate vote as pressure grows to quit
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi will brave a confidence vote in the Senate on Thursday despite expectations that he will lose and be forced to resign.
Suicide bomber kills Mosul police chief
A suicide bomber in police uniform killed the police chief of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Thursday as he toured the scene of a blast a day earlier in which at least 20 people died, police said.
Darling makes CGT concession for entrepreneurs
Chancellor Alistair Darling watered down earlier proposals to reform capital gains tax on Thursday, saying entrepreneurs selling business assets could take advantage of a lower rate.
BBC job cut talks reach agreement and avert strikes
Potentially damaging strikes by staff at Britain's state broadcaster appear to have been averted after talks between unions and the BBC over cost-cutting plans, they said on Wednesday.
Man denies murdering Rachel Nickell
A man pleaded not guilty on Thursday to the murder of Rachel Nickell, who was stabbed to death on Wimbledon Common 15 years ago.
Council tax bills to rise by 4 percent
Council tax bills will rise by an above-inflation average of four percent this year, the Local Government Association said on Thursday.
BAE and Accenture pull out of identity card scheme
Defence company BAE Systems withdrew from the process to pick prime suppliers for the proposed national identity card scheme, a further blow for the unpopular project.
Heathrow crash jet's engines did not shut down
The British Airways plane that crash-landed at Heathrow last week did not suffer a total power failure as it approached the airport, investigators said on Thursday.
Peter Hain resigns in donations row
Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain, embroiled in a row over campaign contributions, resigned on Thursday after his case was referred to the police by electoral authorities, Hain's department said.
Ecumenical body appeals for prayers for Gaza churches
The head of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has appealed to its members around the world to demonstrate their solidarity with churches in Gaza through prayers and advocacy.
Catholic aid agency calls on Scottish Government to act on climate change
Scots are joining with the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) in large numbers to call on the Scottish Government and MSPs to ensure Scotland does its "fair share" to tackle climate change.