News
Squandered oil wealth leaves Nigeria in dark age
With oil prices at record highs, government coffers in the world's eighth biggest oil exporter are swollen to unprecedented levels.
Three die as blasts hit three Chinese buses
Deliberate explosions on three Chinese buses killed at least three people and injured 14 in the southwestern city of Kunming on Monday, media said, amid a security clampdown ahead of next month's Beijing Olympics.
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.
Brown warns Iran in nuclear standoff
In the first speech to the Israeli Knesset by a British prime minister, Gordon Brown on Monday will warn Iran it faces growing isolation if it rejects an offer from major powers on its disputed nuclear programme.
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.
House prices fall 2 percent in July
Asking prices for homes in England and Wales fell two percent year-on-year in July, a survey by property Web site Rightmove showed on Monday, the first annual fall since the series began six years ago.
UK captive death claim taken seriously
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he was taking seriously a claim by militants in Iraq that one of five Britons they are holding hostage has killed himself.
Archbishop warns of 'severe challenges' at Lambeth Conference
The Archbishop of Canterbury told 650 bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference on Sunday that the Anglican Communion is in the midst of "one of the most severe challenges" in its history.
Japan firms to work out next-gen car battery norms
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Nissan Motor Co (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Matsushita Electric Industrial Co (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and other Japanese companies will work together to set up common standards for lithium-ion batteries being developed to power next-generation cars, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday.
Toyota to make 100,000 units of hybrid car: paper
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to produce 100,000 units a year of a new hybrid-only model slated for release in 2009 at a subsidiary in southern Japan, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
Nokia's single-chip phones sales volumes high: report
Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) has reached high volumes in single-chip mobile phone sales, the company's head was quoted in a newspaper as saying on Friday.
Loud bar music makes customers drink more: study
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday.
Cells from humans grow blood vessels in mice: study
Cells taken from human bone marrow, blood and umbilical cords grew into functioning blood vessels in mice with just the right coaxing, U.S. researchers reported on Saturday.
Brain region linked to obsessive disorder risk
Scientists have located an area in the brain that fails to "kick-in" for people with obsessive compulsive disorder and those at risk of developing the condition.
Wetlands could unleash 'carbon bomb'
The world's wetlands, threatened by development, dehydration and climate change, could release a planet-warming "carbon bomb" if they are destroyed, ecological scientists said on Sunday.
Emergency Beijing Olympic pollution scheme begins
Beijingers breathed easier on Sunday as traffic restrictions and factory closures came into effect in a last ditch attempt to turn the often smoggy Chinese capital into a pollution-free venue for next month's Olympics.