UK CENTRE

Horário da Secretaria (a partir do dia 23/01/2012):

2010-01-23T15:36:00.020-02:00

Horário da secretaria para atendimento ao público:

segunda à sexta das 14:00 às 18:30.
sábados (nos períodos de matrículas) das 9.00 às 12.00.

Rua Artur Machado nº 267,

(em cima do Drogão Super) - Uberaba / MG

Telefone: (34) 3076-0665

e-mail: ukcentre@ig.com.br

Dear Pals,

Here is another way of keeping in touch with you. Let's share it together. You're welcome to our site, and you're also invited to improve it.

If you want to have a quality school of Engilsh partnership in your city/town, please contact us through e-mail, you don't pay any school fees.

We want to qualify the English Language Studies through our association of the UK CENTRE schools.

Yours,

UK CENTRE - Headquarters - Uberaba / MG, Brazil.

October 16th, 2008.

2008-10-16T08:47:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

US hopefuls in tense final debate
The US presidential candidates clash over the economy and negative campaigning in a testy, final pre-election debate.

Global shares carry on tumbling
European shares follow Asian stock markets by plunging on growing fears of a global recession.

High food costs 'a global burden'
Almost two-thirds of people in 26 countries say higher food and energy prices have affected them "a great deal", a BBC report finds.

EU set to backtrack on emissions
EU leaders look set to give way to demands from some members to water down the bloc's ambitious climate change plans.

Progress in Thai-Cambodia talks
Reports say progress has been made as generals from Cambodia and Thailand negotiate an end to fighting on a disputed border.

BUSINESS

Global shares carry on tumbling
European shares follow Asian stock markets by plunging on growing fears of a global recession.

Switzerland unveils UBS bail-out
The Swiss government helps UBS raise billions of dollars of fresh capital and takes on the bank's toxic assets.

High food costs 'a global burden'
Almost two-thirds of people in 26 countries say higher food and energy prices have affected them "a great deal", a BBC report finds.

ENTERTAINMENT

Madonna and Ritchie confirm split
Pop star Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie are to divorce, their PR representatives confirm.

Migraine-hit Jackson resumes tour
Janet Jackson returns to stage, after calling off several gigs on her tour after suffering migraines linked to vertigo.

Actor Duchovny 'splits from wife'
Actor David Duchovny has separated from his wife of 11 years, actress Tea Leoni, it is reported.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Ray of hope for the red squirrel
Some red squirrels have developed immunity to a deadly disease carried by grey squirrels, scientists find.

Mind power moves paralysed limbs
Scientists show it is possible to harness brain signals and redirect them to make paralysed limbs move.

Expedition set for 'ghost peaks'
Scientists prepare to survey Antarctica's Gamburtsev mountain range - one of the most enigmatic mountain groups on Earth.

TECHNOLOGY

Giant database plan 'Orwellian'
Government proposals for a database of all UK mobile phone and internet traffic are attacked by opponents as "Orwellian".

Broadband speed tests questioned
Virgin Media has said that broadband speed tests are unable to accurately measure its super-fast service.

The online battles for president
The Obama campaign becomes the first to advertise in video games, while the McCain camp challenges YouTube copyright actions.

HEALTH

Vaccine 'could end Nigeria polio'
Polio could be wiped out in Nigeria - one of the last blackspots of the disease - thanks to improved vaccine, research suggests.

Mind power moves paralysed limbs
Scientists show it is possible to harness brain signals and redirect them to make paralysed limbs move.

Ugandans ban female circumcision
The only community to practise female circumcision in Uganda has banned it, an official says.

October 15th, 2008.

2008-10-16T08:46:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Bank crisis to dominate EU talksEU leaders are to discuss multi-billion-euro rescue plans for Europe's ailing banks at a two-day summit in Brussels.

Gunshots on Thai-Cambodia borderThai and Cambodian troops exchange gunfire, as a simmering dispute over an ancient temple escalates.

Millions mark UN hand-washing dayMillions of children around the world are to use soap and water to mark the UN's first Global Handwashing Day.

Georgia, Russia hold direct talksGeorgian and Russian officials begin their first direct talks since the war over Georgia's rebel region of South Ossetia.

N Korea 'sex spy' jailed in SouthA N Korean woman who pleaded guilty to using sex to extract secret information from S Korean soldiers is given five years in jail.
BUSINESS

Stock markets retreat after rallyAfter dramatic rises earlier in the week, most European and Asian stock markets give up some ground.

Bank crisis to dominate EU talksEU leaders are to discuss multi-billion-euro rescue plans for Europe's ailing banks at a two-day summit in Brussels.

New York 'faces 165,000 job cuts'New York City could lose 165,000 jobs as a result of the crisis in the financial sector, the city's chief financial officer warns.
ENTERTAINMENT

First-time novelist wins BookerIndian-born writer Aravind Adiga wins this year's £50,000 Man Booker Prize with his debut novel The White Tiger.

Cash freeze hits Iceland festivalA music festival in Iceland with CSS, Biffy Clyro and Vampire Weekend goes ahead, despite the country's cash crisis.

Library acquires Hughes archivesHundreds of unpublished poems, notebooks and letters by former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes are acquired by the British Library.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Aquatic alien 'thugs' set to meetScientists believe the UK ranges of the plague-carrying non-native crayfish and voracious Chinese mitten crab are beginning to overlap.

Expedition set for 'ghost peaks'Scientists prepare to survey Antarctica's Gamburtsev mountain range - one of the most enigmatic mountain groups on Earth.

Climate plan concern as EU meetsEnvironmentalists fear an EU summit will see climate change plans hit by cost concerns, as financial uncertainty persists.
TECHNOLOGY

Concern over giant database ideaThe government's terror watchdog is concerned at proposals for a giant database of all UK phone calls and web use.

Deaf people lobby MPs over phonesA consortium of deaf campaigners takes its fight for equal access to the telephone to Parliament at a reception for MPs.

BT picks fast fibre pilot sitesThe first trials of BT's high-speed broadband based around fibre-optics will take place in Muswell Hill, London and Whitchurch, South Wales.

HEALTH

Earliest confirmed TB case foundThe 9,000-year-old remains of a mother and baby found off the coast of Israel provide the earliest evidence of human TB.

Sweet pill tackles child malariaTanzanian researchers say an easy-to-swallow pill could help halt malaria in children.

Faecal bacteria join the commuteMore than one in four commuters has bacteria which come from faeces on their hands, an investigation finds.

October 14, 2008.

2008-10-16T08:44:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Shares rise as confidence returnsStocks markets in Asia and Europe power ahead, as investors welcome government action to shore up banks.

Mbeki 'sure' of Zimbabwe progressEx-South African President Thabo Mbeki is confident he will be able to salvage Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal, his spokesman says.

LA firefighters battle wildfiresTwo wildfires driven by strong winds destroy dozens of homes near Los Angeles and claim at least two lives.

McCain vows fight-back on economyJohn McCain prepares to unveil new economic policies as he pledges to overhaul Barack Obama's lead in the polls.

Syria decrees embassy in BeirutSyria's President Bashar al-Assad issues a decree to set up diplomatic ties with Lebanon and open an embassy.
BUSINESS

Shares rise as confidence returnsStocks markets in Asia and Europe power ahead, as investors welcome government action to shore up banks.

US set to outline banking rescueThe US government is preparing to take stakes in its banks, as global shares move up strongly in anticipation.

Europe acts to strengthen banksMajor European economies announce financial rescue schemes to shore up their banking systems.
ENTERTAINMENT

Two arrested over 'Beckham theft'Two former housekeepers of David and Victoria Beckham are arrested on allegations of theft from their Hertfordshire mansion.

Depardieu's actor son dies at 37The son of French actor Gerard Depardieu has died from pneumonia, hospital officials confirm.

US star Cyrus writes memoir at 15US pop sensation Miley Cyrus finishes writing a book of her life at the age of 15.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Exotic spiders crawl into the UKExotic species of spider are making their homes in the UK- could the black widow be next?

'New pathway' for African exodusResearchers find a possible new route taken by early modern humans as they expanded out of Africa to the rest of the world.

Tourist arrives at space station
A spacecraft carrying a new crew for the International Space Station (ISS) docks with the orbiting outpost.
TECHNOLOGY

BT picks fast fibre pilot sitesThe first trials of high-speed broadband based around fibre-optics will take place in Muswell Hill, London and Whitchurch, South Wales.

Tourist arrives at space stationA spacecraft carrying a new crew for the International Space Station (ISS) docks with the orbiting outpost.

Music fans back legal downloadsOnline music pirates can be put off by warnings from their net firm, suggests a survey.
HEALTH

Parkinson's linked to vitamin DScientists are testing whether vitamin D supplements can ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

'Credit crunch insomnia' emergingMoney and work worries are keeping about half of us awake at night, a poll suggests.

Dutch 'HIV attack' trial beginsThree men go on trial in the Netherlands accused of deliberately infecting at least 14 other men with HIV.

October 12th, 2008.

2008-10-16T08:43:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

EU chiefs confront markets crisisThe 15 eurozone leaders are to meet in Paris to try to establish a common approach to the global financial crisis.

N Korea hails terror list removalNorth Korea welcomes a US decision to remove it from a list of sponsors of terrorism and agrees to allow nuclear access.

McCain in 'hatred' war of wordsRepublican presidential candidate John McCain clashes with a civil rights icon who accuses him of "sowing hatred".

Taleban killed in Afghan battlesDozens of Taleban militants are killed by security forces in fighting in southern Afghanistan, local and British officials say.

Iraqi Christians flee killings Hundreds of Iraqi Christians reportedly flee the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in the past week, following a wave of killings.
BUSINESS

EU chiefs confront markets crisisThe 15 eurozone leaders are to meet in Paris to try to establish a common approach to the global financial crisis.

IMF in global 'meltdown' warningThe world is facing financial "meltdown", the International Monetary Fund warns, as it offers help to credit-starved countries.

GM and Chrysler 'in merger talks'Struggling US car giants General Motors and Chrysler are in talks about a possible merger, US media say.
ENTERTAINMENT

Robbins gets star on Walk of FameOscar-winning actor Tim Robbins is awarded a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Cusack stalker accepts plea dealA woman accused of stalking actor John Cusack accepts a plea deal that will allow her to avoid state prison.

Muhammad book on hold in the UKThe author of a controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad postpones its UK publication.
SCIENCE/NATURE

US tourist set for space stationUS space tourist Richard Garriott follows in the footsteps of his astronaut father as he blasts off into space.

Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'The global economy loses more money from deforestation than the current banking crisis, says an EU-commissioned report.

Nasa committed to Mars rover planNasa is pushing ahead with plans to launch its next Mars mission in 2009, but acknowledges that extra funds are required to make it happen.
TECHNOLOGY

Bank turmoil fuels phishing boomScammers and fraudsters are capitalising on the changes sweeping through global financial markets and sectors.

'Spam attack' halts Virgin e-mailTens of thousands of Virgin.net customers lose e-mail access for up to four days after a suspected spam attack.

Channel 4 abandons digital radioChannel 4 pulls the plug on three proposed digital radio stations owing to a slump in advertising revenues.
HEALTH

Repossession 'is mental threat'House repossession poses the greatest threat to people's mental health, a charity has warned.

Gut 'tasting' could beat poisonsThe gut may have receptors that shut down appetite when bitter substances are detected, a study suggests.

Tainted China water sickens 450About 450 people fall ill in southern China after drinking water contaminated by a metal factory, state media report.

October 11th, 2008.

2008-10-11T23:41:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Mugabe 'gives Zanu-PF key posts'
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe gives key ministries to his own party - in defiance of a power-sharing deal, reports say.

Palin abused power, probe finds
John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin abused her power as Alaska's governor for personal ends, a report concludes.

G7 nations pledge to fight crisis
Top finance ministers promise to take "decisive action and use all available tools" to tackle the world economic crisis.

Austria's Haider dies in accident
Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider, known for his anti-immigration policies, has been killed in a car crash, aged 58.

GM and Chrysler 'in merger talks'
Struggling US car giants General Motors and Chrysler are in talks about a possible merger, US media say.

BUSINESS

G7 nations pledge to fight crisis
Top finance ministers promise to take "decisive action and use all available tools" to tackle the world economic crisis.

GM and Chrysler 'in merger talks'
Struggling US car giants General Motors and Chrysler are in talks about a possible merger, US media say.

Venezuela shuts down McDonald's
Venezuela shuts all branches of restaurant chain McDonald's for 48 hours, citing tax irregularities, officials say.

ENTERTAINMENT

Singer Britney set to speak out
Pop star Britney Spears is to discuss the ups and downs of her life in an MTV documentary to be shown next month.

Muhammad book on hold in the UK
The author of a controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad postpones its UK publication.

Janet Jackson 'to resume US tour'
Singer Janet Jackson is well enough to resume her North American tour, according to reports in the US media.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'
The global economy loses more money from deforestation than the current banking crisis, says an EU-commissioned report.

Minister wants astronaut 'icon'
The UK's new science minister says he wants a British astronaut in space because that individual would inspire youngsters.

Call to maintain climate targets
Ed Miliband, the new energy and climate secretary, urges Europe's leaders to stick to climate change targets.

TECHNOLOGY

Bank turmoil fuels phishing boom
Scammers and fraudsters are capitalising on the changes sweeping through global financial markets and sectors.

'Spam attack' halts Virgin e-mail
Tens of thousands of Virgin.net customers lose e-mail access for up to four days after a suspected spam attack.

Channel 4 abandons digital radioChannel 4 pulls the plug on three proposed digital radio stations owing to a slump in advertising revenues.

HEALTH

Repossession 'is mental threat'
House repossession poses the greatest threat to people's mental health, a charity has warned.

Gut 'tasting' could beat poisons
The gut may have receptors that shut down appetite when bitter substances are detected, a study suggests.

UV light fear over 'green' bulbs
Skin could be damaged by prolonged, close-up exposure to low-energy bulbs, health experts have warned.

October 10th, 2008.

2008-10-10T15:49:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Fear grips global stock markets
Shares across the world fall sharply as fear grows of a widespread economic slowdown.

Nato to target Afghan drugs trade
Nato allows its troops to attack opium factories for the first time in Afghanistan to help stem the flow of funds to the Taleban.

Ahtisaari wins Nobel Peace Prize
Finnish ex-President Martti Ahtisaari wins this year's Nobel Peace Prize for three decades of mediation around the world.

Libya 'to pull Swiss bank assets'
Libya is to withdraw all its assets from Swiss banks in a row over the arrest of the Libyan leader's youngest son.

Bangkok protest leaders surrender
The leaders of the long-running anti-government protests in Thailand surrender to police, after agreeing a bail deal.

BUSINESS

Fear grips global stock markets
Shares across the world fall sharply as fear grows of a widespread economic slowdown.

Oil demand 'slows' as crisis hits
Oil falls below $80 a barrel as the International Energy Agency cuts its forecast for oil demand growth.

Russia approves $86bn bank rescue
Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, approves a raft of measures worth $86bn (£51bn) to assist banks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Singer Britney set to speak out
Pop star Britney Spears is to discuss the ups and downs of her life in an MTV documentary to be shown next month.

US release date for Roses album
The long-awaited new album by rock group Guns N' Roses, Chinese Democracy, will come out in the US next month.

Author Rushdie wins Joyce award
Author Sir Salman Rushdie receives an award in memory of writer James Joyce from University College Dublin.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Nature loss 'dwarfs bank crisis'
The global economy loses more money from deforestation than the current banking crisis, says an EU-commissioned report.

Minister wants astronaut 'icon'
The UK's new science minister says he wants a British astronaut in space because that individual would inspire youngsters.

Call to maintain climate targets
Ed Miliband, the new energy and climate secretary, urges Europe's leaders to stick to climate change targets.

TECHNOLOGY

'Unbreakable' encryption unveiled
A computer network protected by unbreakable quantum encryption is launched in Vienna.

New media plan to combat Taleban
The UK government mulls a radical plan to counter growing Taleban propaganda in Afghanistan, the BBC learns.

Man denies hacking Palin e-mail
The son of a Democratic politician pleads not guilty as he is indicted over the hacking of Sarah Palin's private e-mail account.

HEALTH

Repossession 'is mental threat'
House repossession poses the greatest threat to people's mental health, a charity has warned.

Gut 'tasting' could beat poisons
The gut may have receptors that shut down appetite when bitter substances are detected, a study suggests.

UV light fear over 'green' bulbs
Skin could be damaged by prolonged, close-up exposure to low-energy bulbs, health experts have warned.

October 9th, 2008.

2008-10-09T08:04:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Shares rally after intervention
Most European and Asian shares move higher as investors react to a co-ordinated interest rates cut and the UK bank rescue package.

Bomb hits school bus in Pakistan
At least nine people die when a roadside bomb explodes near a prison van and a school bus in north-west Pakistan.

Thai court drops treason charges
A Thai court drops the most serious charges against protest leaders, opening the way for their possible surrender to police.

Zimbabwe inflation hits new high
Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate soars to a record 231,000,000% as measured in July, newly released official figures show.

Snap election called in Ukraine
Ukraine's president dissolves parliament weeks after the collapse of the ruling coalition and calls a snap election.

BUSINESS

Shares rally after intervention
Most European and Asian shares move higher as investors react to a co-ordinated interest rates cut and the UK bank rescue package.

US warns of further bank failures
The US treasury secretary warns some banks will still fail despite a $700bn rescue package, as Asian markets enjoy calmer trading.

Iceland takes control of top bank
Iceland takes control of Kaupthing, the country's largest bank and the third one to be taken over by the government.

ENTERTAINMENT

Foos fight McCain over song use
US rock band the Foo Fighters tell Republican John McCain to stop using song My Hero in his presidential campaign.

Critics laud Tennant in Labour's
Doctor Who star David Tennant receives high praise for his work in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Bond actor admits plastic surgery
Actor Daniel Craig reveals he needed plastic surgery after an accident on the set of the new James Bond film.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Fisheries waste 'costs billions'
The world's fishing fleets are losing billions of dollars each year through depleted stocks and poor management, according to a UN report.

New fungi species unearthed in UK
Several species of fungi new to the UK have been unearthed by mushroom experts at the National Trust's Clumber Park.

Water policy 'failing to deliver'
The UK's existing water policy will fail to cope with future extreme weather events, a National Trust report warns.

TECHNOLOGY

Firefox users gain location tool
Add-on offers a taste of the location-aware technology to come in future versions of Firefox

Is anybody listening out there?
Messages are beamed to a planet 20 light years from Earth in the hope they will reach intelligent alien life.

Norton Antivirus firm buys rival
Anti-virus software firm Symantec buys smaller rival web security firm MessageLabs for $695m.

HEALTH

'End in sight' for elephantiasis
A painful and disfiguring disease affecting more than 100 million people worldwide could be wiped out by 2020, say experts.

Testicles 'are stem cell source'
The cells in a man's testicles may be able to do a lot more than just make sperm - they could provide any cell type in his body.

'Vaccinate now' to beat bird flu
A vaccine available right now could help save lives in a future bird flu pandemic, UK scientists claim.

October 8th, 2008.

2008-10-08T11:00:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Rescue plan for UK banks unveiled
The UK government announces the details of a £50bn ($88bn) rescue plan for the UK banking system.

US voters put rivals to the test
The US presidential hopefuls spar over the financial crisis and foreign policy in a debate where voters put the questions.

Russia 'starts Georgia pull-out'
Russian troops are seen withdrawing from a "buffer zone" in Georgia ahead of Friday's deadline set by a peace deal.

Karzai's brother 'met ex-Taleban'
The Afghan president's brother met former Taleban leaders at a religious meal hosted by the Saudi king, the BBC learns.

Mbeki ally threatens to split ANC
A close ally of South Africa's ex-President Thabo Mbeki warns some ruling ANC members may break away from the party.

BUSINESS

Rescue plan for UK banks unveiled
The UK government announces the details of a £50bn ($88bn) rescue plan for the UK banking system.

Global stocks sell-off continues
European stock markets fall sharply after steep declines in Asia amid fears of a prolonged global economic downturn.

IMF in 'severe downturn' warning
The global economic downturn is likely to worsen as the financial crisis continues, says the International Monetary Fund.

ENTERTAINMENT

Stars out for High School Musical
Screaming fans greet the stars of High School Musical 3: Senior Year for the film's premiere in London's Leicester Square.

Nolte escapes blaze at his house
Actor Nick Nolte escapes a fire at his Malibu home that caused an estimated $3m (£1.7m) worth of damage.

Oasis star returns after attack
Oasis star Noel Gallagher, who was attacked on stage a month ago, shakes off his injuries to launch the band's UK tour.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Glowing' jellyfish grabs Nobel
A clever trick borrowed from jellyfish earns two Americans and one Japanese scientist a share of the chemistry Nobel Prize.

'Deepest ever' living fish filmed
The "deepest ever" living fish are discovered 7.5km down, scientists say.

Cosmic imperfections celebrated
The Nobel Prize for physics this year lauds three individuals who described tiny flaws in the fabric of the Universe.

TECHNOLOGY

Cars set to get parental controls
Ford is to introduce a key-based security system that limits what younger drivers can do to the family car.

Release date set for Manhunt 2
The controversial game Manhunt 2 will be released in the UK on 31 October after a lengthy battle to get a certificate.

DVD copying software gets pulled
RealNetworks is being pursued by six movie studios over software that makes copies of DVD films so they can be played on a PC.

HEALTH

Circumcision HIV impact doubted
There is no hard evidence that circumcision protects gay men from contracting HIV, research shows.

Painkillers 'cut breast cancer'
Regular use of common painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen reduces the risk of breast cancer, according to an international study.

Disease warning on climate change
Climate change may hasten the spread of diseases that can move from wild animals to humans, researchers warn.

October 7th, 2008.

2008-10-07T11:45:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Markets mixed in volatile trade
European and Asian markets show volatility as worries persist over the strength of financial institutions.

Fatal car bomb in central Bangkok
A suspected car bomb kills one person in Bangkok, shortly after violent clashes between police and protesters

Australian jet plunge injures 40
A plane makes an emergency landing in Australia after 40 people are injured following a "sudden change in altitude".

Iraq says US troop deal is close
The US and Iraq are close to an agreement over US troops remaining in Iraq after 2008, Iraq's foreign minister says.

Particle physics celebrates Nobel
The Nobel Prize in physics is shared by two Japanese citizens and an American, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces.

BUSINESS

Markets mixed in volatile trade
European and Asian markets show volatility as worries persist over the strength of financial institutions.

Lehman Bros head took home $300m
The head of failed US bank Lehman Brothers tells Congress he took home $300m (£172.6m) in compensation in the past eight years.

Australia slashes interest rates
Australia's central bank cuts its key interest rate from 7% to 6% - a much bigger-than-expected reduction.

ENTERTAINMENT

Prophet bride book appears in US
A novel about the Prophet Muhammad's child bride appears in the US after an attack on the UK publisher.

Duchovny out of sex rehab clinic
X Files actor David Duchovny has left rehab after "successfully" completing a course for sex addiction, his lawyer confirms.

Anne Hathaway 'signs for Alice'
Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter are to star in Tim Burton's Disney version of Alice in Wonderland, according to reports.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Deepest ever' living fish filmed
The "deepest ever" living fish are discovered 7.5km down, scientists say.

Particle physics celebrates Nobel
The Nobel Prize in physics is shared by two Japanese citizens and an American, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces.

UK 'needs tougher climate target'
The UK's official climate advisers say an 80% emissions cut by 2050 should include international aviation and shipping.

TECHNOLOGY

DVD copying software gets pulled
RealNetworks is being pursued by six movie studios over software that makes copies of DVD films so they can be played on a PC.

Oyster card hack details revealed
Dutch researchers reveal details of how they managed to copy the radio chips used on London's Oyster card.

Search engine Ask gets a facelift
In a bid to claw back some users from Google, search site Ask is re-launching its front page.

HEALTH

'Safer' test developed for Down's
Scientists develop a blood test that could tell a pregnant women if her unborn baby has Down's syndrome.

Nobel prize for viral discoveries
The discovery of HIV and work linking a virus to cervical cancer jointly win the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Pollution linked to appendicitis
Air pollution may increase risk of developing the life-threatening condition appendicitis, research suggests.

October 6th, 2008.

2008-10-06T14:51:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Europe worries dent stock markets
Asian and European stock markets fall sharply as investors worry over the growing level of financial turmoil in Europe.

Suicide blast hits Sri Lanka town
A suicide blast in a Sri Lankan town kills a former general and at least 26 other people, the defence ministry says.

Nobel prize for viral discoveries
The discovery of HIV and work linking a virus to cervical cancer jointly win the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Deadly earthquake hits Kyrgyzstan
Officials in Kyrgyzstan say an earthquake has killed at least 65 people near its mountainous border with China.

Menezes officers 'not at fault'
The police did nothing wrong in the run-up to the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, a policewoman tells the inquest into his death.

BUSINESS

Europe worries dent stock markets
Asian and European stock markets fall sharply as investors worry over the growing level of financial turmoil in Europe.

No extra safety for German savers
The German government will not pass any new legislation to provide extra protection for savers, the BBC learns.

Iceland unveils bank rescue bid
Iceland announces part of a plan to hammer out a financial package to shore up its troubled banking sector.

ENTERTAINMENT

Chihuahua is box office top dog
Canine film Beverly Hills Chihuahua is best in show in the North American box office, according to early estimates.

Half of Glastonbury tickets sold
Half the tickets for 2009's Glastonbury music festival are bought on Sunday, when tickets went on sale early.

Dreamworks joins India's Reliance
Steven Spielberg's film studio agrees a joint venture with one of India's largest entertainment conglomerates.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Nobel prize for viral discoveries
The discovery of HIV and work linking a virus to cervical cancer jointly win the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Companies 'need green directors'
Businesses must change their attitude to green issues, the World Conservation Congress is told as it opens.

Big cat kill caught on BBC webcam
BBC webcams in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve catch some remarkable pictures of lions in action.

TECHNOLOGY

China 'spying on Skype messages'
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.

Music stars unite to seek control
Acts including Robbie Williams and Radiohead join a coalition to try to gain ownership and control of their music from record labels.

Search engine Ask gets a facelift
In a bid to claw back some users from Google, search site Ask is re-launching its front page.

HEALTH

Nobel prize for viral discoveries
The discovery of HIV and work linking a virus to cervical cancer jointly win the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Single jab cancer therapy backed
A major study has proved a single dose of chemotherapy is the best way to cure testicular cancer in many patients.

Inflammatory bowel gene uncovered
Genetic variations which predispose people to a common inflammatory bowel condition have been uncovered by a team of German and UK researchers.

October 5th, 2008.

2008-10-05T08:08:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Afghan victory hopes played down
Britain's military commander in Helmand has warned that there will be no "decisive victory" in Afghanistan.

Palin makes Obama terrorist claim
US Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin accuses Barack Obama of associating with a "domestic terrorist".

German bank at risk of collapse
Top German bank Hypo Real Estate teeters on the brink of collapse after a 35bn euro rescue plan fell apart.

Russia removes Georgia checkpoint
Russia dismantles a checkpoint near Georgia's breakaway S Ossetia region, the first step of a pullback plan, EU observers say.

More Mexican 'gang' victims found
The bodies of 10 more murder victims are found in a Mexican city that is the scene of a vicious drugs turf war.

BUSINESS

No banks bail-out fund for Europe
Europe's leaders stop short of forming a Wall Street-style rescue plan for the bloc's beleaguered banks.

Bush warns of economic challenges
President Bush says the US economy still faces "serious challenges", after signing a $700bn financial rescue plan.

Anger over Tata car factory move
Thousands in India's West Bengal state protest against the Tata group's decision to abandon plans to make cars there.

ENTERTAINMENT

Santana discloses holy ambitions
Guitarist Carlos Santana says he wants to set up a church in Hawaii when he reaches the age of 67.

Bollywood workers strike 'over'
A strike that brought Bollywood film production to a halt has been called off, unions and employers say.

Glastonbury ticket sale kicks off
Tickets for 2009's Glastonbury music festival go on sale, eight months before the event is due to begin.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Big cat kill caught on BBC webcam
BBC webcams in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve catch some remarkable pictures of lions in action.

Greens welcome new climate dept
Green groups welcome the creation of a new energy and climate department in Gordon Brown's government reshuffle.

Sick leave 'link to early death'
Staff missing work for psychiatric reasons face twice the risk of death from cancer as healthier people, a study suggests.

TECHNOLOGY

China 'spying on Skype messages'
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.

Obama uses iPhone to win support
US Democratic candidate Barack Obama launches an application that could turn the iPhone into a political recruiting tool.

Music stars unite to seek control
Acts including Robbie Williams and Radiohead join a coalition to try to gain ownership and control of their music from record labels.

HEALTH

China lung disease 'to kill 83m'
A US health study says tens of millions of people in China will die as a result of lung disease in the next 25 years.

Sick leave 'link to early death'
Staff missing work for psychiatric reasons face twice the risk of death from cancer as healthier people, a study suggests.

New twist in brain obesity riddle
The discovery of another way in which the body appears to control how much it eats could shed fresh light on obesity.

October 4th, 2008.

2008-10-05T08:05:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

OJ Simpson convicted of robbery
Former US football and film star OJ Simpson could face life in jail after being found guilty of planning a hotel room robbery.

Turkish troops killed in clashes
Fifteen Turkish soldiers and 23 Kurdish rebels die in fighting close to Turkey's border with Iraq, the military says.

US kills 'senior Baghdad bomber'
An al-Qaeda commander described as one of Baghdad's bombing masterminds is killed by US troops, military officials say.

Rice in India for nuclear talks
The US secretary of state is in Delhi but will not sign a controversial deal on civilian nuclear co-operation, officials say.

BUSINESS

Bush warns of economic challenges
President Bush says the US economy still faces "serious challenges", after signing a $700bn financial rescue plan.

EU leaders to discuss bank crisis
An emergency summit of European leaders is to be held in Paris to discuss responses to the global financial crisis.

Battle to buy Wachovia heats up
The US bank Wells Fargo is set to buy Wachovia in a $15.1bn deal, but its rival, scorned suitor Citigroup is objecting.

ENTERTAINMENT

Bollywood workers strike 'over'
A strike that brought Bollywood film production to a halt has been called off, unions and employers say.

Glastonbury ticket sale to open
Tickets for 2009's Glastonbury music festival are to go on sale on Sunday, eight months before the event.

Rowling 'makes £5 every second'
JK Rowling is the world's highest-earning author, making £170m last year, US business magazine Forbes announces.

SCIENCE/NATURE

Greens welcome new climate dept
Green groups welcome the creation of a new energy and climate department in Gordon Brown's government reshuffle.

Sick leave 'link to early death'
Staff missing work for psychiatric reasons face twice the risk of death from cancer as healthier people, a study suggests.

Help red squirrels, public urged
Conservationists urge the public to report sightings of red squirrels in an attempt to protect them from a deadly virus.

TECHNOLOGY

China 'spying on Skype messages'
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.

Obama uses iPhone to win support
US Democratic candidate Barack Obama launches an application that could turn the iPhone into a political recruiting tool.

Music stars unite to seek control
Acts including Robbie Williams and Radiohead join a coalition to try to gain ownership and control of their music from record labels.

HEALTH

China lung disease 'to kill 83m'
A US health study says tens of millions of people in China will die as a result of lung disease in the next 25 years.

Sick leave 'link to early death'
Staff missing work for psychiatric reasons face twice the risk of death from cancer as healthier people, a study suggests.

New twist in brain obesity riddle
The discovery of another way in which the body appears to control how much it eats could shed fresh light on obesity.

October 3rd, 2008.

2008-10-03T12:18:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Biden and Palin clash in debate
US vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin trade blows in their only TV debate before November's elections.

Remains found in Fossett's plane
US investigators find human remains amid the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane in eastern California.

Boy fed zoo reptiles to crocodile
A seven-year-old boy has been filmed killing rare reptiles and feeding live ones to a crocodile at a popular zoo in Australia.

China 'spying on Skype messages'
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.

Khmer Rouge men tried for murder
Five former members of the Khmer Rouge are on trial for the kidnap and murder of two de-miners 12 years ago.

BUSINESS

Stocks mixed before bail-out vote
Shares are mixed ahead of a key vote on a revised version of the US $700bn (£395bn) bail-out plan.

Swiss bank UBS to cut 2,000 jobs
Swiss bank UBS says it will cut 2,000 jobs and will reorganise the business to cut costs and focus on its strengths.

EU leaders to discuss bank crisis
An emergency summit of European leaders is due to be held in Paris to discuss possible responses to the global financial crisis.

ENTERTAINMENT

Theatres to pay tribute to Newman
Broadway theatres will dim their lights at curtain time on Friday for actor Paul Newman, who died last week aged 83.

Rowling 'makes £5 every second'
JK Rowling is the world's highest-earning author, making £170m last year, US business magazine Forbes announces.

High School Musical 'sets record'
Cinemas across the UK take record advance bookings for High School Musical 3, according to industry reports.

SCIENCE/NATURE

UK urged to fund climate project
Industry calls on the UK government to invest more in Kopernikus, the world's biggest environmental monitoring project.

Black rhinos released into wild
Black rhinos are released back into the wild in Kenya for the first time in more than 25 years.

Remains found in Fossett's plane
US investigators find possible human remains amid the wreckage of adventurer Steve Fossett's plane in eastern California.

TECHNOLOGY

Obama uses iPhone to win support
US Democratic candidate Barack Obama launches an application that could turn the iPhone into a political recruiting tool.

China 'spying on Skype messages'
Chinese officials are censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, Canadian researchers say.

Online music avoids rate hikeApple had threatened to shut down iTunes if fees for downloading songs online was increased but managed to avoid that when the status quo was maintained.

HEALTH

Sick leave 'link to early death'
Staff missing work for psychiatric reasons face twice the risk of death from cancer as healthier people, a study suggests.

New twist in brain obesity riddle
The discovery of another way in which the body appears to control how much it eats could shed fresh light on obesity.

Indian ban on smoking in public
A ban on smoking in public places comes into force across India, in an effort to cut exposure to passive smoking.

October 2nd, 2008.

2008-10-02T09:07:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

US Senate backs new bail-out bill
The US Senate approves a revised draft of a Wall Street rescue plan which now returns to the House, at a key moment for financial markets.

Baghdad shaken by suicide attacks
Suicide bombers strike two Shia mosques in Baghdad, killing at least 20 people and wounding more, police say.

Fossett searchers 'spot wreckage'
Search teams looking for US adventurer Steve Fossett see what looks to be a plane's wreckage, local police say.

UN warns over Zimbabwe food aid
Half the population of Zimbabwe could soon be in need of constant aid, the UN's humanitarian chief tells the BBC.

EU force to fight Somali pirates
A least eight European countries are to form a maritime security force to fight Somali piracy, France says.

BUSINESS

US Senate backs new bail-out bill
The US Senate approves a revised draft of a Wall Street rescue plan which now returns to the House, at a key moment for financial markets.

French minister knocks Irish move
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is the latest European politician to criticise the Republic of Ireland's bank guarantee move.

Car firms see sales plunge in US
US car sales fell sharply last month, the latest sign that woes in the financial sector are spreading to the wider economy.

ENTERTAINMENT

Law to star in Ritchie's Sherlock
Jude Law will be Dr Watson to Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's new film, the director announces.

Solid gold Moss statue revealed
A 50kg solid gold statue of model Kate Moss, created by artist Marc Quinn, is unveiled at the British Museum.

Minogue wins digital music gongs
Kylie Minogue scoops two gongs at the BT Digital Music Awards, which took place at The Roundhouse in London.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Colonial clue to the rise of HIV
The arrival of colonial cities in sub-Saharan Africa at the dawn of the 20th Century may have sparked the spread of HIV.

UK physics in good health - study
Physics in the UK is in good shape but faces a number of challenges ahead, concludes a major report commissioned by ministers.

Hi-tech windows into a whale's world
Scientists are attempting to find out what is behind whale strandings.

TECHNOLOGY

iTunes store shutdown feared
As royalty rates for digital music are to be set this week comments emerge from Apple about a possible closure of iTunes.

Google 'Goliath' Microsoft says
Microsoft's boss says his firm is a "David" to Google's "Goliath" after its failure to grasp the importance of internet search.

Minogue wins digital music gongs
Kylie Minogue scoops two gongs at the BT Digital Music Awards, which took place at The Roundhouse in London.

HEALTH

Indian ban on smoking in public
A ban on smoking in public places comes into force across India, in an effort to cut exposure to passive smoking.

Computers could read mammograms
A computer and expert are as effective at detecting breast cancer as the traditional two experts, research suggests.

Colonial clue to the rise of HIV
The arrival of colonial cities in sub-Saharan Africa at the dawn of the 20th Century may have sparked the spread of HIV.

October 1st, 2008.

2008-10-01T23:52:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

EU monitors begin Georgia patrols
EU observers enter the buffer zone around South Ossetia, as they begin monitoring a truce between Georgia and Russia.

Spain holds 121 over child porn
Spanish police arrest 121 people in an operation against internet child pornography, described as the biggest of its kind.

Shares mixed ahead of key US vote
Global shares are mixed ahead of a key vote in the US Senate on a new version of the $700bn American banking rescue plan.

Canada PM faces plagiarism claim
Canadian PM Stephen Harper read a 2003 speech on Iraq which had identical sections to one by Australia's ex-PM John Howard.

Russia's last tsar rehabilitated
Russia's Supreme Court rules that the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his family were victims of political repression.

BUSINESS

Shares mixed ahead of key US vote
Global shares are mixed ahead of a key vote in the US Senate on a new version of the $700bn American banking rescue plan.

Watchdog backs giant mining deal
BHP Billiton's proposed $114bn hostile bid for rival mining giant Rio Tinto is cleared by Australia's competition watchdog.

Asian shares rise on US deal hope
Asians shares post strong gains after the news US senators will vote later on Wednesday on a revamped financial rescue plan.

ENTERTAINMENT

Jackson released from hospital
Singer Janet Jackson is released from a Montreal hospital just two hours after being admitted, a spokeswoman says.

Beenie Man cleared of tax evasion
A Jamaican judge clears reggae star Beenie Man of tax evasion charges, ruling he was not informed of his legal rights.

Superman fans unite to save house
Superman fans help save the US house where the action hero was created by raising $100,000 in an auction.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Viking mouse' invasion tracked
Scientists say that studying the genes of mice will reveal new information about patterns of human migration.

Virgin to join climate experiment
Virgin Galactic is to look at carrying instruments on board one of its spacecraft to gather data on climate change.

Mixed views on new nuclear build
Residents living near existing UK nuclear power stations only have "qualified support" for new reactors, a study shows.

TECHNOLOGY

Fighting the scourge of scareware
Microsoft joins law enforcement to sue "scareware" merchants who frighten people into buying unnecessary software for fake security fixes.

Blizzard wins Warcraft bot payout
World of Warcraft creator Blizzard wins a $6m payout in a legal battle with the makers of a software 'bot'

Venezuela splashes out on laptops
Venezuela is buying one million Intel Classmate laptops from Portugal for its school children.

HEALTH

Vitamin 'may blunt cancer drugs'
Vitamin C supplements may reduce benefit from wide range of anti-cancer drugs, research suggests.

Antisocial behaviour hormone link
Low levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been linked to antisocial behaviour in adolescent boys.

Gene link to poor reading skills
A common genetic variant may be partly to blame for poor reading ability, research suggests.

September 30th, 2008.

2008-09-30T11:54:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

US failure hits European shares
European shares remain volatile after the US $700bn financial rescue package was rejected by lawmakers.

Scores die in India temple crush
At least 147 devotees die in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the northern Indian city of Jodhpur.

'Shoot-out' aboard hijacked ship
Rival Somali pirates shot at each other on board a hijacked Ukrainian ship loaded with 33 tanks, a maritime group says.

New Pakistan spy chief appointed
The military in Pakistan appoints a new head of its powerful ISI spy agency amid US pressure to do more to combat militants.

Singapore opposition leader dies
Pioneer of opposition politics in Singapore, JB Jeyaretnam dies of heart failure, aged 82.

BUSINESS

US failure hits European shares
European shares remain volatile after the US $700bn financial rescue package was rejected by lawmakers.

Citigroup to buy US bank Wachovia
Wachovia, the fourth-largest US bank, is being bought by larger rival Citigroup in a rescue deal backed by US authorities.

Euro bank Fortis admits mistakes
The new boss of the European bank Fortis which has been partly nationalised says it made some decisions at the 'wrong moment'.

ENTERTAINMENT

Janet Jackson taken to hospital
Singer Janet Jackson is forced to scrap a concert in Montreal, Canada, after falling ill shortly before it was due to start.

Glass to make opera about Disney
Classical composer Philip Glass is to make an opera imagining the final months of the late Walt Disney.

Thompson 'unaware' of Brideshead
Emma Thompson says she did not see the hugely successful TV version of Brideshead Revisited, despite starring in its film remake.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Hubble glitch delays shuttle trip
Servicing of the Hubble telescope will almost certainly to be delayed until next year after a fault develops on the observatory.

Mixed views on new nuclear build
Residents living near existing UK nuclear power stations only have "qualified support" for new reactors, a study shows.

Freighter destroyed over Pacific
Europe's "Jules Verne" space freighter takes itself into a controlled burn-up over a remote region of the Pacific.

TECHNOLOGY

Fast forward for mobile broadband
Phone firms, chip makers and PC manufacturers are uniting to push mobile broadband on laptops.

Alarm sounded on second-hand kit
Network hardware bought on eBay for 99p was left with connection details on it, allowing access to a council's internal network.

BT to kick off fresh Phorm trial
Telecoms giant BT is starting a third trial of a controversial internet advertising system on 30 September.

HEALTH

Big babies 'risk breast cancer'
Baby girls of larger than average length and weight at birth are at increased risk of breast cancer, analysis suggests.

Penicillin bug genome unravelled
Researchers decode the DNA sequence of the fungus which produces penicillin, ahead of the 80th anniversary of its discovery.

Black men in raised prostate risk
Black men living in England have a three times higher risk of prostate cancer than white men, figures show.

September 29th, 2008.

2008-09-29T10:35:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

US lawmakers publish rescue deal
Top US politicians reach agreement on a rescue plan for the financial system, which President Bush urges Congress to approve quickly.

Austria's right hails poll
The leaders of Austria's two far-right parties hail the results of early general elections, after making big gains.

Abducted Western tourists freed
A group of 11 Western tourists and their guides are freed, more than a week after being kidnapped in Egypt.

Deadly blast rocks Lebanese city
At least five people are killed in a suspected car bomb attack on a military bus in the Lebanese city of Tripoli.

Belarus opposition fails in polls
Opposition candidates in Belarus fail to win any seats in parliamentary elections, electoral officials say.

BUSINESS

US lawmakers publish rescue deal
Top US politicians reach agreement on a rescue plan for the financial system, which President Bush urges Congress to approve quickly.

B&B nationalisation is confirmed
The government confirms that Bradford & Bingley is to be nationalised, with the firm's savings business sold on to Spanish group Santander.

Deal agreed for Euro bank Fortis
But European shares fall sharply on concerns about the US $700bn bail-out agreement.

ENTERTAINMENT

Plant slams door on Led Zep tour
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant says speculation about a reunion tour is "frustrating and ridiculous".

Turner prize exhibition unveiled
The work of the four artists nominated for this year's £25,000 Turner Prize goes on display at Tate Britain in London.

Scarlett Johansson weds Reynolds
Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has married fellow actor Ryan Reynolds, their publicists confirm.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Freighter starts dive manoeuvres
Europe's biggest, most sophisticated spaceship is about to bring its six-month mission to an end by plunging into the Pacific in a ball of flames.

Beaked whales - into the abyss
Scientists believe that beaked whales are one of the least understood groups of mammals on Earth.

China spacecraft returns to Earth
Three Chinese astronauts return safely to Earth after a landmark mission which included the country's first spacewalk.

TECHNOLOGY

Alarm sounded on second-hand kit
Network hardware bought on eBay for 99p was left with connection details on it, allowing access to a council's internal network.

BT to kick off fresh Phorm trial
Telecoms giant BT is starting a third trial of a controversial internet advertising system on 30 September.

Children's web watchdog launched
A new internet watchdog is announced to help protect children from "harmful" web content.

HEALTH

Statins 'prevent artery ageing'
Drugs given to heart patients to lower cholesterol may have an additional benefit - keeping their blood vessels feeling younger.

Breastfeeding 'cuts cancer risk'
Breastfeeding for a year over the course of a woman's life helps cut the risk of breast cancer, research says.

Genetic clues to sleep disorder
Genetic research could shed light on what is happening in people with the mysterious sleep disorder narcolepsy.

September 28th, 2008.

2008-09-28T23:39:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

'Great progress' in US bail-out
US congressional leaders say they have reached the broad outline of a rescue plan for the American financial system.

Top Afghan policewoman shot dead
Afghanistan's most prominent policewoman is shot dead outside her house in the southern city of Kandahar, officials say.

China spacecraft returns to Earth
A Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth after a landmark mission, including the country's first spacewalk.

US destroyer nears Somali pirates
A US destroyer establishes visual contact with a Ukrainian ship seized by Somali pirates, and carrying tanks.

Austrians vote in early election
Voters in Austria go to the polls in an early general election that could see a resurgence for the country's far right.

BUSINESS

'Great progress' in US bail-out
US congressional leaders say they have reached the broad outline of a rescue plan for the American financial system.

Regulator sells Washington Mutual
The mortgage lender Washington Mutual becomes the biggest US bank to fail and is sold to JPMorgan Chase.

More cash is injected into banks
Central banks are to take co-ordinated action to lend billions of dollars of extra cash to struggling banks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood mourns star Paul Newman
Tributes pour in for actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, star of Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and The Sting.

Mirren's new role as Mossad agent
Dame Helen Mirren signs up to play a Mossad agent on the trail of a Nazi war criminal in new film The Debt.

Little Britain USA is 'too crude'
US critics warn viewers of the crude humour in Matt Lucas and David Walliams' latest sketch show.

SCIENCE / NATURE

China spacecraft returns to Earth
A Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth after a landmark mission, including the country's first spacewalk.

Team finds Earth's 'oldest rocks'
The most ancient rocks on Earth, with an age of 4.28 billion years, are discovered on the shore of Hudson Bay, Canada.

UK opposes green aviation target
The government wants the aviation industry to be exempt from EU targets on renewable energy

TECHNOLOGY

EC call for 'universal' broadband
The rapid take-up of broadband is leading Brussels to consider making it a service available to every EU citizen.

China spacecraft returns to Earth
A Chinese spacecraft returns to Earth after a landmark mission, including the country's first spacewalk.

Germany arrest over gamer death
Extradition proceedings begin for a man arrested in Germany over the murder of a 20-year-old internet gamer in Nottingham.

HEALTH

Malaria battle given $3bn boost
World leaders and philanthropists pledge nearly $3bn (£1.6bn) to fight malaria, a disease which kills 1m people each year.

Loneliness 'makes you cold'
Psychologists have found that social isolation does make people feel cold.

Soy may benefit stroke patients
A chemical found in soybeans and chickpeas could benefit people who have suffered a stroke, say researchers.

September 27th, 2008.

2008-09-27T17:19:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

US rivals spar in first TV debate
White House rivals John McCain and Barack Obama clash over foreign policy and the economy in their first head-to-head debate.

Syrian car bomb attack kills 17
At least 17 people are killed by a car bomb in Syria's capital, in what the government calls a terrorist attack.

Chinese astronaut walks in space
A Chinese astronaut on board a spacecraft orbiting the Earth becomes the first in his country's history to take a space walk.

Pirates 'want $35m for tank ship'
Pirates who seized a Ukrainian ship carrying battle tanks off Somalia reportedly demand $35m to release the ship and crew.

Congress to resume bail-out talks
Congressional leaders are to meet over the weekend to try to hammer out a proposed $700bn financial bail-out plan.

BUSINESS

Congress to resume bail-out talks
Congressional leaders are to meet over the weekend to try to hammer out a proposed $700bn financial bail-out plan.

Regulator sells Washington Mutual
The mortgage lender Washington Mutual becomes the biggest US bank to fail and is sold to JPMorgan Chase.

More cash is injected into banks
Central banks are to take co-ordinated action to lend billions of dollars of extra cash to struggling banks.

ENTERTAINMENT

DJ AM leaves hospital after crash
Celebrity disc jockey DJ AM is released from hospital a week after suffering severe burns in a jet crash that killed four people.

West escapes charge over scuffle
Rap star Kanye West will not face serious felony charges over a scuffle with a photographer at Los Angeles Airport, prosecutors say.

Rapper Rhymes allowed to perform
US rap star Busta Rhymes wins his High Court battle for the right to perform at a London charity gig.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Chinese astronaut walks in space
A Chinese astronaut on board a spacecraft orbiting the Earth becomes the first in his country's history to take a space walk.

Team finds Earth's 'oldest rocks'
The most ancient rocks on Earth, with an age of 4.28 billion years, are discovered on the shore of Hudson Bay, Canada.

UK opposes green aviation target
The government wants the aviation industry to be exempt from EU targets on renewable energy

TECHNOLOGY

EC call for 'universal' broadband
The rapid take-up of broadband is leading Brussels to consider making it a service available to every EU citizen.

Chinese astronaut walks in space
A Chinese astronaut on board a spacecraft orbiting the Earth becomes the first in his country's history to take a space walk.

Germany arrest over gamer death
Extradition proceedings begin for a man arrested in Germany over the murder of a 20-year-old internet gamer in Nottingham.

HEALTH

Malaria battle given $3bn boost
World leaders and philanthropists pledge nearly $3bn (£1.6bn) to fight malaria, a disease which kills 1m people each year.

Soy may benefit stroke patients
A chemical found in soybeans and chickpeas could benefit people who have suffered a stroke, say researchers.

Auction bidding 'driven by fear'
The possibility of "losing" in front of other people drives people to pay too much in auctions, US research suggests

September 26th, 2008.

2008-09-26T08:13:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Wall Street rescue deal blocked
US political leaders say more work is needed on a $700bn bail-out plan for financial markets after White House talks.

KLM plane in German terror alert
German commandos board a Dutch plane at Cologne airport to arrest two men suspected of planning attacks, police say.

Silent calls fine for Barclaycard
Barclaycard has received the maximum possible fine for the "most serious" case of silent calls ever seen by the regulator.

Somali pirates 'seize 30 tanks'
Pirates off the coast of Somalia have seized a Ukrainian ship carrying T-72 tanks, an official says.
Mortgage costs up amid volatility
Three major lenders are raising mortgage rates amid further volatility in the banking sector.

BUSINESS

Wall Street rescue deal blocked
US political leaders say more work is needed on a $700bn bail-out plan for financial markets after White House talks.

Regulator shuts Washington Mutual
The mortgage lender Washington Mutual becomes the biggest US bank to fail and is sold to JPMorgan.

More cash is injected into banks
Central banks are to take co-ordinated action to lend billions of dollars of extra cash to struggling banks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Rapper Rhymes awaits gig ruling
US rap star Busta Rhymes is waiting to find out whether he can stay in the UK to play at a concert in London later.

Israelis flock to McCartney show
Sir Paul McCartney plays his first gig in Israel, 43 years after The Beatles were banned from performing in the country.

Spears to perform on The X Factor
US pop star Britney Spears will perform on The X Factor, a show spokeswoman confirms.

SCIENCE / NATURE

UK opposes green aviation target
The government wants the aviation industry to be exempt from EU targets on renewable energy

Malaria battle given $3bn boost
World leaders and philanthropists pledge nearly $3bn (£1.6bn) to fight malaria, a disease which kills 1m people each year.

Lift-off for China space mission
China has launched Shenzhou VII, its third manned space mission, which is to feature the country's first spacewalk.

TECHNOLOGY

EC call for 'universal' broadband
The rapid take-up of broadband is leading Brussels to consider making it a service available to every EU citizen.

Lift-off for China space mission
China has launched Shenzhou VII, its third manned space mission, which is to feature the country's first spacewalk.

Germany arrest over gamer death
A man is arrested in Germany on suspicion of the murder of a 20-year-old internet gamer in Nottingham.

HEALTH

Concerns over emergency NHS care
Serious concerns are being raised about the state of England's emergency care services by an NHS watchdog.

'North-South' gap in mothers' age
Women in southern England are likely to wait longer than those in the north to have children, statistics show.

Region determines cancer risk gap
The difference between the cancer risk for the poorest and the most wealthy varies between English regions, researchers find.

September 23rd, 2008.

2008-09-23T15:42:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Brown prepares for crucial speech
The PM will seek to assert his authority at Labour's conference as speculation continues about a leadership challenge.

Shares slide amid bail-out fears
Shares in Europe and Asia fall amid wrangling in the US over the massive $700bn financial bail-out plan.

'Shooting' at school in Finland
A shooting incident has occurred at a school in western Finland, the country's national broadcaster reports.

Setback in retirement age battle
A challenge against employers' rights to make people retire at 65 has been rejected by the adviser to the European courts.

Jury retraces Menezes' last steps
The Jean Charles de Menezes inquest jury is expected to retrace the Brazilian's final steps before he was shot by police.

BUSINESS

Shares slide amid bail-out fears
Shares in Europe and Asia fall amid wrangling in the US over the massive $700bn financial bail-out plan.

Setback in retirement age battle
A challenge against employers' rights to make people retire at 65 has been rejected by the adviser to the European courts.

Mortgage approvals 'at new low'
UK mortgage lending by the banks fell to a new low in August with approvals for house purchases 64% lower than a year ago.

ENTERTAINMENT

Comic Lucas reveals movie plans
Little Britain star Matt Lucas is working on a film that will see him and David Walliams play multiple characters, he tells BBC News.

Government backs free ticket plan
Up to 95 publicly-funded theatres across England will offer free tickets to young adults in a government-funded scheme.

ER bosses hope for Clooney return
The producers of ER are optimistic about persuading George Clooney to appear in the hospital drama's final season.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Extinct tortoise 'can live again'
Careful cross-breeding could bring an extinct species of Galapagos tortoise back into existence, scientists suggest.

Mars rover facing two-year trek
Nasa is sending its Opportunity Mars rover on an 11km, two-year trek to try to reach a huge crater.

Dig pinpoints Stonehenge origins
The first accurate carbon dating of Stonehenge reveals the monument was built in 2300BC, some 300 years later than previously thought.

TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft unveils $40bn buy-back
Microsoft unveils plans to spend $40bn (£22bn) to buy its own shares - the biggest single share buy-back in history.

Google mobile due to be unveiled
The first phone using the Android software platform will go on sale in October.

EU to slash more mobile charges
The European Commission is to outline new cuts to mobile phone roaming costs, with texts included for the first time.

HEALTH

Polyclinics 'may damage GP trust'
Polyclinics may damage the trust between patient and GP, harming the standard of care in the process, experts say.

'Dramatic results' in eye gene op
Gene therapy produces significant improvements to the vision of patients with a severe inherited sight disorder.

Cancer drug death 'like murder'
The mother of a man who died during a cancer drugs trial says she feels like he has been murdered.

September 22nd, 2008.

2008-09-22T08:46:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Darling pledges action on economy
The chancellor promises action on weaknesses in the financial system ahead of his Labour Party conference speech.

Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape'
Pakistan's top leaders were to have been in the Islamabad hotel that was bombed but changed venue, officials say.

Dig pinpoints Stonehenge origins
The first accurate carbon dating of Stonehenge reveals the monument was built in 2300 BC, some 300 years later than previously thought.

US banks make shock status switch
The last two major US investment banks change their status, in a bid to survive the ongoing upheaval in the financial sector.

Menezes shooting inquest starting
The inquest into how police shot dead a Brazilian electrician on a London Tube train is due to open, three years after the killing.

BUSINESS

US banks make shock status switch
The last two major US investment banks change their status, in a bid to survive the ongoing upheaval in the financial sector.

Darling pledges action on economy
The chancellor promises action on weaknesses in the financial system ahead of his Labour Party conference speech.

Wolseley hit by housing downturnProfits at building materials giant Wolseley slump 77% after its business is hit by the US and UK housing slowdown.

ENTERTAINMENT

TV satire wins four Emmy honours
30 Rock dominates the comedy side of the US TV Emmy Awards, while Dame Eileen Atkins wins for BBC drama Cranford.

Jackson drama tops US box office
Samuel L Jackson thriller Lakeview Terrace leads the North American box office after a quiet weekend at US cinemas.

Daniels first to leave Strictly
Former EastEnders star Phil Daniels becomes the first celebrity to leave BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing competition.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Dig pinpoints Stonehenge origins
The first accurate carbon dating of Stonehenge reveals the monument was built in 2300 BC, some 300 years later than previously thought.

Hadron Collider halted for months
The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva will be out of action for at least two months because of a technical fault.

World's common birds 'declining'
The populations of the world's common birds are declining as a result of continued habitat loss, a global assessment warns.

TECHNOLOGY

Hi-tech help for children at risk
Children at risk of abuse can now use text messages and the internet to get help from ChildLine.

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Hawking unveils 'strangest clock'
A £1m hand-less clock called the "time eater" is unveiled at Cambridge University by Professor Stephen Hawking.

HEALTH

Hay fever allergies on the rise
The number of people suffering from hay fever and related allergies has soared in recent years, figures suggest.

How gut bugs could trigger cancer
Scientists believe a type of bacterium living in our intestines could be linked to the development of colon cancer.

Sweet smells foster sweet dreams
Sleep with flowers in your bedroom if you want sweet dreams, research suggests.

September 21st, 2008.

2008-09-21T10:46:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Terror pledge after Pakistan bomb
Pakistan's president promises to fight the "cancer" of terrorism after a bomb kills at least 54 in the capital, Islamabad.

Brown reveals free childcare plan
Gordon Brown unveils proposals for free nursery places for all two-year-olds as Labour's conference gets under way.

George Michael arrest over drugs
Singer George Michael receives a police caution after being arrested in a public toilet in London for possessing drugs.

Olmert tells cabinet he will quit
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tells the cabinet he is going to resign - but he will remain in power until a new government is formed

Paper apology over McCann diary
The News of the World apologises for publishing extracts of Kate McCann's diary without her permission.

BUSINESS

Bush defends US debt rescue plan
US President George W Bush defends a rescue package to tackle the worst financial markets crisis for decades.

Judge approves $1.3bn Lehman deal
A US judge backs UK bank Barclays' plan to buy the core business of collapsed investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Unions urge new Alitalia effortItaly's biggest labour organisation urges the government to push for new talks to save the national airline, Alitalia.

ENTERTAINMENT

George Michael arrest over drugs
Singer George Michael receives a police caution after being arrested in a public toilet in London for possessing drugs.

Phillips reveals dementia dilemma
GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips admits her father is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and this prompted her decision to leave the show.

Potter author in £1m Labour gift
Author JK Rowling, who penned the hit series of books about child wizard Harry Potter, donates £1m to the Labour Party.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Hadron Collider halted for months
The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva will be out of action for at least two months because of a technical fault.

Observatory detects record burst
The Swift space telescope witnesses the catastrophic explosion of a massive star some 12.8 billion light-years from Earth.

Firms chosen for Galileo run-off
Eleven industrial groups will compete for the contracts to build Europe's much-delayed satellite-navigation system, Galileo.

TECHNOLOGY

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Hadron Collider halted for months
The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva will be out of action for at least two months because of a technical fault.

Yahoo starts front page overhaul
Randomly picked visitors to Yahoo's homepage are to help it redesign its main page.

HEALTH

Obesity 'raises miscarriage risk'
Women who have had a miscarriage could be at greater risk of miscarrying again if they are obese, research suggests.

Concern over mouth cancer checks
People with symptoms of oral cancer are not getting urgent dental appointments, a charity claims.

'Universal' HIV testing planned
All 15-59 year olds in some areas of England should be offered a HIV test by their GP, new recommendations say.

September 20th, 2008.

2008-09-21T10:37:00.004-03:00

TOP STORIES

Potter author in £1m Labour gift
Author JK Rowling, who penned the hit series of books about child wizard Harry Potter, donates £1m to the Labour Party.

US debt rescue plan takes shape
Details emerge of a US plan to rescue the country's financial system, with an $800bn fund to bail out its mortgage market.

Hunger levels soar in East Africa
Nearly 17m people in the Horn of Africa are in urgent need of food - almost twice as many as earlier this year, the UN says.

Man stabbed to death outside club
A man in his 20s is fatally stabbed outside a club in Brixton, south London, police say.

Mexico plans anti-kidnap police
Mexico's finance minister says that violence and crime is affecting the economy, cutting growth by 1%.

BUSINESS

US debt rescue plan takes shape
Details emerge of a US plan to rescue the country's financial system, with an $800bn fund to bail out its mortgage market.

Judge approves $1.3bn Lehman deal
A US judge backs UK bank Barclays' plan to buy the core business of collapsed investment bank Lehman Brothers.

Alitalia airline cancels flights
Alitalia cancels a number of flights from Rome's Fiumicino airport, increasing fears that it may soon go into liquidation.

ENTERTAINMENT

Bands in 'secret' Glastonbury gig
The Ting Tings and Franz Ferdinand perform at the Glastonbury Festival site to raise money for the local village.

Cannes winner submitted for Oscar
The Class, winner of this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes, is named as France's official entry for the 2009 foreign language film Oscar.

Powerful art-world marriage ends
Jay Jopling and Sam Taylor-Wood, one of the art world's most powerful couples, announce they are to split after 11 years.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Firms chosen for Galileo run-off
Eleven industrial groups will compete for the contracts to build Europe's much-delayed satellite-navigation system, Galileo.

Hadron Collider forced to halt
The Large Hadron Collider at Cern is out of action, a week after its launch, when magnets fail as helium leaks into the tunnel.

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

TECHNOLOGY

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Palin e-mail hack details emerge
Online data sources may have aided an attack on an e-mail account of US Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Yahoo starts front page overhaul
Randomly picked visitors to Yahoo's homepage are to help it redesign its main page.

HEALTH

Concern over mouth cancer checks
People with symptoms of oral cancer are not getting urgent dental appointments, a charity claims.

'Universal' HIV testing planned
All 15-59 year olds in some areas of England should be offered a HIV test by their GP, new recommendations say.

Baby paracetamol asthma concern
Use of paracetamol in the first year of life increases the risk of asthma in six to seven year olds, a large international study suggests.

September 19th, 2008.

2008-09-19T11:33:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

US pledges financial rescue plan
Global markets rise, helped by news that US officials are working on a plan to help rid US banks of their bad debts.

PM hits back over leadership talk
Gordon Brown rejects talk of leadership challenges ahead of this weekend's crucial Labour Party conference in Manchester.

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Baby paracetamol asthma concern
Use of paracetamol in the first year of life increases the risk of asthma in six to seven year olds, a large international study suggests.

Bosses urge climate change action
A number of UK business leaders call for "deep and rapid" cuts in CO2 emissions to tackle climate change.

BUSINESS

US pledges financial rescue plan
Global markets rise, helped by news that US officials are working on a plan to help rid US banks of their bad debts.

UK shares up after short-sell ban
Leading UK shares rise in early Friday trading as investors welcome the City regulator's ban on short-selling in financial stocks.

HSBC terminates $6bn bid for KEB
HSBC blames market turmoil as it cancels its $6bn (£3.3bn) agreement to buy Korea Exchange Bank.

ENTERTAINMENT

Spice Girls reunion beats Led Zep
The Spice Girls beat Led Zeppelin and The Verve to the prize for best comeback at the Vodafone Live Music Awards.

Rowling receives Edinburgh honour
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be honoured by the city where she created her world-famous wizard books.

Glastonbury to host 'secret' gig
Franz Ferdinand and The Ting Tings will perform at a gig at the site of the Glastonbury Festival to raise money for the local village.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Europe plans asteroid sample grab
British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Ownership key to saving fisheries
Giving fishermen long-term rights to fisheries keeps stocks healthy, scientists conclude from a huge global survey.

Stressed plants 'produce aspirin'
Plants facing extreme temperatures or drought protect themselves by producing their own aspirin, US research says.

TECHNOLOGY

Hackers infiltrate Palin's e-mail
Hackers break in to the personal e-mail account of the US Republican vice-presidential candidate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Merged banks' names cybersquatted
Internet addresses for new merged banks have been registered, with cybersquatters hoping to cash in.

'60,000' devices are left in cabs
London taxi passengers have left more than 60,000 hand-held devices in the back of black cabs during the last six months, a survey suggests.

HEALTH

Baby paracetamol asthma concern
Use of paracetamol in the first year of life increases the risk of asthma in six to seven year olds, a large international study suggests.

Cosmetic surgery ad 'clampdown'
Cosmetic surgery clinics have been criticised by industry leaders for using misleading sales techniques.

Junk food ad rules 'not working'
Ads for unhealthy foods are still appearing during programmes popular with children, despite Ofcom curbs, a watchdog warns.

September 18th, 2008.

2008-09-18T07:45:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Lloyds TSB unveils HBOS takeover
Lloyds TSB unveiled details of its £12.2bn takeover of HBOS, a deal it describes as a "unique opportunity".

Prescott: Disunity kills parties
Ex-deputy Labour leader John Prescott warns rebels to get behind Gordon Brown and warns "disunity kills political parties".

Study into near-death experiences
A large study is to examine whether heart attack patients really do have near-death "out of body" experiences.

China arrests 12 in milk scandal
Chinese police arrest 12 more people for involvement in the widening scandal over contaminated baby milk.

Mortgage lending slumps in AugustMortgage lending continued its downward spiral in August, according to the latest figures from mortgage lenders.

BUSINESS

Lloyds TSB unveils HBOS takeover
Lloyds TSB unveiled details of its £12.2bn takeover of HBOS, a deal it describes as a "unique opportunity".

Central banks release more funds
Global central banks pump billions of dollars of extra funds into the money markets in a co-ordinated move.

Investors cautious amid turmoil
European stocks rise in cautious trade, following steep falls in Asia on fears more firms could fall victim to the financial crisis.

ENTERTAINMENT

Soap abuse plot sparks complaints
More than 150 people complain to the BBC about a plot about a paedophile's relationship with his teenage stepdaughter.

O'Neal and son on drugs charges
Actor Ryan O'Neal and his son, Redmond, are arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, say police.

New Hitchhiker's author announced
Children's author Eoin Colfer is commissioned to write a sixth instalment of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

SCIENCE / NATURE

UK seeking CO2 trading increase
The UK government wants EU nations to be allowed to trade 50% of their target CO2 cuts, a leaked document reveals.

EU to overhaul fisheries policy
The European Commission launches a full review of the Common Fisheries Policy, saying the current regime fails to protect fish stocks.

Will the real dinosaurs stand up?
Most of the newly discovered dinosaurs are just that - new to science, an assessment concludes.

TECHNOLOGY

Merged banks' names cybersquatted
Internet addresses for new merged banks have been registered, with cybersquatters hoping to cash in.

'60,000' devices are left in cabs
London taxi passengers have left more than 60,000 hand-held devices in the back of black cabs during the last six months, a survey suggests.

YouTube bans some weapons footage
YouTube is to ban the use of footage of weapons being used for intimidation on its UK website.

HEALTH

Antibiotic 'cerebral palsy link'
A small number of cases of cerebral palsy are linked by researchers to antibiotics given to women in premature labour.

Health visitor shortage condemned
Staff shortages have left many health visitors responsible for more than 1,000 children each, suggests a survey.

Study into near-death experiences
A large study is to examine whether heart attack patients really do have near-death "out of body" experiences.

September 17th, 2008.

2008-09-17T08:17:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

HBOS in merger talks with Lloyds
Lloyds TSB is in advanced merger talks with HBOS to create a UK retail banking giant as credit crunch fears continue to rattle markets around the world, the BBC learns.

Rebels keep up pressure on Brown
Pressure continues on Gordon Brown after the resignation of one of his ministers amid demands for a leadership contest.

UK unemployment total rises again
The number of people out of work rose by another 81,000 between May and July, to 1.72 million, official figures show.

Deadly US embassy attack in Yemen
At least 16 people are killed in a car bomb attack on the US embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, officials say.

Gatwick Airport put up for sale
The UK's second-largest airport, Gatwick, is put up for sale by its owner BAA following a report by the Competition Commission.

BUSINESS

HBOS in merger talks with Lloyds
Lloyds TSB is in advanced merger talks with HBOS to create a UK retail banking giant as credit crunch fears continue to rattle markets around the world, the BBC learns.

US government rescues insurer AIG
The US Federal Reserve announces an $85bn rescue package for AIG, the country's biggest insurance company as authorities strive to prevent a financial meltdown.

Gatwick Airport put up for sale
The UK's second-largest airport, Gatwick, is put up for sale by its owner BAA following a report by the Competition Commission.

ENTERTAINMENT

Mrs Sarkozy meets Metallica on TV
Carla Bruni, wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, sings alongside rockers Metallica and Kings of Leon on UK TV.

New Hitchhiker's author announced
Children's author Eoin Colfer is commissioned to write a sixth instalment of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy series.

R Kelly speaks about porn charges
R&B star R Kelly has spoken for the first time about being cleared of child pornography charges in the US.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Britain 'faces power cuts threat'
The UK will experience prolonged power cuts in about five years unless urgent action is taken, a report warns.

No 2008 record for Arctic sea ice
Sea ice in the Arctic appears to have passed its minimum extent, scientists say, without breaking last year's record.

House backs fresh US oil drilling
The US Congress approves legislation which will lift a 27-year-old moratorium on drilling for oil in US coastal waters.

TECHNOLOGY

UK government responds on Phorm
A controversial ad-serving system can be rolled out in the UK but only under strict guidelines, says the government.

Crackdown on 'suicide websites'
Ministers are to rewrite the law on "suicide websites" to make it clear they are illegal, the government has said.

San Jose wins electric car plant
Silicon Valley's captial aims to be the epicentre of clean technology as it clinches a deal with electric car maker Tesla Motors.

HEALTH

Health moves 'halve early deaths'
Women could halve their risk of premature death by adopting a healthier lifestyle, research suggests.

Drinkers fall into 'nine groups'
The government believes it has identified nine types of heavy drinker as it launches a new alcohol campaign.

Autism 'may be missed in girls'
Girls with mild autism are less likely to be identified and diagnosed than boys, research suggests.

September 16th, 2008.

2008-09-16T07:56:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Global market turmoil continues
Major global stock markets extend losses in the aftermath of the demise of top US investment bank Lehman Brothers

Darling urges MPs to back Brown
Chancellor Alistair Darling tells the BBC Gordon Brown is the "right person to lead this country".

UK inflation up to 4.7% in August
The UK's inflation rate jumped to 4.7% in August, up from 4.4% in July.

Petraeus hands over Iraq command
General David Petraeus, the outgoing US military commander in Iraq, hands over control to his deputy Raymond Odierno.

Ukraine's government falls apart
Ukraine's ruling pro-Western coalition collapses, plunging the country into a new political crisis.

BUSINESS

Global market turmoil continues
Major global stock markets extend losses in the aftermath of the demise of top US investment bank Lehman Brothers

UK inflation up to 4.7% in August
The UK's inflation rate jumped to 4.7% in August, up from 4.4% in July.

HP set to cut workforce by 24,600
Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest computer company, says it plans to cut 24,600 jobs following its takeover of EDS.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gilmour's tribute to Floyd star
Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour praises late bandmate Richard Wright for his "vitality, spark and humour".

Hirst works fetch record prices
The first of a three-session auction of Hirst art work out-strips a top estimate of £62.3m to pull in a total of £70.5m.

Murdoch image on photo shortlist
A portrait of Rupert Murdoch is a contender for the National Portrait Gallery Photographic Prize.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Exoplanet circles 'normal star'
Astronomers unveil what may be the first picture of an extra-solar planet circling a normal star like our own Sun.

Oceans are 'too noisy' for whales
Noise from ships and industry is causing serious disruption to whales and dolphins, a report warns.

Breast cancer vaccine hope raised
Researchers have developed a vaccine they say has completely eliminated a type of breast cancer tumour in tests on mice.

TECHNOLOGY

Stroke patients to test sensors
Motion sensors like those developed for video games may help stroke sufferers relearn simple tasks, researchers say.

Warning sounded on web's future
The internet needs a way to help people work out if they can trust what they read online, says the World Wide Web's creator.

HP set to cut workforce by 24,600
Hewlett-Packard, the world's largest computer company, says it plans to cut 24,600 jobs following its takeover of EDS.

HEALTH

Fears voiced over new superbugs
A leading microbiologist says the UK does not have enough resources to effectively monitor new strains of community superbugs.

Clean living 'slows cell ageing'
A healthy lifestyle may help increase levels of an enzyme vital for guarding against age-related cell damage, work suggests.

Stroke patients to test sensors
Motion sensors like those developed for video games may help stroke sufferers relearn simple tasks, researchers say.

September 15th, 2008.

2008-09-15T09:41:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Lehman Bros files for bankruptcy
Top US investment bank Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection, in a move that is rocking global financial markets.

Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe signs a historic power-sharing deal with the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

Sex offender alerts plan launched
Parents in four areas of England will be able to ask police for information on local sex offenders, under pilots launched on Monday.

Breast cancer vaccine hope raised
Researchers have developed a vaccine they say has completely eliminated a type of breast cancer tumour in tests on mice.

Indonesia stampede leaves 21 dead
At least 21 people die in a stampede in Indonesia as thousands queue to receive charity cash handouts.

BUSINESS

Lehman Bros files for bankruptcy
Top US investment bank Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection, in a move that is rocking global financial markets.

Merrill Lynch sold in $50bn deal
Merrill Lynch is sold to Bank of America in a $50bn deal amid a hectic weekend of activity on Wall Street.

World shares fall amid US turmoilShare prices in Europe and Asia fall sharply in the midst of the financial turmoil in the US over the fate of Lehman Brothers.
ENTERTAINMENT

Grange Hill ready for final bell
The last episode of long-running BBC school drama Grange Hill is to be screened on BBC One on Monday.

Coen brothers rule US box officeOscar winning film-makers the Coen brothers debut at number one in the North American box office with Burn After Reading.

Star Trek's Takei marries partner
Former Star Trek actor George Takei marries his long-term partner in a Buddhist ceremony in Los Angeles.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Breast cancer vaccine hope raised
Researchers have developed a vaccine they say has completely eliminated a type of breast cancer tumour in tests on mice.

Scottish red kite numbers soaring
The Scottish red kite population has risen to its highest level in 200 years, according to RSPB Scotland.

Warning sounded on web's future
The internet needs a way to help people work out if they can trust what they read online, says the World Wide Web's creator.

TECHNOLOGY

Warning sounded on web's future
The internet needs a way to help people work out if they can trust what they read online, says the World Wide Web's creator.

No aid for next-gen network firms
The UK government should not bankroll companies who will be offering next-generation broadband, says a report.

Yahoo defends Google advert deal
The controversial ad deal between Yahoo and Google will go ahead antitrust challenge or not, says Yahoo.

HEALTH

Breast cancer vaccine hope raised
Researchers have developed a vaccine they say has completely eliminated a type of breast cancer tumour in tests on mice.

Heart care failings 'across UK'
Every cardiac rehabilitation service in the UK is understaffed, the British Heart Foundation has warned.

Gene tests 'create undue stress'
Gene tests to predict risk of disease are inaccurate, and may cause unnecessary stress, an expert argues.

September 13th, 2008.

2008-09-13T08:14:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Planes sought for holiday Britons
The Civil Aviation Authority is arranging for planes to collect British holiday-makers stranded following the collapse of the tour operator XL.

Ryan adds to Labour contest call
Labour Party vice chair Joan Ryan joins junior whip Siobhain McDonagh in asking for a leadership election.

'Catastrophic' storm hits Texas
Texas faces "potentially catastrophic" damage when Hurricane Ike hits in the next few hours, a senior US official warns.

Deadly train crash in Los Angeles
At least 12 people die and many are hurt as a passenger train and freight train collide in Los Angeles, officials say.

Channel trains resume after fire
Some passenger and lorry trains are running through the Channel Tunnel again after Thursday's fire.

BUSINESS

HSBC chief backs bank pay reform
Bankers' pay needs to be reformed so deals that turn bad are no longer handsomely rewarded, says the boss of HSBC.

Planes sought for holiday Britons
The Civil Aviation Authority is arranging for planes to collect British holiday-makers stranded following the collapse of the tour operator XL.

Lehman scrambles to find a buyer
Executives at Lehman Brothers are racing to meet a Sunday deadline to find a buyer for the troubled bank, the BBC learns.

ENTERTAINMENT

Tennant's Hamlet play sells out
Thousands of tickets for David Tennant's Royal Shakespeare Company performance of Hamlet in London are snapped up in under three hours.

Goody to undergo cancer operation
Reality TV star Jade Goody will undergo a hysterectomy to increase her chances of beating cancer.

Sky channels to stay on Freeview
Sky channels including Sky News are to stay on Freeview as proposals to replace them with a pay-TV service are shelved.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Greenland seeks whaling breakaway
Greenland is trying to withdraw its whale hunt from International Whaling Commission jurisdiction, the BBC learns.

US space woes felt by Europe
US concerns about how it will service the space station after shuttle retirement are a major headache for Europe, too.

Taxi drivers 'have brain sat-nav'
Scientists find evidence for an inbuilt "sat-nav" system in the brains of London taxi drivers.

TECHNOLOGY

No aid for next-gen network firms
The UK government should not bankroll companies who will be offering next-generation broadband, says a report.

Yahoo defends Google advert deal
The controversial ad deal between Yahoo and Google will go ahead antitrust challenge or not, says Yahoo.

Parents 'want texts from schools'
Parents want more information from schools by e-mail and text, a survey suggests.

HEALTH

Broccoli 'may help protect lungs'
A substance found in broccoli may limit the damage which leads to serious lung disease, US research suggests.

NHS bill from lawyers 'soaring'
Fees being charged by solicitors acting for patients in NHS compensation claims are soaring, the BBC has learned.

Men 'unhappy' with their bodies
Experts claim one in five young men are deeply unhappy with their bodies.

September 12th, 2008.

2008-09-12T06:57:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Holiday firm XL in administration
Tens of thousands of Britons are likely to be stranded after package holiday firm XL files for administration.

Zimbabwe rivals to discuss deal
Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is due to meet President Robert Mugabe after an agreement to share power.

Channel Tunnel disruption goes on
Thousands of passengers hoping to travel through the Channel Tunnel face further disruption after a fire on a freight train.

Palin makes US TV interview debutUS vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin says she is "ready to serve", in her first TV interview as John McCain's running mate.

Putin defends Georgia offensive
Russia's prime minister defends Moscow's military intervention in South Ossetia, saying "an aggressor needs to punished".

BUSINESS

Holiday firm XL in administration
Tens of thousands of Britons are likely to be stranded after package holiday firm XL files for administration.

Virgin aims to block BA-AA tie-up
Virgin Atlantic's boss launches a campaign to try to block any tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines.

French Connection extends lossesFrench Connection has blamed rising costs and tighter margins for widening losses at the UK fashion retailer.

ENTERTAINMENT

West arrested after airport row
Rapper Kanye West is released on police bail after being arrested over a row with a photographer at Los Angeles airport.

Goody to undergo cancer operation
Reality TV star Jade Goody will undergo a hysterectomy to increase her chances of beating cancer.

Snoop Dogg given Australian visa
US rapper Snoop Dogg is granted a visa to allow him to tour Australia next month.

SCIENCE / NATURE

World's 'rarest tree frog' found
An extremely rare female frog has been spotted for the first time in 20 years.

EU in crop biofuel goal rethink
The European Union puts limits on a biofuels target for road transport, concerned that biofuels contribute to rising food prices.

Wind power speed record bid fails
A team hoping to break the world land-speed record for a wind-powered vehicle blames global warming for its failure.

TECHNOLOGY

UK prepares for faster broadband
The government is due to unveil its plan for boosting the speed of the UK's broadband.

Yahoo defends Google advert deal
The controversial ad deal between Yahoo and Google will go ahead antitrust challenge or not, says Yahoo.

Wind power speed record bid fails
A team hoping to break the world land-speed record for a wind-powered vehicle blames global warming for its failure.

HEALTH

NHS bill from lawyers 'soaring'
Fees being charged by solicitors acting for patients in NHS compensation claims are soaring, the BBC has learned.

Men 'unhappy' with their bodies
Experts claim one in five young men are deeply unhappy with their bodies.

Huge split in child death rates
Unicef says progress in cutting deaths among children under five is still "insufficient" in parts of the world.

September 11th, 2008.

2008-09-11T09:03:00.003-03:00

TOP STORIES

Brown to unveil energy measures
The government prepares to unveil its long-awaited measures to help people struggling with gas and electricity bills.

US 'must target Pakistan havens'
The top US commander calls for a new strategy to fight Taleban militants in their safe havens inside Pakistan.

Bargain hunters boost Morrisons
Supermarket chain Morrisons thanks bargain-hungry shoppers for a rise in half year profits.

US marks seventh 9/11 anniversary
Memorial services are being held to mark the seventh anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US.

N Korea 'builds new missile site'
Reports say North Korea is close to completing a new launch site for long-range missiles close to its border with China.

BUSINESS

Bargain hunters boost Morrisons
Supermarket chain Morrisons thanks bargain-hungry shoppers for a rise in half year profits.

Brown to unveil energy measures
The government prepares to unveil its long-awaited measures to help people struggling with gas and electricity bills.

Economic gloom depresses the euro
The euro hits a fresh one-year low against the US dollar on renewed worries about the health of the European economy.

ENTERTAINMENT

Estelle leads Mobo nominations
R&B star Estelle leads the way at this year's Music of Black Origin Awards with five nominations.

Dark Knight 'eyes Oscar release'
Batman blockbuster The Dark Knight could be re-released in cinemas in January, at the height of the Oscar voting season.

Actress 'would have joined IRA'
Hollywood actress Rose McGowan says she would have joined the IRA if she lived in Belfast during the Troubles.

SCIENCE / NATURE

World's 'rarest tree frog' found
An extremely rare female frog has been spotted for the first time in 20 years.

Conflict fear over Arctic borders
A senior US Coast Guard commander warns of conflict in the Arctic unless border disputes are resolved.

Rare African okapi seen in wild
The rare okapi, under threat from the bush meat trade, has been photographed in DR Congo's Virunga National Park.

TECHNOLOGY

Facebook imposes site facelift
Facebook is ignoring criticism from a sea of users and forcing through new design changes to the site.

'Big Bang' experiment starts well
Scientists hail as a success the start of an experiment to recreate the conditions a few moments after the "Big Bang".

Classical download store launches
A new online store offering the world's largest collection of classical music for download, is launched in the UK.

HEALTH

Mental health care 'still flawed'
Inspectors say community mental health care in England is improving - but there are still flaws in the service.

Infections linked to cot deaths
Some cases of cot death may actually be due to a bacterial infection, say researchers.

Hospitals 'fail homeless people'
The NHS is failing homeless people by not offering the support they need when released from hospital, the Tories say.

September 10th, 2008.

2008-09-10T07:57:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Success for 'Big Bang' experiment
Three decades after it was conceived, the world's most powerful physics experiment has sent the first beam around its 27km-long tunnel.

Fuel bills deal being finalised
A deal between the government and energy companies to cut household bills is being finalised.

Barratt profits hit by downturn
UK housebuilder Barratts reports a steep fall in profits. but its average selling price has risen because of high-value sales.

Mentally ill kept in police cells
Many mentally ill people are being held in police cells rather than being taken to hospital, a report says.

Oil rises on Opec production curb
Oil prices rally after Opec tells its members to limit their production to agreed quotas in the wake of falling demand.

BUSINESS

Barratt profits hit by downturn
UK housebuilder Barratts reports a steep fall in profits. but its average selling price has risen because of high-value sales.

Oil rises on Opec production curb
Oil prices rally after Opec tells its members to limit their production to agreed quotas in the wake of falling demand.

Next downbeat as profits decline
Fashion retailer Next reports a 12% fall in profits and says there is "no reason" to expect consumer spending to recover in the near future

ENTERTAINMENT

Elbow elated at Mercury Prize win
Rock group Elbow scoop the Nationwide Mercury Prize for the best British album of the past year.

New Marillion album free to share
Rock group Marillion will allow free, legal downloads of their new album through peer-to-peer file-sharing websites.

Film star Freeman to be honoured
Morgan Freeman is named as a Kennedy Center prize winner, alongside Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and Barbra Streisand.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Success for 'Big Bang' experiment
Three decades after it was conceived, the world's most powerful physics experiment has sent the first beam around its 27km-long tunnel.

Fusion power seeks super steels
Scientists say an understanding of how the Twin Towers collapsed will help them develop the materials needed to build fusion reactors.

UK gives Bangladesh climate help
The UK announces funds to help Bangladesh protect itself against impacts of climate change.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple unveils 'thinnest iPod yet'
Apple launches the latest version of its iPod Nano, featuring what it says are the thinnest measurements yet.

Success for 'Big Bang' experiment
Three decades after it was conceived, the world's most powerful physics experiment has sent the first beam around its 27km-long tunnel.

Laptop delivers all-day computing
Hewlett-Packard launch a new generation of laptops with 24-hour battery life.

HEALTH

Mentally ill kept in police cells
Many mentally ill people are being held in police cells rather than being taken to hospital, a report says.

Pollution 'hinders heart pacing'
Air pollution from traffic hinders the heart's ability to conduct electrical signals, a study concludes.

Asthma and hay fever drug tested
A new once-a-day drug to treat asthma and hay fever is to be tested in human trials for the first time.

September 9th, 2008.

2008-09-09T09:26:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Mental care escapes 'horrifying'
A BBC investigation finds there were at least 116 escapes from medium and low secure psychiatric hospitals in 2007.

Home sales at lowest for 30 years
The slump in the UK property market continued in August, with some estate agents now selling fewer than one home per week.

Superb Federer ends Murray dream
Roger Federer is at his brilliant best as he wins a fifth straight US Open title and ends Andy Murray's hopes of a first Grand Slam crown.

Historic pier destroyed in fireT
he historic Fleetwood Pier in Lancashire burns down in a fire leaving the 98-year-old building "completely gutted".

'Astonishment' at terror verdicts
Counter-terrorism officials are said to be "dismayed" by the outcome of a trial in which eight men were accused of a plot to blow up planes.

BUSINESS

Wet weather hits UK retail sales
Retail sales fell again last month according to the British Retail Consortium, hit by rainy August weather.

Home sales at lowest for 30 years
The slump in the UK property market continued in August, with some estate agents now selling fewer than one home per week.

Record complaints to water firms
Customers' complaints about UK water companies rise by 11% in the past 12 months to the highest number ever reported.

ENTERTAINMENT

Rowling wins book copyright claim
Author JK Rowling wins her legal battle to get an unofficial Harry Potter encyclopaedia banned from publication.

Man charged over Gallagher attack
A man is charged with attacking Oasis star Noel Gallagher during the band's set at the V Festival in Toronto, Canada on Sunday.

Mamma Mia! takes two movie awards
Mamma Mia! wins best musical and actress at the second National Movie Awards in London.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Ancient trees recorded in mines
A US-UK team of scientists find more spectacular fossil forests deep in the coal mines of Illinois.

Foods 'should label up eco-costs'
Food packaging could be embedded with computer chips that instantly link your phone to an online sustainable food guide, a UK conference hears.

Seabed archaeology goes virtual
A new 3D simulator will allow people to operate their own virtual submersibles and explore underwater archaeological sites.

TECHNOLOGY

Bletchley gets £50,000 donation
Two global technology giants pledge substantial funds to help save Britain's computing heritage.

Old newspapers get online launch
Google announces a new project to digitalise newspaper archives and put them online.

BBC iPlayer offered on Nokia N96
The BBC and Nokia are collaborating to put the BBC's iPlayer on the Nokia N96 handset.

HEALTH

Vitamin 'can prevent memory loss'
A vitamin found in meat, fish and milk may help stave off memory loss in old age, research suggests.

Child exercise estimates 'wrong'
Parents vastly overestimate the amount of time their children spend exercising, according to researchers.

Exercise 'blunts fat gene effect'
Vigorous physical activity could blunt the effects of a common gene linked to obesity, claim US researchers.

September 8th, 2008.

2008-09-08T07:48:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Mortgage bail-out rallies markets
Financial markets rally as the US government says it is taking over mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

PM to rally cabinet in Birmingham
Gordon Brown seeks to rally ministers as he chairs the first cabinet meeting since the summer break in Birmingham.

Murray stuns Nadal to reach final
Britain's Andy Murray completes a stunning win over world number one Rafael Nadal at the US Open to reach his first Grand Slam final.

Cuba hammered by Hurricane Ike
Giant waves and torrential rain from Hurricane Ike batter Cuba where hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated.

Nationwide will merge with rivals
The Nationwide Building Society says it will merge with two smaller rivals, the Derbyshire and Cheshire Building Societies.

BUSINESS

Mortgage bail-out rallies markets
Financial markets rally as the US government says it is taking over mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Nationwide will merge with rivals
The Nationwide Building Society says it will merge with two smaller rivals, the Derbyshire and Cheshire Building Societies.

Sharp fall in UK factory prices
The falling cost of oil and metals has helped lower the price of goods leaving UK factories.

ENTERTAINMENT

Spears dominates MTV awards show
Britney Spears sweeps the board at the MTV Video Music Awards show in Los Angeles, winning three prizes.

Review of TV licence fee tactics
The BBC is to ask viewers and listeners whether they feel "heavy-handed" methods are being used to enforce the licence fee.

Bangkok film boxes its way to top
Action thriller Bangkok Dangerous hits the top of the North American box office in its opening weekend.

SCIENCE / NATURE

China sets dates for space launch
China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, state-run news agency Xinhua reports.

'Climate crisis' needs brain gain
The former UK chief scientist says the climate challenge is so great, it demands the most brilliant minds tackle it.

Mammoth skull raised from ground
Palaeontologists lift a "rare" mammoth skull out of its resting place in France and move it to a museum.

TECHNOLOGY

'Tough choices' for UK broadband
The cost of converting the UK to fibre-based broadband could top £28.8bn, says a report.

One Laptop signs up with Amazon
Online retailer Amazon will help the One Laptop Per Child organisation with its plans to sell its XO laptop in the US.

The case for forensic linguistics
Text message analysis is becoming a powerful tool in solving crime cases, a science festival in Liverpool hears.

HEALTH

NHS 'spending lottery persists'
There are entrenched differences in the amount local health bodies spend on major diseases, a think-tank warns.

Veterans' mental care condemned
Britain is facing a "timebomb" of mental health problems among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, former SAS soldier Andy McNab says.

Sweaty people 'less asthma prone'
The ability to sweat may cut the risk of developing exercise-related asthma, say scientists.

September 7th, 2008.

2008-09-07T11:39:00.000-03:00

TOP STORIES

Caribbean lashed by Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike brings driving winds and rain to the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos, as the storm steams towards the Bahamas.

Flood fears as river levels rise
Flooding may continue to affect parts of England and Wales for several days, the Environment Agency warns.

British cyclists start gold rush
Simon Richardson, Aileen McGlynn and Darren Kenny break world records to win Britain's first gold medals in Beijing.

Data on 5,000 justice staff lost
Jack Straw has ordered an inquiry into the loss of a computer hard drive containing the details of up to 5,000 justice system staff.

Tax rich at higher rate, says TUCP
eople earning more than £100,000 a year should pay higher tax rates, the Trades Union Congress says.

BUSINESS

Tax rich at higher rate, says TUC
People earning more than £100,000 a year should pay higher tax rates, the Trades Union Congress says.

US lenders 'face state takeover'
US officials plan to put troubled mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under strict federal control, reports say.

Simpler rail ticketing introduced
The second phase of changes to the rail ticketing system comes into force, with two categories for buying tickets on the day of travel.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Wrestler scoops Golden Lion
The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke, wins the coveted Golden Lion for best picture at the Venice film festival.

US stars unite for cancer charity
US celebrity cancer survivors including actors Christina Applegate and Patrick Swayze take part in a live charity telethon.

Poles first in Euro dance contest
Poland won the second Eurovision Dance Contest, which was held in Glasgow before a television audience of millions.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Shun meat, says UN climate chief
People should consider eating less meat as a way to tackle global warming, says the UN's top climate scientist.

'Jules Verne' begins final voyage
Europe's space freighter undocks from the International Space Station after completing its mission to the orbiting platform.

Universal flu vaccine tests start
A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual flu jab is being trialled on UK volunteers.

TECHNOLOGY

One Laptop signs up with Amazon
Online retailer Amazon will help the One Laptop Per Child organisation with its plans to sell its XO laptop in the US.

Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway
A £20,000 petrol giveaway to promote a computer game is branded "irresponsible and dangerous".

'Jules Verne' begins final voyage
Europe's space freighter undocks from the International Space Station after completing its mission to the orbiting platform.

HEALTH

Vein tubes 'fitted needlessly'
A third of patients have unnecessary tubes inserted into veins when they are in hospital, pharmacists have warned.

Young 'ignorant on mental health'
Almost half of all teenagers cannot name a single mental health condition, according to a poll of schoolchildren.

Isotope shortage may delay scans
Hundreds of important NHS hospital tests could be put on hold due to a worldwide shortage of a radioactive isotope.

September 6th, 2008.

2008-09-06T09:21:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Pakistan votes for new president
Pakistan's presidential election is under way with Asif Zardari, the widower of assassinated former PM Benazir Bhutto, tipped to win.

One dead as heavy rain batters UK
Severe flood warnings are in place in England after storms sweep across Britain, killing a teenager in Wales.

'Hundreds' killed by Haiti storm
Almost 500 bodies have been found in Haiti after floodwaters caused by recent storms receded, say reports.

McCanns' £1m search for Madeleine
Kate and Gerry McCann reveal they have spent more than £1m trying to find their daughter Madeleine.

BUSINESS

Credit crunch 'to last into 2010'
The credit crunch is likely to last another 18 months, the head of the UK's largest mortgage provider warns.

Financial abuse of elderly 'huge'
Thousands of elderly people are having their life savings, possessions and homes stolen by family members, a charity says.

US Boeing workers set to strike
Workers at the world's biggest aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, are to go on strike in the US.

ENTERTAINMENT

Big Brother win for Rachel Rice
Rachel Rice is named as the £100,000 winner of this year's Big Brother, beating bookies' favourite Mikey Hughes by a narrow margin.

US Little Britain set for BBC One
The first series of Little Britain USA is to be screened on BBC One this autumn, while details of new characters are revealed.

Rapper West to make MTV comeback
Hip-hop star Kanye West is to close the MTV Music Video Awards, a year after complaining about failing to win a single prize at the event.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Jules Verne' begins final voyage
Europe's space freighter undocks from the International Space Station after completing its mission to the orbiting platform.

Universal flu vaccine tests start
A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual flu jab is being trialled on UK volunteers.

Rosetta probe makes asteroid pass
Europe’s Rosetta space probe makes a close pass of asteroid Steins, taking pictures and recording other scientific data.

TECHNOLOGY

One Laptop signs up with Amazon
Online retailer Amazon will help the One Laptop Per Child organisation with its plans to sell its XO laptop in the US.

Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway
A £20,000 petrol giveaway to promote a computer game is branded "irresponsible and dangerous".

Zombie plague sweeps the internet
The number of home computers hijacked by hi-tech criminals leaps during the summer, says a security monitoring firm.

HEALTH

Isotope shortage may delay scans
Hundreds of important NHS hospital tests could be put on hold due to a worldwide shortage of a radioactive isotope.

Universal flu vaccine tests start
A universal flu vaccine which could mean an end to the annual flu jab is being trialled on UK volunteers.

DJs criticised for drink comments
A report criticises a number of radio presenters for encouraging heavy drinking among their listeners.

September 5th, 2008.

2008-09-05T08:39:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

McCain vows to fight to change USJ
ohn McCain promises "change is coming" as he accepts the Republican party's candidacy for the White House.

UK food prices show 8.3% increase
UK food prices have risen by 8.3% on average since January, with meat and fish up 23%, according to a study for the BBC.

Brown warned over fuel bill anger
Gordon Brown faces a backlash over his decision to rule out energy bill handouts, the trade unions warn.

New governor general in Australia
Quentin Bryce is sworn in as Australia's governor general, the first woman to serve as Queen Elizabeth's representative there.

DJs criticised for drink comments
A report criticises a number of radio presenters for encouraging heavy drinking among their listeners.

BUSINESS

UK food prices show 8.3% increase
UK food prices have risen by 8.3% on average since January, with meat and fish up 23%, according to a study for the BBC.

HMV report weaker sales growth
Entertainment retailer HMV sees sales growth fall off sharply in the last three months.

Slump hits Bentley car production
Four thousand staff at Crewe-based carmaker Bentley are going down to a three-day week as demand slumps.

ENTERTAINMENT

Rapper West to make MTV comeback
Hip-hop star Kanye West is to close the MTV Music Video Awards, a year after complaining about failing to win a single prize at the event.

Five up for Big Brother windfall
The winner of this year's Big Brother will be revealed later, with five housemates in the running for a £100,000 prize.

Keane star's 'dark' days are over
Keane frontman Tom Chaplin says his drink and drug demons are buried after the "very dark period" when he went into rehab.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Sea level rise by 2100 'below 2m'
Natural restrictions on the way glaciers move means sea level rise above 2m this century is very unlikely, researchers say.

Mammoths moved 'out of America'Ancient DNA evidence points to the last Siberian woolly mammoths having originated in North America.

Bumblebees outwit robotic spiders
Bumblebees learn from their encounters with camouflaged crab spiders and adapt their foraging strategy.

TECHNOLOGY

Zombie plague sweeps the internet
The number of home computers hijacked by hi-tech criminals leaps during the summer, says a security monitoring firm.

Chaos at £20,000 petrol giveaway
There are reports of chaos at a petrol station which giving away £20,000 of petrol.

Sony recalls 440,000 Vaio laptops
Electronics firm Sony recalls 440,000 Vaio laptop computers worldwide because of wiring faults that may cause overheating.

HEALTH

DJs criticised for drink comments
A report criticises a number of radio presenters for encouraging heavy drinking among their listeners.

Down's signs 'seen in stem cells'
Scientists in London have traced the embryonic changes that occur in children with Down's syndrome

Call to curb tobacco marketing
Campaigners and researchers have urged ministers to take a tough stance on the sale of tobacco.

September 4th, 2008.

2008-09-04T13:42:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Clarke issues fresh Brown warning
Ex-home secretary Charles Clarke says Gordon Brown must turn round his premiership within months or step down.

Palin takes battle to Democrats
John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin launches a stinging attack on the Democrats in her debut at the US Republican convention.

House prices in double digit fall
UK house prices recorded an annual fall of 10.9% in August leaving the average home costing £174,178, says the Halifax.

Grim backdrop to UK rate decisionThe Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday against a backdrop of a looming recession.

Cheney in Georgia solidarity trip
US Vice-President Dick Cheney goes to Georgia in a show of political support for Tbilisi following its conflict with Russia.

BUSINESS

House prices in double digit fall
UK house prices recorded an annual fall of 10.9% in August leaving the average home costing £174,178, says the Halifax.

Grim backdrop to UK rate decision
The Bank of England will announce its latest interest rate decision on Thursday against a backdrop of a looming recession.

BP moves to settle Russia dispute
BP signs an agreement with its Russian partner aimed at solving a festering dispute at joint venture TNK-BP.

ENTERTAINMENT

Spears to 'kick off' MTV ceremony
Singer Britney Spears will "kick off" this year's MTV Video Music Awards ceremony, it is announced.

Knightley stars at Duchess launch
Actress Keira Knightley joins fellow stars on the red carpet as The Duchess receives its world premiere in London.

Slumdog will close film festival
The European premiere of Danny Boyle's latest film, Slumdog Millionaire, will close this year's London Film Festival in October.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Germany leads 'clean coal' pilot
A small German coal-fired plant will be the first in the world to capture and store its own CO2 emissions.

Warming boosts strongest storms
As temperatures rise globally, strong storms in the tropics are getting stronger with faster winds, scientists show.

Museum 'cocoon' prepares to open
London's Natural History Museum unveils the interactive centre that will soon house 20 million plant and insect specimens.

TECHNOLOGY

Broadband to 'skip a generation'
Those bypassed by first generation broadband should go directly to super-fast services, says an Ofcom panel.

Google launches internet browser
Search engine Google is launching an open source web browser, Chrome, to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Nokia launches music phone in UK
Handset manufacturer Nokia steps up music strategy with 'Comes with Music' handset.

HEALTH

Medics 'put patient data at risk'
Two hospital doctors warn patient data is at risk after a snapshot poll of colleagues showed lapses in security.

Natural birth 'may aid baby bond'
Mothers who give birth naturally are more responsive to the cry of their baby than those have a Caesarean, research suggests.

Roman Empire 'raised HIV threat'
The spread of the Roman Empire through Europe may explain why those living in its former colonies are more vulnerable to HIV.

September 3rd, 2008.

2008-09-03T08:18:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Bush backs McCain for president
President George W Bush praises presidential nominee John McCain's leadership at the US Republicans' national convention.

New pupils have to stay until 17
Children starting secondary schools in England this week are the first legally required to stay in education until they are 17.

Scots legislation plans unveiled
The Scottish Government's plans for the year ahead are being set out by First Minister Alex Salmond at Holyrood.

Youth held after fatal stabbingA teenager is arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Shaquille Smith.

Six dead in US shooting attacks
A man surrenders to police in the US state of Washington, after six people including a sheriff's deputy are shot dead.

BUSINESS

Crude oil price drops below $109
Crude oil prices slip further after Hurricane Gustav fails to disrupt output and on concerns slowing world growth will dent demand.

Sharp slide in the UK jobs market
UK economic worries are being blamed for a sharp decline in the number of permanent jobs - the worst since November 2001.

More protests hit Tata Nano plant
Work on the Indian factory where the Nano, billed as the world's cheapest car, is to be made is indefinitely suspended amid violent protests.

ENTERTAINMENT

GQ prizes for Zeppelin and Ronson
Rock group Led Zeppelin and producer Mark Ronson are among the winners at the annual GQ Men of the Year Awards.

'Real' James Bond novels for sale
Bond memorabilia once owned by the man thought to be Ian Fleming's inspiration goes up for auction.

Allen thanks Met in 'kidnap plot'
Singer Lily Allen thanks police for foiling an alleged kidnap plot involving one of her friends.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Major ice-shelf loss for Canada
The ice shelves in Canada's High Arctic have lost a colossal area this year, scientists report.

Museum 'cocoon' prepares to open
London's Natural History Museum unveils the interactive centre that will soon house 34 million plant and insect specimens.

Wolves prefer fishing to hunting
Wolves in western Canada prefer to fish for salmon when it is in season rather than hunt deer or other wild game, researchers find.

TECHNOLOGY

Google launches internet browser
Search engine Google is launching an open source web browser, Chrome, to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Hacker appeals to home secretary
Lawyers for a Briton accused of hacking into military computers ask for government help to ensure he is not jailed in the US.

Ultrasound to give feel to games
Virtual objects can be felt in mid-air thanks to a pioneering approach using ultrasound.

HEALTH

Single embryo guidance to clinics
Fertility clinics are to get guidance on how to cut the rate of multiple pregnancies occurring in couples taking IVF treatment.

'Ibuprofen best' for child fevers
Ibuprofen is better at alleviating childhood fever than paracetamol and should be the drug of first choice, say researchers.

Pupils warned over energy drinks
The use of Red Bull and other energy drinks by school children is becoming a growing problem, a drug expert says.

September 2nd, 2008.

2008-09-02T08:35:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Stamp duty is axed below £175,000
The level below which home buyers do not have to pay stamp duty is to be increased for a year from £125,000 to £175,000.

Bangkok under state of emergency
Thailand's prime minister imposes a state of emergency in Bangkok, after at least one person dies in anti-government protests.

Caution urged as Gustav weakens
New Orleans appears to have withstood the ferocity of Hurricane Gustav but people are urged not to rush back.

Charity makes bid to run prisons
A charity which campaigns for penal reform and works with offenders is bidding to run two new jails, the BBC learns.

NHS car parking charges abolished
Car parking charged are to be abolished at NHS hospitals across Scotland, the health secretary announces.

BUSINESS

UK recession this year, OECD says
The OECD says the UK economy will fall in recession in the second half of 2008 and sharply cuts its growth forecast.

Stamp duty is axed below £175,000
The level below which home buyers do not have to pay stamp duty is to be increased for a year from £125,000 to £175,000.

Virgin Radio to become Absolute
Virgin Radio is to be rebranded as Absolute Radio as its Indian owner aims to turn it into a global business.

ENTERTAINMENT

Stones' tongue sold to V&A museum
London's Victoria and Albert Museum buys the original artwork for the Rolling Stones' iconic lips and tongue symbol.

Madonna joins Ritchie at premiere
Madonna walks down the red carpet with her film director husband, Guy Ritchie, at the world premiere of Rocknrolla in London.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Rare' mammoth skull discovered
The fossilised skull of an "extremely rare" steppe mammoth has been discovered in southern France.

Climate 'hockey stick' is revived
A new study by scientists behind the controversial "hockey stick" climate graph suggests their earlier work was broadly correct.

Experts poised for rare frog hunt
Scientists are to hunt for some of the world's rarest frogs in Costa Rica, including the iconic golden toad, last seen 20 years ago.

TECHNOLOGY

Google launches internet browser
Search engine Google is launching an open source web browser, Chrome, to compete with Internet Explorer and Firefox.

Hacker appeals to home secretary
Lawyers for a Briton accused of hacking into military computers ask for government help to ensure he is not jailed in the US.

Ofcom seeks help on mobile rules
Mobile owners with views on the state of the telephony market are being sought by regulator Ofcom.

HEALTH

Mums-to-be confused over advice
A survey reveals widespread confusion amongst mums-to-be about pregnancy health.

Older fathers linked with bipolar
Older fathers are more likely to have children with bipolar disorder than younger men, research suggests.

NHS 'excels at hip and knee ops'
The NHS is being praised for its success in carrying out hip and knee replacements - but doubts remain about some techniques.

September 1st, 2008.

2008-09-01T08:23:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Thousands flee Hurricane Gustav
Hundreds of thousands of people have been fleeing the southern US coast as Hurricane Gustav approaches land.

US hands over key Iraq province
The US military transfers control of Anbar province, once the centre of Iraq's Sunni insurgency, to the Iraqi government.

Mortgage approvals hit fresh low
The number of new mortgages approved for home buyers fell in July to just 33,000 - down by 71% on a year ago.

Leaked letter predicts crime riseThe economic downturn could lead to rising crime figures, according to a leaked Home Office letter.

India battles devastating floods
Pressure builds on the Indian government to do more for half a million people stranded by devastating floods in Bihar.

BUSINESS

Mortgage approvals hit fresh low
The number of new mortgages approved for home buyers fell in July to just 33,000 - down by 71% on a year ago.

Millions due to gain tax rebate
New tax measures come into force this month that should see about 22 million people receive a rebate of around £60.

Housing market 'needs more help'
Government must take "decisive action" to help the housing market, say the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dame Helen in cocaine admission
Oscar-winning British actress Dame Helen Mirren admits that she used to "love" taking cocaine.

Thunder stays top at box office
Ben Stiller comedy Tropic Thunder clings to the top of the North American box office chart for a third week.

Fireworks herald end of festival
A spectacular fireworks display lit up the Edinburgh skyline as the city's international festival drew to a close.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Experts poised for rare frog hunt
Scientists are to hunt for some of the world's rarest frogs in Costa Rica, including the iconic golden toad, last seen 20 years ago.

Nasa 'reviews shuttle shelf-life'
Nasa is to see if the space shuttle can fly beyond its 2010 planned retirement, reports say, despite safety fears.

Hopes raised for block on cancer
Scientists say they have taken a big step towards blocking a chemical vital to the growth of many cancers.

TECHNOLOGY

Ofcom seeks help on mobile rules
Mobile owners with views on the state of the telephony market are being sought by regulator Ofcom.

Hackers prepare supermarket sweep
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.

Chemical coat to mean drier socks
Technology developed to protect soldiers from chemical weapons may help to make almost any surface or fabric waterproof.

HEALTH

Supermarkets 'push fatty foods'
Shops are offering more promotions to beat the credit crunch - but many are for unhealthy foods, campaigners say.

Schools start cancer vaccinations
Scottish schoolgirls are to become the first in the UK to be vaccinated against cervical cancer.

August 30th, 2008.

2008-08-30T08:50:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Two bodies found at arson house
Two bodies are recovered from the burnt-out home of a millionaire and his family in Shropshire.

Darling warns of economic crisis
Chancellor Alistair Darling says the UK is facing the worst economic crisis in 60 years and warns of a "profound" downturn.

Capsize in India floods kills 20
At least 20 people in Bihar, India, die when their boat capsizes, amid floods that have stranded hundreds of thousands.

US surprise and praise for Palin
Democratic rivals say John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin is "admirable" but concerns remain of inexperience.

Dozens injured in Sri Lanka blast
A large explosion has struck Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, with the military saying that dozens have been injured.

BUSINESS

Darling warns of economic crisis
Chancellor Alistair Darling says the UK is facing the worst economic crisis in 60 years and warns of a "profound" downturn.

More firms increase energy bills
Two more energy firms, Scottish Power and Npower, say they will raise prices, blaming more expensive wholesale costs.

Bank insider urges UK rate cuts
Two million people will be out of work by Christmas if interest rates are not cut, a Bank of England policymaker warns.

ENTERTAINMENT

Winehouse pulls out of Paris gig
Singer Amy Winehouse recovers at home after pulling out of a concert hours before she was due on stage.

Lisa gets boot from Big Brother
Beauty and tanning sales rep Lisa Appleton becomes the 11th person to be evicted from the Big Brother house.

Comedy producer dies in accident
Former BBC TV head of comedy Geoffrey Perkins has died in a road accident in London at the age of 55.

SCIENCE / NATURE

New giant clam species discovered
Scientists have discovered the first new living species of giant clam in the Red Sea in over two decades.

'Lost towns' discovered in Amazon
The remote Amazon basin was once home to complex urban communities, according to a study in Science journal.

Boy has shoulder made from elbow
A teenage cancer patient has undergone successful surgery to rebuild his shoulder using his elbow.

TECHNOLOGY

Ofcom seeks help on mobile rules
Mobile owners with views on the state of the telephony market are being sought by regulator Ofcom.

Hackers prepare supermarket sweep
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.

Chemical coat to mean drier socksTechnology developed to protect soldiers from chemical weapons may help to make almost any surface or fabric waterproof.

HEALTH

Cot death warning for teen mums
The children of young mothers are at much higher risk of cot death because their parents miss out on prevention advice, a charity warns.

Binge eaters 'not getting help'
Experts believe over-eating may be a bigger problem than either anorexia or bulimia.

Boy has shoulder made from elbow
A teenage cancer patient has undergone successful surgery to rebuild his shoulder using his elbow.

August 29th, 2008.

2008-08-29T08:01:00.001-03:00

TOP STORIES

Obama launches historic campaign
Barack Obama promises to keep the American dream alive as he accepts his historic Democratic nomination for the White House.

Police hope to enter arson house
Officers investigating a fire at the home of a wealthy family, who are all missing, hope to be able to enter the burnt-out building.

Zoom passengers seek new flights
Hundreds of travellers are stranded and tens of thousands lose bookings after the budget airline Zoom collapses.

Carers 'need more financial help'
The government must provide more money for Britain's six million unpaid carers, who save the taxpayer £87bn a year, MPs say.

Russia hits back at G7 criticism
Criticism of Russia's actions in Georgia by the G7 group of nations is biased and groundless, Russian officials say.

BUSINESS

Zoom passengers seek new flights
Hundreds of travellers are stranded and tens of thousands lose bookings after the budget airline Zoom collapses.

Bradford & Bingley announces loss
Buy-to-let specialist Bradford & Bingley reports a half-year loss of £26.7m after being hit by the credit crunch.

India's economic growth slowing
India's economy grew at a slower-than-expected 7.9% in the three months to June, its slowest for more than three years.

ENTERTAINMENT

Presenter Phillips to leave GMTV
Presenter Fiona Phillips is leaving GMTV after 15 years to spend more time with her family. she announces.

Strictly celebrities are unveiled
Singers Rachel Stevens and Heather Small are among the 16 stars confirmed for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Duchovny enters sex rehab clinic
US actor David Duchovny enters a rehabilitation facility for sex addiction.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Lost towns' discovered in Amazon
The remote Amazon basin was once home to complex urban communities, according to a study in Science journal.

Fly's brain 'senses swat threat'
Researchers in the US say they have solved the mystery of why flies are so hard to swat.

Arctic ice 'is at tipping point'
The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic is now the second smallest on record, scientists reveal.

TECHNOLOGY

Hackers prepare supermarket sweep
Cyber thieves are hatching a plan to steal US funds through British supermarkets, the BBC learns.

Hacker loses extradition appeal
A Briton accused of hacking into secret Nasa military computers loses his appeal against extradition to the US.

Dell pricing policy hits profits
Dell says that a "strategic" effort to cut the prices of its computers, had dented its earnings.

HEALTH

'Huge contrasts' in devolved NHS
Separate health policies across the UK are leading to wide differences for patients, it is claimed.

Antipsychotic drug 'stroke risk'
More people than previously thought could be at higher risk of a stroke from antipsychotic drugs, a study claims.

Cancer spread 'happens earlier'
Apparently "normal" cells may carry cancer to new sites long before a tumour develops, scientists say.

August 28th, 2008.

2008-08-28T08:44:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Bill Clinton hails Barack Obama
Bill Clinton resoundingly endorses Barack Obama, who is formally nominated by US Democrats as their presidential candidate.

Social factors key to ill health
Social factors - rather than genetics - are to blame for huge variations in ill health and life expectancy around the world, a report concludes.

£100m appeal to keep Titian works
Two UK galleries are hoping to raise £100m to buy a pair of paintings by Italian Renaissance artist Titian - estimated to be worth £300m.

Arson attack house still 'unsafe'
Police hope to be able to enter the home of a missing family that was destroyed in an arson attack later, once it is declared safe.

BUSINESS

House prices 'fall 10.5% in year'
UK house prices are down 10.5% on a year ago, the first annual double-digit fall since 1990, the Nationwide says.

British workers 'fear job losses'
More than one in 10 British workers fear they will lose their job in the next year because of the economy, the TUC says.

Diageo expects 'challenges' ahead
Diageo, owner of Guinness and Johnnie Walker, says it faces a "challenging" market after seeing little change in annual profits.

ENTERTAINMENT

Pitt and Clooney at Venice debut
The Venice Film Festival opens with the premiere of the Coen brothers' dark comedy Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

£100m appeal to keep Titian works
Two UK galleries are hoping to raise £100m to buy a pair of paintings by Italian Renaissance artist Titian - estimated to be worth £300m.

'Raspy' Diamond offers gig refund
Singer Neil Diamond offers the audience of a recent concert a refund after performing with a raspy voice.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Britain's happiest places mapped
The most sparsely populated county in Wales is Britain's happiest place - but Edinburgh the least happy, say researchers.

First light for space telescope
A powerful Nasa space telescope has unveiled an image of the sky viewed through "gamma-ray glasses".

Gene therapy 'may repair hearing'
Scientists claim gene therapy has the potential to restore hearing in mice, offering hope for humans as well.

TECHNOLOGY

Computer viruses make it to orbit
Laptops taken to the International Space Station were infected with a computer virus, Nasa confirms.

iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'
The Advertising Standards Authority calls an iPhone advert "misleading" for saying all of the web is available on the phone.

Robo-skeleton lets paralysed walk
A human exoskeleton robotic suit is helping people paralysed from the waist down to stand, walk and climb stairs.

HEALTH

Social factors key to ill health
Social factors - rather than genetics - are to blame for huge variations in ill health and life expectancy around the world, a report concludes.

Gene therapy 'may repair hearing'
Scientists claim gene therapy has the potential to restore hearing in mice, offering hope for humans as well.

Map highlights 'obesity hotspots'
Shetland and parts of Wales and north England are Britain's obesity hotspots, according to a map compiled from GP records.

August 27th, 2008.

2008-08-27T08:45:00.002-03:00

TOP STORIES

Clinton urges party to back Obama
Hillary Clinton calls on the Democrats to back her former rival Barack Obama for president, at the party's convention in Denver.

Patients to get sight-saving drug
All patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness will get access to a sight-saving drug after all.

Taylor Wimpey hit by massive loss
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey reports a £1.54bn loss for the past six months after having to reduce the value of assets.

Miliband seeks backing on Russia
The foreign secretary is visiting Ukraine as he tries to build the "widest possible coalition against Russian aggression".

Fifth arrest over 'PM death plot'
Detectives investigating a suspected plot to kill the prime minister arrest a 29-year-old man in Derby.

BUSINESS

Taylor Wimpey hit by massive loss
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey reports a £1.54bn loss for the past six months after having to reduce the value of assets.

iPhone ad rapped as 'misleading'
The Advertising Standards Authority calls an iPhone advert "misleading" for saying all of the web is available on the phone.

Barbie firm awarded Bratz payout
Mattel wins a multi-million dollar payout in a copyright court case against the maker of the popular Bratz dolls, MGA Entertainment.

ENTERTAINMENT

Led Zeppelin trio back in studio
Led Zeppelin musicians Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham have been working on new material, Bonham reveals.

Housewives star announces split
Singer Michael Bolton and Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan end their engagement.

SCIENCE / NATURE

'Complexity' of Neanderthal tools
Early stone tools developed by modern humans were no more sophisticated than those used by the Neanderthals, research suggests.

Wind farms put pressure on bats
Wind turbines are a hazard to bats because changes in air pressure can cause fatal internal injuries, a study reveals.

Huge statue of Roman ruler found
Archaeologists in Turkey discover parts of a colossal marble statue depicting the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

TECHNOLOGY

Robo-skeleton lets paralysed walk
A human exoskeleton robotic suit is helping people paralysed from the waist down to stand, walk and climb stairs.

Trusted sites thwart net hijacks
Tricky hack attacks could be thwarted by using trusted sites to police web use, say researchers.

HEALTH

Patients to get sight-saving drug
All patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness will get access to a sight-saving drug after all.

Woman diagnoses cancer via e-mail
A toddler in Florida is diagnosed with cancer after a Manchester woman spotted the early warning signs in a picture.

August 26th, 2008.

2008-08-26T13:00:00.003-03:00

TOP STORIES

Democrats praise 'new hope' Obama
The US Democratic Party launches its national convention in Denver, with ringing endorsements of White House hopeful Barack Obama from his wife, Michelle, and veteran US Senator Edward Kennedy.

Terror police arrest in Blackburn
A 25-year-old man is arrested in Blackburn under the Terrorism Act, Lancashire Police say.

Forced landing for Ryanair flight
A plane carrying British tourists to Spain is forced to make an unscheduled landing due to a loss of cabin pressure.

Many injured in motorway pile-upAt least 13 people are injured as two lorries, an empty coach and four cars collide on the M4 in Wiltshire.

Titan jails 'could be dangerous'Giant jails being proposed could be dangerous and ministers have not explained why they would save money, a watchdog says.

BUSINESS

UK mortgage lending 'levels off'
Mortgage lending by major banks flattened out in July but the amount borrowed for day-to-day spending slowed, figures show.

Housing slump hits Bovis profits
Profits at Bovis Homes plunge in the first six months of the year as the property market downturn begins to bite.

Business travellers boost Virgin
Record numbers of business travellers have boosted profits at Virgin Atlantic despite sky-high fuel prices.

ENTERTAINMENT

George Michael plays 'last' shows
George Michael plays the first of his "final" major concerts - but is not fully retiring, revealing plans for a Christmas single.

Paxman: TV is biased against men
Middle class white men are discriminated against in the TV industry, presenter Jeremy Paxman claims.

Mohamed secures place in BB final
Contestant Mohamed Mohamed secures his place in the final week of Big Brother after being voted head of house.

SCIENCE / NATURE

Huge statue of Roman ruler found
Archaeologists have discovered parts of a colossal marble statue depicting the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Cattle shown to align north-south
Images from Google Earth help scientists to reveal that cattle may have a "sixth magnetic sense".

Sky survey yields new cosmic haul
Astronomers uncover a haul of new objects in our Solar System - including an unusual icy object.

TECHNOLOGY

Solar plane makes record flight
A UK-built solar-powered plane sets an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.

Xbox Live in youth voting drive
Young US voters can now register to vote in the presidential election via Microsoft's gaming network.

Poor earning virtual gaming gold
Nearly half a million people in developing countries earn virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study shows.

HEALTH

Mums 'accept natural birth risks'
First-time mothers are prepared to accept greater risks than their clinicians to have a natural birth, report researchers.

Caesarean babies' 'diabetes risk'
Children born by Caesarean section have a 20% higher chance of developing type 1 diabetes, claim researchers.

Warning of epilepsy drowning risk
People with epilepsy are 19 times more likely to die from drowning than the general population, a UK study suggests.

August 25th, 2008.

2008-08-25T08:07:00.002-03:00

WORLD

* Russian MPs back Georgia's rebels
Russia's upper house urges President Medvedev to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7580386.stm

* MPs seized in Zimbabwe parliament
Two MPs from Zimbabwe's opposition MDC are arrested as they prepare to be sworn in five months after disputed elections.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/africa/7580366.stm

* Israel frees jailed Palestinians
Israel releases nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners in a bid to bolster Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7580402.stm

BUSINESS

* Financial slowdown 'to drag on'
The global downturn could "drag on for some considerable time", warns the Bank of England's deputy governor.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7580388.stm

* Recession fears weaken sterling
The pound slides to its weakest levels against the dollar in more than two years, on fears about the health of the UK economy.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7580430.stm

* BE backer 'proposes Centrica tie'
One of the largest shareholders in nuclear power generator British Energy calls for it to merge with Centrica, it is reported.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7579762.stm

ENTERTAINMENT

* George Michael plays 'last' shows
George Michael plays the first of his "final" major concerts - but is not fully retiring, revealing plans for a Christmas single.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7577364.stm

* Tropic film holds on to top spot
Action spoof Tropic Thunder holds off competition from new releases to stay top of the North American box office.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7580513.stm

* 2012 Hindley image use condemned
Downing Street and London Mayor Boris Johnson criticise of the use of a portrait of murderer Myra Hindley in a video shown at a London 2012 event in Beijing.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/7580261.stm

SCIENCE / NATURE

* Solar plane makes record flight
A UK-built solar-powered plane sets an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7577493.stm

* Black hole star mystery 'solved'
Astronomers shed light on how stars can form around a massive black hole, defying conventional wisdom.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7574255.stm

TECHNOLOGY

* Poor earning virtual gaming gold
Nearly half a million people in developing countries earn virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study shows.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7575902.stm

* Xbox Live in youth voting drive
Young US voters can now register to vote in the presidential election via Microsoft's gaming network.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7576956.stm

HEALTH

* Aggressive TB treatment 'success'
Tuberculosis which is resistant to many treatments can be overcome with aggressive therapy, research suggests.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7577266.stm

* Elderly 'go hungry in hospital'
Elderly people are going hungry in hospital because staff fail to ensure they are fed, a charity says.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7580549.stm

* Daily aspirin in middle-age call
Most men over 48 and women over 57 should take a daily aspirin pill to reduce the risk of heart attacks, UK researchers say.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7576723.stm

August 24th, 2008.

2008-08-24T08:12:00.002-03:00

WORLD

* Obama introduces Biden at rally
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama introduces Senator Joe Biden as his running mate at a rally in Illinois.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/americas/7579214.stm

* US warship reaches Georgian port
A US warship arrives in the Georgian port of Batumi carrying the first shipment of aid since the conflict began.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7579506.stm

* Beijing primed for Olympic finale
China prepares to bring the curtain down on the 2008 Olympics as the last action of the Games takes place.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/sport1/hi/olympics/7578133.stm

BUSINESS

* Coastguard staff in pay walkout
Coastguard workers around the UK will begin a 48-hour strike later in a long-running dispute over pay.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/7578026.stm

* UK economy comes to a standstill
UK economic growth ground to a halt between April and June, official figures show, heightening fears of a recession.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576274.stm

* Indian car factory faces 'siege'
A factory which aims to build the world's cheapest car in India faces an open-ended protest over a land dispute.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7579348.stm

ENTERTAINMENT

* Madonna kicks off huge world tour
Madonna has begun her latest world tour with a two-hour show in Cardiff, the first of 51 dates.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7579275.stm

* O'Doherty wins main Fringe award
Irish stand-up David O'Doherty wins the If.comedy Award, the main prize at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7579339.stm

* Killers bring glamour to Reading
Las Vegas band play new song and cover Joy Division as they close the Saturday night at Reading Festival.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7579000/7579343.stm

SCIENCE / NATURE

* Solar plane makes record flight
A UK-built solar-powered plane sets an unofficial world endurance record for a flight by an unmanned aircraft.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7577493.stm

* Black hole star mystery 'solved'
Astronomers shed light on how stars can form around a massive black hole, defying conventional wisdom.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7574255.stm

* Face transplant 'double success'
Successful results from face transplants will speed progress towards more operations, say experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575364.stm

TECHNOLOGY

* Poor earning virtual gaming gold
Nearly half a million people in developing countries earn virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study shows.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7575902.stm

* Xbox Live in youth voting drive
Young US voters can now register to vote in the presidential election via Microsoft's gaming network.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7576956.stm

HEALTH

* Daily aspirin in middle-age call
Most men over 48 and women over 57 should take a daily aspirin pill to reduce the risk of heart attacks, UK researchers say.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7576723.stm

* Experts in drug 'ration' warning
Top cancer specialists say NHS drug "rationing" is forcing cancer patients to remortgage homes to pay for treatment.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7579422.stm

* Hope over 'early arthritis test'
A new way of scanning joints which may reveal early warning signs of arthritis is being developed by US experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7574707.stm

August 23rd, 2008.

2008-08-23T08:21:00.003-03:00

WORLD

* Obama picks Biden as running-mate
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama chooses veteran lawmaker and foreign policy expert Joe Biden to be his running mate in November's election.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/americas/7578136.stm

* Russia to keep forces at key port
Russia says its plans to keep forces in a key Georgian port does not break terms of ceasefire.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7578250.stm

* Afghanistan criticises US attack
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai condemns a US raid which officials say killed at least 70 civilians.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7578152.stm

BUSINESS

* UK economy comes to a standstill
UK economic growth ground to a halt between April and June, official figures show, heightening fears of a recession.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576274.stm

* Mortgage rates 'at 2007 levels'
Mortgage rates are back now to where they were in August 2007 at the onset of the credit crunch, according to website Moneyfacts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576061.stm

* Bernanke warning on US inflation
US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke says the inflation outlook for the nation is "highly uncertain".Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7577357.stm

ENTERTAINMENT

* TV schedules 'need entertainment'
Media regulator Ofcom puts too much pressure on TV channels to "worthy" shows, ITV director Peter Fincham says.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7576821.stm

* Nicole voted out of Big Brother
Student Nicole Cammack is the 10th contestant to be evicted from the Big Brother house after losing out in the public vote.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7577024.stm

* New winners for oldest book prize
Two writers pick up £10,000 each and become the latest winners of Britain's oldest literary awards for fiction and biography.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7577939.stm

SCIENCE / NATURE

* Black hole star mystery 'solved'
Astronomers shed light on how stars can form around a massive black hole, defying conventional wisdom.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7574255.stm

* Face transplant 'double success'
Successful results from face transplants will speed progress towards more operations, say experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575364.stm

* Stem cells 'created from teeth'
Japanese scientists say they have created human stem cells from tissue taken from discarded wisdom teeth.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7576131.stm

TECHNOLOGY

* Poor earning virtual gaming gold
Nearly half a million people in developing countries earn virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study shows.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7575902.stm

* Xbox Live in youth voting drive
Young US voters can now register to vote in the presidential election via Microsoft's gaming network.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7576956.stm

* Firm 'broke rules' over data loss
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith blames a private contractor for losing details of criminals held on a computer memory stick.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7575989.stm

HEALTH

* Hope over 'early arthritis test'
A new way of scanning joints which may reveal early warning signs of arthritis is being developed by US experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7574707.stm

* Face transplant 'double success'
Successful results from face transplants will speed progress towards more operations, say experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575364.stm

* Positive thinkers 'avoid cancer'
Women who have a positive outlook may decrease their chances of developing breast cancer, say Israeli researchers.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7574938.stm

August 22nd, 2008.

2008-08-22T11:09:00.003-03:00

WORLD

* UN split over Georgia resolutions
The UN Security Council splits over efforts to resolve the Georgia crisis hours before Russia is due to complete its pullback.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7575939.stm

* DNA tests for Madrid air victims
DNA tests will be needed to identify many of the 153 people killed in the Madrid air disaster, the Spanish government says.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7575970.stm

* Olympic probe into gymnasts' ages
The gymnastics governing body will be asked by Olympic chiefs to check none of China's winning women's team were under-age.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/sport1/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7575929.stm

BUSINESS

* UK economic growth at standstill
UK economic growth ground to a halt between April and June, official figures show, heightening fears of a recession.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576274.stm

* Mortgage rates 'at 2007 levels'
Mortgage rates are back now to where they were in August 2007 at the onset of the credit crunch, according to website Moneyfacts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576061.stm

* Yukos boss's parole plea rejected
A Russian court rejects an appeal for parole from former Yukos boss Mikhail Khordokovsky.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7576394.stm

ENTERTAINMENT

* Awards applaud monsters of metal
Rock heavyweights Metallica and Rage Against the Machine are honoured at the Kerrang! awards in London.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7575315.stm

* Stadium prepares for Madonna gig
The finishing touches are put to pop legend Madonna's new world tour which opens in Cardiff on Saturday.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/wales/7575796.stm

* Paedophile Glitter arrives in UK
Disgraced pop singer Gary Glitter returns to the UK after serving three years in a Vietnamese jail for abusing two girls.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/7573812.stm

SCIENCE / NATURE

* Face transplant 'double success'
Successful results from face transplants will speed progress towards more operations, say experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575364.stm

* Snail hides from march of history
A snail species from the Mediterranean is found in the UK at historic Cliveden House.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7572553.stm

* World heading towards cooler 2008
Global temperatures recorded so far this year suggest is likely to emerge as the coolest this century, scientists say.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7574603.stm

TECHNOLOGY

* 'Massive failure' over data loss
Ministers are accused of a "massive failure of duty" after the loss of thousands of criminals' details on a memory stick.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7575989.stm

* Poor earning virtual gaming gold
Nearly half a million people in developing countries earn virtual goods in online games to sell to players, a study shows.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7575902.stm

* Intel unites the internet with TV
Intel, the world's number one chip maker, and the internet portal Yahoo team up to bring the web to TV.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/technology/7573331.stm

HEALTH

* Face transplant 'double success'
Successful results from face transplants will speed progress towards more operations, say experts.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575364.stm

* Bodybuilder scarred from steroids
A German body-builder is permanently scarred from ulcers after steroid use.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7575024.stm

* Childhood pets linked to snoring
Growing up with a pet dog could increase your chances of being a snorer later in life, claims a Swedish study.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7574967.stm

August 19th, 2008.

2008-08-19T16:42:00.002-03:00

WORLD

* 'Ten French dead' in Afghan clash
Ten French soldiers have been killed in fighting east of the Afghan capital Kabul, reports say.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7569942.stm

* Bombing kills dozens in Algeria
A bomb east of the Algeria's capital kills 43 people and injures a further 38, the interior ministry says.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/africa/7569941.stm

* Nato holds Georgia crisis talks
Nato foreign ministers are meeting to discuss how to respond to Russia's military action in Georgia.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/europe/7569357.stm

BUSINESS

* Supply of rental properties rises
The number of properties up for rent has jumped as people who cannot sell their homes decide to let them instead.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7567963.stm

* US bank 'to fail within months'
A big US bank is likely to collapse within months as the global financial crisis worsens, a former IMF chief economist warns.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7569903.stm

* Zimbabwe inflation rockets higher
Zimbabwe's rate of inflation surges above 11,250,000% as an economic crisis continues to grip the country.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/business/7569894.stm

ENTERTAINMENT

* Big Brother star Goody has cancer
Reality TV star Jade Goody leaves an Indian version of Big Brother after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7569616.stm

* Gary Glitter leaves Vietnam jail
Disgraced pop star Gary Glitter is released from a Vietnam prison after being jailed for child molestation.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/uk/7569348.stm

* Concern over age bands for books
A plan to indicate what age group children's books are most suitable for causes a stir in the book world.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7568992.stm

SCIENCE / NATURE

* Brain's counting skill 'built-in'
Humans have an innate ability to do maths even if they do not have the language to express it, research suggests.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7563265.stm

* Coal's toxic legacy to the Arctic
Data from a Greenland ice core indicates that coal burning is the prime source of heavy metal pollution in the Arctic.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7568748.stm

* Perfect return flight for Proton
A Russian Proton rocket successfully launches one of the biggest commercial satellites ever built - the Inmarsat-4 (I4-F3).Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7568867.stm

HEALTH

* Families to get cholesterol tests
The UK is expected to endorse the screening of families for an inherited cholesterol disorder.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7568046.stm

* Chewing gum aids bowel recovery
Chewing gum aids recovery from bowel surgery, mounting evidence suggests.Full story:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/health/7568724.stm

TKT Examination Preparation Course

2008-08-19T08:48:00.006-03:00

The UK CENTRE, Uberaba/MG, will be offering from September a special preparation course for the TKT Examination from Cambridge.

The course will be two hours a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) in the morning or in the afternoon. The investiment will be (3 x R$ 100.00). The course will last 3 months (from September to November).

For further information, please phone (34) 3076-0665 or e-mail us at studies@ukcentre.com or ukcentre@ig.com.br

Yours,

The Directorate of Studies,

The UK CENTRE Headquarters - Uberaba/MG.

The Final Exams - July 2008 - Results

2008-08-04T09:46:00.004-03:00

Dear Candidates,

The UK CENTRE Directorate of Studies would like to congratulate all the candidates on doing such a good work on the July' 2008 Final Examinations.

Congratulations! But your studying journey has begun again. Keep studying hard.

Directorate of Studies,

UK CENTRE - Headquarterts

Uberaba / MG, Brazil.

The July 2008 Final Examinations Day

2008-07-26T08:16:00.004-03:00

Most of the candidates arrived before 8.00 a.m. The July 2008 Final Examinations started at 8.00 sharply.

As usual the candidates seemed a bit worried because the Final Examinations are about eveything they have learnt since they started studying at the UK CENTRE.

The UK CENTRE Directorate of Studies is sure eveyone, who has done well during the studying term, will obtain good results on the Final Examinations.

The July 2008 Final Examinations

2008-07-21T09:45:00.003-03:00

Dear Candidates,

The July 2008 Final Examinations are going to be next Saturday, so be prepared in order to obtain good results.

Review everything you have learnt since the beginning of the term. We are sure you will get good marks.

Yours,

Directorate of Studies,

UK CENTRE - Headquarters, Uberaba / MG.

Luciana Camargo's workshop

2008-06-17T10:57:00.000-03:00

Dear Colleagues,

The Luciana's workshop was a really teaching class, because as she has taught "How to Teach" (being a manager, involver, having a motivating atmosphere and so on) she really reacted like this, didn't she?

What I can have to talk about the film (The Emperor's Club) is even though you may be an excellent teacher, I mean "being professional", you may come up against some problems which you have never imagined before.

As we watched, the student was motivated by the teacher to catch the other ones up. And you may think the teacher managed to do it, but the student had cheated all the time.

We, teacher, sometimes have to decide to do things we wouldn't like to do, but we do. But we must be humble enough to get over it when we regret.

Did the teacher, on the DVD, involve, motivate and even manage his work to the student? Many people may say yes. But I don't go along with that. If he had carried his work out the student could have been honest, couldn't he?

We can't say that the student was like that because of his father. If you think like this we will never be able to teach many students whose parents have any kind of problems.

We, teachers, are able to bring students round, motivate them and get involved with them in order to break these kinds of problems down.

Although the film is an excellent experience show which may prevent and show us how to deal with this situation, in my opinion, it really did not give us the real teacher’s role. For me it is more a political review than a teaching review. But it is worth watching during the English Teaching Practice classes, such as in colleges or courses (like Prodocência).

Thank you Prof. Dr. Luciana for everything.

Kico

Maria Nilce's workshop

2008-06-11T09:53:00.000-03:00

Dear Colleagues,

What calls my attention is how people can change through the years. I've already been M. Nilce's student for a long time, and she is always updated. No matter how old she is, she's updated.

I remember doing every homework of hers, and now she doesn't "care" about it.

I'm from the time to speak a fluent English, you should travel to an English speaking country, but nowadays we've got the English world at out fingertips. The DVDs and Youtube are excellent ways of improving the pronounciation, seeing real English and everyday English and so on. We must thank the new technologies for helping us.

As far as I'm concerned it isn't easy enough to keep up with new technologies, and we could be in touch with it during her workshops.

About the newest tool for teaching, e-boards, it is a really useful tool, and is the important thing about this tool is the sharing work.

We could classify the e-boards as a motivation tool, but the teacher will be the most motivating operator, as we could see during the e-board presentations.

I'd say the new technologies have broken into our lives, and before it starts dominating us, we must take the best things from it, and put it in our teaching practice.

Thanks,

Kico.

Maria das Graças's Workshop

2008-06-11T09:42:00.000-03:00

Dear Coleagues,

As many of you came to me to make reviews of her presentation. I am here to be for her.

I've known her for ages as well as the other ones, and I assure you that she is really an expert in English. I consider her as a walking-library woman because she knows nearly everything about the English language.

Unfortunately, her health problem influenced in her workshop presentation. But I am also sure that she always gets the remarks as a sort of improvement.

Thanks,

Kico.

Leila Maxwell's workshop

2008-06-11T08:25:00.000-03:00

Well Colleagues,

I've known her for ages, and she is still good. She is able to manage the class and also is a very good planner.

She's asked us to describe an activity which incompasses oral and written skills and describe each step.

Activity name: SOUNDS DIFFERENT

Level: all levels with some adaptations

Time: 20 - 30 minutes

Materials: Cards withn an illustration on one side and, ideally, the relevant word written on the other, with contrasts such as: "bear / beer" or "pen / pan".

Steps:
1) Before class: select the pairs of pictures you want to use.

2) In class:

2.1 - Show the class the pictures one by one and ask the students to identify the objects in them. Elict the vocabulary from the group as much as possible, prompting as necessary. Write the words in two numbered clumns on the board on the basis of contrasting sounds, like this:

2.2 - Say one of the words without indicating how it is spelt . the students have to decide which column on the board it comes from and should repeat the word. If they get the wornf column they must repeat both parts of the minimal pair, for example: "ship / sheep".

2.3 - Ask the student to call out words from the columns while the teacher or other students indicate which words they think are being said. Again if the word has not beer pronounced correctly, both parts of the minimal pair must be repeated.

3) Variations:

3.1 - Give a sentence incorporating one of the revelant words and have the students choose which is correct, for example: "Yesterday I went for a ride in a ship." or " I had a beer looking at a bear outside my car."

3.2 - Put some of the cards in various places around the class and ask questions like: "Where'sthe bear?" or "Is the pan on the table?".

That's all folks!!!

Kico

Beatriz's workshop.

2008-06-11T08:02:00.000-03:00

How can I classified Beatriz's workshop? It was really electrifying. She's so energic that motivated all the teachers.

She had prepared so many things that many of us hadn't noticed the time had gone so quickly.

As she asked an activity, here it goes:

Every teacher, at state schools, is afraid of facing a new group, especially Ensino Médio groups which all the students are so enthusiastic with other things, except our wonderful subject which suffers from discrimination.

In order to break the ice with them, try to be a friendly teacher, knowing when and how to play with them. Introduce yourself differently.

I always do it, and it really works. I do like this:

"Where are you from?"
"Are you from Capão da Onça?"
"Are you gay?"
they get very surprising, because they don't know the difference between Are you gay? = Are you happy? and Are you a gay?

I could put here a very similar activity to hers, but Prodocência is not only useful for English Institute teachers; but it is really designed for the private and state schools.

Kico