News
Solar thermal plant buoys Spanish investors
Spain's Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian buoyed hopes in the country's solar power industry on Monday just days after announcing a dramatic cut in subsidies.
Soil database to help map CO2 storage, food output
New database of the world's soils will help better map agricultural output and storage and sequestration of heat trapping carbon dioxide (CO2), one of its creators, the United Nations' food agency FAO, said on Monday.
About 20 percent of EU timber illegal or suspect: report
Nearly a fifth of wood imported into the European Union has been harvested illegally or comes from suspect sources, mostly in Russia, Indonesia and China, according to a report by environmental group WWF.
Lonesome George may end bachelor days on Galapagos
After decades of solitude, "Lonesome George" may finally save his species of Galapagos giant tortoise from extinction, his keepers said on Monday.
US presidential hopefuls to guest at Rick Warren forum
Senators John McCain and Barack Obama will make their first joint appearance as the presumptive Republican and Democratic presidential nominees when they come together for a leadership and compassion forum at the church of Purpose-Driven Pastor Rick Warren.
'We're sorry you're not here,' Archbishop tells conservatives
The Archbishop of Canterbury said on Monday that the hundreds of conservative bishops boycotting the Lambeth Conference would have helped heal divisions in the Anglican Communion had they decided to take part.
Zimbabwe parties sign framework deal
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday signed a deal laying down the framework for formal talks on forming a power sharing government to end a deep political crisis.
Brown warns Iran in nuclear standoff
Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran on Monday it faced growing isolation if it rejected an offer from major powers on its disputed nuclear programme.
Jobless may have to work for benefits
The long-term unemployed could be forced to work for their benefit payments under plans for the biggest reform of the welfare system in 60 years, the government said on Monday.
Greek police arrest Briton suspected of killing baby
Greek police arrested a 20-year-old British woman on Monday on suspicion of strangling her baby after giving birth in a hotel room on the Mediterranean tourist island of Crete, a police spokesman said.
Irish PM seeks understanding before Sarkozy visit
Prime Minister Brian Cowen called on Monday for patience and understanding from his European Union partners over Ireland's rejection of the EU's reform treaty.
China rejects report on Brown aide 'honeytrap'
China on Monday denied as a fabrication a newspaper report that said a top aide of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was the suspected victim of a "honeytrap" operation by Chinese intelligence.
Bank's Blanchflower sees recession
The economy is heading into recession and interest rates should fall to "well below" their current 5 percent, Bank of England policy-maker David Blanchflower was quoted as saying in a newspaper interview.
Obama meets Iraqi PM in Baghdad
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met U.S. military commanders and Iraq's prime minister on Monday to assess security in the country, where there are more than 140,000 American troops.
Climate report calls for leaders with vision
The world needs leaders with the vision to forge New Deal-type policies to tackle the potentially disastrous combination of climate change, high inflation and economic slowdown, a British think-tank said on Monday.
Watchdog says climate film broke rules
A Channel 4 documentary that claimed man-made climate change is a fraud broke strict broadcasting rules on impartiality, the media regulator said on Monday.