News

Sarkozy to attend Olympics opening

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will attend the opening ceremony of next month's Beijing Olympics, representing the European Union as well as his own country, his office said on Wednesday.

Protesters return to deputy Labour leader's roof

Two protestors from Fathers 4 Justice have climbed onto the roof of Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman's south London home for the second time in a month, the campaign group said on Wednesday.

Moscow upset at missile shield deal

The United States signed a pact on Tuesday to build part of a U.S. missile defence shield in the Czech Republic, prompting neighbouring Russia to warn it will react with military means if the shield is deployed.

At least 46 die in Bolivia truck accident

At least 46 people died in Bolivia on Tuesday when a truck loaded with goods and peasants lurched off a mountainous highway and fell nearly 1,000 feet (300 meters), local media reported.

Nazi hunters try to smoke out 'Dr Death' in Chile

Nazi hunters are hoping to flush out the most notorious member of the Third Reich still believed to be alive, Aribert Heim, known as "Dr Death", in southern Chile - with an advertising campaign.

Standards at Dartmoor jail slide

Standards at Dartmoor, one of Britain's oldest and most notorious jails, have deteriorated since it was last inspected, a report said on Wednesday.

Bovis Homes cuts jobs and dividend

House builder Bovis Homes Group plans to cut about 400 jobs and slash its dividend to cope with a dire housing market, but does not as yet expect any big writedowns of its land holdings, it said on Wednesday.

Would-be bankers set for bruising ride

Before they even start working 80-hour weeks, graduates sense tougher times in investment banking, and either by choice or necessity, some are already planning careers elsewhere.

Bank fixed on inflation amid recession talk

Businesses delivered fresh evidence on Tuesday that the economy risks sliding into its first recession since the early 1990s, reporting a sharply deteriorating climate across the country.

Ex-MI5 chief calls 42-day detention unworkable

Proposals to let police detain terrorism suspects for up to six weeks without charge are wrong in principle and unworkable in practice, former intelligence chief Eliza Manningham-Buller said on Tuesday.

Democrat Obama rejects charges of flip-flopping

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama rejected charges on Tuesday that he has shifted positions on Iraq and other issues as part of a move to the political centre now that he is his party's nominee.

Two dead and 41 wounded in north Lebanon clashes

At least two people were killed and 41 wounded on Wednesday in renewed sectarian clashes in Lebanon's second largest city Tripoli, security sources said.

Anglican-Vatican relations hit rocks over women bishops

The Church of England continues to face the consternation of the Vatican after Monday night's vote confirming the Church's unequivocal course towards the first ordinations of women bishops.

Vatican condemns Anglicans on women bishops

The Vatican on Tuesday strongly criticised the Church of England's plan to ordain women bishops, describing it as a historic break from Christian doctrine that will drive Anglicans and Catholics further apart.

G8 wants U.N. deal to halve emissions

G8 nations, papering over deep differences, said on Tuesday they would work toward a target of at least halving global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 but emphasised they would not be able to do it alone.

Iran says does not fear U.S. attack

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday his country did not fear an attack by the United States over its disputed nuclear activities.