News
Car tax hike to hit 9 million
The drivers of nine million cars, nearly half of all those in Britain, will be worse off under government plans to raise vehicle duty for polluting cars, according to figures from the Treasury.
Bank holds interest rates at 5 percent
The Bank of England held interest rates at 5.0 percent on Thursday as policymakers tussle with slower economic growth and surging inflation, but analysts say rates will have to fall eventually.
Turkey detains four and tightens security
Police detained four suspects and patrolled the high-walled perimeter of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Thursday after 3 policemen and 3 gunmen were killed in what a minister said was a suicide attack.
Bank holds interest rates at 5 percent
The Bank of England held interest rates at 5.0 percent on Thursday as policymakers tussle with slower economic growth and surging inflation, but analysts say rates will have to fall eventually.
Car tax changes to leave 9 mln worse off
The drivers of nine million cars, nearly half of all those in Britain, will be worse off under government plans to raise vehicle duty for polluting cars, according to figures from the Treasury.
Nearly half of UK troops think of quitting
Almost half of the members of Britain's armed forces regularly think about quitting, a Ministry of Defence survey showed on Thursday, reflecting the hardship of fighting wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iran tests more missiles
Iran tested more missiles in the Gulf on Thursday, state media said, and the United States pledged to defend its allies against any Iranian aggression.
Pentagon reopening aerial tankers contest
Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday reopened a bitter $35 billion (17.7 billion pounds) aerial tanker contest after the selection process that picked Northrop Grumman Corp and EADS over Boeing Co was found to be flawed.
Six dead in Leicestershire crash
Six young people have been killed after a serious crash involving a car and a lorry near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, police said on Thursday.
Barratt Developments cuts 1,200 jobs
Barratt Developments (BDEV.L: Quote, Profile, Research) will cut nearly a fifth of its workforce to cope with the housing market downturn, joining other builders taking similar measures, and will not pay a final dividend for 2007-08.
Hospitals told to improve maternity services
The government's healthcare watchdog has told hospitals to improve maternity services in England after a survey found shortages of beds, dirty bathrooms and sparse consultant attendance on wards.
Davis poll poses security versus liberty question
Voters in a small Yorkshire constituency went to the polls on Thursday, urged by Conservative politician David Davis to take a stand against what he calls the steady erosion of Britons' fundamental freedoms.
Salman Rushdie wins 'Best of Booker'
Author Salman Rushdie won the "Best of the Booker" prize on Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of one of the world's most prestigious literary awards.
Four teenagers charged with boy's stabbing
Police said on Thursday they had charged four teenagers, including a girl, with the murder of Shakilus Townsend, stabbed to death in south London last week.
Visas from more countries to be considered
Britain announced on Thursday that it is considering expanding visa requirements to citizens from 11 additional countries including South Africa.
Report calls for end to detention of child asylum seekers
Britain should stop detaining thousands of children of foreigners seeking asylum, the Independent Asylum Commission said in a report published on Thursday.