News
Dolly becomes hurricane as churns toward Texas
Dolly became a hurricane on Tuesday and bore down on southern Texas, but forecasters don't expect it to pack too much of a punch when it comes ashore near the Mexican border on Wednesday.
WSI increases 2008 Atlantic hurricane forecast
WSI Corp increased its forecast for the number of named storms and hurricanes for the 2008 hurricane season due to warming in the Atlantic basin, the private forecaster said on Tuesday.
Banana row simmers at WTO
A long-running row over bananas that threatens to derail talks on a new global trade pact simmered on Tuesday with no immediate solution in sight.
Gay bishop must resign or confess, says Sudan church head
The head of the Anglican Church in Sudan said on Tuesday that unity could be restored to the troubled Anglican Communion only when the openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson resigns or confesses he has "made a mistake" in embracing homosexuality.
Disguised Karadzic arrested in Serbia
Bosnian Serb wartime president Radovan Karadzic, indicted for genocide in the Bosnia war, was captured in disguise near Belgrade after 11 years on the run and had been working as a doctor, Serbian officials said on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe crisis talks to start in South Africa
Zimbabwe's ruling party and the opposition MDC prepared to begin negotiations on Tuesday on a power-sharing deal that could end the country's political crisis, the opposition and diplomatic sources said.
Brown seeks changes to mission in Iraq in 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown played up an improving security situation in Iraq on Tuesday and said the number of British troops there could continue to come down as key security tasks were completed.
Supermarket fuel price war could ease inflation
Three of Britain's major supermarkets began a petrol price war on Tuesday and cut fuel prices by up to five pence a litre, a move that could ease inflation in August.
Bank's King wants to initiate aid for failing banks
The Bank of England should have the power to initiate state help for failing banks, Governor Mervyn King said on Tuesday.
Indian government wins confidence vote
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government won a vote of confidence in parliament on Tuesday, ensuring the immediate survival of the ruling coalition and a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.
Laser resurfacing fixes wrinkles, study finds
Laser treatment can remove wrinkles better than some newer procedures, dermatologists reported on Monday.
Obama condemns bulldozer attack
A Palestinian rammed a bulldozer into vehicles on a busy Jerusalem street on Tuesday, ahead of a visit by U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, and wounded 16 people before being shot dead.
U.S. military says Iraq troop 'surge' has ended
The U.S. troop "surge" in Iraq that President George W. Bush ordered last year has ended after the last of five additional combat brigades left the country, a U.S. military spokesman said on Tuesday.
Alcohol industry may face binge-drinking curbs
The drinks industry may face tough new laws to deal with the country's binge-drinking culture, which costs the state health system an estimated 2.7 billion pounds each year, the government warned on Tuesday.
Christian Bale arrested in London
Christian Bale, star of the latest Batman blockbuster, has been arrested in London on allegations of assault, British media reported on Tuesday.
Property transactions hit series low in June
The number of homes changing hands almost halved in June from a year ago, highlighting the difficulties facing estate agents, retailers and government coffers as the housing downturn intensifies.