News
Archbishop warns of 'severe challenges' at Lambeth Conference
The Archbishop of Canterbury told 650 bishops gathered at the Lambeth Conference on Sunday that the Anglican Communion is in the midst of "one of the most severe challenges" in its history.
Japan firms to work out next-gen car battery norms
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Nissan Motor Co (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Matsushita Electric Industrial Co (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and other Japanese companies will work together to set up common standards for lithium-ion batteries being developed to power next-generation cars, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday.
Toyota to make 100,000 units of hybrid car: paper
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to produce 100,000 units a year of a new hybrid-only model slated for release in 2009 at a subsidiary in southern Japan, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
Nokia's single-chip phones sales volumes high: report
Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) has reached high volumes in single-chip mobile phone sales, the company's head was quoted in a newspaper as saying on Friday.
Loud bar music makes customers drink more: study
Customers of bars that play loud music drink more quickly and in fewer gulps, French researchers said on Friday.
Cells from humans grow blood vessels in mice: study
Cells taken from human bone marrow, blood and umbilical cords grew into functioning blood vessels in mice with just the right coaxing, U.S. researchers reported on Saturday.
Brain region linked to obsessive disorder risk
Scientists have located an area in the brain that fails to "kick-in" for people with obsessive compulsive disorder and those at risk of developing the condition.
Wetlands could unleash 'carbon bomb'
The world's wetlands, threatened by development, dehydration and climate change, could release a planet-warming "carbon bomb" if they are destroyed, ecological scientists said on Sunday.
Emergency Beijing Olympic pollution scheme begins
Beijingers breathed easier on Sunday as traffic restrictions and factory closures came into effect in a last ditch attempt to turn the often smoggy Chinese capital into a pollution-free venue for next month's Olympics.
Kenya biofuel project stirs controversy
In a clearing on Kenya's coastal grasslands, a group of nomadic herders shout down government officials who have flown in from Nairobi to explain the benefits of a proposed $350 million sugar project.
Starbucks closures heaviest in Calif, Fla, Texas
California, Florida and Texas, the U.S. states with the most Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) stores, will see the most shuttered as the coffee chain axes more than 600 underperforming outlets in the coming year.
'Dark Knight' sets opening day record
The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," raked in $66.4 million (33.2 million pounds) in its opening day to set the single-day box office record, according to its distributor Warner Bros.
Growth ahead for more diversified game industry
The video game industry looks set for at least another year or two of strong growth, driven by geographical expansion, a strong hardware lineup and growing pool of casual gamers, industry executives said.
UK captive death claim taken seriously
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Saturday he was taking seriously a claim by militants in Iraq that one of five Britons they are holding hostage has killed himself.
ETA blamed for blasts in northern Spain
Four bombs exploded at popular seaside resorts in Cantabria northern Spain on Sunday, after warning calls from the Basque separatist group ETA and following a small explosion outside a Barclays bank near Bilbao.
MPs say cannot rely on U.S. torture assurances
Britain should no longer rely on U.S. assurances that it does not use torture on terrorism suspects, an influential committee of MPs said in a report released on Sunday.