Man Utd to open books to Glazer
Earlier this month, Mr Glazer presented the board with detailed proposals on an offer to buy the football club. In a statement, the club said it would…
Norway upholds 'Napster' ruling
A Norwegian student who ran a website which linked to downloadable MP3 files has been ordered to pay compensation by the country's Supreme Court. Fran…
Brown's poll campaign move denied
The government has denied reports that Gordon Brown is preparing to oust Alan Milburn as Labour's election supremo. Work and pensions minister Alan Jo…
Bafta to hand out movie honours
Movie stars from across the globe are attending this year's Bafta film award ceremony. British stars Imelda Staunton and Clive Owen are hoping for awa…
GTA sequel is criminally good
The Grand Theft Auto series of games have set themselves the very highest of standards in recent years, but the newest addition is more than able to l…
Blair returns from peace mission
Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived back from his diplomatic mission to the Middle East to try to resurrect the peace process. Mr Blair held talks w…
Digital UK driven by net and TV
The UK's adoption of digital TV and broadband has helped make it the fourth most digitally-savvy nation in Europe, according a report by Jupiter Resea…
Real will finish abandoned match
Real Madrid and Real Socieded will play the final six minutes of their match, which was abandoned on Sunday because of a bomb scare. The Bernabeu was …
Ferdinand casts doubt over Glazer
Rio Ferdinand has said he is unsure of Malcolm Glazer's motives after the American billionaire launched a new offer to buy Manchester United. The club…
Howard 'truanted to play snooker'
Conservative leader Michael Howard has admitted he used to play truant to spend time with his school friends at a snooker hall. Mr Howard said his tim…
Spark heads world Booker list
Dame Muriel Spark is among three British authors who have made the shortlist for the inaugural international Booker Prize. Doris Lessing and Ian McEwa…
Consumers drive French economy
France's economic growth accelerated in the last three months of 2004, driven by consumer spending, a report shows. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose …
Ethiopia's crop production up 24%
Ethiopia produced 14.27 million tonnes of crops in 2004, 24% higher than in 2003 and 21% more than the average of the past five years, a report says. …
Lions blow to World Cup stars
British and Irish Lions coach Clive Woodward says he is unlikely to select any players not involved in next year's RBS Six Nations Championship. World…
Chelsea denied by James heroics
A brave defensive display, led by keeper David James, helped Manchester City hold the leaders Chelsea. After a quiet opening, James denied Damien Duff…
'Comeback' show for Friends star
Friends actress Lisa Kudrow is to play the lead role in a new series about a one-time sitcom star, according to the Hollywood reporter. Thirteen episo…
How to make a gigapixel picture
The largest digital panoramic photo in the world has been created by researchers in the Netherlands. The finished image is 2.5 billion pixels in size …
African double in Edinburgh
World 5000m champion Eliud Kipchoge won the 9.2km race at the View From Great Edinburgh Cross Country. The Kenyan, who was second when Newcastle hoste…
IAAF awaits Greek pair's response
Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are yet to respond to doping charges from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The Greek…
Blair says mayor should apologise
Tony Blair has urged London mayor Ken Livingstone to apologise for his "Nazi" comment to a Jewish reporter. Labour's Mr Livingstone, who says he is "s…
Eurovision 'greats' to do battle
Stars of the Eurovision Song Contest from the show's 50-year history are to compete against each other to celebrate the contest's anniversary. Viewers…
Minister hits out at Yukos sale
Russia's renationalisation of its energy industry needs to be reversed, a senior government figure has warned. Economy minister German Gref told the K…
Hansen 'delays return until 2006'
British triple jumper Ashia Hansen has ruled out a comeback this year after a setback in her recovery from a bad knee injury, according to reports. Ha…
Hunt ban support is 'in decline'
Support for a ban on hunting has fallen in the past six years, a poll suggests. Less than half the UK wants a ban compared to almost two-thirds in 199…
Brown hits back in Blair rift row
Gordon Brown has criticised a union leader who said conflict between himself and Tony Blair was harming the workings of government. Jonathan Baume, of…
Hewitt decries 'career sexism'
Plans to extend paid maternity leave beyond six months should be prominent in Labour's election manifesto, the Trade and Industry Secretary has said. …
Usher leads Soul Train shortlist
Chart-topping R&B star Usher is leading the field at this year's Soul Train Awards, with five nominations. The singer, whose album Confessions has sol…
Belle named 'best Scottish band'
Belle & Sebastian have been named the best Scottish band of all time after a three month-long public poll. The group beat Travis and Idlewild into sec…
Speech takes on search engines
A Scottish firm is looking to attract web surfers with a search engine that reads out results. Called Speegle, it has the look and feel of a normal se…
Henman to face Saulnier test
British number one Tim Henman will face France's Cyril Saulnier in the first round of next week's Australian Open. Greg Rusedski, the British number t…
Wales make two changes for France
Wales coach Mike Ruddock has made two changes from the team that beat Italy 38-8 for Saturday's trip to France. Kevin Morgan takes over from his injur…
Tottenham bid £8m for Forest duo
Nottingham Forest have confirmed they have received an £8m bid from Tottenham for Andy Reid and Michael Dawson. Reid rejected a move to Southampton af…
GB quartet get cross country call
Four British athletes have been pre-selected to compete at the World Cross Country Championships in March after impressive starts to the season. Hayle…
Yukos sues four firms for $20bn
Russian oil firm Yukos has sued four companies for their role in last year's forced state auction of its key oil production unit Yuganskneftegas. Yuko…
Strong demand triggers oil rally
Crude oil prices surged back above the $47 a barrel mark on Thursday after an energy market watchdog raised its forecasts for global demand. The Inter…
Local net TV takes off in Austria
An Austrian village is testing technology that could represent the future of television. The people of Engerwitzdorf are filming, editing and producin…
Ajax refuse to rule out Jol move
Ajax have refused to reveal whether Tottenham's boss Martin Jol is on the Dutch champions' shortlist to become the Amsterdam club's new coach. Jol, wh…
Palestinian economy in decline
Despite a short-lived increase in Palestinian jobs in 2003, the economy is performing well below its potential, said a World Bank report. Unemployment…
Gizmondo gadget hits the shelves
The Gizmondo combined media player, phone and gaming gadget goes on sale on Saturday. Priced at £229, the handheld device is debuting in the UK and go…
Mitsubishi in Peugeot link talks
Trouble-hit Mitsubishi Motors is in talks with French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen about a possible alliance. On Tuesday Mitsubishi, the only major Ja…
Yukos loses US bankruptcy battle
A judge has dismissed an attempt by Russian oil giant Yukos to gain bankruptcy protection in the US. Yukos filed for Chapter 11 protection in Houston …
Parry puts Gerrard 'above money'
Listen to the full interview on Sport on Five and the BBC Sport website from 1900 GMT. But Parry, speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, also admits Gerra…
Fiat mulls Ferrari market listing
Ferrari could be listed on the stock market as part of an overhaul of Fiat's carmaking operations, the Financial Times has reported. It said Fiat was …
US charity anthem is re-released
We Are The World, the American charity anthem inspired by the success of Band Aid, has been re-issued to raise money for Aids research and tsunami vic…
Parmalat sues 45 banks over crash
Parmalat has sued 45 banks as it tries to reclaim money paid to banks before the scandal-hit Italian dairy company went bust last year. The firm colla…
Da Vinci film to star Tom Hanks
Actor Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard are reuniting for The Da Vinci Code, an adaptation of the international best-selling novel by Dan Brown. Distr…
US economy shows solid GDP growth
The US economy has grown more than expected, expanding at an annual rate of 3.8% in the last quarter of 2004. The gross domestic product figure was ah…
Consumer concern over RFID tags
Consumers are very concerned about the use of radio frequency ID (RFID) tags in shops, a survey says. More than half of 2,000 people surveyed said the…
Lib Dems target the student vote
Students can decide the fate of MPs in some seats at the next election, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has claimed. The party says the votes …
U2 to play at Grammy awards show
Irish rock band U2 are to play live at the Grammy Awards presentation in the US next month, organisers have said. Other acts to play include soul sing…
Set your television to wow
Television started off as a magical blurry image. Then came the sharpness, the colour and the widescreen format. Now the TV set is taking another leap…
Commodore finds new lease of life
The once-famous Commodore computer brand could be resurrected after being bought by a US-based digital music distributor. New owner Yeahronimo Media V…
Franz Ferdinand's art school lesson
Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, who shot to prominence in 2004, have won two Brit Awards. With their self-titled debut, Franz Ferdinand have achie…
'Hitler' row over Welsh arts cash
An artist critical of Welsh arts funding being brought under assembly government control has denied comparing the idea with dictatorships in Russia an…
A decade of good website design
The web looks very different today than it did 10 years ago. Back in 1994, Yahoo had only just launched, most websites were text-based and Amazon, Goo…
Moving mobile improves golf swing
A mobile phone that recognises and responds to movements has been launched in Japan. The motion-sensitive phone - officially titled the V603SH - was d…
Brown targets OAPs and homebuyers
Gordon Brown has doubled the level at which house buyers pay stamp duty to £120,000 as he put the economy at the heart of Labour's election campaign. …
Little Britain two top comic list
Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams have been named the most powerful people in TV comedy, in a poll by listings magazine Radio Times. …
Who do you think you are?
The real danger is not what happens to your data as it crosses the net, argues analyst Bill Thompson. It is what happens when it arrives at the other …
New Year's texting breaks record
A mobile phone was as essential to the recent New Year's festivities as a party mood and Auld Lang Syne, if the number of text messages sent is anythi…
Rovers reject third Ferguson bid
Blackburn have rejected a third bid from Rangers for Scotland captain Barry Ferguson, BBC Sport has learnt. It is thought Blackburn want £6m for the m…
Iranian misses Israel match
Iranian striker Vahid Hashemian will not travel to Israel for Bayern Munich's Champions League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The German…
Lesotho textile workers lose jobs
Six foreign-owned textile factories have closed in Lesotho, leaving 6,650 garment workers jobless, union officers told the AP news agency. Factory Wor…
Brazil plays down Varig rescue
The Brazilian government has played down claims that it could step in to save the country's biggest airline. Brazil's airport authority chief Carlos W…
US gives foreign firms extra time
Foreign firms have been given an extra year to meet tough new corporate governance regulations imposed by the US stock market watchdog. The Securities…
Gamers could drive high-definition
TV, films, and games have been gearing up for some time now for the next revolution to transform the quality of what is on our screens. It is called h…
Wasps 31-37 Leicester
Leicester withstood a stunning Wasps comeback to win a pulsating Heineken Cup encounter at the Causeway Stadium. The Tigers stormed 22-6 ahead within …
Budget to set scene for election
Gordon Brown will seek to put the economy at the centre of Labour's bid for a third term in power when he delivers his ninth Budget at 1230 GMT. He is…
Parmalat founder offers apology
The founder and former boss of Parmalat has apologised to investors who lost money as a result of the Italian dairy firm's collapse. Calisto Tanzi sai…
ITunes user sues Apple over iPod
A user of Apple's iTunes music service is suing the firm saying it is unfair he can only use an iPod to play songs. He says Apple is breaking anti-com…
Fuming Robinson blasts officials
England coach Andy Robinson insisted he was "livid" after his side were denied two tries in Sunday's 19-13 Six Nations loss to Ireland in Dublin. Mark…
Kennedy's cautious optimism
Charles Kennedy is far too canny to make any grand claims about how his party may fare at the general election. In his 22 years in the Commons, he has…
Howard taunts Blair over splits
Tony Blair's feud with Gordon Brown is damaging the way the UK is governed, Tory leader Michael Howard has claimed in a heated prime minister's questi…
EU China arms ban 'to be lifted'
The EU embargo on arms exports to China is likely to be lifted in the next six months despite US objections, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said.…
Alicia Keys to open US Super Bowl
R&B star Alicia Keys is to open February's Super Bowl singing a song only previously performed there by Ray Charles and Vicki Carr. Keys, who will sin…
Domain system scam fear
A system to make it easier to create website addresses using alphabets like Cyrillic could open a back door for scammers, a trade body has warned. The…
Henman & Murray claim LTA awards
Tim Henman was named player of the year for 2004 by the Lawn Tennis Association at Wimbledon on Monday. The Briton was recognised for the best year of…
Lewsey puzzle over disallowed try
England's Josh Lewsey has claimed he was denied a late try in his side's Six Nations loss to Ireland. The Wasps wing insisted he grounded the ball whe…
Labour's Cunningham to stand down
Veteran Labour MP and former Cabinet minister Jack Cunningham has said he will stand down at the next election. One of the few Blair-era ministers to …
Nintendo handheld given Euro date
Nintendo's new handheld console, the DS, will launch in Europe on 11 March, the company has announced. The portable games machine, which features touc…
Aviator and Vera take Bafta glory
Hollywood blockbuster The Aviator and low-budget British movie Vera Drake have shared the main honours at the 2005 Bafta film awards. The Aviator was …
Trial begins of Spain's top banker
The trial of Emilio Botin, the chairman of Spain's most powerful bank, Santander Central Hispano, has started in Madrid. Mr Botin is accused of misusi…
Unilever shake up as profit slips
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever is to merge its two management boards after reporting "unsatisfactory" earnings for 2004. It blamed the poor…
California sets fines for spyware
The makers of computer programs that secretly spy on what people do with their home PCs could face hefty fines in California. From 1 January, a new la…
Ferguson rues failure to cut gap
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson was left ruing Manchester United's failure to close the gap on Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal after his side's 1-1 draw with Fulh…
Jungle TV show ratings drop by 4m
The finale of ITV1's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here drew an average of 10.9m viewers - about four million fewer than the previous series. The f…
Blair says UK tsunami aid to soar
Tony Blair has predicted the British Government will eventually give "hundreds of millions" of pounds in aid to countries hit by the tsunami. The prim…
Bets off after Big Brother 'leak'
A bookmaker has stopped taking bets on Celebrity Big Brother after claiming "sensitive information" about the Channel 4 show had been leaked. William …
UK economy ends year with spurt
The UK economy grew by an estimated 3.1% in 2004 after accelerating in the last quarter of the year, says the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Th…
Lomu relishing return to action
Former All Black star Jonah Lomu says he cannot wait to run out on the pitch for former England rugby union captain Martin Johnson's testimonial on 4 …
Blue beat U2 to top France honour
Irish band U2 have been honoured at France's biggest music awards, but were beaten to a prize by boy band Blue. U2 received a special achievement priz…
Reyes tricked into Real admission
Jose Antonio Reyes has added to speculation linking him with a move from Arsenal to Real Madrid after falling victim to a radio prank. The Spaniard be…
Blair Labour's longest-serving PM
Tony Blair has become the Labour Party's longest-serving prime minister. The 51-year-old premier has marked his 2,838th day in the post, overtaking th…
Job cuts 'false economy' - TUC
Plans to shed 71,000 civil service jobs will prove to be a "false economy" that could hamper public sector reforms, according to a TUC report. Public …
Brewers' profits lose their fizz
Heineken and Carlsberg, two of the world's largest brewers, have reported falling profits after beer sales in western Europe fell flat. Dutch firm Hei…
Row over 'police' power for CSOs
The Police Federation has said it strongly opposes giving Community Support Officers (CSOs) the power to detain suspects for up to 30 minutes. The pow…
Seamen sail into biometric future
The luxury cruise liner Crystal Harmony, currently in the Gulf of Mexico, is the unlikely setting for tests of biometric technology. As holidaymakers …
Pavey focuses on indoor success
Jo Pavey will miss January's View From Great Edinburgh International Cross Country to focus on preparing for the European Indoor Championships in Marc…
Britain boosted by Holmes double
Athletics fans endured a year of mixed emotions in 2004 as stunning victories went hand-in-hand with disappointing defeats and more drugs scandals. Ke…
Terror detainees win Lords appeal
Detaining foreign terrorist suspects without trial breaks human rights laws, the UK's highest court has ruled. In a blow to the government's anti-terr…
Continental 'may run out of cash'
Shares in Continental Airlines have tumbled after the firm warned it could run out of cash. In a filing to US regulators the airline warned of "inadeq…
MCI shareholder sues to stop bid
A shareholder in US phone firm MCI has taken legal action to halt a $6.75bn (£3.6bn) buyout by telecoms giant Verizon, hoping to get a better deal. Th…
Lufthansa may sue over Bush visit
German airline Lufthansa may sue federal agencies for damages after the arrival of US president George W Bush disrupted flights. Lufthansa said that i…
Liverpool revel in night of glory
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said their qualification for the next stage of the Champions League was "one of the proudest nights of my career." Th…
Court rejects $280bn tobacco case
A US government claim accusing the country's biggest tobacco companies of covering up the effects of smoking has been thrown out by an appeal court. T…
Freeze on anti-spam campaign
A campaign by Lycos Europe to target spam-related websites appears to have been put on hold. Earlier this week the company released a screensaver that…
IAAF launches fight against drugs
The IAAF - athletics' world governing body - has met anti-doping officials, coaches and athletes to co-ordinate the fight against drugs in sport. Two …
Games win for Blu-ray DVD format
The next-generation DVD format Blu-ray is winning more supporters than its rival, according to its backers. Blu-ray, backed by 100 firms including Son…
'Brainwave' cap controls computer
A team of US researchers has shown that controlling devices with the brain is a step closer. Four people, two of them partly paralysed wheelchair user…
US prepares for hybrid onslaught
Sales of hybrid cars in the US are set to double in 2005, research suggests. Research group JD Power estimates sales will hit 200,000 in 2005, despite…
Gadget show heralds MP3 Christmas
Partners of those who love their hi-tech gear may want to get their presents in early as experts predict a gadget shortage this Christmas. With Apple'…
Taxes must be trusted - Kennedy
Public trust in taxes is breaking down because Labour and Tories are not being straight with people on the issue, Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has s…
Lifestyle 'governs mobile choice'
Faster, better or funkier hardware alone is not going to help phone firms sell more handsets, research suggests. Instead, phone firms keen to get more…
Henry tipped for Fifa award
Fifa president Sepp Blatter hopes Arsenal's Thierry Henry will be named World Player of the Year on Monday. Henry is on the Fifa shortlist with Barcel…
Berlin honours S Korean director
South Korean film director Im Kwon-Taek has received an honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Im, who has made more than 100 films in a 40…
PlayStation 3 processor unveiled
The Cell processor, which will drive Sony's PlayStation 3, will run 10-times faster than current PC chips, its designers have said. Sony, IBM and Tosh…
Mobiles 'not media players yet'
Mobiles are not yet ready to be all-singing, all-dancing multimedia devices which will replace portable media players, say two reports. Despite moves …
S Korean consumers spending again
South Korea looks set to sustain its revival thanks to renewed private consumption, its central bank says. The country's economy has suffered from an …
Dame Julie pops in to see Poppins
Mary Poppins star Dame Julie Andrews watched the hit stage version of her classic film at a charity performance in London's West End. It was the first…
Japanese growth grinds to a halt
Growth in Japan evaporated in the three months to September, sparking renewed concern about an economy not long out of a decade-long trough. Output in…
Budget Aston takes on Porsche
British car maker Aston Martin has gone head-to-head with Porsche's 911 sports cars with the launch of its cheapest model yet. With a price tag under …
Labour battle plan 'hides Blair'
The Tories have accused Tony Blair of being "terrified" of scrutiny after Labour unveiled details of how it will fight the next general election. In a…
Rapper 50 Cent ends protege feud
Rapper 50 Cent has ended his public feud with his protege The Game as the pair said they wanted to be good role models for their communities. The row …
S&N extends Indian beer venture
The UK's biggest brewer, Scottish and Newcastle (S&N), is to buy 37.5% of India's United Breweries in a deal worth 4.66bn rupees ($106m:£54.6m). S&N w…
Oil companies get Russian setback
International oil and mining companies have reacted cautiously to Russia's decision to bar foreign firms from natural resource tenders in 2005. US oil…
Labour's 'EU propaganda'
A "taxpayer subsidised propaganda exercise" on the EU is being used to lull the British public into a false sense of security, say the Tories. Shadow …
Pension hitch for long-living men
Male life expectancy is much higher than originally estimated, leading pension researchers have said. The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) said life ex…
Russian oil merger excludes Yukos
The merger of Russian gas giant Gazprom and oil firm Rosneft is to go ahead, but will not include Yugansk, which was controversially bought last year.…
Japan narrowly escapes recession
Japan's economy teetered on the brink of a technical recession in the three months to September, figures show. Revised figures indicated growth of jus…
Wenger shock at Newcastle dip
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is at a loss to explain why Newcastle are languishing in the bottom half of the table. The Gunners trave…
Weir poised for Sunderland move
Larne's teenage star Robbie Weir is poised to join Sunderland after turning down a move to Stoke City. The 17-year-old Irish League midfielder was als…
Ireland surge past Scots
Ireland maintained their Six Nations Grand Slam ambitions with an impressive victory over Scotland at Murrayfield. Hugo Southwell's try gave the Scots…
Shares rise on new Man Utd offer
Shares in Manchester United closed up 4.75% on Monday following a new offer from US tycoon Malcolm Glazer. The board of the football club is expected …
Rank 'set to sell off film unit'
Leisure group Rank could unveil plans to demerge its film services unit and sell its media business, reports claim. Rank, formerly famous for the Carr…
Air China in $1bn London listing
China's national airline is to make its overseas stock market debut with a dual listing in London and Hong Kong, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has s…
Online games play with politics
After bubbling under for some time, online games broke through onto the political arena in 2004. The US presidential election provided a showcase for …
Mallon wades into NE vote battle
Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon has been drafted in to boost the Yes campaign as the North East assembly referendum enters its final week. The former p…
Kraft cuts snack ads for children
Kraft plans to cut back on advertising of products like Oreo cookies and sugary Kool-Aid drinks as part of an effort to promote healthy eating. The la…
India's Deccan seals $1.8bn deal
Air Deccan has ordered 30 Airbus A320 planes in a $1.8bn (£931m) deal as India's first low-cost airline expands in the fast-growing domestic market. A…
Blair and Brown criticised by MPs
Labour MPs have angrily criticised Tony Blair and Gordon Brown amid renewed reports of a rift between the two men. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labo…
Sony PSP handheld console hits US
The latest handheld gaming gadget, Sony's PlayStation Portable, goes on sale in the US on Thursday. The entertainment device, which also stores images…
Burglar defence guidelines issued
Householders who injure or even kill intruders are unlikely to be prosecuted - providing they were acting "honestly and instinctively", new guidelines…
Voters 'reject EU by two to one'
British voters would reject the European constitution by two to one, according to a poll posing the question the government will put to the country. T…
BT boosts its broadband packages
British Telecom has said it will double the broadband speeds of most of its home and business customers. The increased speeds will come at no extra ch…
Henman overcomes rival Rusedski
Tim Henman saved a match point before fighting back to defeat British rival Greg Rusedski 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesd…
Labour's election love-in
Peace and love have been in short supply in the Labour party in recent days. If press reports are to be believed, Alan Milburn and Gordon Brown have b…
UK debut for Kevin Spacey movie
Hollywood stars Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth attended the British premiere of new film, Beyond the Sea, in London's Leicester Square on Thursday. Sp…
Kewell waits as injury drags on
Liverpool winger Harry Kewell is struggling to recover from his Achilles tendinitis problem and may not recover until March, claims his agent. Kewell,…
Game warnings 'must be clearer'
Violent video games should carry larger warnings so parents can understand what their children are playing, the trade and industry secretary has said.…
Calder fears for Scottish rugby
Former Scotland international Finlay Calder fears civil war at the SRU could seriously hamper his country's RBS Six Nations campaign. Four members of …
Blunkett sorry over murder plan
David Blunkett has apologised to MPs after the Home Office announced "prematurely" via press release a review of murder laws. The home secretary confi…
Housewives lift Channel 4 ratings
The debut of US television hit Desperate Housewives has helped lift Channel 4's January audience share by 12% compared to last year. Other successes s…
SEC to rethink post-Enron rules
The US stock market watchdog's chairman has said he is willing to soften tough new US corporate governance rules to ease the burden on foreign firms. …
Celtic make late bid for Bellamy
Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy is discussing a possible short-term loan move to Celtic, BBC Sport understands. The Welsh striker has rejected a move …
British Library gets wireless net
Visitors to the British Library will be able to get wireless internet access alongside the extensive information available in its famous reading rooms…
Putin backs state grab for Yukos
Russia's president has defended the purchase of Yukos' key production unit by state-owned oil firm Rosneft, saying it followed free market principles.…
UK firm faces Venezuelan land row
Venezuelan authorities have said they will seize land owned by a British company as part of President Chavez's agrarian reform programme. Officials in…
Johansson takes Adelaide victory
Second seed Joachim Johansson won his second career title with a 7-5 6-3 win over Taylor Dent at the Australian hardcourt championships in Adelaide. T…
Musical future for phones
Analyst Bill Thompson has seen the future and it is in his son's hands. I bought my son Max a 3G phone, partly because they are so cheap and he needed…
Piero gives rugby perspective
BBC Sport unveils its new analysis tool Piero at the Wales v England rugby union match on Saturday. But what does it do and how does it work? Picture …
Nadal marches on in Mexico
Rafael Nadal continued his run of fine form to beat Guillermo Canas and reach the Mexican Open semis in Acapulco. Eighth seed Nadal, who picked up his…
Funding cut hits Wales Students
The Wales Students rugby side has become a casualty of the Welsh Rugby Union's reorganisation at youth level. An amalgamated Under-18 side formed from…
Black Sabbath top rock album poll
Black Sabbath have topped a list of the best British rock albums of all time. The band once fronted by Ozzy Osbourne led a poll of Kerrang! magazine r…
Soros group warns of Kazakh close
The Open Society Institute (OSI), financed by billionaire George Soros, has accused Kazakhstan officials of trying to close down its local office. A d…
Arsenal 'may seek full share listing'
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has said the club may consider seeking a full listing for its shares on the London Stock Exchange. Speaking at the So…
Dawson set for new Wasps contract
European champions Wasps are set to offer Matt Dawson a new deal. The 31-year-old World Cup winning scrum-half has impressed since joining the London …
Sales 'fail to boost High Street'
The January sales have failed to help the UK High Street recover from a poor Christmas season, a survey has found. Stores received a boost from bargai…
Kilroy unveils immigration policy
Ex-chatshow host Robert Kilroy-Silk has attacked UK policy on immigration saying Britain's open door approach is hitting low wage "indigenous" workers…
Butler launches attack on Blair
Former civil service chief Lord Butler has criticised the way Tony Blair's government operates, accusing it of being obsessed with headlines. He also …
Renault boss hails 'great year'
Strong sales outside western Europe helped Renault boost its profits by more than 40% in 2004 although the firm warned of lower margins this year. Fra…
Ex-PM Lord Callaghan dies aged 92
Former Labour prime minister Lord Callaghan has died on the eve of his 93rd birthday. He passed away at home in East Sussex, just 11 days after his wi…
Clarke defends terror detentions
The home secretary has defended his decision not to release foreign terror suspects despite a legal ruling their detention breached human rights laws.…
Dallaglio eyeing Lions tour place
Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio still harbours hopes of a place on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Lions coach Sir Clive Wo…
Preview: Ireland v England (Sun)
Lansdowne Road, Dublin Sunday, 27 February 1500 GMT BBC1, Radio 4 LW and this website Ireland are going for their first Grand Slam since 1948 after tw…
Pountney handed ban and fine
Northampton coach Budge Pountney has been fined £2,000 and banned from match-day coaching for six weeks for calling a referee "a disgrace". Pountney w…
Escaped prisoner report ordered
First Minister Jack McConnell has ordered a report on the decision to allow a paranoid schizophrenic knife attacker to go on a visit unguarded. Michae…
Hospital suspends 'no Welsh' plan
An English hospital has suspended plans to stop treating Welsh patients who have waited more than three months. Hereford County Hospital had earlier s…
Chris Evans back on the market
Broadcaster Chris Evans has begun selling thousands of his possessions from a stall in Camden Market, London. Evans perched on a stool as shoppers wan…
Can Smith work Scottish wonders?
The worst kept secret in Scottish football was revealed on Thursday when Walter Smith was named as the new national manager. From the moment Berti Vog…
Boris opposes mayor apology
Ken Livingstone should "stick to his guns" and not apologise for his "Nazi" comment to a Jewish reporter, Tory MP Boris Johnson has insisted. Mr Johns…
US box office set for record high
Ticket sales at the US box office are predicted to break records this year, with figures expected to reach $9.4 billion, beating 2002's all-time high.…
De Niro film leads US box office
Film star Robert De Niro has returned to the top of the North American box office with his film Hide and Seek. The thriller shot straight to the numbe…
Ray DVD beats box office takings
Oscar-nominated film biopic Ray has surpassed its US box office takings with a combined tally of $80m (£43m) from DVD and video sales and rentals. Ray…
Ebbers 'aware' of WorldCom fraud
Former WorldCom boss Bernie Ebbers was directly involved in the $11bn financial fraud at the firm, his closest associate has told a US court. Giving e…
House prices show slight increase
Prices of homes in the UK rose a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in February, says the Nationwide building society. The figure means the annual rate of incre…
Poll explains free-kick decision
Referee Graham Poll said he applied the laws of the game in allowing Arsenal striker Thierry Henry's free-kick in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Keep…
DVD copy protection strengthened
DVDs will be harder to copy thanks to new anti-piracy measures devised by copy protection firm Macrovision. The pirated DVD market is enormous because…
O'Driscoll out of Scotland game
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has been ruled out of Saturday's RBS Six Nations clash against Scotland. O'Driscoll was originally named in the start…
Souness delight at Euro progress
Boss Graeme Souness felt Newcastle were never really in danger of going out of the Uefa Cup against Heerenveen. An early own goal followed by an Alan …
Faith schools citizenship warning
Schools must improve the quality of citizenship lessons - or social cohesion and democracy will suffer, says the education watchdog. Independent faith…
Retirement age could be scrapped
The "myth that ageing is a barrier" to contributing to society needs to be "exploded", the work and pensions minister has said. This was why the gover…
US economy still growing says Fed
Most areas of the US saw their economy continue to expand in December and early January, the US Federal Reserve said in its latest Beige Book report. …
Rescue hope for Borussia Dortmund
Shares in struggling German football club Borussia Dortmund slipped on Monday despite the club agreeing a rescue plan with creditors on Friday. The cl…
Robinson wants dual code success
England rugby union captain Jason Robinson has targeted dual code success over Australia on Saturday. Robinson, a former rugby league international be…
Tories pledge free sports lessons
Children would be offered two hours' free sports training a week by a future Tory government, the party has said. The Club2School policy would provide…
Blair backs 'pre-election budget'
Tony Blair has backed Chancellor Gordon Brown's pre-Budget report amid opposition claims he was too bullish about the state of the UK economy. In a sp…
BA to suspend two Saudi services
British Airways is to halt its flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from 27 March. The airline said the decision was a co…
Opposition grows to house arrests
The Conservatives have expressed "serious misgivings" about government plans for keeping UK and foreign terror suspects under house arrest. Michael Ho…
Boogeyman takes box office lead
The low-budget horror film Boogeyman has knocked Robert de Niro thriller Hide and Seek from the top spot at the UK box office. The film, in which a yo…
Vickery upbeat about arm injury
England prop Phil Vickery is staying positive despite a broken arm ruling him out of the RBS Six Nations. The 28-year-old fractured the radius in his …
Bad e-mail habits sustains spam
The 'bad behaviour' of e-mail users is helping to sustain the spam industry, a new study has found. According to a survey conducted by security firm M…
Ferguson puts faith in youngsters
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he has no regrets after his second-string side lost 3-0 away at Fenerbahce in the Champions League. F…
Wenger offers Mutu hope
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would consider signing Adrian Mutu once the striker has served his drugs ban. Mutu was sacked by Chelsea on Friday after te…
Tories outlining policing plans
Local communities would be asked to go to the polls to elect their own area police commissioner, under plans unveiled by the Conservatives. Party lead…
Peers debate Crown succession law
Peers are debating proposals to change the rules governing the succession to the throne. Labour peer Lord Dubs' Succession to the Crown Bill aims to e…
Regiments' group in poll move
A regiments' campaign group is to target nine marginal Labour seats at the General Election. Save the Scottish Regiments will also field a candidate a…
A-listers flock to Gervais sitcom
Hollywood actors Samuel L Jackson and Ben Stiller have signed up for Ricky Gervais' new sitcom, the comedian has told BBC News. He said they had both …
US consumer confidence up
Consumers' confidence in the state of the US economy is at its highest for five months and they are optimistic about 2005, an influential survey says.…
Portable PlayStation ready to go
Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) will go on sale in Japan on 12 December. The long-awaited handheld game playing gadget will cost about 19,800 yen (1…
Hearts of Oak 3-2 Cotonsport
Hearts of Oak set up an all Ghanaian Confederation Cup final with a 3-2 win over Cameroon's Cotonsport Garoua in Accra on Sunday. The win for Hearts m…
Custody death rate 'shocks' MPs
Deaths in custody have reached "shocking" levels, a committee of MPs and peers has warned. The joint committee on human rights found those committing …
Brown outlines third term vision
Gordon Brown has outlined what he thinks should be the key themes of New Labour's next general election bid. He said ensuring every child in Britain h…
Spector facing more legal action
Music producer Phil Spector is facing legal action from the mother of the actress he has been accused of killing. Donna Clarkson, whose daughter Lana …
West End to honour finest shows
The West End is honouring its finest stars and shows at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London on Monday. The Producers, starring Nathan Lane a…
BT program to beat dialler scams
BT is introducing two initiatives to help beat rogue dialler scams, which can cost dial-up net users thousands. From May, dial-up net users will be ab…
TV presenter Deeley drops CD:UK
Cat Deeley has resigned as host of ITV1's Saturday morning children's music show CD:UK after six years. The 28-year-old host who also presents Stars I…
China bans new tobacco factories
The world's biggest tobacco consumer, China, has said it will not allow any new tobacco factories to be built. China already has more than enough ciga…
Blair joins school sailing trip
The prime minister has donned a life jacket and joined school children in a sailing dinghy as he sought to sell his party's education policies. Tony B…
Wal-Mart is sued over rude lyrics
The parents of a 13-year-old girl are suing US supermarket giant Wal-Mart over a CD by rock group Evanescence that contains swear words. The lawsuit, …
Toxic web links help virus spread
Virus writers have begun using the power of the web to spread their malicious wares. A Windows virus called Bofra is turning infected machines into di…
Straw praises Kashmir moves
The UK has welcomed the decision by India and Pakistan to open a bus link across the ceasefire line dividing the disputed region of Kashmir. Foreign S…
US Ahold suppliers face charges
US prosecutors have charged nine food suppliers with helping Dutch retailer Ahold inflate earnings by more than $800m (£428m). The charges have been b…
Venezuela reviews foreign deals
Venezuela is to review all foreign investment in its mining industries in an effort to strengthen its indigenous industrial output. President Hugo Cha…
Top of the Pops leaves BBC One
The BBC's flagship pop music programme Top of the Pops is to move from BBC One on Fridays to Sundays on BBC Two. The new programme will combine with a…
Man City 0-2 Man Utd
Manchester United reduced Chelsea's Premiership lead to nine points after a scrappy victory over Manchester City. Wayne Rooney met Gary Neville's cros…
New 'yob' targets to be unveiled
Fifty new areas getting special help to fight anti-social behaviour in England and Wales will be named on Thursday. Ten areas have already had access …
Weak data buffets French economy
A batch of downbeat government data has cast doubt over the French economy's future prospects. Official figures showed on Friday that unemployment was…
Nuclear body seeks new tech
The computer systems used to monitor the world's nuclear power installations are so outdated that they are hampering the work of inspectors. A spokesm…
Profile: Gordon Brown
The ultimate prize of 10 Downing Street may continue to elude him but, as he prepares to deliver a record-breaking ninth budget, Gordon Brown can at l…
Lopez misses UK charity premiere
Jennifer Lopez cancelled an appearance at the UK charity premiere of her new movie saying she was too ill to fly. The actress and singer dropped out a…
US TV cuts nudity from BBC film
A US TV network is editing BBC Films' Dirty War to avoid showing the front of a nude woman being scrubbed down after a fictional chemical attack. It i…
UK 'world's biggest music buyer'
UK consumers are the biggest music buyers in the world, according to new figures released on Tuesday by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). But g…
ID theft surge hits US consumers
Almost a quarter of a million US consumers complained of being targeted for identity theft in 2004, official figures suggest. The Federal Trade Commis…
Asylum children to face returns
The UK government is planning to return asylum seeker children without parents to Albania. The trial scheme, which could start in weeks, may be extend…
Oscar host Rock to keep it clean
Oscar host Chris Rock said he will steer clear of bad language when he fronts the awards on 27 February. The comedian, who recently got into trouble f…
Rap boss arrested over drug find
Rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight has been arrested for violating his parole after he was allegedly found with marijuana. He was arrested in Barstow, Cal…
Saudi investor picks up the Savoy
London's famous Savoy hotel has been sold to a group combining Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and a unit of HBOS bank. Financial…
When technology gets personal
In 2020, whipping out your mobile phone to make a call will be quaintly passé. By then phones will be printed directly on to wrists, or other parts of…
Time to get tough on friendlies?
For an international manager, a friendly provides an important opportunity to work with your players. The only problem is that the game itself can oft…
Security papers 'found in street'
An inquiry is under way after files containing security details about the Pakistani president's visit to London were found by a member of the public. …
Singer Sizzla jailed for swearing
Reggae star Sizzla, whose UK tour was cancelled after protests at his "anti-gay" lyrics, has been jailed in Jamaica for swearing on stage. The singer …
Sir Paul rocks Super Bowl crowds
Sir Paul McCartney wowed fans with a live mini-concert at American football's Super Bowl - and avoided any Janet Jackson-style controversies. The 62-y…
Labour in constituency race row
Labour's choice of a white candidate for one of the UK's most multi-racial seats proves the need for all-black short lists, says a race group. Local c…
Van Gogh festival film withdrawn
Murdered director Theo van Gogh's controversial film Submission has been pulled from the Rotterdam Film Festival because of security fears. It was one…
Federer joins all-time greats
The last year has seen one player dominate men's tennis, and one country dominate the women's game. Roger Federer became the first man since Mats Wila…
England 17-18 France
England suffered an eighth defeat in 11 Tests as scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili booted France to victory at Twickenham. Two converted tries from Olly Bar…
Unclear future for striker Baros
Liverpool forward Milan Baros is uncertain whether he remains part of boss Rafa Benitez's plans after being dropped for the Carling Cup final. Baros, …
Protesters plan airport challenge
Campaigners against the expansion of Britain's airports have begun challenging the government's plans in the High Court. BAA's expansion of Stansted A…
Police detain Chinese milk bosses
Chinese police have detained three top executives at milk firm Yili, with reports suggesting that they are being investigated for embezzlement. Yili -…
Be careful how you code
A new European directive could put software writers at risk of legal action, warns former programmer and technology analyst Bill Thompson. If it gets …
Chelsea ridiculed over complaint
Barcelona assistant coach Henk Ten Cate has branded Chelsea's expected complaint to Uefa as "pathetic". The Blues are poised to complain about an alle…
Yelling takes Cardiff hat-trick
European cross-country champion Hayley Yelling completed a hat-trick of wins in the Reebok Cardiff Cross Challenge in Bute Park on Sunday afternoon. T…
Hitachi unveils 'fastest robot'
Japanese electronics firm Hitachi has unveiled its first humanoid robot, called Emiew, to challenge Honda's Asimo and Sony's Qrio robots. Hitachi said…
UKIP outspent Labour on EU poll
The UK Independence Party outspent both Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, new figures show. UKIP, which campaigned on a slog…
The Producers scoops stage awards
The Producers has beaten Mary Poppins in the battle of the blockbuster West End musicals at the Olivier Awards. The Producers won three prizes at the …
Label withdraws McFadden's video
The new video of former Westlife singer Brian McFadden has been pulled after a Dublin school complained about being associated with his song Irish Son…
Parmalat boasts doubled profits
Parmalat, the Italian food group at the centre of one of Europe's most painful corporate scandals, has reported a doubling in profit. Its pre-tax earn…
What really divides the parties
So what is the gap between Labour and the Tories nowadays? One Starbucks, one Rymans and one small Greek cafe as it happens. Both parties have now com…
Anglers 'could face prosecution'
Anglers and fishermen could find themselves prosecuted under plans to crack down on animal cruelty, a committee of MPs has warned. Sloppy wording of t…
Karachi stocks hit historic high
The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) has recorded its largest single day gain, surging 3.5% to a new high. The index rose 225.79 points in four hours of f…
Japanese mogul arrested for fraud
One of Japan's best-known businessmen was arrested on Thursday on charges of falsifying shareholder information and selling shares based on the false …
Keanu Reeves given Hollywood star
Actor Keanu Reeves, best known for his role in the Matrix movies, has been awarded a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. The 40-year-old a…
Spirit awards hail Sideways
The comedy Sideways has dominated this year's Independent Spirit Awards, winning all six of the awards for which it was nominated. It was named best f…
US Airways staff agree to pay cut
A union representing 5,200 flight attendants at bankrupt US Airways have agreed to a new contract that cuts pay by nearly 10%. The deal will help the …
Ministers 'naive' over phone-taps
The government is being naive by refusing to allow phone-tap evidence in court, a senior EU politician says. Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief, s…
Dance music not dead says Fatboy
DJ Norman Cook - aka Fatboy Slim - has said that dance music is not dead, but has admitted it is currently going through a "fallow patch". The commerc…
Brussels raps mobile call charges
The European Commission has written to the mobile phone operators Vodafone and T-Mobile to challenge "the high rates" they charge for international ro…
Search sites get closer to users
Search sites want to get to know you better. Not content with providing access to the millions of websites, many now offer ways that do a better job o…
Tigers wary of Farrell 'gamble'
Leicester say they will not be rushed into making a bid for Andy Farrell should the Great Britain rugby league captain decide to switch codes. "We and…
Off-colour Gardener storms to win
Britain's Jason Gardener shook off an upset stomach to win the 60m at Sunday's Leipzig International meeting. Gardener clocked 6.56 seconds to equal t…
Bush budget seeks deep cutbacks
President Bush has presented his 2006 budget, cutting domestic spending in a bid to lower a record deficit projected to peak at $427bn (£230bn) this y…
Argentina, Venezuela in oil deal
Argentina and Venezuela have extended a food-for-oil deal, which helped the former to overcome a severe energy crisis last year. Argentine President N…
'Blog' picked as word of the year
The term "blog" has been chosen as the top word of 2004 by a US dictionary publisher. Merriam-Webster said "blog" headed the list of most looked-up te…
Kenya lift Chepkemei's suspension
Kenya's athletics body has reversed a ban on marathon runner Susan Chepkemei after she made an official apology. Athletics Kenya (AK) had suspended th…
Actress Roberts takes spider role
Actress Julia Roberts will play the part of a spider in a new film version of children's classic Charlotte's Web. She will voice Charlotte, who teams …
Cage film's third week at US top
Nicolas Cage movie National Treasure has topped the US and Canada box office for the third week in a row. National Treasure made $17.1m (£8.8m) in tic…
Hatfield executives go on trial
Engineering firm Balfour Beatty and five railway managers are to go on trial for manslaughter over the Hatfield rail crash in 2000. Four people died w…
Tsunami cost hits Jakarta shares
The stock market in Jakarta has seen its biggest slide in a month, after the country doubled the likely cost of rebuilding from the Asian tsunami. The…
Cairn shares slump on oil setback
Shares in Cairn Energy, a UK oil firm, have closed down 18% after a disappointing drilling update and a warning over possible tax demands. The company…
Russian film wins BBC world prize
Russian drama The Return (Vozvrashchenie) has been named winner of the BBC Four World Cinema Award. The film tells the story of two adolescent boys wh…
Stars pay tribute to actor Davis
Hollywood stars including Spike Lee, Burt Reynolds and Oscar nominee Alan Alda have paid tribute to actor Ossie Davis at a funeral in New York. Vetera…
Google launches TV search service
The net search giant Google has launched a search service that lets people look for TV programmes. The service, Google Video beta, searches closed cap…
UKIP candidate suspended in probe
Eurosceptic party UKIP have suspended a candidate for allegedly suggesting the criminally insane should be killed. John Houston, 54, was due to stand …
Businesses fail to plan for HIV
Companies fail to draw up plans to cope with HIV/Aids until it affects 20% of people in a country, new research says. The finding comes in a report pu…
UK interest rates held at 4.75%
The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold again at 4.75%, in a widely-predicted move. Rates went up five times from November 2003 - as the b…
Rich grab half Colombia poor fund
Half of the money put aside by the Colombian government to help the country's poor is benefiting people who do not need it, a study has found. A total…
Tech helps disabled speed demons
An organisation has been launched to encourage disabled people to get involved in all aspects of motorsport, which is now increasingly possible thanks…
Gamer buys $26,500 virtual land
A 22-year-old gamer has spent $26,500 (£13,700) on an island that exists only in a computer role-playing game (RPG). The Australian gamer, known only …
Souness backs Smith for Scotland
Graeme Souness believes Walter Smith would be the perfect choice to succeed Berti Vogts as Scotland manager. Souness's former assistant at Rangers is …
Spears seeks aborted tour payment
Singer Britney Spears is suing eight insurance companies that have refused to reimburse her for cancelling her 2004 world tour. The pop star cancelled…
Savvy searchers fail to spot ads
Internet search engine users are an odd mix of naive and sophisticated, suggests a report into search habits. The report by the US Pew Research Center…
Turkey deal 'to help world peace'
A deal bringing Turkey a step closer to EU membership is of "fundamental importance" to the peace and security of the world, Tony Blair has said. The …
Ring of Fire hit co-writer dies
Merle Kilgore, co-writer of the country hit Ring of Fire, has died of congestive heart failure aged 70. He started out as a singer and songwriter befo…
Public show for Reynolds portrait
Sir Joshua Reynolds' Portrait of Omai will get a public airing following fears it would stay hidden because of an export wrangle. The Tate Gallery uns…
Ryanair in $4bn Boeing plane deal
Budget airline Ryanair has placed an order for 70 Boeing 737-800 planes, in a deal valued at $4bn (£2.1bn) which should lead to 2,500 new Ryanair jobs…
The gaming world in 2005
If you have finished Doom 3, Half Life 2 and Halo 2, don't worry. There's a host of gaming gems set for release in 2005. WORLD OF WARCRAFT The US rece…
Dogged Federer claims Dubai crown
World number one Roger Federer added the Dubai Championship trophy to his long list of successes - but not before he was given a test by Ivan Ljubicic…
Duran Duran show set for US TV
Chart stars Duran Duran are to appear in a VH1 special in the US including interviews and concert footage. The show airs on Tuesday and will feature a…
Tories urge 'change at the top'
Tory delegates are gathering for what is expected to be their last conference before the general election, declaring Britain needs "a change at the to…
MPs criticise child access system
Divorced parents seeking access to their children are often disadvantaged by the legal system, MPs have said. The Constitutional Affairs Select Commit…
Surprise win for anti-Bush film
Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 has won best film at the US People's Choice Awards, voted for by the US public. Mel Gibson's The…
US actor Ossie Davis found dead
US actor Ossie Davis has been found dead at the age of 87. Davis, who was married to actress Ruby Dee, was found dead on Friday in his hotel room in M…
US interest rates increased to 2%
US interest rates are to rise for the fourth time in five months, in a widely anticipated move. The Federal Reserve has raised its key federal funds r…
Anti-spam laws bite spammer hard
The net's self-declared spam king is seeking bankruptcy protection. Scott Richter, the man behind OptInRealBig.com and billions of junk mail messages,…
Call for action on internet scam
Phone companies are not doing enough to warn customers about internet "rogue-dialling" scams, according to premium phone line regulator Icstis. It has…
Rapper Jay-Z becomes label boss
Rap star Jay-Z is to become a record company executive after being put in charge of one of hip-hop's most influential labels, Def Jam. Jay-Z, who said…
Ericsson sees earnings improve
Telecoms equipment supplier Ericsson has posted a rise in fourth quarter profits thanks to clients like Deutsche Telekom upgrade their networks. Opera…
Digital guru floats sub-$100 PC
Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and founder of MIT's Media Labs, says he is developing a laptop PC that will go on sale for less than $100 (£53). He tol…
Ailing EuroDisney vows turnaround
EuroDisney, the European home of Mickey Mouse and friends, has said it will sell 253m euros (£175m; $328m) of new shares as it looks to avoid insolven…
Benitez delight after crucial win
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez admitted victory against Deportivo La Coruna was vital in their tight Champions League group. Jorge Andrade's early o…
T in the Park sells out in days
Tickets for Scotland's biggest music festival have sold out in record time, five months before the event is held. The 12th annual T in the Park festiv…
Progress on new internet domains
By early 2005 the net could have two new domain names. The .post and .travel net domains have been given preliminary approval by the net's administrat…
McIlroy aiming for Madrid title
Northern Ireland man James McIlroy is confident he can win his first major title at this weekend's Spar European Indoor Championships in Madrid. The 2…
Straw backs ending China embargo
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has defended plans to end the European Union's arms embargo on China, despite opposition from the US and Japan. Mr Str…
Why Cell will get the hard sell
The world is casting its gaze on the Cell processor for the first time, but what is so important about it, and why is it so different? The backers of …
Rangers seal Old Firm win
Goals from Gregory Vignal and Nacho Novo gave Rangers a scrappy victory at Celtic Park that moves them three points clear of the champions. Rangers ha…
Smith aims to bring back respect
Scotland manager Walter Smith says he wants to restore the national team's respectability in world football. Smith has joined his first squad for a th…
England given tough Sevens draw
England will have to negotiate their way through a tough draw if they are to win the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong next month. The second seeds …
Brown to outline presidency goals
Next year will be "make or break" for development in poorer countries Gordon Brown will say as he sets out UK goals for its EU and G8 presidencies. Th…
REM concerts blighted by illness
US rock band REM have been forced to cancel concerts after bass player Mike Mills was taken to hospital suffering from "severe flu-like symptoms". The…
Glasgow hosts tsunami benefit gig
The top names in Scottish music are taking part in a benefit concert in aid of the victims of the Asian tsunami. All 10,000 tickets for Saturday's con…
Muslim police stops 'more likely'
UK Muslims should accept that people of Islamic appearance are more likely to be stopped and searched by police, a Home Office minister has said. Haze…
Sky takes over Oscar night mantle
Sky has signed a major new deal to broadcast this year's Academy Awards, taking over from three years of live Oscar coverage on the BBC. Sky said it w…
Games enter the classroom
Video games could soon be transplanted from their natural habitat to the more academic atmosphere of the classroom. With violent titles continuing to …
Barbarians 19-47 New Zealand
New Zealand proved too strong for an Australian-dominated Barbarians to round off their unbeaten northern hemisphere tour with an easy win. Rico Gear …
Rapper films music video in jail
A US rapper awaiting trial for murder has filmed part of a music video in jail, angering a sheriff who says he was tricked into letting TV crews in. C…
Wall Street cheers Bush victory
The US stock market has closed higher in response to George W Bush's victory in the presidential elections. The benchmark Dow Jones share index closed…
'No more concessions' on terror
Charles Clarke says he has "no desire" to offer more concessions on his controversial anti-terror plans to get them on to the statute book. MPs voted …
Spider-Man creator wins profits
Spider-Man creator Stan Lee is to get a multi-million dollar windfall after winning a court battle with comic book company Marvel. A judge has upheld …
Chelsea clinch cup in extra-time
(after extra-time - score at 90 mins 1-1) John Arne Riise volleyed Liverpool ahead after 45 seconds but Steven Gerrard scored a 79th-minute own goal. …
More reforms ahead says Milburn
Labour will continue to pursue controversial reforms if it wins a third term in power, the party's election chief Alan Milburn has said. He pledged La…
Prodigy Monfils blows away Gaudio
French prodigy Gael Monfils underlined his huge promise by beating French Open champion Gaston Gaudio 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in the first round of the Qatar Op…
'Best person' for top legal job
The "best person for the job" should be appointed lord chancellor, and not necessarily a lawyer or MP, the courts minister has told MPs. Under reforms…
Anti-terror plan faces first test
Plans to allow Home Secretary Charles Clarke to place terror suspects under house arrest without trial are set for their first real test in Parliament…
Aviator wins top Globes accolades
The Aviator has been named best film at the Golden Globe Awards, with its star Leonardo DiCaprio named best actor. Hollywood veteran Clint Eastwood to…
Holmes starts 2005 with GB events
Kelly Holmes will start 2005 with a series of races in Britain. Holmes will make her first track appearance on home soil since winning double Olympic …
Clarke to press on with ID cards
New Home Secretary Charles Clarke has vowed to plough on with plans for ID cards despite a call for him to "pause for thought" from Charles Kennedy. T…
CSA 'could close', says minister
Ministers would not rule out scrapping the Child Support Agency if it failed to improve, Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson has warned. But he s…
Howard unveils Tory asylum plans
Tory plans to cut immigration to the UK are not racist and will make the asylum system fairer for genuine refugees, Michael Howard has said. As his pa…
Leaders meet over Turkish EU bid
Tony Blair has met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to talk about Turkey entering the EU. The Downing …
Wenger keeping faith with Almunia
Arsene Wenger has pledged to keep faith with stand-in keeper Manuel Almunia for the crunch week which could define Arsenal's season. Almunia will star…
Bollywood draws global stars
British actress Antonia Bernath is making her debut in Kisna - the Warrior Poet, marking a growing trend for non-Indian stars to appear in Bollywood f…
Cebit opens to mobile music tune
Cebit, the world's largest hi-tech fair, has opened its doors in Hanover for a look at the latest technologies for homes and businesses. There are mor…
Blinx sequel purrs nicely
The original Blinx was intended to convert many platform game lovers to Microsoft's then new Xbox console. Its sharp graphics and novel gameplay, with…
Mobile gig aims to rock 3G
Forget about going to a crowded bar to enjoy a gig by the latest darlings of the music press. Now you could also be at a live gig on your mobile, via …
Industrial revival hope for Japan
Japanese industry is growing faster than expected, boosting hopes that the country's retreat back into recession is over. Industrial output rose 2.1% …
Gangsters dominate gaming chart
Video games on consoles and computers proved more popular than ever in 2004. Gamers spent more than £1.34bn in 2004, almost 7% more than they did in 2…
Microsoft gets the blogging bug
Software giant Microsoft is taking the plunge into the world of blogging. It is launching a test service to allow people to publish blogs, or online j…
Mauresmo opens with victory in LA
Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova won their opening matches at the Tour Championships in Los Angeles. France's Mauresmo routed Vera Zvonareva 6-1 6-…
Spurs to sign Iceland U21 star
Tottenham are primed to snap up Iceland Under-21 international Emil Hallfredsson after he impressed on trial at White Hart Lane. The 20-year-old midfi…
Old Firm pair handed suspensions
Celtic's Henri Camara and Nacho Novo of Rangers have both been suspended for offences missed by the referee in a recent Old Firm game. Both were given…
Musical treatment for Capra film
The classic film It's A Wonderful Life is to be turned into a musical by the producer of the controversial hit show Jerry Springer - The Opera. Frank …
UK homes hit £3.3 trillion total
The value of the UK's housing stock reached the £3.3 trillion mark in 2004 - triple the value 10 years earlier, a report indicates. Research from Hali…
US cyber security chief resigns
The man making sure US computer networks are safe and secure has resigned after only a year in his post. Amit Yoran was director of the National Cyber…
New browser wins over net surfers
The proportion of surfers using Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) has dropped to below 90%, say web analysts. Net traffic monitor, OneStat.com, has r…
Global blogger action day called
The global web blog community is being called into action to lend support to two imprisoned Iranian bloggers. The month-old Committee to Protect Blogg…
Analysis: No pain, no gain?
He called it his "masochism strategy" in the run-up to the Iraq war and now Tony Blair has signed up for another dose of pain. The idea is simple - th…
Shares hit by MS drug suspension
Shares in Elan and Biogen Idec plunged on Monday as the firms suspended sales of new multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri after a patient's death in the US…
Ban hits Half-Life 2 pirates hard
About 20,000 people have been banned from playing the Half-Life 2 game. Game maker Valve shut down the online accounts of the players because it had e…
Hewitt fights back to reach final
Lleyton Hewitt kept his dream of an Australian Open title alive with a four-set win over Andy Roddick in Friday's second semi-final. The home favourit…
McIlroy wins 800m indoor title
James McIlroy motored to the AAA's Indoor 800m title in Sheffied on Sunday in a time of one minute, 47.97 seconds. The Larne athlete dominated the rac…
Jugnot 'tops French actor league'
Actor Gerard Jugnot - star of the Oscar-nominated film The Chorus - has beaten Gerard Depardieu to become France's best-paid actor of 2004. Jugnot mad…
Gronkjaer agrees switch to Madrid
Jesper Gronkjaer has agreed a move to Atletico Madrid from Birmingham City. The 27-year-old winger spent just five months at St Andrews following a £2…
Cardinal criticises Iraq war cost
Billions of pounds spent on conflict in Iraq and in the Middle East should have been used to reduce poverty, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has said.…
Gervais writing Simpsons episode
The Office's Ricky Gervais is writing an episode of hit US cartoon The Simpsons, following an invitation from its creator Matt Groening. Gervais has a…
Strong quarterly growth for Nike
Nike has reported its best second-quarter earnings, helped by strong demand for its athletic shoes and Converse sneakers. The global sports giant said…
Mrs Howard gets key election role
Michael Howard's ex-model wife, Sandra, is to play a leading role in the Conservative election campaign. Mrs Howard will make solo visits to target se…
Robots march to US cinema summit
Animated movie Robots has opened at the top of the US and Canada box office chart, taking $36.5m (£19m) on its first weekend on release. Featuring the…
Volcano drama erupts on BBC One
Supervolcano, a docu-drama about a volcanic eruption in Yellowstone National Park in the US, is among the highlights on the BBC One this winter. The £…
Nintendo DS aims to touch gamers
The mobile gaming industry is set to explode in 2005 with a number of high-profile devices offering a range of gaming and other features such as movie…
Kennedy begins pre-election tour
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has begun a week-long tour to persuade voters they are the "real opposition". Mr Kennedy is visiting constitue…
Redford's vision of Sundance
Despite sporting a corduroy cap pulled low over his face plus a pair of dark glasses, Robert Redford cuts an unmistakable figure through the star-stru…
Worcester v Sale (Fri)
Sixways Friday, 25 February 2000 GMT They make just one change, with Tim Collier replacing Phil Murphy in the second row. In contrast, Sale are missin…
Bees handed potential Man Utd tie
Brentford face a home tie against holders Manchester United in the FA Cup sixth round if they can come through their replay against Southampton. The L…
Hewitt survives Nalbandian epic
Home favourite Lleyton Hewitt came through a dramatic five-set battle with Argentine David Nalbandian to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. Hewitt…
Child access law shake-up planned
Parents who refuse to allow former partners contact with their children could be electronically tagged under plans being considered by ministers. Curf…
Microsoft sets sights on spyware
Windows users could soon be paying Microsoft to keep PCs free of spyware. Following the takeover of anti-spyware firm Giant, Microsoft said it would s…
Original Exorcist to be screened
The original version of horror prequel Exorcist: The Beginning, dropped by producers over claims it was not scary enough, is to have its world premier…
Stallone evicted from Big Brother
Jackie Stallone, mother of actor Sylvester, has become the first star to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother. She and John McCririck faced the publi…
Adriano's Chelsea link rejected
Adriano's agent Gilmar Rinaldi has insisted that he has had no contact with Chelsea over the striker. Chelsea were reported to have made inquiries abo…
iTunes now selling Band Aid song
Ipod owners can now download the Band Aid single from iTunes after Apple reached agreement with the charity. Apple had been unwilling to raise the cos…
US budget deficit to reach $368bn
The US budget deficit is set to hit a worse-than-expected $368bn (£197bn) this year, officials said on Tuesday. The cost of military operations still …
Krispy Kreme shares hit
Shares in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts have taken a dunking on Wall Street after the firm revealed it would have to restate its 2004 financial reports. The …
Dollar hovers around record lows
The US dollar hovered close to record lows against the euro on Friday as concern grows about the size of the US budget deficit. Analysts predict that …
Wilkinson return 'unlikely'
Jonny Wilkinson looks set to miss the whole of the 2005 RBS Six Nations. England's World Cup-winning fly-half said last week he was hoping to recover …
Lost Doors frontman movie found
Historians in Florida have discovered a 40-year-old clip of a clean-cut Jim Morrison appearing in a promotional film for his university. The 1964 film…
Hundreds vie for best film Oscar
A total of 267 films are eligible for the best film Oscar but only five will be chosen to go forward as nominees. The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts …
School tribute for TV host Carson
More than 1,000 people turned out on Sunday to pay tribute to late US TV presenter Johnny Carson in the Nebraska town where he grew up. Carson, who ho…
Arthur Hailey: King of the bestsellers
Novelist Arthur Hailey, who has died at the age of 84, was known for his bestselling page-turners exploring the inner workings of various industries, …
House prices rebound says Halifax
UK house prices increased by 1.1% in December, the first monthly rise since September, the Halifax has said. The UK's biggest mortgage lender said pri…
Europe blames US over weak dollar
European leaders have openly blamed the US for the sharp rise in the value of the euro. US officials were talking up the dollar, they said, but failin…
Apple sues 'Tiger' file sharers
Apple has taken more legal action to stop online leaks of its new products. The computer giant has sued three men for releasing preview versions of it…
Irish finish with home game
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has been granted his wish for a home game as the final World Cup qualifier. Ireland will close their bid to rea…
Johnson accuses British sprinters
Former Olympic champion Michael Johnson has accused Britain's top sprinters of lacking pride and ambition. "At the moment, the biggest factor on the m…
Nintendo DS makes its Euro debut
Nintendo's DS handheld game console has officially gone on sale in Europe. Many stores around the UK opened at midnight to let keen gamers get their h…
FA decides not to punish Mourinho
The Football Association will take no action against Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho following his sending-off in Sunday's Carling Cup final. Mourinho, who…
Indonesia 'declines debt freeze'
Indonesia no longer needs the debt freeze offered by the Paris Club group of creditors, Economics Minister Aburizal Bakrie has reportedly said. Indone…
China net cafe culture crackdown
Chinese authorities closed 12,575 net cafes in the closing months of 2004, the country's government said. According to the official news agency most o…
Barkley fit for match in Ireland
England centre Olly Barkley has been passed fit for Sunday's Six Nations clash with Ireland at Lansdowne Road. Barkley withdrew from Bath's team for F…
Wenger dejected as Arsenal slump
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed their display in the 3-1 defeat against Bayern Munich was "our worst peformance in the Champions League". Kolo T…
'EU referendum could cost £80m'
It could cost £80m to run a UK referendum on the European constitution, ministers have revealed. In a written parliamentary answer, Constitutional Aff…
Bush to get 'tough' on deficit
US president George W Bush has pledged to introduce a "tough" federal budget next February in a bid to halve the country's deficit in five years. The …
Jackson film 'absolute disaster'
A PR expert has told the Michael Jackson child abuse trial that the TV documentary at the heart of the case was an "absolute disaster". Ann Kite told …
Web photo storage market hots up
An increasing number of firms are offering web storage for people with digital photo collections. Digital cameras were the hot gadget of Christmas 200…
Henman decides to quit Davis Cup
Tim Henman has retired from Great Britain's Davis Cup team. The 30-year-old, who made his Davis Cup debut in 1994, is now set to fully focus on the AT…
BNP leader Nick Griffin arrested
The leader of the British National Party has been arrested as part of a police inquiry following the screening of a BBC documentary. A party spokesman…
Profits slide at India's Dr Reddy
Profits at Indian drugmaker Dr Reddy's fell 93% as research costs rose and sales flagged. The firm said its profits were 40m rupees ($915,000; £486,00…
Federer breezes into semi-finals
Roger Federer reached the last four of the Qatar Open with an easy 6-1 6-2 win over seventh seed Feliciano Lopez. The Swiss world number one reeled of…
Hodgson shoulders England blame
Fly-half Charlie Hodgson admitted his wayward kicking played a big part in England's 18-17 defeat to France. Hodgson failed to convert three penalties…
Act on detention ruling, UK urged
The government must act quickly on the Law Lords' ruling that detention of foreign terror suspects without trial is unlawful, Mary Robinson has said. …
TV debate urged for party chiefs
Broadcasters should fix a date for a pre-election televised debate between the three main political leaders, according to the Hansard Society. It woul…
Prodigy join V Festival line-up
Essex act Prodigy are to headline the second stage at this year's V Festival, joining main stage headliners Scissor Sisters and Franz Ferdinand. The e…
Early Elvis recordings go on sale
Some of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings - including takes of All Shook Up - are going under the hammer on Sunday at a Los Angeles auction. The six…
Connors' rallying cry for British tennis
Do you have it in your heart? How much guts do you have? How much do you hate to lose? These are the questions Jimmy Connors will be asking of Britain…
'Poll Idols' face first hurdles
Vote For Me - ITV1's Pop Idol style talent contest for would-be politicians - finally hits our screens this week. Over the next four days, hundreds of…
Minimum rate for foster parents
Foster carers are to be guaranteed a minimum allowance to help cover their costs, the government has announced. Payment levels vary from area to area,…
Fast lifts rise into record books
Two high-speed lifts at the world's tallest building have been officially recognised as the planet's fastest. The lifts take only 30 seconds to whisk …
Candela completes Bolton switch
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has signed Roma defender Vincent Candela on a five-month deal. The 31-year-old former France international gave his last pre…
Warning over Windows Word files
Writing a Microsoft Word document can be a dangerous business, according to document security firm Workshare. Up to 75% of all business documents cont…
Brown calls for £5.5bn Aids fund
Gordon Brown has called on rich nations to fund a £5.5bn ($10bn) plan to fight the Aids epidemic and find a vaccine. On the fourth day of his six-day …
Serena ends Sania Mirza's dream
Sania Mirza, the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tennis event, has lost to women's favourite Serena Williams. The 18-year-…
Robinson ready for difficult task
England coach Andy Robinson faces the first major test of his tenure as he tries to get back to winning ways after the Six Nations defeat by Wales. Ro…
Blair to face MPs amid feud talk
Tony Blair faces his first prime minister's questions of 2005 after a week of renewed speculation about his relationship with Gordon Brown. Meanwhile,…
Portishead back after eight years
Cult British group Portishead have revealed they are writing their third album, their first in eight years. Founding member Geoff Barrow told BBC 6 Mu…
Snicket tops US box office chart
The film adaptation of Lemony Snicket novels has topped the North America box office chart, displacing Ocean's 12. A Series of Unfortunate Events, sta…
DaimlerChrysler's 2004 sales rise
US-German carmaker DaimlerChrysler has sold 2.1% more cars in 2004 than in the previous year, as solid Chrysler sales offset a weak showing for Merced…
Coach Ranieri sacked by Valencia
Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as Valencia coach just eight months after taking charge at the Primera Liga club for the second time in his career. Th…
Housing plans criticised by MPs
Irreversible environmental damage will be caused by government plans to build more than one million homes in south-east England, MPs have warned. "Sus…
Shark Tale DVD is US best-seller
Oscar-nominated animation Shark Tale has raked in $80m (£42.4m) in the first week of its US DVD release becoming the year's best-selling home video so…
Yukos seeks court action on sale
Yukos will return to a US court on Wednesday to seek sanctions against Baikal Finance Group, the little-known firm which has bought its main asset. Yu…
Safin cool on Wimbledon
Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Marat Safin has ruled out any chance of winning Wimbledon in the future. After losing in round one last year, S…
O'Connor aims to grab opportunity
Johnny O'Connor is determined to make a big impression when he makes his RBS Six Nations debut for Ireland against Scotland on Saturday. The Wasps fla…
Tomlinson stays focused on Europe
Long jumper Chris Tomlinson has cut his schedule to ensure he is fully fit for the European Indoor Championships. The 23-year-old has a minor injury a…
Petrol duties frozen, Brown says
Chancellor Gordon Brown has announced a freeze on fuel duty in his pre-budget speech to the Commons on Thursday. Mr Brown told the House that governme…
England children's tsar appointed
The first children's commissioner for England has been appointed. Great Ormond Street Hospital professor of child health, Al Aynsley-Green, was chosen…
Putting a face to 'Big Brother'
Literally putting a face on technology could be one of the keys to improving our interaction with hi-tech gadgets. Imagine a surveillance system that …
Latest Opera browser gets vocal
Net browser Opera 8.0, due for official release at the end of next month, will be "the most accessible browser on the market", according to its author…
Campbell to extend sprint career
Darren Campbell has set his sights on running quicker than ever after deciding not to retire from sprinting. Campbell, who won Olympic 4x100m relay go…
Terror suspects face house arrest
UK citizens suspected of involvement in terrorism could face house arrest as part of a series of new measures outlined by the home secretary. It comes…
Blair moves to woo Jewish voters
Tony Blair has pledged to "never, ever, ever" attack Tory leader Michael Howard over his Jewish beliefs. The prime minister told the Jewish Chronicle:…
Q&A: Malcolm Glazer and Man Utd
The battle for control of Manchester United has taken another turn after the club confirmed it had received a fresh takeover approach from US business…
India widens access to telecoms
India has raised the limit for foreign direct investment in telecoms companies from 49% to 74%. Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran said that ther…
Iran jails blogger for 14 years
An Iranian weblogger has been jailed for 14 years on charges of spying and aiding foreign counter-revolutionaries. Arash Sigarchi was arrested last mo…
Greek pair attend drugs hearing
Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have appeared before an independent tribunal which will decide if their bans should stand. They we…
Singer Christina Aguilera to wed
Pop star Christina Aguilera is to marry music executive Jordan Bratman, the singer's agent has confirmed. Bratman, 26, proposed to Grammy-winning sing…
Multi-purpose TV aids India
Two-thirds of the world's population, 4 billion people, live on $2,000 a year or less. You might think that the last thing on their minds would be get…
Keegan hails comeback king Fowler
Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan has praised striker Robbie Fowler for his landmark return to form. The 29-year-old, out of favour at City earlier th…
Wright-Phillips to start on right
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed Shaun Wright-Phillips will start against the Netherlands. But Wright-Phillips will not make his first s…
Johnny Cash manager Holiff dies
The former manager of Johnny Cash, Saul Israel Holiff, has died at the age of 79, his family said. Mr Holiff, who was also a concert promoter, managed…
China now top trader with Japan
China overtook the US to become Japan's biggest trading partner in 2004, according to numbers released by Japan's Finance Ministry on Wednesday. China…
Poles play with GameBoy 'blip-pop'
A group of artists in Poland has taken the cacophony of blips, boops and beeps created as players bash buttons on Nintendo's handheld GameBoy console …
Sociedad set to rescue Mladenovic
Rangers are set to loan out-of-favour midfielder Dragan Mladenovic to Real Sociedad, despite the closure of the January transfer window. Sociedad have…
Bollywood DVD fraudster is jailed
A major distributor of pirated DVDs of Bollywood films has been sent to prison for three years. Jayanti Amarishi Buhecha from Cambridge was found guil…
Brando 'rejected Godfather role'
Late film star Marlon Brando is said to have repeatedly turned down his Oscar-winning role in The Godfather. The actor's friend Budd Schulberg told Va…
A question of trust and technology
A major government department is without e-mail for a week, and technology analyst Bill Thompson wants to know what happened. A couple of weeks ago I …
Bennett play takes theatre prizes
The History Boys by Alan Bennett has been named best new play in the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. Set in a grammar school, the play also earned a b…
Golden rule 'intact' says ex-aide
Chancellor Gordon Brown will meet his golden economic rule "with a margin to spare", according to his former chief economic adviser. Formerly one of M…
Sony PSP tipped as a 'must-have'
Sony's Playstation Portable is the top gadget for 2005, according to a round-up of ultimate gizmos compiled by Stuff Magazine. It beats the iPod into …
O'Connell rejects Lions rumours
Ireland and Munster lock Paul O'Connell has dismissed media reports linking him to the captaincy of the Lions tour to New Zealand this summer. O'Conne…
Sydney to host north v south game
Sydney will host a northern versus southern hemisphere charity match in June or July, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said on Wednesday. The match wi…
Kinnock to urge reform in Lords
Neil Kinnock has said his acceptance of a seat in the House of Lords will allow him to help "achieve further progress with substantial democratic refo…
UK plan to deport terror suspects
Deals are being sought to allow the UK to deport terror suspects to their home countries without risk of them being tortured or sentenced to death. Ho…
Eminem beats Elvis to number one
Rapper Eminem has denied Elvis his fourth number one of the year, after his song, Like Toy Soldiers, stormed to the top of the singles charts. The tra…
Scrum-half Williams rejoins Bath
Bath have signed their former scrum-half Andy Williams on a short-term deal from the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. Wales international Williams, whose contra…
Blair 'said he would stand down'
Tony Blair promised Gordon Brown he would stand down before the next election, a new book about the chancellor claims. But the prime minister changed …
Brizzel to run AAA's in Sheffield
Ballymena sprinter Paul Brizzel will be among eight of Ireland's European Indoor hopefuls competing in this weekend's AAA's Championships. US-based Al…
George Michael to perform for BBC
George Michael is to perform live at London's Abbey Road studios as part of a BBC Radio 2 special next month. The session, which will broadcast on 18 …
Millions 'to lose textile jobs'
Millions of the world's poorest textile trade workers will lose their jobs under new trade rules to be introduced in the new year, a charity has warne…
Juninho demand for O'Neill talks
Juninho's agent has confirmed that the player is hoping for talks with Martin O'Neill as the Brazilian midfielder comes closer to departing Celtic. Br…
Markets fall on weak dollar fears
Rising oil prices and the sinking dollar hit shares on Monday after a finance ministers' meeting and stern words from Fed chief Alan Greenspan. The Lo…
Veteran comic Cyril Fletcher dies
Veteran comedian and broadcaster Cyril Fletcher has died aged 91 at his home in Guernsey. Fletcher will be remembered for his "odd odes" and amusing m…
Euronext joins bid battle for LSE
Pan-European stock market Euronext has approached the London Stock Exchange (LSE) about a possible takeover bid. "The approach is at an early stage an…
Asia shares defy post-quake gloom
Indonesian, Indian and Hong Kong stock markets reached record highs. Investors seemed to feel that some of the worst-affected areas were so under-deve…
Tories attack EU asylum moves
David Blunkett has been accused of using the "politics of confusion" to disguise new EU immigration measures. Tory spokesman David Davis told MPs the …
School sport 'is back', says PM
Tony Blair has promised that "sport is back" as a priority for schools. The prime minister launched a £500m initiative to allow school sports clubs in…
TV show unites Angolan families
Angolan families who are attempting to track each other down, after being separated by nearly 30 years of war, are succeeding thanks to a hugely popul…
Celebrities get their skates on
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will join EastEnders' actress Scarlett Johnson on BBC One's Strictly Ice Dancing. The one-off Christmas speci…
Bortolami predicts dour contest
Italy skipper Marco Bortolami believes Saturday's Six Nations contest against Scotland will be a scrappy encounter. With both sides looking for their …
Brown ally rejects Budget spree
Chancellor Gordon Brown's closest ally has denied suggestions there will be a Budget giveaway on 16 March. Ed Balls, ex-chief economic adviser to the …
Asia quake increases poverty risk
Nearly two million people across Asia could be thrown into poverty because of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said. In …
Rolling out next generation's net
The body that oversees how the net works, grows and evolves says it has coped well with its growth in the last 10 years, but it is just the start. "In…
UK heading wrong way - Howard
Tony Blair has had the chance to tackle the problems facing Britain and has failed, Michael Howard has said. "Britain is heading in the wrong directio…
Alfa Romeos 'to get GM engines'
Fiat is to stop making six-cylinder petrol engines for its sporty Alfa Romeo subsidiary, unions at the Italian carmaker have said. The unions claim Fi…
Robotic pods take on car design
A new breed of wearable robotic vehicles that envelop drivers are being developed by Japanese car giant Toyota. The company's vision for the single pa…
Souped-up wi-fi is on the horizon
Super high-speed wireless data networks could soon be in use in the UK. The government's wireless watchdog is seeking help on the best way to regulate…
Yukos unit buyer faces loan claim
The owners of embattled Russian oil giant Yukos are to ask the buyer of its former production unit to pay back a $900m (£479m) loan. State-owned Rosne…
Federer forced to dig deep
Top seed Roger Federer had to save two match points before squeezing past Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Dubai Open. The world number one took two hours 1…
McConnell details Scots wave toll
At least three people from Scotland died in the tsunami disaster and a further three are on the missing list, the first minister has told MSPs. The fi…
UK firms 'embracing e-commerce'
UK firms are embracing internet trading opportunities as never before, e-commerce minister Mike O'Brien says. A government-commissioned study ranked t…
Jamelia's return to the top
R&B star Jamelia had three Brit nominations to go with her triple triumph at last year's Mobo awards. The Birmingham-born singer, full name Jamelia Da…
Rapper Snoop Dogg sued for 'rape'
US rapper Snoop Dogg has been sued for $25m (£13m) by a make-up artist who claimed he and his entourage drugged and raped her two years ago. The woman…
Greek duo cleared in doping case
Sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been cleared of doping offences by an independent tribunal. The duo had been provisionally suspende…
Watchdog probes e-mail deletions
The information commissioner says he is urgently asking for details of Cabinet Office orders telling staff to delete e-mails more than three months ol…
US data sparks inflation worries
Wholesale prices in the US rose at the fastest rate in more than six years in January, according to government data. New figures show the Labor Depart…
Greer attacks 'bully' Big Brother
Germaine Greer has criticised Celebrity Big Brother's "bullying" of housemates after quitting the reality TV show. She said "superior" bullying tactic…
Richard and Judy choose top books
The 10 authors shortlisted for a Richard and Judy book award in 2005 are hoping for a boost in sales following the success of this year's winner. The …
Egypt and Israel seal trade deal
In a sign of a thaw in relations between Egypt and Israel, the two countries have signed a trade protocol with the US, allowing Egyptian goods made in…
French suitor holds LSE meeting
European stock market Euronext has met with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) amid speculation that it may be ready to launch a cash bid. Euronext chief…
UK Coal plunges into deeper loss
Shares in UK Coal have fallen after the mining group reported losses had deepened to £51.6m in 2004 from £1.2m. The UK's biggest coal producer blamed …
The year search became personal
The odds are that when you fire up your browser, you go straight to your favourite search engine, rather than type in a web address. Some may see this…
Virus poses as Christmas e-mail
Security firms are warning about a Windows virus disguising itself as an electronic Christmas card. The Zafi.D virus translates the Christmas greeting…
Blair ready to call election
Tony Blair seems certain to end weeks of phoney war on Monday and announce there will be a general election on 5 May. The date has been pencilled into…
Pakistani women 'must not hide'
Hiding women away in the home hidden behind veils is a backward view of Islam, President Musharraf of Pakistan has said during a visit to Britain. He …
God cut from Dark Materials film
The director and screenwriter of the film adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is to remove references to God and the church in the movie…
MP attacked by muggers in Kenya
An MP has had more than £600 and his passport stolen after being mugged by six men in a park in Kenya. Quentin Davies, the MP for Grantham and Stamfor…
Johnson announces June retirement
Former England captain Martin Johnson has announced he is to retire from rugby union at the end of the season. Johnson, who captained England to World…
Mandelson warning to BBC
The BBC should steer away from "demonising" ex-Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell, Peter Mandelson has said. The European commissioner and f…
Klinsmann issues Lehmann warning
Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has warned goalkeeper Jens Lehmann he may have to quit Arsenal to keep his World Cup dreams alive. Lehmann is understud…
Radcliffe proves doubters wrong
This won't go down as one of the greatest marathons of Paula's career. But as a test of character, it was the toughest race she's ever taken part in. …
Joke e-mail virus tricks users
A virus that disguises itself as a joke is spreading rapidly across the net. Anti-virus firms are issuing high-level warnings about the new version of…
Lib Dems predict 'best ever poll'
The Lib Dems are set for their best results in both the general election and the local council polls, one of their frontbenchers has predicted. Local …
McConnell in 'drunk' remark row
Scotland's first minister has told a group of high school pupils that it is okay to get drunk "once in a while". Jack McConnell was speaking to more t…
Ireland 17-12 South Africa
Ronan O'Gara scored all Ireland's points as the home side claimed only their second ever win over South Africa on an emotional day at Lansdowne Road. …
UK Athletics agrees new kit deal
UK Athletics has agreed a new deal with adidas to supply Great Britain squads of all ages with their kit for the next four years. The German-based fir…
Baghdad Blogger on big screen
A film based on the internet musings of the "Baghdad Blogger" has been shown at the Rotterdam Film Festival. The film has been directed by the man who…
Swap offer for pirated Windows XP
Computer giant Microsoft has launched a pilot scheme to replace counterfeit versions of Windows XP with legal ones. The first-time initiative is restr…
Gates opens biggest gadget fair
Bill Gates has opened the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, saying that gadgets are working together more to help people manage multimedia…
Greene sets sights on world title
Maurice Greene aims to wipe out the pain of losing his Olympic 100m title in Athens by winning a fourth World Championship crown this summer. He had t…
Stars shine on Bafta red carpet
Hollywood stars brought a touch of glamour to London on Saturday for the biggest night in the British film calendar. Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio…
Circuit City gets takeover offer
Circuit City Stores, the second-largest electronics retailer in the US, has received a $3.25bn (£1.7bn) takeover offer. The bid has come from Boston-b…
Humanoid robot learns how to run
Car-maker Honda's humanoid robot Asimo has just got faster and smarter. The Japanese firm is a leader in developing two-legged robots and the new, imp…
Web helps collect aid donations
The web is helping aid agencies gather resources to help cope with the aftermath of the tsunami disaster. Many people are making donations via website…
Kenteris denies faking road crash
Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris has denied claims that he faked a motorbike crash to avoid a doping test days before the start of the Olympics. Kenteri…
Celebrities get to stay in jungle
All four contestants still remain in I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here as no evictions were made on the television show on Saturday. Contestants …
Low-budget film wins Cesar
A film that follows a group of alienated youth in a Paris suburb as they prepare to perform an 18th Century play has won France's top cinema award. L'…
Irish markets reach all-time high
Irish shares have risen to a record high, with investors persuaded to buy into the market by low inflation and strong growth forecasts. The ISEQ index…
Labour's core support takes stock
Tony Blair has told Labour supporters he's "back" and still hungry for the job of prime minister - but does that sum up the mood at the party's spring…
Winter freeze keeps oil above $50
Oil prices carried on rising on Wednesday after cold weather on both sides of the North Atlantic pushed US crude prices to four-month highs. Freezing …
'Christmas song formula' unveiled
A formula for the ultimate Christmas single has been revealed by chart bible British Hit Singles and Albums. The recipe includes a reference to Father…
JP Morgan admits US slavery links
Thousands of slaves were accepted as collateral for loans by two banks that later became part of JP Morgan Chase. The admission is part of an apology …
India calls for fair trade rules
India, which attends the G7 meeting of seven leading industrialised nations on Friday, is unlikely to be cowed by its newcomer status. In London on Th…
Virgin Blue shares plummet 20%
Shares in Australian budget airline Virgin Blue plunged 20% after it warned of a steep fall in full year profits. Virgin Blue said profits after tax f…
Mobile audio enters new dimension
As mobile phones move closer to being a ubiquitous, all-in-one media player, audio is becoming ever more important. But how good can that sound be fro…
Brown shrugs off economy fears
Gordon Brown is to freeze petrol duty increases, fund a £1bn package to avoid big council tax rises and boost childcare and maternity leave. In an upb…
Glastonbury fans to get ID cards
Fans who buy tickets for this year's Glastonbury festival will be issued with photo ID cards in an attempt to beat touts, it has been confirmed. The c…
House prices suffer festive fall
UK house prices fell 0.7% in December, according to figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Nationally, house prices rose at an annual r…
Glaxo aims high after profit fall
GlaxoSmithKline saw its profits fall 9% last year to £6.2bn ($11.5bn), but Europe's biggest drugmaker says a recovery during 2005 is on the way. Cheap…
Go-ahead for new internet names
The internet could soon have two new domain names, aimed at mobile services and the jobs market. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbe…
China 'blocks Google news site'
China has been accused of blocking access to Google News by the media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders. The Paris-based pressure group said the Eng…
Gallas sees two-horse race
Chelsea's William Gallas believes they will battle it out with Arsenal for the Premiership in the coming months. "It'll be a two-horse race all the wa…
Neeson in bid to revive theatre
Hollywood film star Liam Neeson has held a dinner party in New York to promote Belfast's Lyric Theatre. The Ballymena-born actor said that the theatre…
GM pays $2bn to evade Fiat buyout
General Motors of the US is to pay Fiat 1.55bn euros ($2bn; £1.1bn) to get out of a deal which could have forced it to buy the Italian car maker outri…
Sony wares win innovation award
Sony has taken the prize for top innovator at the annual awards of PC Pro Magazine. It won the award for taking risks with products and for its "brave…
Rap feud in 50 Cent's G-Unit crew
US rap star 50 Cent has said he has thrown protege The Game out of his G-Unit gang in a feud that has apparently involved two shootings. In a radio in…
Collins banned in landmark case
Sprinter Michelle Collins has received an eight-year ban for doping offences after a hearing at the North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS…
Council tax rise 'reasonable'
Welsh councils should set their taxes at "reasonable levels" after being given an average funding increase of 6%, says the assembly government. Financ…
Prince crowned 'top music earner'
Prince earned more than any other pop star in 2004, beating artists such Madonna and Elton John in US magazine Rolling Stone's annual list. The singer…
Anti-tremor mouse stops PC shakes
A special adaptor that helps people with hand tremors control a computer mouse more easily has been developed. The device uses similar "steady cam" te…
Injury sidelines Philippoussis
Mark Philippoussis withdrew from the Sydney International tennis tournament as expected on Sunday after suffering a groin injury during the Hopman Cup…
Rings of steel combat net attacks
Gambling is hugely popular, especially with tech-savvy criminals. Many extortionists are targeting net-based betting firms and threatening to cripple …
Farrell due to make US TV debut
Actor Colin Farrell is to make his debut on US television in medical sitcom Scrubs, according to Hollywood newspaper Daily Variety. The film star, who…
Gallery unveils interactive tree
A Christmas tree that can receive text messages has been unveiled at London's Tate Britain art gallery. The spruce has an antenna which can receive Bl…
French consumer spending rising
French consumers increased their spending by 1.5% in January, a figure which bodes well for the country's economic growth, figures revealed. The Natio…
Healey targets England comeback
Leicester wing Austin Healey hopes to use Sunday's return Heineken Cup clash with Wasps as a further springboard to an England recall for the Six Nati…
Lufthansa flies back to profit
German airline Lufthansa has returned to profit in 2004 after posting huge losses in 2003. In a preliminary report, the airline announced net profits …
Collins named UK Athletics chief
UK Athletics has ended its search for a new performance director by appointing psychologist Dave Collins. Collins, who worked with the British teams a…
Lewis-Francis turns to Christie
Mark Lewis-Francis has stepped up his preparations for the new season by taking advice from British sprint icon Linford Christie. The 22-year-old is s…
UK needs tax cuts, Tories insist
A major change of direction is needed in Britain if it is to prosper, the shadow chancellor said as the Tory Party spring conference began. Oliver Let…
Gaming firm to sell UK dog tracks
Six UK greyhound tracks have been put up for sale by gaming group Wembley as part of a move which will lead to the break-up of the group. Wembley anno…
Wales get Williams fitness boost
Wales are hopeful that openside flanker Martyn Williams could be fit for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations championship opener against England in Cardiff. Will…
Harinordoquy suffers France axe
Number eight Imanol Harinordoquy has been dropped from France's squad for the Six Nations match with Ireland in Dublin on 12 March. Harinordoquy was a…
Newest EU members underpin growth
The European Union's newest members will bolster Europe's economic growth in 2005, according to a new report. The eight central European states which …
Henman hopes ended in Dubai
Third seed Tim Henman slumped to a straight sets defeat in his rain-interrupted Dubai Open quarter-final against Ivan Ljubicic. The Croatian eighth se…
Wales coach elated with win
Mike Ruddock paid tribute to his Wales side after they came from 15-6 down to beat France 24-18 in the Six Nations. "After going two tries down in 12 …
Assembly ballot papers 'missing'
Hundreds of ballot papers for the regional assembly referendum in the North East have "disappeared". Royal Mail says it is investigating the situation…
Call to save manufacturing jobs
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on the government to stem job losses in manufacturing firms by reviewing the help it gives companies. The T…
Further rise in UK jobless total
The UK's jobless total rose for the second month in a row in December, official figures show. The number of people out of work rose 32,000 to 1.41 mil…
Google to scan famous libraries
The libraries of five of the world's most important academic institutions are to be digitised by Google. Scanned pages from books in the public domain…
Tindall wants second opinion
England centre Mike Tindall is to seek a second opinion before having surgery on a foot injury that could force him to miss the entire Six Nations. Th…
England coach faces rap after row
England coach Andy Robinson is facing disciplinary action after criticising referee Jonathan Kaplan in his side's Six Nations defeat to Ireland. The R…
Jobs go at Oracle after takeover
Oracle has announced it is cutting about 5,000 jobs following the completion of its $10.3bn takeover of its smaller rival Peoplesoft last week. The co…
First look at PlayStation 3 chip
Some details of the chip inside Sony's PlayStation 3 have been revealed. Sony, IBM and Toshiba have released limited data about the so-called Cell chi…
Net regulation 'still possible'
The blurring of boundaries between TV and the internet raises questions of regulation, watchdog Ofcom has said. Content on TV and the internet is set …
Singer's film to show at festival
A documentary which takes a candid look at the life of chart-topping singer George Michael will be shown at this year's Berlin Film Festival. A Differ…
Bombardier chief to leave company
Shares in train and plane-making giant Bombardier have fallen to a 10-year low following the departure of its chief executive and two members of the b…
Italy aim to rattle England
Italy coach John Kirwan believes his side can upset England as the Six Nations wooden spoon battle hots up. The two sides, both without a win, meet on…
Dal Maso in to replace Bergamasco
David dal Maso has been handed the task of replacing the injured Mauro Bergamasco at flanker in Italy's team to face Scotland on Saturday. Alessandro …
Ref stands by Scotland decisions
The referee from Saturday's France v Scotland Six Nations match has defended the officials' handling of the game after criticism by Matt Williams. The…
REM announce new Glasgow concert
US band REM have announced plans to perform for 10,000 Scottish fans in a rescheduled gig. The band will play in what has been dubbed Europe's biggest…
Takeover rumour lifts Exel shares
Shares in storage and delivery firm Exel closed up 9% at a two-and-a-half year high on Tuesday on speculation it is to receive an imminent takeover bi…
Fox attacks Blair's Tory 'lies'
Tony Blair lied when he took the UK to war so has no qualms about lying in the election campaign, say the Tories. Tory co-chairman Liam Fox was speaki…
India and Russia in energy talks
India and Russia are to work together in a series of energy deals, part of a pact which could see India invest up to $20bn in oil and gas projects. On…
Barclays profits hit record level
Barclays, the UK's third-biggest bank, has seen annual pre-tax profits climb to record levels boosted by a sharp rise in business at its investment ar…
European medal chances improve
What have the European Indoor trials told us? Well, I think we could be heading to the European Championships with half a dozen medal prospects. It wa…
Levy tipped for Whitbread prize
Novelist Andrea Levy is favourite to win the main Whitbread Prize book of the year award, after winning novel of the year with her book Small Island. …
Ukraine trims privatisation check
Ukraine is to review "dozens" of state asset sales as the country's new administration tackles corruption. The figure announced by President Viktor Yu…
Liverpool pledge to keep Gerrard
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists the club will never sell Steven Gerrard amid reports Chelsea will renew their bid to lure him from Anfiel…
Teenagers to be allowed to be MPs
Teenagers will be able to become MPs under plans unveiled by ministers. In a written statement, Constitutional Affairs Minister Christopher Leslie sai…
O'Sullivan commits to Dublin race
Sonia O'Sullivan will seek to regain her title at the Bupa Great Ireland Run on 9 April in Dublin. The 35-year-old was beaten into fourth at last year…
Deal to ban 'homophobic' reggae
The reggae industry is to refuse to release or stage concerts featuring homophobic songs under a global deal struck with gay rights groups. A damaging…
World leaders gather to face uncertainty
More than 2,000 business and political leaders from around the globe are arriving in the Swiss mountain resort Davos for the annual World Economic For…
Israel looks to US for bank chief
Israel has asked a US banker and former International Monetary Fund director to run its central bank. Stanley Fischer, vice chairman of banking giant …
Fast moving phone bugs appear
Security firms are warning about several mobile phone viruses that can spread much faster than similar bugs. The new strains of the Cabir mobile phone…
Microsoft seeking spyware trojan
Microsoft is investigating a trojan program that attempts to switch off the firm's anti-spyware software. The spyware tool was only released by Micros…
ECB holds rates amid growth fears
The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged at 2% for the 19th month in succession. Borrowing costs have remained on hold amid …
Stormy year for property insurers
A string of storms, typhoons and earthquakes has made 2004 the most expensive year on record for property insurers, according to Swiss Re. The world's…
Dutch bank to lay off 2,850 staff
ABN Amro, the Netherlands' largest bank, is to cut 2,850 jobs as a result of falling profits. The cuts - amounting to 3% of the bank's workforce - wil…
Sluggish economy hits German jobs
The number of people out of work in Europe's largest economy has risen for the tenth straight month as growth remains stubbornly slow. German unemploy…
UK 'discriminated against Roma'
The government's immigration rules racially discriminated against Roma (Gypsies) seeking entry into the UK, the Law Lords have ruled. It follows a Hom…
EastEnders 'is set for US remake'
Plans to create a US soap based on the BBC's EastEnders have reportedly been drawn up by the Fox TV network. EastEnders' head writer Tony Jordan and m…
El Guerrouj targets cross country
Double Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj is set to make a rare appearance at the World Cross Country Championships in France. But the Moroccan, who …
Broadband fuels online expression
Fast web access is encouraging more people to express themselves online, research suggests. A quarter of broadband users in Britain regularly upload c…
Desailly backs Blues revenge trip
Marcel Desailly insists there is no chance of history repeating itself when Chelsea take on Barcelona on Wednesday. The French star was part of the Ch…
Radcliffe tackles marathon tasks
Paula Radcliffe faces arguably the biggest test of her career in the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Back under the spotlight of public scrutiny she…
Women MPs reveal sexist taunts
Women MPs endure "shocking" levels of sexist abuse at the hands of their male counterparts, a new study shows. Male MPs pretended to juggle imaginary …
Five million Germans out of work
Germany's unemployment figure rose above the psychologically important level of five million last month. On Wednesday, the German Federal Labour Agenc…
Arsenal through on penalties
Arsenal win 4-2 on penalties The Spanish goalkeeper saved from Alan Quinn and Jon Harley as Arsenal sealed a quarter-final trip to Bolton with a 4-2 v…
Howard attacks cost of asylum
Michael Howard has launched an attack on the cost of Britain's "chaotic" asylum system under Tony Blair. The Tory leader said English local authoritie…
Games firms 'face tough future'
UK video game firms face a testing time as they prepare for the next round of games consoles, the industry warns. Fred Hasson, head of Tiga, which rep…
FA probes crowd trouble
The FA is to take action after trouble marred Wednesday's Carling Cup tie between Chelsea and West Ham. Police in riot gear were confronted by a secti…
Top Tories on Lib Dem 'hit list'
The Liberal Democrats are aiming to unseat a string of top Tories - including leader Michael Howard - at the next general election. Mr Howard's seat i…
Christmas sales worst since 1981
UK retail sales fell in December, failing to meet expectations and making it by some counts the worst Christmas since 1981. Retail sales dropped by 1%…
Internet boom for gift shopping
Cyberspace is becoming a very popular destination for Christmas shoppers. Forecasts predict that British people will spend £4bn buying gifts online du…
Radcliffe eyes hard line on drugs
Paula Radcliffe has called for all athletes found guilty on drugs charges to be treated as criminals. The marathon world record holder believes more n…
Teens 'know little' of politics
Teenagers questioned for a survey have shown little interest in politics - and have little knowledge. Only a quarter of 14-16 year olds knew that Labo…
Kennedy to make temple address
Charles Kennedy is set to address 2,000 people at a Hindu temple as part of an appeal to ethnic minority voters. The Liberal Democrat leader will visi…
Falconer rebuts 'charade' claims
Concessions on a bill which critics claim would allow euthanasia "through the back door" were not a political ploy, the lord chancellor has said. Mini…
Poppins musical gets flying start
The stage adaptation of children's film Mary Poppins has had its opening night in London's West End. Sir Cameron Mackintosh's lavish production, which…
Japan bank shares up on link talk
Shares of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (SMFG), and Daiwa Securities jumped amid speculation that two of Japan's biggest financial companies will merge. F…
Highbury tunnel players in clear
The Football Association has said it will not be bringing charges over the tunnel incident prior to the Arsenal and Manchester United game. Arsenal's …
Downloads enter US singles chart
Digital music downloads are being included in the main US singles chart for the first time. Billboard's Hot 100 chart now incorporates data from sales…
Russia gets investment blessing
Soaring oil sales and a budget surplus mean Russian debt is no longer a risky investment, one of the world's leading credit rating agencies says. Stan…
What now for British tennis?
Tim Henman's decision to quit Davis Cup tennis has left the British team with a gargantuan void to fill. The world number seven is tied for fourth amo…
Serena becomes world number two
Serena Williams has moved up five places to second in the world rankings after her Australian Open win. Williams won her first Grand Slam title since …
Ireland 21-19 Argentina
An injury-time dropped goal by Ronan O'Gara stole victory for Ireland from underneath the noses of Argentina at Lansdowne Road on Saturday. O'Gara kic…
Campbell rescues Arsenal
Sol Campbell proved to be an unlikely match-winner to earn Arsenal a hard-fought win at Portsmouth. The England defender lashed home a 25-yard shot fo…
Football Manager scores big time
For the past decade or so the virtual football fans among us will have become used to the annual helping of Championship Manager (CM). Indeed, it seem…
Butler strikes gold in Spain
Britain's Kathy Butler continued her impressive year with victory in Sunday's 25th Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos in Spain. The Scot, who led G…
At a glance: Tory health checks
The UK' opposition Conservatives have unveiled plans to introduce health checks for immigrants if they win the General Election. Here's a guide to the…
China keeps tight rein on credit
China's efforts to stop the economy from overheating by clamping down on credit will continue into 2005, state media report. The curbs were introduced…
Mobile TV tipped as one to watch
Scandinavians and Koreans, two of the most adventurous groups of mobile users, are betting on mobile TV. Anders Igels, chief executive of Nordic opera…
Stern dropped from radio stations
Controversial DJ Howard Stern has been dropped from four US radio stations because he keeps promoting his move to a network broadcasting on satellite.…
China continues breakneck growth
China's economy has expanded by a breakneck 9.5% during 2004, faster than predicted and well above 2003's 9.1%. The news may mean more limits on inves…
Card fraudsters 'targeting web'
New safeguards on credit and debit card payments in shops has led fraudsters to focus on internet and phone payments, an anti-fraud agency has said. A…
Injury doubts beset Wales squad
Wales have a clutch of injury worries before Wednesday's international friendly against Hungary in Cardiff. West Ham's Gavin Williams (ankle) looks ce…
Brown in appeal for Labour unity
Gordon Brown has made an appeal for unity after reports claimed Mr Blair went back on a pledge to stand down before the next general election. The cha…
OutKast win at MTV Europe Awards
US hip-hop duo OutKast have capped a year of award glory with three prizes at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Rome. They won best group, best video and…
Oscar nominees gear up for lunch
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank are among those due to attend this year's Oscar nominees luncheon on Monday. They will join more than 1…
Big war games battle it out
The arrival of new titles in the popular Medal Of Honor and Call of Duty franchises leaves fans of wartime battle titles spoilt for choice. The acclai…
Kenyan school turns to handhelds
At the Mbita Point primary school in western Kenya students click away at a handheld computer with a stylus. They are doing exercises in their school …
Moya emotional after Davis Cup win
Carlos Moya described Spain's Davis Cup victory as the highlight of his career after he beat Andy Roddick to end the USA's challenge in Seville. Moya …
Bekele sets sights on world mark
Olympic 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele is determined to add the world indoor two mile record at February's Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham. T…
Mystery surrounds new Yukos owner
The fate of Russia's Yuganskneftegas - the oil firm sold to a little-known buyer on Sunday - is the subject of frantic speculation in Moscow. Baikal F…
UKIP could sue Veritas defectors
The UK Independence Party could take legal action to unseat two London Assembly members who defected to Robert Kilroy Silk's Veritas Party. Damian Hoc…
Fox 'too reliant on reality TV'
The head of US TV network Fox has admitted the broadcaster had relied too heavily on reality TV shows such as the poor-rating Who's Your Daddy. Chief …
BMW to recall faulty diesel cars
BMW is to recall all cars equipped with a faulty diesel fuel-injection pump supplied by parts maker Robert Bosch. The faulty part does not represent a…
TV's future down the phone line
Internet TV has been talked about since the start of the web as we know it now. But any early attempts to do it - the UK's Home Choice started in 1992…
Broadband in the UK gathers pace
One person in the UK is joining the internet's fast lane every 10 seconds, according to BT. The telecoms giant said the number of people on broadband …
Taylor poised for Scotland return
Simon Taylor has been named in the Scotland squad for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Italy. The 25-year-old number eight made a scoring return for …
Dibaba breaks 5,000m world record
Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba set a new world record in winning the women's 5,000m at the Boston Indoor Games. Dibaba won in 14 minutes 32.93 seconds to …
Lib Dems demand new inquiry
A judge should look into the David Blunkett controversy as key questions remain unanswered, the Lib Dems say. Sir Alan Budd's inquiry linked the ex-ho…
Russia WTO talks 'make progress'
Talks on Russia's proposed membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been "making good progress" say those behind the negotiations. But th…
Hewitt falls to Dent in Adelaide
Lleyton Hewitt suffered a shock defeat to Taylor Dent in the quarter-finals of the Australian Hardcourt Championships in Adelaide on Friday. The top s…
Sprinter Walker quits athletics
Former European 200m champion Dougie Walker is to retire from athletics after a series of six operations left him struggling for fitness. Walker had h…
Beer giant swallows Russian firm
Brewing giant Inbev has agreed to buy Alfa-Eco's stake in Sun Interbrew, Russia's second-largest brewer, for up to 259.7m euros ($353.3m; £183.75m). A…
Sport betting rules in spotlight
A group of MPs and peers has called for a tightening of regulations controlling betting on sport. The Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming held a…
US in EU tariff chaos trade row
The US has asked the World Trade Organisation to investigate European Union customs tariffs, which it says are inconsistent and hamper trade. The EU's…
Solutions to net security fears
Fake bank e-mails, or phishing, and stories about ID theft are damaging the potential of using the net for online commerce, say e-business experts. Tr…
Wales critical of clumsy Grewcock
Wales coach Mike Ruddock says England lock Danny Grewcock needs to review his actions after he kicked Dwayne Peel. Trouble flared at a ruck in the fir…
Jack Cunningham to stand down
Veteran Labour MP and former Cabinet minister Jack Cunningham has said he will stand down at the next election. One of the few Blair-era ministers to …
Banker loses sexism claim
A former executive at the London offices of Merrill Lynch has lost her £7.5m ($14.6m) sex discrimination case against the US investment bank. An emplo…
Ruddock backs Yapp's credentials
Wales coach Mike Ruddock says John Yapp has what it takes as an international. The 21-year-old Blues prop is the only uncapped player in Wales' Six Na…
Qwest may spark MCI bidding war
US phone company Qwest has said it will table a new offer for MCI after losing out to larger rival Verizon, setting the scene for a possible bidding w…
Bad weather hits Nestle sales
A combination of bad weather, rising raw material costs and the sluggish European economy has hit sales at Swiss food and drink giant Nestle. Revenue …
O'Sullivan keeps his powder dry
When you are gunning for glory and ultimate success keeping the gunpowder dry is essential. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan appears to have done that q…
UK young top Euro earnings league
British children enjoy the highest average annual income in Europe - more than double that of Spanish or Italian youngsters, a report suggests. Childr…
Jansen suffers a further setback
Blackburn striker Matt Jansen faces three weeks out after surgery to treat a cartilage problem. But central defender Lorenzo Amoruso is moving closer …
Verdict delay for Greek sprinters
Greek athletics' governing body has postponed by two weeks the judgement on sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou for missing doping tests. Th…
France starts digital terrestrial
France has become the last big European country to launch a digital terrestrial TV (DTT) service. Initially, more than a third of the population will …
UK pioneers digital film network
The world's first digital cinema network will be established in the UK over the next 18 months. The UK Film Council has awarded a contract worth £11.5…
'No-one can define new hunt ban'
The new law banning hunting with dogs is "so poorly drafted" no-one can define the offence, pro-hunt MPs say. The accusation came after it emerged a D…
Lee to create new film superhero
Comic book veteran Stan Lee is to team up with producer Robert Evans to create a movie featuring a new superhero. Foreverman will focus on a character…
Ocean's Twelve raids box office
Ocean's Twelve, the crime caper sequel starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, has gone straight to number one in the US box office char…
What's next for next-gen consoles?
The next generation of video games consoles are in development but what will the new machines mean for games firms and consumers? We may not know when…
O'Sullivan quick to hail Italians
Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan heaped praise on Italy after seeing his side stutter to a 28-17 victory in Rome. "It was a hell of a tough game," said …
Streets have 'album of the year'
The Streets, aka British rapper and songwriter, Mike Skinner have topped a poll to find the year's best album. A Grand Don't Come for Free beat Keane'…
SA unveils 'more for all' budget
The South African government has put tax cuts and increased social spending at the centre of its latest budget. Aiming to both stir economic growth an…
The memory driving Brown's mission
The memory Gordon Brown says keeps returning to him - the one that he says is burnt into him - is that of a 12 year-old girl, whose parents died of Ai…
Big guns ease through in San Jose
Top-seeded Americans Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi survived minor scares to reach the last eight of the SAP Open. Agassi endured early problems agains…
Economy focus for election battle
Britain's economic future will be at the heart of Labour's poll campaign, Chancellor Gordon Brown has said. He was speaking after Cabinet members held…
Conservative backing for ID cards
The Tories are to back controversial government plans to introduce ID cards. The shadow cabinet revealed its support ahead of next week's Commons vote…
Have hackers recruited your PC?
More than one million computers on the net have been hijacked to attack websites and pump out spam and viruses. The huge number was revealed by securi…
A November to remember
Last Saturday, one newspaper proclaimed that England were still the number one side in the world. That statement was made to look a little foolish by …
Iraq advice claim sparks new row
The Tories say ministers must respond in Parliament to claims that the legal advice used to justify the Iraq war was drawn up at Number 10. Downing St…
US composer recreates Bach score
A US musicologist has recreated a lost musical score by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The 1728 composition, called Wedding Cantata BWV 216, w…
IMF agrees fresh Turkey funding
Turkey has agreed a draft proposal with the International Monetary Fund to borrow $10bn (£5.19bn), extending its ongoing financial support until 2007.…
Marsh executive in guilty plea
An executive at US insurance firm Marsh & McLennan has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with an ongoing fraud and bid-rigging probe. N…
Call centre users 'lose patience'
Customers trying to get through to call centres are getting impatient and quicker to hang up, a survey suggests. Once past the welcome message, caller…
Fast moving phone viruses appear
Security firms are warning about several mobile phone viruses that can spread much faster than similar bugs. The new strains of the Cabir mobile phone…
Springer criticises Opera musical
Talk show host Jerry Springer, whose programme inspired the controversial opera shown by the BBC, has said he would not have written it himself. The B…
Brits return Keane to number one
Brits success has helped return Keane's award-winning album Hopes and Fears back to the top of the UK album chart. The debut album, which took the bes…
Holmes feted with further honour
Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes has been voted European Athletics (EAA) woman athlete of 2004 in the governing body's annual poll. The Briton, ma…
Newry to fight cup exit in courts
Newry City are expected to discuss legal avenues on Friday regarding overturning their ejection from the Nationwide Irish Cup. The IFA upheld its orig…
Ten-year tragedy of missing Manic
Richey Edwards, guitarist and lyricist for The Manic Street Preachers, vanished 10 years ago, on 1 February 1995. His disappearance remains one of the…
Almagro continues Spanish surge
Unseeded Nicolas Almagro became the fifth Spaniard to reach the last eight at the Buenos Aires Open, ousting eighth seed Mariano Zabaleta. He showed a…
Lib Dems unveil election slogan
The Liberal Democrats will present themselves as "the real alternative" in the forthcoming general election campaign, Charles Kennedy has said. Unveil…
Disaster claims 'less than $10bn'
Insurers have sought to calm fears that they face huge losses after an earthquake and giant waves killed at least 38,000 people in southern Asia. Muni…
Holmes is hit by hamstring injury
Kelly Holmes has been forced out of this weekend's European Indoor Athletics Championships after picking up a hamstring injury during training. The do…
Kilroy-Silk quits 'shameful' UKIP
Ex-chat show host Robert Kilroy-Silk has quit the UK Independence Party and accused it of betraying its supporters. The MEP said he was ashamed to hav…
Muslims discuss election concerns
Issues that Muslims should be considering before voting in the next general election are to be debated by UK community representatives. The event is b…
Boeing unveils new 777 aircraft
US aircraft firm Boeing has unveiled its new long-distance 777 plane, as it tries to regain its position as the industry's leading manufacturer. The 7…
Malik rejects all-black MP lists
A call for ethnic minority shortlists to boost the number of black and Asian MPs has been rejected by one of Labour's most senior Asians. Shahid Malik…
No ads for Passion Oscar campaign
Producer Mel Gibson will not be using paid advertisements to promote The Passion of the Christ to voters in next year's Academy Awards. Gibson and his…
Ban on forced retirement under 65
Employers will no longer be able to force workers to retire before 65, unless they can justify it. The government has announced that firms will be bar…
Halo fans' hope for sequel
Xbox video game Halo 2 has been released in the US on 9 November, with a UK release two days later. Why is the game among the most anticipated of all …
Movie body targets children's PCs
The body that represents the US movie industry has released its latest tool in its campaign to clamp down on movie file-sharing, aimed at parents. The…
Umaga ready for Lions
All Blacks captain Tama Umaga has warned the British and Irish Lions will be his most fearsome opponents yet ahead of their summer tour. But Umaga, in…
US state acts to stop 'spammers'
US state Texas has filed a lawsuit against two men believed to be among the world's top five spammers. It is seeking millions of dollars in damages in…
Wilkinson to miss Ireland match
England will have to take on Ireland in the Six Nations without captain and goal-kicker Jonny Wilkinson, according to his Newcastle boss Rob Andrew. W…
Foxx and Swank take actors awards
Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank have won the Screen Actors Guild Awards for best male and female film actors, boosting their Oscars hopes this month. Foxx…
House prices drop as sales slow
House prices fell further in November and property sale times lengthened as rate rises took their toll, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors fou…
Santini resigns as Spurs manager
Tottenham manager Jacques Santini has resigned for "personal reasons". The former France manager moved to White Hart Lane this summer but now wants to…
Brazil jobless rate hits new low
Brazil's unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in three years in December, according to the government. The Brazilian Institute for Geography and…
Indonesians face fuel price rise
Indonesia's government has confirmed it is considering raising fuel prices by as much as 30%. Millions of Indonesians use kerosene for basic cooking, …
Spam e-mails tempt net shoppers
Computer users across the world continue to ignore security warnings about spam e-mails and are being lured into buying goods, a report suggests. More…
Rich pickings for hi-tech thieves
Viruses, trojans and other malicious programs sent on to the net to catch you out are undergoing a subtle change. The shift is happening as tech savvy…
UK gets official virus alert site
A rapid alerting service that tells home computer users about serious internet security problems is being launched by the UK government. The service, …
Italy 8-38 Wales
Wales secured their first away win in the RBS Six Nations for nearly four years with a six-try victory in Rome. Tries from Jonathan Thomas, Tom Shankl…
Campbell to be Lions consultant
Former government communications chief Alastair Campbell will act as a media consultant to Sir Clive Woodward's 2005 Lions on their tour to New Zealan…
Survey confirms property slowdown
Government figures have confirmed a widely reported slowdown of the UK's housing market in late 2004. House prices were 11.8% higher on the year in th…
Cheaper chip for mobiles
A mobile phone chip which combines a modem and a computer processor on one bit of silicon instead of two could make phones cheaper and more powerful. …
Women in film 'are earning less'
Women in the UK film industry earn less than their male counterparts despite being better qualified, according to a study released on Wednesday. Only …
Madagascar completes currency switch
Madagascar has completed the replacement of its Malagasy franc with a new currency, the ariary. From Monday, all prices and contracts will have to be …
Houllier praises Benitez regime
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has praised the work of his Anfield successor Rafael Benitez. Houllier was angry at reports that he has been …
Chelsea sack Mutu
Chelsea have sacked Adrian Mutu after he failed a drugs test. The 25-year-old tested positive for a banned substance - which he later denied was cocai…
Small firms 'hit by rising costs'
Rising fuel and materials costs are hitting confidence among the UK's small manufacturers despite a rise in output, business lobby group the CBI says.…
More women turn to net security
Older people and women are increasingly taking charge of protecting home computers against malicious net attacks, according to a two-year study. The n…
Britons fed up with net service
A survey conducted by PC Pro Magazine has revealed that many Britons are unhappy with their internet service. They are fed up with slow speeds, high p…
Incredibles win animation awards
The Incredibles movie has beaten Shrek 2 to the main prizes at Hollywood's animation awards, the Annies. The superhero film was named best animated fe…
Technology gets the creative bug
The hi-tech and the arts worlds have for some time danced around each other and offered creative and technical help when required. Often this help has…
Smith loses US box office crown
New comedy Diary of a Mad Black Woman has ended Will Smith's reign at the top of the North American box office. Based on a play by Tyler Perry, who al…
'Post-Christmas lull' in lending
UK mortgage lending showed a "post-Christmas lull" in January, indicating a slowing housing market, lenders have said. Both the Council of Mortgage Le…
The pirates with no profit motive
Two men who were part of a huge network of internet software pirates, known as Drink Or Die, have been convicted at the Old Bailey. BBC News investiga…
T-Mobile bets on 'pocket office'
T-Mobile has launched its latest "pocket office" third-generation (3G) device which also has built-in wi-fi - high-speed wireless net access. Unlike o…
Barcelona title hopes hit by loss
Barcelona's pursuit of the Spanish title took a blow on Sunday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid. Fernando Torres gave Athletico…
Worldcom boss 'left books alone'
Former Worldcom boss Bernie Ebbers, who is accused of overseeing an $11bn (£5.8bn) fraud, never made accounting decisions, a witness has told jurors. …
Venus stunned by Farina Elia
Venus Williams suffered a first-round defeat for the first time in four years at the Dubai Championships. Sylvia Farina Elia, who had lost all nine of…
TV station refuses adoption show
A TV station in the US has refused to show a controversial new series where adopted children try and pick their birth father - and win a cash prize. T…
Games help you 'learn and play'
'God games' in which players must control virtual people and societies could be educational, says research. A US researcher has suggested that games s…
Mourinho plots impressive course
Chelsea's win at Fulham - confirming their position at the Premiership summit - proves that they now have everything in place to mount serious challen…
Arnesen denies rift with Santini
Tottenham sporting director Frank Arnesen has denied that coach Jacques Santini resigned because of a clash of personalities at White Hart Lane. There…
Ultra fast wi-fi nears completion
Ultra high speed wi-fi connections moved closer to reality on Thursday when Intel said it would list standards for the technology later this year. Int…
Tories opposing 24-hour drinking
The Tories say plans to extend pub opening times should be put on hold until binge drinking is under control, despite backing a law change last year. …
Newcastle line up Babayaro
Newcastle manager Graeme Souness is closing in on signing Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro when the transfer window reopens. Souness is bidding to …
Peace demo appeal rejected
Peace protestors have lost a landmark appeal over police actions in stopping an anti-war demonstration days after the start of the Iraq war. They had …
QPR keeper Day heads for Preston
Queens Park Rangers keeper Chris Day is set to join Preston on a month's loan. Day has been displaced by the arrival of Simon Royce, who is in his sec…
Potter director signs Warner deal
Harry Potter director Alfonso Cuaron has signed a three-year deal with Hollywood studio Warner Brothers, according to Variety trade magazine. The Mexi…
Iran budget seeks state sell-offs
Iran's president, Mohammad Khatami, has unveiled a budget designed to expand public spending by 30% but loosen the Islamic republic's dependence on oi…
Ad firm WPP's profits surge 15%
UK advertising giant WPP has posted larger-than-expected annual profits and predicted that it will outperform the market in 2005. Pre-tax profits rose…
A year to remember for Irish
There used to be one subliminal moment during a year in Irish rugby that stood out more than most. Well, at least there used to one. Now there is a ha…
Wales want rugby league training
Wales could follow England's lead by training with a rugby league club. England have already had a three-day session with Leeds Rhinos, and Wales are …
Parties build up poll war chests
The Labour Party received more than £5m in donations in the final quarter of 2004, new figures show. This is nearly half of the £11,724,929 received b…
'Fido' to be taken off vote lists
The risk of pets and children being given votes could be cut by changing how people register to vote, the UK elections watchdog has said. Those are so…
UKIP candidate suspended
Eurosceptic party UKIP have suspended a candidate for allegedly suggesting the criminally insane should be killed. John Houston, 54, was due to stand …
Roundabout continues nostalgia trip
The new big-screen version of The Magic Roundabout, released in the UK on Friday, is the latest attempt to turn children's television into box-office …
Share boost for feud-hit Reliance
The board of Indian conglomerate Reliance has agreed a share buy-back, to counter the effects of a power struggle in the controlling family. The buy-b…
Safin slumps to shock Dubai loss
Marat Safin suffered a shock loss to unseeded Nicolas Kiefer in round one of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Playing his first match since winning the…
Howard denies split over ID cards
Michael Howard has denied his shadow cabinet was split over its decision to back controversial Labour plans to introduce ID cards. The Tory leader sai…
Doves soar to UK album summit
Manchester rock band Doves have entered the UK album chart at number one with their new release, Some Cities. The trio replace flamboyant US act Sciss…
Britney attacks 'false tabloids'
Pop star Britney Spears has attacked "false" and "desperate" US tabloid magazines, questioning their honesty after they reported she was pregnant. In …
How the Academy Awards flourished
The 77th annual Academy Awards are taking place on 27 February with the stars of the movie-making world once again holding their breath to discover wh…
Barclays shares up on merger talk
Shares in UK banking group Barclays have risen on Monday following a weekend press report that it had held merger talks with US bank Wells Fargo. A ti…
PC photo printers challenge pros
Home printed pictures can be cheaper and higher quality than those from High Street developers, tests shows. A survey carried out by PC Pro magazine l…
Tutu's Guantanamo release call
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for the release of the remaining inmates at Guantanamo Bay and terror suspects detained without trial in the UK. Hi…
Edu describes tunnel fracas
Arsenal's Edu has lifted the lid on the scenes that followed Manchester United's win over the Gunners. The Brazilian confirmed tempers had flared but …
Rock group Korn's guitarist quits
The guitarist with US rock band Korn has quit the music business, saying he made the decision after experiencing a religious awakening. Brian 'Head' W…
Electrolux to export Europe jobs
Electrolux saw its shares rise 14% on Tuesday after it said it would be shifting more of its manufacturing to low-cost countries. The Swedish firm, th…
Game firm holds 'cast' auditions
Video game firm Bioware is to hold open auditions for people to become cast members for future games. The company, which makes role playing games such…
Huge rush for Jet Airways shares
Indian airline Jet Airways' initial public offering was oversubscribed 16.2 times, bankers said on Friday. Over 85% of the bids were at the higher end…
Fosters buys stake in winemaker
Australian brewer Fosters has bought a large stake in Australian winemaker Southcorp, sparking rumours of a possible takeover. Fosters bought 18.8% of…
Blair blasts Tory spending plans
Tony Blair has launched an attack on Conservative spending plans, saying they are a "ludicrous improbability". The prime minister has told a Labour Pa…
Comic Morris returns with sitcom
Comedian Chris Morris, who created controversial TV show Brass Eye, is to return to screens with a new sitcom about a spoof London media worker. Morri…
Hard act to follow for OutKast
US rap duo OutKast's trio of trophies at the MTV Europe Awards crowns a year of huge success for the band. The latest triumph adds to the three Grammy…
German growth goes into reverse
Germany's economy shrank 0.2% in the last three months of 2004, upsetting hopes of a sustained recovery. The figures confounded hopes of a 0.2% expans…
Cabs collect mountain of mobiles
Gadgets are cheaper, smaller and more common than ever. But that just means we are more likely to lose them. In London alone over the past six months …
Lennon brands Rangers favourites
Celtic's Neil Lennon admits Rangers could be considered "slight favourites" for the Old Firm CIS Cup clash, but insists his side can still win. Lennon…
Child access laws shake-up
Parents who refuse to allow former partners contact with their children could be electronically tagged under plans being considered by ministers. Curf…
PM apology over jailings
Tony Blair has apologised to two families who suffered one of the UK's biggest miscarriages of justice. The prime minister was commenting on the wrong…
Beastie Boys win sampling battle
US rappers Beastie Boys have won their long-running battle over the use of a sample in their song Pass the Mic. The punk-rappers used three notes of m…
Bat spit drug firm goes to market
A German firm whose main product is derived from the saliva of the vampire bat is looking to raise more than 70m euros ($91m; £49m) on the stock marke…
Sculthorpe wants Lions captaincy
Paul Sculthorpe has admitted he would love to succeed Andy Farrell as Great Britain skipper if the Wigan star does switch codes to rugby union. Sculth…
London Irish 19-33 Wasps
Wasps made light of the absence of several internationals to sink London Irish with a trio of second-half tries. Rob Hoadley returned to haunt his old…
Smith keen on Home series return
Scotland manager Walter Smith has given his backing to the reinstatement of the Home International series. Such a plan is to be proposed by the new ch…
Kennedy predicts bigger turnout
Voters' "pent up passion" could confound predictions of a low turnout in the coming general election, Charles Kennedy has said. The Liberal Democrat l…
Boeing secures giant Japan order
Boeing is to supply Japan Airlines with up to 50 of its forthcoming 7E7 planes in a deal that could be worth as much as $6bn (£3.1bn) for the US giant…
TV calls after Carroll error
Spurs boss Martin Jol said his team were "robbed" at Manchester United after Pedro Mendes' shot clearly crossed the line but was not given. "The refer…
Newcastle 2-1 Bolton
Kieron Dyer smashed home the winner to end Bolton's 10-game unbeaten run. Lee Bowyer put Newcastle ahead when he fed Stephen Carr on the right flank, …
De Niro completes box office coup
Robert De Niro has completed a transatlantic box office double by topping the UK and US film charts with two different films at the same time. Comedy …
Takeover offer for Sunderland FC
Bob Murray, chairman of Sunderland FC, has launched a £1.5m ($2.8m) bid for the club after buying broadcaster BSkyB's stake in the business. Mr Murray…
Vodafone appoints new Japan boss
Vodafone has drafted in its UK chief executive William Morrow to take charge of its troubled Japanese operation. Mr Morrow will succeed Shiro Tsuda as…
Scots smoking ban details set out
Smoke-free areas will save lives and improve Scotland's health, First Minister Jack McConnell has insisted. He told the Scottish Parliament on Wednesd…
McDonald's to sponsor MTV show
McDonald's, the world's largest restaurant chain, is to sponsor a programme on music channel MTV as part of its latest youth market promotion. The sho…
Umbro profits lifted by Euro 2004
UK sportswear firm Umbro has posted a 222% rise in annual profit after sales of replica England football kits were boosted by the Euro 2004 tournament…
Creator of first Apple Mac dies
Jef Raskin, head of the team behind the first Macintosh computer, has died. Mr Raskin was one of the first employees at Apple and made many of the des…
EU fraud clampdown urged
EU member states are failing to report fraud and irregularities in EU funds on a consistent basis, the UK's public spending watchdog has said. The Nat…
US interest rate rise expected
US interest rates are expected to rise for the fifth time since June following the US Federal Reserve's latest rate-setting meeting later on Tuesday. …
Home phones face unclear future
The fixed line phone in your home could soon be an endangered species. Research by handset maker Nokia shows that more and more people are using their…
Holmes urged to compete at Worlds
Jolanda Ceplak has urged Britain's Kelly Holmes to continue competing at the major championships. Double Olympic gold medallist Holmes has strongly hi…
Former NI minister Scott dies
Former Northern Ireland minister Sir Nicholas Scott has died at a London hospice, his family has announced. The former Conservative MP for Kensington …
Defection timed to hit tax pledge
With impeccable and precisely-calculated timing, Tory defector Robert Jackson and his new Labour bosses have attempted to overshadow Michael Howard's …
Roxy Music on Isle of Wight bill
Roxy Music will appear at June's Isle of Wight music festival, along with Morrissey, Supergrass and Idlewild. REM have already been confirmed as headl…
Row threatens Hendrix museum plan
Proposals to open a museum dedicated to Jimi Hendrix are flailing because of a row over the home of his late father. The run-down house in Seattle has…
Economy 'strong' in election year
UK businesses are set to prosper during the next few months - but this could trigger more interest rate rises, according to a report. Optimism is at i…
Viewers to be able to shape TV
Imagine editing Titanic down to watch just your favourite bits or cutting out the slushier moments of Star Wars to leave you with a bare bones action-…
IAAF to rule on Greek sprint pair
Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are expected to find out on Wednesday if they will be banned for missing drugs tests this summer. …
UK pledges £1bn to vaccine effort
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown has offered £960m ($1.8bn) over 15 years to an international scheme aiming to boost vaccination and immunisation schemes. I…
Last Star Wars 'not for children'
The sixth and final Star Wars movie may not be suitable for young children, film-maker George Lucas has said. He told US TV show 60 Minutes that Reven…
Blind student 'hears in colour'
A blind student has developed software that turns colours into musical notes so that he can read weather maps. Victor Wong, a graduate student from Ho…
Collins to compete in Birmingham
World and Commonwealth 100m champion Kim Collins will compete in the 60m at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on 18 February. The St Kitts an…
Claxton hunting first major medal
British hurdler Sarah Claxton is confident she can win her first major medal at next month's European Indoor Championships in Madrid. The 25-year-old …
Gadget growth fuels eco concerns
Technology firms and gadget lovers are being urged to think more about the environment when buying and disposing of the latest hi-tech products. At th…
PlayStation 3 chip to be unveiled
Details of the chip designed to power Sony's PlayStation 3 console will be released in San Francisco on Monday. Sony, IBM and Toshiba, who have been w…
Gardener wins double in Glasgow
Britain's Jason Gardener enjoyed a double 60m success in Glasgow in his first competitive outing since he won 100m relay gold at the Athens Olympics. …
Hague's six-figure earnings shown
The rewards of leaving front-bench politics are shown in the latest annual register of members' interests. The register shows former Tory leader Willi…
Howard unveils election platform
The Conservatives would stand up for the "forgotten majority", Michael Howard pledged as he unveiled the first part of the Tory election manifesto. Th…
Double win for Sea Inside
Spanish movie The Sea Inside has been named best picture and star Javier Bardem best actor at the Bangkok International Film Festival. Based on the tr…
Britons growing 'digitally obese'
Gadget lovers are so hungry for digital data many are carrying the equivalent of 10 trucks full of paper in "weight". Music, images, e-mails, and text…
Connors boost for British tennis
Former world number one Jimmy Connors is planning a long-term relationship with the Lawn Tennis Association to help unearth the next Tim Henman. The A…
Connick Jr to lead Broadway show
Singer and actor Harry Connick Jr is to star in a Broadway revival of 1950s hit musical The Pajama Game. He will play the supervisor of a US pyjama fa…
Eminem secret gig venue revealed
Rapper Eminem is to play an intimate gig in London on Saturday, following a show on the River Thames on Friday. The US star will play just two songs a…
India's Deccan gets more planes
Air Deccan has signed a deal to acquire 36 planes from Avions de Transport Regional (ATR). The value of the deal has not been revealed, because of a c…
Agassi fear for Melbourne
Andre Agassi's involvement in the Australian Open was put in doubt after he pulled out of the Kooyong Classic with a hip injury. Agassi was serving at…
Woodward eyes Brennan for Lions
Toulouse's former Irish international Trevor Brennan could be one of Clive Woodward's many surprises when the 44-man Lions tour squad is announced. Br…
Blair prepares to name poll date
Tony Blair is likely to name 5 May as election day when Parliament returns from its Easter break, the BBC's political editor has learned. Andrew Marr …
Newcastle to join Morientes race
Newcastle have joined the race to sign Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes and scupper Liverpool's bid to snap up the player, according to reports.…
Dundee Utd 4-1 Aberdeen
Dundee United eased into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup with an emphatic win over Aberdeen. Alan Archibald prodded United ahead in 19 minutes and …
Baywatch dubbed 'worst TV import'
Surf show Baywatch has won the title of worst TV import of all time in a poll of UK television executives. The programme, which starred David Hasselho…
Libya takes $1bn in unfrozen funds
Libya has withdrawn $1bn in assets from the US, assets which had previously been frozen for almost 20 years, the Libyan central bank has said. The mov…
India seeks to boost construction
India has cleared a proposal allowing up to 100% foreign direct investment in its construction sector. Kamal Nath, Commerce and Industry Minister, ann…
Isinbayeva heads for Birmingham
Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has confirmed she will take part in the 2005 Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on 18 February. "Eve…
Lawyer attacks anti-terror laws
A senior barrister who has resigned in protest over the government's anti-terror laws says the current system is giving Britain a bad name. Ian MacDon…
Google shares fall as staff sell
Shares in Google have fallen 6.7% after employees and early investors in the web search took advantage of the first chance to sell their holdings. Res…
Voters flock to blog awards site
Voting is under way for the annual Bloggies which recognise the best web blogs - online spaces where people publish their thoughts - of the year. Nomi…
Movie body hits peer-to-peer nets
The movie industry has struck out at file-sharing networks with another round of lawsuits in the US. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) …
Classy Henman makes winning start
Tim Henman opened his 2005 campaign with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Argentine David Nalbandian at the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament on Wednesday. …
Joy Division story to become film
The life of late Joy Division singer Ian Curtis is to be made into a film, it has been announced. The Manchester-based production is called Touching F…
SA return to Mauritius
Top seeds South Africa return to the scene of one of their most embarrassing failures when they face the Seychelles in the Cosafa Cup next month. Last…
Three DJs replace Peel radio show
The late John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show is to be succeeded in February by three shows hosted by three DJs focusing on diverse, non-commercial music. Huw…
Tate & Lyle boss bags top award
Tate & Lyle's chief executive has been named European Businessman of the Year by a leading business magazine. Iain Ferguson was awarded the title by U…
Hyundai to build new India plant
South Korea's Hyundai Motor has announced that it plans to build a second plant in India to meet the country's growing demand for cars. The company di…
Middlesbrough 2-2 Charlton
A late header by teenager Danny Graham earned Middlesbrough a battling draw with Charlton at the Riverside. Matt Holland had put the visitors ahead in…
Berlin applauds Hotel Rwanda
Political thriller Hotel Rwanda was given a rousing reception by spectators at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday. The movie's star Don Cheadle also…
Versace art portfolio up for sale
The art collection of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace could fetch up to £9m ($17m) when it is auctioned in New York and London later this yea…
Sydney return for Henin-Hardenne
Olympic champion Justine Henin-Hardenne will return to action in January's Sydney International tournament. The Belgian has not competed since losing …
Lions blow to World Cup winners
British and Irish Lions coach Clive Woodward says he is unlikely to select any players not involved in next year's RBS Six Nations Championship. World…
Howard dismisses Tory tax fears
Michael Howard has dismissed fears from some Conservatives that his plans for £4bn tax cuts are too modest. He defended the package, saying it was a p…
Turkey turns on the economic charm
Three years after a gruelling economic crisis, Turkey has dressed its economy to impress. As part of a charm offensive - ahead of 17 December, when th…
Parmar ruled out of Davis Cup tie
A knee injury has forced Arvind Parmar out of Great Britain's Davis Cup tie in Israel and left Alex Bogdanovic in line to take the second singles plac…
Johnson uncertain about Euro bid
Jade Johnson is undecided about whether to contest next month's European Indoor Championships in Madrid despite winning the AAAs long jump title on Sa…
UK helps raped Rwandan women
Britain is to give a £4m grant to help women survivors of the Rwandan genocide who were raped and often deliberately infected with HIV/Aids. An estima…
Chinese wine tempts Italy's Illva
Italy's Illva Saronno has agreed to buy 33% of Changyu, the largest wine maker in China. Changyu said in a statement to the Shenzhen stock exchange th…
Cole refuses to blame van Persie
Ashley Cole has refused to blame Robin van Persie for leaving Arsenal with no fully-fit strikers for the FA Cup fifth round replay at Sheffield United…
German business confidence slides
German business confidence fell in February knocking hopes of a speedy recovery in Europe's largest economy. Munich-based research institute Ifo said …
Stam spices up Man Utd encounter
AC Milan defender Jaap Stam says Manchester United "know they made a mistake" by selling him in 2001. The sides meet at Old Trafford in the Champions …
Podcasts mark rise of DIY radio
An Apple iPod or other digital music players can hold anything up to 10,000 songs, which is a lot of space to fill. But more and more iPod owners are …
Beijingers fume over parking fees
Choking traffic jams in Beijing are prompting officials to look at reorganising car parking charges. Car ownership has risen fast in recent years, and…
BMW cash to fuel Mini production
Less than four years after the new Mini was launched, German car maker BMW has announced £100m of new investment. Some 200 new jobs are to be created …
Euro firms miss out on optimism
More than 90% of large companies around the world are highly optimistic about their economic prospects, a survey of 1,300 bosses suggests. Their bigge…
Tough rules for ringtone sellers
Firms that flout rules on how ringtones and other mobile extras are sold could be cut off from all UK phone networks. The rules allow offenders to be …
Giant waves damage S Asia economy
Governments, aid agencies, insurers and travel firms are among those counting the cost of the massive earthquake and waves that hammered southern Asia…
Yukos unit fetches $9bn at auction
A little-known Russian company has bought the main production unit of oil giant Yukos at auction in Moscow. Baikal Finance Group outbid favourite Gazp…
Nasdaq planning $100m share sale
The owner of the technology-dominated Nasdaq stock index plans to sell shares to the public and list itself on the market it operates. According to a …
Sella wants Michalak recall
Former France centre Philippe Sella believes coach Bernard Laporte must recall Frederic Michalak to give his side any chance of beating Ireland. Sella…
Protect whistleblowers, TUC says
The government should change the law to give more protection to employees who raise health and safety concerns about their workplaces, the TUC has sai…
Economy 'stronger than forecast'
The UK economy probably grew at a faster rate in the third quarter than the 0.4% reported, according to Bank of England deputy governor Rachel Lomax. …
Bristol City 2-1 Milton Keynes
Leroy Lita took his goal tally to 13 for the season as his double earned City an LDV Vans Trophy win. The striker finished off Scott Murray cross from…
'No UK apology' for colonial past
The days of Britain having to apologise for its colonial past are over, Gordon Brown has said. The chancellor, speaking during a week-long tour of Afr…
Labour attacked on Howard poster
Labour has been accused of using anti-Semitic images in posters which critics claim depict Tory leader Michael Howard as Fagin. The poster shows Mr Ho…
Muslim group attacks TV drama 24
A British Muslim group has criticised the new series of US drama 24, which is about to be aired on Sky One, claiming it portrays Islam unfairly. The M…
Hollywood campaign hits websites
Movie studio efforts to stop pirated films being shared on peer-to-peer networks have claimed a high-profile victim. The campaign of legal action is t…
Ireland v USA (Sat)
Saturday 20 November Lansdowne Road, Dublin 1300 GMT The Irish coach knows a repeat of the record 83-3 victory over the States in 2000 is not on the a…
Straw attacked on China arms
Moves to lift the European Union's ban on arms exports to China have been condemned by human rights groups and the Conservatives. The 15 year embargo …
No to Royal succession shake-up
A Labour peer has withdrawn proposals to give female members of the Royal Family the same rights as males. The legislation would have ended the right …
Little Britain vies for TV trophy
BBC hits Little Britain and Strictly Come Dancing are among numerous British shows nominated for the prestigious Golden Rose television awards. Homegr…
Disney settles disclosure charges
Walt Disney has settled charges from US federal regulators that it failed to disclose how family members of directors were employed by the company. Th…
Charvis set to lose fitness bid
Flanker Colin Charvis is unlikely to play any part in Wales' final two games of the Six Nations. Charvis has missed all three of Wales' victories with…
Murray returns to Scotland fold
Euan Murray has been named in the Scotland training squad after an eight-week ban, ahead of Saturday's Six Nations match with Ireland. The Glasgow for…
Aids and climate top Davos agenda
Climate change and the fight against Aids are leading the list of concerns for the first day of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.…
Parmalat bank barred from suing
Bank of America has been banned from suing Parmalat, the food group which went bust in 2003 after an accounting scandal. The bank - along with investo…
Capriati to miss Melbourne
Jennifer Capriati has become the third leading lady to withdraw from the Australian Open because of injury. The organisers of the first grand slam of …
Tory leader unveils spending plan
Tory leader Michael Howard says his party can save £35bn in government spending by tackling waste. The money would be ploughed back into frontline ser…
Drink remark 'acts as diversion'
The first minister's statement that it was okay to get drunk "once in a while" has diverted attention from the real issues, it has been claimed. Jack …
Warning over tsunami aid website
Net users are being told to avoid a scam website that claims to collect cash on behalf of tsunami victims. The site looks plausible because it uses an…
Philippoussis doubt over Open bid
Mark Philippoussis is almost certain to miss the Australian Open after suffering a groin injury during the Hopman Cup loss to the Netherlands. The 28-…
Wales stars need a rest - Ruddock
Wales coach Mike Ruddock has defended his decision not to release any of the international stars for this weekend's regional Celtic League fixtures. R…
Doors open at biggest gadget fair
Thousands of technology lovers and industry experts have gathered in Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The fair showcases the …
Robben and Cole earn Chelsea win
Cheslea salvaged a win against a battling Portsmouth side just as it looked like the Premiership leaders would have to settle for a point. Arjen Robbe…
Casino Royale is next Bond movie
Casino Royale, author Ian Fleming's first James Bond book, is to be the next Bond film, with Goldeneye director Martin Campbell behind the camera. It …
U2 stars enter rock Hall of Fame
Singer Bruce Springsteen has inducted Irish rock band U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in New York. The lavish ceremony, celebrating the 50th a…
Pop band Busted to 'take a break'
Chart-topping pop band Busted have confirmed that they plan to "take a break", following rumours that they were on the verge of splitting. A statement…
Gritty return for Prince of Persia
Still basking in the relatively recent glory of last year's Sands Of Time, the dashing Prince of Persia is back in Warrior Within, and in a more belli…
Uefa approves fake grass
Uefa says it will allow European matches to be played on artificial pitches from the start of next season. European football's governing body made the…
Tsunami 'won't divert Africa aid'
UK aid to help the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster will not take much needed relief from Africa, Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised. Mr Blai…
MG Rover China tie-up 'delayed'
MG Rover's proposed tie-up with China's top carmaker has been delayed due to concerns by Chinese regulators, according to the Financial Times. The pap…
Cable offers video-on-demand
Cable firms NTL and Telewest have both launched video-on-demand services as the battle between satellite and cable TV heats up. Movies from Sony Pictu…
Games maker fights for survival
One of Britain's largest independent game makers, Argonaut Games, has been put up for sale. The London-based company behind the Harry Potter games has…
Brentford v Southampton
Griffin Park Tuesday, 1 March 1945 GMT Barry Knight (Kent) home to Manchester United in the quarter-finals Midfielder Andrew Frampton and striker Deon…
2004: An Irish Athletics Year
2004 won't be remembered as one of Irish athletics' great years. The year began with that optimism which invariably and unaccountably, seems to herald…
Labour pig poster 'anti-Semitic'
The Labour Party has been accused of anti-Semitism over a poster depicting Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin - who are both Jewish - as flying pigs. Pr…
Kilroy-Silk attacked with slurry
Euro MP Robert Kilroy-Silk has had a bucket of farm slurry thrown over him by a protester in Manchester. The UK Independence Party member was arriving…
Venezuela and China sign oil deal
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has offered China wide-ranging access to the country's oil reserves. The offer, made as part of a trade deal between …
Kenyon denies Robben Barca return
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has played down reports that Arjen Robben will return for the Champions League match against Barcelona. "He's bee…
Rock star sued by ex-girlfriend
Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars is being sued by his ex-girlfriend for $10 million (£5.4 million), claiming he broke a promise to take care of her. Th…
Martinez sees off Vinci challenge
Veteran Spaniard Conchita Martinez came from a set down to beat Italian Roberta Vinci at the Qatar Open in Doha. The 1994 Wimbledon champion won 5-7 6…
Blair 'pressing US on climate'
Tony Blair is pressing the US to cut greenhouse gases despite its unwillingness to sign the Kyoto Protocol, Downing Street has indicated. Officials ha…
Tobacco giants hail court ruling
US tobacco companies have welcomed an appeal court's decision to reject the government's $280bn (£155bn) claim for alleged deceit about smoking danger…
Bank set to leave rates on hold
UK interest rates are set to remain on hold at 4.75% following the latest meeting of the Bank of England. The Bank's rate-setting committee has put up…
Tory leader quits legal position
David McLetchie has resigned from his post as a partner in a legal firm following criticism over his dual role. The Scottish Conservative leader had i…
BBC poll indicates economic gloom
Citizens in a majority of nations surveyed in a BBC World Service poll believe the world economy is worsening. Most respondents also said their nation…
Bosvelt optimistic over new deal
Manchester City's Paul Bosvelt will find out "within a month" whether he is to be offered a new one-year deal. The 34-year-old Dutch midfielder is out…
Blair dismisses quit claim report
Tony Blair has dismissed reports he told Gordon Brown he would quit before the next general election. "You don't do deals over jobs like this," the pr…
Blogs take on the mainstream
Web logs or blogs are everywhere, with at least an estimated five million on the web and that number is set to grow. These online diaries come in many…
US show sued for rat-eating stunt
A US TV network is being sued for $2.5m (£1.3m) by a viewer who says he was disgusted by watching contestants eat dead rats in a stunt show. Austin Ai…
Mumbai bombs movie postponed
The release of a film about the Mumbai (Bombay) blasts in 1993 has been postponed following protests by those on trial for the bombings. Investigating…
Concerns over Windows ATMs
Cash machine networks could soon be more susceptible to computer viruses, a security firm has warned. The warning is being issued because many banks a…
Wales win in Rome
Wales secured their first away win in the RBS Six Nations for nearly four years with a six-try victory in Rome. Tries from Jonathan Thomas, Tom Shankl…
Musicians to tackle US red tape
Musicians' groups are to tackle US visa regulations which are blamed for hindering British acts' chances of succeeding across the Atlantic. A singer h…
Scissor Sisters triumph at Brits
US band Scissor Sisters led the winners at the UK music industry's Brit Awards, walking off with three prizes. The flamboyant act scored a hat-trick i…
Sony PSP console hits US in March
US gamers will be able to buy Sony's PlayStation Portable from 24 March, but there is no news of a Europe debut. The handheld console will go on sale …
US TV host Clark suffers stroke
Veteran US television host Dick Clark is in hospital in Los Angeles after suffering a mild stroke. The 75-year-old presented long-running show America…
Wal-Mart fights back at accusers
Two big US names have launched advertising campaigns to "set the record straight" about their products and corporate behaviour. The world's biggest re…
Ukraine steel sell-off 'illegal'
The controversial sell-off of a Ukrainian steel mill to a relative of the former president was illegal, a court has ruled. The mill, Krivorizhstal, wa…
Moore questions captaincy
Brian Moore believes the England captain should not be a full-back. Jason Robinson has led the team during their opening three defeats in the Six Nati…
Whitehall shredding increasing - Tories
Civil servants have drastically stepped up the shredding of official documents, figures compiled by the Tories suggest. Some government departments ha…
New foot and mouth action urged
A senior Tory MP has criticised agriculture department Defra's "lackadaisical" approach to planning for a future foot and mouth outbreak. Public accou…
Soderling wins tense Milan final
Fifth seed Robin Soderling took the Milan Indoors title with a dramatic win over Radek Stepanek in Sunday's final. The 20-year-old Swede edged the fin…
Federer claims Dubai crown
World number one Roger Federer added the Dubai Championship trophy to his long list of successes - but not before he was given a test by Ivan Ljubicic…
Jones files lawsuit against Conte
Marion Jones has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Balco boss Victor Conte following his allegations that he gave her performance-enhancing drugs…
Lasers help bridge network gaps
An Indian telecommunications firm has turned to lasers to help it overcome the problems of setting up voice and data networks in the country. Tata Tel…
Band Aid retains number one spot
The charity single by Band Aid 20 has held on the chart top spot for a second week, strengthening its chances of becoming the Christmas number one. Do…
J&J agrees $25bn Guidant deal
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to buy medical technology firm Guidant for $25.4bn (£13bn). Guidant is a key producer of equipment t…
US bank boss hails 'genius' Smith
US Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has given a speech at a Scottish church in honour of the pioneering economist, Adam Smith. He delivered the…
GSK aims to stop Aids profiteers
One of the world's largest manufacturers of HIV/Aids drugs has launched an initiative to combat the smuggling of cheaper pills - supplied to poorer Af…
Hewitt falls to Dent
Lleyton Hewitt suffered a shock defeat to Taylor Dent in the quarter-finals of the Australian Hardcourt Championships in Adelaide on Friday. The top s…
How political squabbles snowball
It's become commonplace to argue that Blair and Brown are like squabbling school kids and that they (and their supporters) need to grow up and stop bi…
China 'to overtake US net use'
The Chinese net-using population looks set to exceed that of the US in less than three years, says a report. China's net users number 100m but this re…
Hague 'given up' his PM ambition
Former Conservative leader William Hague says he will not stand for the leadership again, having given up his ambition to be prime minister. Mr Hague,…
Howard rebuts asylum criticisms
Tory leader Michael Howard has gone on the offensive in response to people questioning how a son of immigrants can propose asylum quotas. Mr Howard, w…
India's Maruti sees profits jump
India's biggest carmaker Maruti has reported a sharp increase in quarterly profit after a booming economy and low interest rates boosted demand. Net p…
HealthSouth ex-boss goes on trial
The former head of US medical services firm HealthSouth overstated earnings and assets to boost the company's share price, it was claimed in court. Ri…
BBC web search aids odd queries
The BBC's online search engine was used a record amount in 2004, helping with enquires both simple and strange. More than 277 million enquiries were m…
EU 'too slow' on economic reforms
Most EU countries have failed to put in place policies aimed at making Europe the world's most competitive economy by the end of the decade, a report …
EU ministers to mull jet fuel tax
European Union finance ministers are meeting on Thursday in Brussels, where they are to discuss a controversial jet fuel tax. A levy on jet fuel has b…
Safety alert as GM recalls cars
The world's biggest carmaker General Motors (GM) is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles in the US on safety grounds, according to federal regulators. Th…
Warnings about junk mail deluge
The amount of spam circulating online could be about to undergo a massive increase, say experts. Anti-spam group Spamhaus is warning about a novel vir…
Vera Drake scoops film award
Oscar hopefuls Mike Leigh and Imelda Staunton were both winners at the 2004 Evening Standard British Film Awards. Vera Drake - Leigh's 1950s drama abo…
Deutsche Telekom sees mobile gain
German telecoms firm Deutsche Telekom saw strong fourth quarter profits on the back of upbeat US mobile earnings and better-than-expected asset sales.…
Mexicans tracking unhappy Juninho
Mexican outfit Red Sharks Veracruz hope to sign Juninho if the Brazilian decides to leave Celtic frustrated at his lack of first-team action. Their pr…
Running around the Olympics
It was back to official duties last week in my role as an ambassador to London's 2012 Olympic bid. But I still managed to do all my marathon training.…
German music in a 'zombie' state
The German music business - the third largest in the world - is "in the state of a zombie" because it has failed to respond to the challenge posed by …
Elvis 'set for chart hat-trick'
The late US legend Elvis Presley is likely to score his third UK number one single in three weeks on Sunday, according to early sales figures. The kin…
Oscars race enters final furlong
The race for the Oscars entered its final stages as the deadline for voters to choose their winners passed. The 5,808 Academy voters had until Tuesday…
Cactus diet deal for Phytopharm
A slimming aid made from a southern African cactus is set to be developed by UK firm Phytopharm and Unilever. Anglo-Dutch food giant Unilever will hel…
Tory leader 'cleared' over work
Scottish Conservative Party leader David McLetchie claims he has been cleared over a potential conflict of interest. The Edinburgh MSP earns up to £30…
Ebbers denies WorldCom fraud
Former WorldCom chief Bernie Ebbers has denied claims that he knew accountants were doctoring the books at the firm. Speaking in court, Mr Ebbers reje…
Mobiles get set for visual radio
The growth in the mobile phone market in the past decade has been nothing less than astonishing, but the ability to communicate on the go is not the o…
Roddick into San Jose final
Andy Roddick will play Cyril Saulnier in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose on Sunday. The American top seed and defending champion overcame German…
Wenger rules out new keeper
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he has no plans to sign a new goalkeeper during the January transfer window. Wenger has brought in Manuel Almunia for …
Standard Life concern at LSE bid
Standard Life is the latest shareholder in Deutsche Boerse to express concern at the German stock market operator's plans to buy the London Stock Exch…
Domain system opens door to scams
A system to make it easier to create website addresses using alphabets like Cyrillic could open a back door for scammers, a trade body has warned. The…
Boateng to step down at election
Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, is to step down as a Labour MP at the forthcoming general election. Mr Boateng, 53, is to become the UK…
US duo in first spam conviction
A brother and sister in the US have been convicted of sending hundreds of thousands of unsolicited e-mail messages to AOL subscribers. It is the first…
Bell set for England debut
Bath prop Duncan Bell has been added to England's 30-man squad to face Ireland in the RBS Six Nations. And with Phil Vickery sidelined for at least si…
Wenger handed summer war chest
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been guaranteed transfer funds to boost his squad the summer. The club's managing director, Keith Edelman, stressed tha…
Bellamy under new fire
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has reopened his dispute with Craig Bellamy after claiming the Welshman was "not good enough" for the Magpies. Bellamy l…
Wilkinson fit to face Edinburgh
England captain Jonny Wilkinson will make his long-awaited return from injury against Edinburgh on Saturday. Wilkinson, who has not played since injur…
Speak easy plan for media players
Music and film fans will be able to control their digital media players just by speaking to them, under plans in development by two US firms. ScanSoft…
Isinbayeva claims new world best
Pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva broke her own indoor world record by clearing 4.89 metres in Lievin on Saturday. It was the Russian's 12th world record…
Michael film signals 'retirement'
Singer George Michael has said that a new film about his life is the start of a retirement from public view. The pop star said it would be a much more…
Schools to take part in mock poll
Record numbers of schools across the UK are to take part in a mock general election backed by the government. Some 600 schools have already signed up …
Elvis set to top UK singles chart
Rock 'n' roll legend Elvis is set to top the UK singles chart on Sunday, 27 years after his death. The re-release of hit song Jailhouse Rock was out-s…
Lloyd's of London head chides FSA
The head of Lloyd's of London, the insurance market, has criticised Britain's financial watchdog, the Financial Services Authority (FSA). In a speech …
Robben plays down European return
Injured Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has insisted that he only has a 10% chance of making a return against Barcelona in the Champions League. The 21-ye…
European losses hit GM's profits
General Motors (GM) saw its net profits fall 37% in the last quarter of 2004, as it continued to be hit by losses at its European operations. The US g…
IBM puts cash behind Linux push
IBM is spending $100m (£52m) over the next three years beefing up its commitment to Linux software. The cash injection will be used to help its custom…
When invention turns to innovation
It is unlikely that future technological inventions are going to have the same kind of transformative impact that they did in the past. When history t…
Reliance unit loses Anil Ambani
Anil Ambani, the younger of the two brothers in charge of India's largest private company, has resigned from running its petrochemicals subsidiary. Th…
German bidder in talks with LSE
Deutsche Boerse bosses have held "constructive, professional and friendly" talks with the London Stock Exchange (LSE), its chief has said. Werner Seif…
Yukos accused of lying to court
Russian oil firm Yukos lied to a US court in an attempt to stop the Russian government selling off its key production unit, the court has heard. The u…
Warning over US pensions deficit
Taxpayers may have to bail out the US agency that protects workers' pension funds, leading economists have warned. With the Pension Benefit Guaranty C…
Business fears over sluggish EU economy
As European leaders gather in Rome on Friday to sign the new EU constitution, many companies will be focusing on matters much closer to home - namely …
Winn-Dixie files for bankruptcy
US supermarket group Winn-Dixie has filed for bankruptcy protection after succumbing to stiff competition in a market dominated by Wal-Mart. Winn-Dixi…
US woman sues over cartridges
A US woman is suing Hewlett Packard (HP), saying its printer ink cartridges are secretly programmed to expire on a certain date. The unnamed woman fro…
UK economy facing 'major risks'
The UK manufacturing sector will continue to face "serious challenges" over the next two years, the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) has said. The gr…
Italy 17-28 Ireland
Two moments of magic from Brian O'Driscoll guided Ireland to a workmanlike victory against Italy. A pair of classic outside breaks from the Ireland ca…
Algeria hit by further gas riots
Algeria suffered a weekend of violent protests against government plans to raise gas prices, local press reports. Demonstrators in a number of regions…
BMW drives record sales in Asia
BMW has forecast sales growth of at least 10% in Asia this year after registering record sales there in 2004. The luxury carmaker saw strong sales of …
Curbishley delight for Johansson
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley paid tribute to two-goal striker Jonatan Johansson after beating Norwich. Curbishley said after the 4-0 win: "There w…
White admits to Balco drugs link
Banned American sprinter Kelli White says she knowingly took steroids given to her by Bay Area Lab Co-Operative (Balco) president Victor Conte. Conte …
Brit awards for Devon music acts
Devon singer Joss Stone and rock band Muse won coveted Brit awards during the event's 25th anniversary. Seventeen-year-old Stone, from near Cullumpton…
Mixed Christmas for US retailers
US retailers posted mixed results for December - with luxury retailers faring well while many others were forced to slash prices to lift sales. Upscal…
Blunkett unveils policing plans
People could be given the mobile phone number of their local bobby under an overhaul of policing in England and Wales unveiled by David Blunkett. The …
No UK premiere for Rings musical
The producers behind the Lord of the Rings musical have abandoned plans to premiere the show in London because no suitable theatre was available. The …
Man auctions ad space on forehead
A 20-year-old US man is selling advertising space on his forehead to the highest bidder on website eBay. Andrew Fisher, from Omaha, Nebraska, said he …
Nadal puts Spain 2-0 up
Result: Nadal 6-7 (6/8) 6-2 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 Roddick Spain's Rafael Nadal beats Andy Roddick of the USA in the second singles match rubber of the 2004 Da…
US 'to raise TV indecency fines'
US politicians are proposing a tough new law aimed at cracking down on indecency and bad language on US TV. Fines of up to $500,000 (£266,582) could b…
Qantas considers offshore option
Australian airline Qantas could transfer as many as 7,000 jobs out of its home country as it seeks to save costs, according to newspaper reports. Chie…
Disney backs Sony DVD technology
A next generation DVD technology backed by Sony has received a major boost. Film giant Disney says it will produce its future DVDs using Sony's Blu-ra…
Llewellyn plans Wales retirement
Wales record cap holder Gareth Llewellyn will retire from Test rugby at the end of the Six Nations. The veteran lock, who is 36 at the end of February…
Abortion not a poll issue - Blair
Tony Blair does not believe abortion should be an election issue, arguing it is a matter for individual conscience. The prime minister's spokesman set…
BT offers equal access to rivals
BT has moved to pre-empt a possible break-up of its business by offering to cut wholesale broadband prices and open its network to rivals. The move co…
Japanese banking battle at an end
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial has withdrawn its takeover offer for rival bank UFJ Holdings, enabling the latter to merge with Mitsubishi Tokyo. Su…
Koubek suspended after drugs test
Stefan Koubek says he has been banned for three months by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after testing positive for a banned substance. The…
GB select Holmes for double bid
Kelly Holmes has been chosen for both the 800m and 1500m at next month's European Indoor Championships - despite not yet confirming her availability. …
Record fails to lift lacklustre meet
Yelena Isinbayeva may have produced another world pole vault record, but her achievement could not hide the fact it was not the best meet we have ever…
'Friends fear' with lost mobiles
People are becoming so dependent on their mobile phones that one in three are concerned that losing their phone would mean they lose their friends. Mo…
Stevens named in England line-up
England have named Bath prop Matt Stevens in the starting line-up for their Six Nations match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Sunday. Fellow Bath…
Wife Swap makers sue US 'copycat'
The British producers of US Wife Swap are taking legal action against a show they claim is "a blatant and wholescale copycat" of their programme. RDF …
Mexican in US send $16bn home
Mexican labourers living in the US sent a record $16.6bn (£8.82bn) home last year. The Bank of Mexico said that remittances grew 24% last year and now…
Screensaver tackles spam websites
Net users are getting the chance to fight back against spam websites Internet portal Lycos has made a screensaver that endlessly requests data from si…
Disappointed Scott in solid start
Allan Scott is confident of winning a medal at next week's European Indoor Championships after a solid debut on the international circuit. The 22-year…
Criminal probe on Citigroup deals
Traders at US banking giant Citigroup are facing a criminal investigation in Germany over a controversial bond deal. The deal saw the sale of 11bn eur…
Pupils to get anti-piracy lessons
Lessons on music piracy and copyright issues are to be taught to secondary school pupils in the UK. The lessons, aimed at 11 to 14-year-olds, will int…
S Korean credit card firm rescued
South Korea's largest credit card firm has averted liquidation following a one trillion won ($960m; £499m) bail-out. LG Card had been threatened with …
Ferguson hails Man Utd's resolve
Manchester United's Alex Ferguson has praised his players' gutsy performance in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa. "That was our hardest away game of the sea…
Anelka 'eyes Man City departure'
Striker Nicolas Anelka reportedly wants to leave Manchester City in search of Champions League football. Anelka, 25, is in talks over a contract exten…
Business confidence dips in Japan
Business confidence among Japanese manufacturers has weakened for the first time since March 2003, the quarterly Tankan survey has found. Slower econo…
Fed warns of more US rate rises
The US looks set for a continued boost to interest rates in 2005, according to the Federal Reserve. Minutes of the December meeting which pushed rates…
Broadband challenges TV viewing
The number of Europeans with broadband has exploded over the past 12 months, with the web eating into TV viewing habits, research suggests. Just over …
EU software patent law faces axe
The European Parliament has thrown out a bill that would have allowed software to be patented. Politicians unanimously rejected the bill and now it mu…
Gerrard happy at Anfield
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has reiterated his desire to stay at Anfield and win trophies with the club. The 24-year-old England midfielder is de…
Crisis 'ahead in social sciences'
A national body designed to tackle skills shortages in key subjects should be set up, a committee of MPs has said. There was an "absolute crisis" in t…
Fockers keeps US box office lead
Film comedy Meet The Fockers, sequel to Meet The Parents, has topped the US box office for a third week. The movie, which stars Ben Stiller, Robert De…
Franz man seeks government help
Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos has called for more government help for musicians, while taking part in an Edinburgh Lectures discussion. "For …
Trade gap narrows as exports rise
The UK's trade gap narrowed in November, helped by a 7.5% rise in exports outside the European Union. According to the Office for National Statistics,…
Fannie Mae 'should restate books'
US mortgage company Fannie Mae should restate its earnings, a move that is likely to put a billion-dollar dent in its accounts, watchdogs have said. T…
Apple iPod family expands market
Apple has expanded its iPod family with the release of its next generation of the digital music players. Its latest challenges to the growing digital …
Immigration to be election issue
Immigration and asylum have normally been issues politicians from the big parties have tiptoed around at election time. But no longer. Both Labour and…
Clarke faces ID cards rebellion
Charles Clarke faces his first real test as home secretary on Monday with a possible backbench rebellion over the controversial ID cards bill. Up to 3…
Durex maker SSL awaits firm bid
UK condom maker SSL International has refused to comment on reports it may be subject to a takeover early in 2005. A Financial Times report said busin…
WMC profits up amid bid criticism
Australian mining firm WMC Resources has seen a fivefold rise in profits while continuing to be the target of a hostile takeover bid. WMC said it made…
Fantasy book wins Hollywood deal
A British author has had the film rights to her children's bestseller snapped up for a seven-figure sum, with Ridley Scott set to direct. Michelle Pav…
Cuba winds back economic clock
Fidel Castro's decision to ban all cash transactions in US dollars in Cuba has once more turned the spotlight on Cuba's ailing economy. All conversion…
Concern over RFID tags
Consumers are very concerned about the use of radio frequency ID (RFID) tags in shops, a survey says. More than half of 2,000 people surveyed said the…
Davenport puts retirement on hold
Lindsay Davenport has put any talk of retirement on hold after having a largely injury-free 2004 campaign. The 28-year-old world number one had said t…
Tory expert denies defeat warning
The Conservatives' campaign director has denied a report claiming he warned Michael Howard the party could not win the next general election. The Time…
Blair's hope for Blunkett return
The events leading to David Blunkett's resignation must not "swept under the carpet", the Tories have warned. On Wednesday Tony Blair said he hoped th…
Actor Foxx sees Globe nominations
US actor Jamie Foxx has been given two nominations for Golden Globe awards, with Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman and Cate Blanchett also up for prizes. T…
Satellite mapping aids Darfur relief
Aid workers trying to house, feed and clothe millions of homeless refugees in the Sudanese region of Darfur are getting a helping hand from advanced m…
Mobile picture power in your pocket
How many times have you wanted to have a camera to hand to catch an unexpected event that would make headlines? With a modern mobile phone that has a …
Lib Dems highlight problem debt
People vulnerable to problem debts should be afforded greater protection from banks aggressively promoting financial products, the Lib Dems say. Vince…
China Aviation seeks rescue deal
Scandal-hit jet fuel supplier China Aviation Oil has offered to repay its creditors $220m (£117m) of the $550m it lost on trading in oil futures. The …
McClaren eyes Uefa Cup top spot
Steve McClaren wants his Middlesbrough team to win their Uefa Cup group by beating Partizan Belgrade. Boro have already qualified for the knockout sta…
Box office blow for Alexander
Director Oliver Stone's historical epic Alexander has failed in its bid to conquer the box office, entering the US film charts at number six. The swor…
Safin relieved at Aussie recovery
Marat Safin admitted he thought he was suffering another Australian Open final nightmare when he lost the opening set to Lleyton Hewitt. The Russian, …
Strachan turns down Pompey
Former Southampton manager Gordon Strachan has rejected the chance to become Portsmouth's new boss. The Scot was Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric's firs…
Brazil approves bankruptcy reform
A major reform of Brazil's bankruptcy laws has been approved by the country's Congress, in a move which it is hoped will cut the cost of borrowing. Th…
Bush to outline 'toughest' budget
President Bush is to send his toughest budget proposals to date to the US Congress, seeking large cuts in domestic spending to lower the deficit. Abou…
Text messages aid disaster recovery
Text messaging technology was a valuable communication tool in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The messages can get through even when t…
'Nuclear dumpsite' plan attacked
Plans to allow foreign nuclear waste to be permanently stored in the UK have been branded "deeply irresponsible" by the Liberal Democrats. The governm…
Farrell saga to drag on - Lindsay
Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay says he does not expect a quick solution to the on-going saga of captain Andy Farrell's possible switch to rugby union.…
Police urge pub closure power
New powers are needed to close disorderly pubs, bars and clubs for up to a week or even permanently, police chiefs have told MPs. Association of Chief…
No half measures with Half-Life 2
Could Half-Life 2 possibly live up to the hype? After almost two years of tantalising previews and infuriating delays it's safe to say that this is th…
'Evil twin' fear for wireless net
People using wireless high-speed net (wi-fi) are being warned about fake hotspots, or access points. The latest threat, nicknamed evil twins, pose as …
Xbox power cable 'fire fear'
Microsoft has said it will replace more than 14 million power cables for its Xbox consoles due to safety concerns. The company said the move was a "pr…
Williams stays on despite dispute
Matt Williams insists he has no thoughts of quitting as national coach as a result of the power struggle currently gripping Scottish rugby. The chairm…
US trade gap hits record in 2004
The gap between US exports and imports hit an all-time high of $671.7bn (£484bn) in 2004, latest figures show. The Commerce Department said the trade …
London hope over Chepkemei
London Marathon organisers are hoping that banned athlete Susan Chepkemei will still take part in this year's race on 17 April. Chepkemei was suspende…
Bank opts to leave rates on hold
The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold at 4.75% for a sixth month in a row. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to take no…
Cyber criminals step up the pace
So-called phishing attacks that try to trick people into handing over confidential details have boomed in 2004, say security experts. The number of ph…
Terror powers expose 'tyranny'
The Lord Chancellor has defended government plans to introduce control orders to keep foreign and British terrorist suspects under house arrest, where…
Roche 'turns down Federer offer'
Australian tennis coach Tony Roche has turned down an approach from Roger Federer to be the world number one's new full-time coach, say reports. Melbo…
Councils prepare to set tax rises
Council tax in Scotland is set to rise by an average of about 4% in the coming year, BBC Scotland has learned. Authorities will decide final figures o…
Home loan approvals rising again
The number of mortgages approved in the UK has risen for the first time since May last year, according to lending figures from the Bank of England. Ne…
Air passengers win new EU rights
Air passengers who are unable to board their flights because of overbooking, cancellations or flight delays can now demand greater compensation. New E…
Player burn-out worries Robinson
England coach Andy Robinson says English rugby has to act now to prevent injury destroying players' careers. He will be without a host of big names fo…
Wada will appeal against ruling
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) will appeal against the acquittal of Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou on doping charges, if the IAAF does not. …
Kennedy calls for Iraq exit plans
Tony Blair should set out a proper exit strategy from Iraq in the wake of next Sunday's elections in the country, Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has s…
US critics laud comedy Sideways
Road trip comedy Sideways has had more praise heaped on it by two US critics' associations, adding to honours it has already picked up. The Chicago Fi…
Tsunami to cost Sri Lanka $1.3bn
Sri Lanka faces a $1.3bn (£691m) bill in 2005 for reconstruction after the tsunami which killed more than 30,000 of its people, its central bank says.…
Cannabis hopes for drug firm
A prescription cannabis drug made by UK biotech firm GW Pharmaceuticals is set to be approved in Canada. The drug is used to treat the central nervous…
Veteran Martinez wins Thai title
Conchita Martinez won her first title in almost five years with victory over Anna-Lena Groenefeld at the Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya, Thailand. The …
Moody joins up with England
Lewis Moody has flown to Dublin to join England's camp ahead of their RBS Six Nations game against Ireland on Sunday. Despite joining the squad, the L…
Spain coach faces racism inquiry
Spain's Football Federation has initiated disciplinary action against national coach Luis Aragones over racist comments about Thierry Henry. If found …
Downing injury mars Uefa victory
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren hopes that Stewart Downing did not seriously damage his hamstring during the 2-1 Uefa Cup win over Graz AK. The wing…
US hacker breaks into T-Mobile
A man is facing charges of hacking into computers at the US arm of mobile phone firm T-Mobile. The Californian man, Nicholas Lee Jacobsen, was arreste…
Thanou desperate to make return
Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou says she is eager to compete again after being cleared of missing a drugs test by an independent Greek tribunal. Thanou…
Berlin celebrates European cinema
Organisers say this year's Berlin Film Festival, which opens on Thursday with period epic Man to Man, will celebrate a revitalised European cinema. Of…
Deutsche attacks Yukos case
German investment bank Deutsche Bank has challenged the right of Yukos to claim bankruptcy protection in the US. In a court filing on Tuesday, it said…
Turkey knocks six zeros off lira
Turkey is to relaunch its currency on Saturday, knocking six zeros off the lira in the hope of boosting trade and powering its growing economy. The ch…
US bank 'loses' customer details
The Bank of America has revealed it has lost computer tapes containing account details of more than one million customers who are US federal employees…
Parents face video game lessons
Ways of ensuring that parents know which video games are suitable for children are to be considered by the games industry. The issue was discussed at …
Honour for UK games maker
Leading British computer games maker Peter Molyneux has been made an OBE in the New Year Honours list. The head of Surrey's Lionhead Studios was grant…
Cult band Kasabian surge forward
Indie dance band Kasabian built up a cult following throughout 2004 to secure three Brit Award nominations. The four-piece Leicester band blends dark …
Pete Doherty misses bail deadline
Singer Pete Doherty will have to spend the weekend in jail because he could not come up with £150,000 bond money for his bail on time. The former Libe…
Optimism remains over UK housing
The UK property market remains robust despite the recent slowdown, according to mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley and housebuilder George Wimpey. B&B…
Broadband fuels online change
Fast web access is encouraging more people to express themselves online, research suggests. A quarter of broadband users in Britain regularly upload c…
Radcliffe yet to answer GB call
Paula Radcliffe has been granted extra time to decide whether to compete in the World Cross-Country Championships. The 31-year-old is concerned the ev…
Wine comedy wins critics' award
Quirky comedy Sideways was named the best film of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The US movie also picked up four other accolad…
Broadband in the UK growing fast
High-speed net connections in the UK are proving more popular than ever. BT reports that more people signed up for broadband in the last three months …
Stalemate in pension strike talks
Talks aimed at averting national strikes over pension reforms have ended without agreement after 90 minutes. Five public sector unions met Deputy Prim…
Blair looks to election campaign
Tony Blair's big speech will be looked back on as the performance that kicked off the election campaign. That poll may still be about 16 weeks away, b…
Edgy Agassi struggles past Dent
Andre Agassi put in an erratic display before edging into the fourth round of the Australian Open with victory over Taylor Dent. The 34-year-old Ameri…
EU-US seeking deal on air dispute
The EU and US have agreed to begin talks on ending subsidies given to aircraft makers, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has announced. Both sides…
New delay hits EU software laws
A fresh delay has hit controversial new European Union rules which govern computer-based inventions. The draft law was not adopted by EU ministers as …
Milburn defends poster campaign
Labour's election chief Alan Milburn has defended his party's campaign posters amid Tory claims the ads were nothing short of "sly anti-Semitism". Mr …
Video phones act as dating tools
Technologies, from e-mail, to net chatrooms, instant messaging and mobiles, have proved to be a big pull with those looking for love. The lure once wa…
Yukos owner sues Russia for $28bn
The majority owner of embattled Russian oil firm Yukos has sued the Russian government for $28.3bn (£15.2bn). The Kremlin last year seized and sold Yu…
US insurer Marsh cuts 2,500 jobs
Up to 2,500 jobs are to go at US insurance broker Marsh & McLennan in a shake up following bigger-than-expected losses. The insurer said the cuts were…
Dublin hi-tech labs to shut down
Dublin's hi-tech research laboratory, Media Labs Europe, is to shut down. The research centre, which was started by the Irish government and the Massa…
Jones medals 'must go if guilty'
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound says Marion Jones should be stripped of all her medals if found guilty of taking banned substances. V…
Abba queen enters music rich list
The woman behind the Abba musical Mamma Mia! has joined a list of British-based music millionaires. Producer Judy Craymer is the highest new entry in …
Pixies take on Reading and Leeds
Pixies, Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden will headline this summer's Leeds and Reading festivals. The trio of rock heavyweights will top the bill for the …
Argentina closes $102.6bn debt swap
Argentina is set to close its $102.6bn (£53.51bn) debt restructuring offer for bondholders later on Friday, with the government hopeful that most cred…
Broadband steams ahead in the US
More and more Americans are joining the internet's fast lane, according to official figures. The number of people and business connected to broadband …
Casual gaming to 'take off'
Games aimed at "casual players" are set to be even bigger in 2005, according to industry experts. Easy-to-play titles that do not require too much tim…
Goldsmith denies war advice claim
The attorney general has denied his statement to Parliament about the legality of the Iraq war was drafted by Downing Street officials. Lord Goldsmith…
Ethnic producers 'face barriers'
Minority ethnic led (Mel) production companies face barriers in succeeding in the film and television industries, research has suggested. The study, c…
Salary scandal in Cameroon
Cameroon says widespread corruption in its finance ministry has cost it 1bn CFA francs ($2m; £1m) a month. About 500 officials are accused of either a…
Benitez deflects blame from Dudek
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has refused to point the finger of blame at goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek after Portsmouth claimed a draw at Anfield. Dudek …
Angels 'favourite funeral song'
Angels by Robbie Williams is the song Britons would most like played at their funeral, a survey has suggested. While the melancholy hit topped the UK …
Wilkinson to lead England
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has been named as England's new rugby union captain for the three November Tests. The 25-year-old Newcastle star takes over f…
Williams says he will never quit
Defiant Matt Williams says he will not quit as Scotland coach even if his side slump to a new low with defeat by Italy at Murrayfield. That would leav…
High fuel costs hit US airlines
Two of the largest airlines in the US - American and Southwest - have blamed record fuel prices for their disappointing quarterly results. American Ai…
Henin-Hardenne beaten on comeback
Justine Henin-Hardenne lost to Elena Dementieva in a comeback exhibition match in Belgium on Sunday for her second defeat in two days. And the Belgian…
Aviator 'creator' in Oscars snub
The man who said he got Oscar-nominated movie The Aviator off the ground and signed up Leonardo DiCaprio has been shut out of the Academy Awards race.…
Tindall aiming to earn Lions spot
Bath and England centre Mike Tindall believes he can make this summer's Lions tour, despite missing most of the season through injury. The World Cup w…
Blair told to double overseas aid
Tony Blair is being urged to use all his negotiating powers to end poor countries' debt and double aid. Some 45 million children will die needlessly b…
Children vote Shrek 2 best film
Young UK film fans voted animated Hollywood hit Shrek 2 best film at the children's Bafta awards on Sunday. More than 6,000 children voted in the only…
Mobiles double up as bus tickets
Mobiles could soon double up as travel cards, with Nokia planning to try out a wireless ticket system on German buses. Early next year travellers in t…
FA charges Liverpool and Millwall
Liverpool and Millwall have been charged by the Football Association over crowd trouble during their Carling Cup match on 26 October. Millwall, who lo…
Russian ex-spy on hunger strike
An ex-Russian intelligence officer who risked his life spying for MI6 is entering the seventh week of a hunger strike near 10 Downing Street. Viktor M…
Briton wins short film Oscar
Three of the five nominees in the live-action short film category at this year's Oscars were British. For Andrea Arnold, who won the category, Ashvin …
Film production 'falls' 40% in UK
The number of British films produced in the UK fell 40% in 2004, with movies starring Johnny Depp and Jude Law among those affected, Screen Daily has …
EC calls truce in deficit battle
The European Commission (EC) has called a truce in its battle with France and Germany over breaching deficit limits. The move came after France and Ge…
Labour accused of broken pledge
Labour has already broken its pre-election promise on immigration before the ink has dried on its new pledge card, the Tories have claimed. Home Secre…
Hi-tech posters guide commuters
Interactive posters are helping Londoners get around the city during the festive season. When interrogated with a mobile phone, the posters pass on a …
Dawson joins England injury list
Scrum-half Matt Dawson is an injury doubt for England's Six Nations opener against Wales next weekend. The World Cup winner missed Wasps' 12-9 loss to…
BAA support ahead of court battle
UK airport operator BAA has reiterated its support for the government's aviation expansion plans to airports throughout the country. The comments come…
Iraq to invite phone licence bids
Iraq is to invite bids for two telephone licences, saying it wants to significantly boost nationwide coverage over the next decade. Bids have been inv…
Galloway plea for hostage release
Ex-Labour MP George Galloway has appealed for the release of aid worker Margaret Hassan, kidnapped in Iraq. Mrs Hassan, 59, who led Care International…
Legendary Dutch boss Michels dies
Legendary Dutch coach Rinus Michels, the man credited with developing "total football", has died aged 77. Referred to in the Netherlands as "the Gener…
MPs quiz aides over royal income
Senior officials at the two bodies generating private income for the Queen and Prince of Wales are to be questioned by MPs. Aides from the Duchy of La…
WorldCom director admits lying
The former chief financial officer at US telecoms firm WorldCom has admitted before a New York court that he used to lie to fellow board members. Spea…
Learning to love broadband
We are reaching the point where broadband is a central part of daily life, at least for some, argues technology analyst Bill Thompson. One of the nice…
Citizenship event for 18s touted
Citizenship ceremonies could be introduced for people celebrating their 18th birthday, Charles Clarke has said. The idea will be tried as part of an o…
Strike threat over pension plans
Millions of public service workers could strike if ministers scrap their final salary pension scheme and make them work longer, warn union leaders. Th…
Tsunami 'to hit Sri Lanka banks'
Sri Lanka's banks face hard times following December's tsunami disaster, officials have warned. The Sri Lanka Banks Association said the waves which k…
Gurkhas to help tsunami victims
Britain has offered to send a company of 120 Gurkhas to assist with the tsunami relief effort in Indonesia, Downing Street said. The deployment would …
Loyalty cards idea for TV addicts
Viewers could soon be rewarded for watching TV as loyalty cards come to a screen near you. Any household hooked up to Sky could soon be using smartcar…
Blog reading explodes in America
Americans are becoming avid blog readers, with 32 million getting hooked in 2004, according to new research. The survey, conducted by the Pew Internet…
Republic to face China and Italy
The Republic of Ireland have arranged friendlies against China and Italy which will take place at Lansdowne Road in March and August. Brian Kerr's sid…
Millions to miss out on the net
By 2025, 40% of the UK's population will still be without internet access at home, says a study. Around 23 million Britons will miss out on a wide ran…
Swiss cement firm in buying spree
Swiss cement firm Holcim has bid $800m (£429m) to buy two Indian cement firms and a holding company in the country. It plans to buy Associated Cement …
Mobile networks seek turbo boost
Third-generation mobile (3G) networks need to get faster if they are to deliver fast internet surfing on the move and exciting new services. That was …
Melzer shocks Agassi
Second seed Andre Agassi suffered a comprehensive defeat by Jurgen Melzer in the quarter-finals of the SAP Open. Agassi was often bamboozled by the Au…
McLeish ready for criticism
Rangers manager Alex McLeish accepts he is going to be criticised after their disastrous Uefa Cup exit at the hands of Auxerre at Ibrox on Wednesday. …
Download chart debut is delayed
The inclusion of downloaded music in the official singles chart has been delayed for a month. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) had planned to i…
Godzilla gets Hollywood fame star
Movie monster Godzilla has received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, honouring both his 50th birthday and the launch of his 28th film. An actor dre…
Germany nears 1990 jobless level
German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month in December - making the year's average jobless total the highest since reunification. The sea…
UKIP MEP attacked German 'empire'
A UK Independence Party MEP suggested Germany saw the EU as an 'empire' and was cheaper than using tanks, a new documentary has revealed. Mike Nattras…
MP's shock at long lost daughter
Labour MP Stephen Pound has told of his shock and his joy on learning he fathered a daughter when he was "out of control" during the "wild" 1960s. Luc…
Cash gives way to flexible friend
Spending on credit and debit cards has overtaken cash spending in the UK for the first time. The moment that plastic finally toppled cash happened at …
Boro suffer Morrison injury blow
Middlesbrough midfielder James Morrison has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after an operation on Tuesday. The 18-year-old, who has played in 13 …
Boothroyd calls for Lords speaker
Betty Boothroyd has said the House of Lords needs its own Speaker and that peers should lead the way on reforming the upper chamber. Baroness Boothroy…
Telewest to challenge Sky Plus
Cable firm Telewest is to offer a personal video recorder (PVR) in a set -top box to challenge Sky Plus. Sky Plus is the market leader in the field of…
Zambia confident and cautious
Zambia's technical director, Kalusha Bwalya is confident and cautious ahead of the Cosafa Cup final against Angola on Saturday in Lusaka. Bwalya said:…
Blackburn v Burnley
Ewood Park Tuesday, 1 March 2000 GMT Howard Webb (South Yorkshire) home to Leicester in the quarter-finals But defender Andy Todd is suspended and cou…
Kennedy criticises 'unfair' taxes
Gordon Brown has failed to tackle the "fundamental unfairness" in the tax system in his ninth Budget, Charles Kennedy has said. How was it right that …
Blair rejects Tory terror offer
Tony Blair has rejected a Conservative compromise offer that could have eased the passage of anti-terror legislation. The Tories wanted a sunset claus…
What high-definition will do to DVDs
First it was the humble home video, then it was the DVD, and now Hollywood is preparing for the next revolution in home entertainment - high-definitio…
Howard backs stem cell research
Michael Howard has backed stem cell research, saying it is important people are not frightened of the future. The controversial issue was a feature of…
No charges against TV's Cosby
US comedian Bill Cosby will not face charges stemming from an allegation of sexual misconduct. Authorities in Philadelphia said they found insufficien…
Brazil buy boosts Belgium's Inbev
Belgian brewing giant Inbev has seen its profits soar thanks to its acquisition of Brazil's biggest beer firm Ambev last year. Inbev, which makes Stel…
O'Leary agrees new Villa contract
Aston Villa boss David O'Leary signed a three-and-a-half year contract extension on Thursday, securing his future at the club until summer 2008. O'Lea…
No election TV debate, says Blair
Tony Blair has said he will not take part in a TV debate with his political rivals ahead of the next election. "We answer this every election campaign…
MPs' murder sentence concern
Murder sentences should not be reduced automatically simply because of a guilty plea, says a new MPs' report. The influential Commons home affairs com…
Two Nigerian banks set to merge
Nigerian banks United Bank of Africa and Standard Trust Bank have agreed plans to merge and create the biggest bank in West Africa. The deal is also i…
Jowell confirms casino climbdown
Tessa Jowell has announced plans to limit the number of new casinos in the UK to 24, in a move branded a "humiliating retreat" by the Tories. It puts …
Arnold congratulated on Oscar win
Oscar-winner Andrea Arnold has been congratulated by the UK Film Council, the organisation which partly funded her project. Arnold's film Wasp won the…
Indy buys into India paper
Irish publishing group Independent News & Media is buying up a 26% stake in Indian newspaper company Jagran in a deal worth 25m euros ($34.1m). Jagran…
German jobless rate at new record
More than 5.2 million Germans were out of work in February, new figures show. The figure of 5.216 million people, or 12.6% of the working-age populati…
Global digital divide 'narrowing'
The "digital divide" between rich and poor nations is narrowing fast, according to a World Bank report. The World Bank questioned a United Nation's ca…
Blues slam Blackburn over Savage
Birmingham have confirmed Blackburn made a bid for Robbie Savage - but managing director Karen Brady has called it "derisory". Rovers have reportedly …
Tories reject rethink on axed MP
Sacked MP Howard Flight's local Conservative association has insisted he will not be its candidate at the general election. Russell Tanguay, agent for…
Blunkett row should end - Blair
Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was time to draw a line under the controversy surrounding David Blunkett. The Tories and the Lib Dems have called fo…
Vouchers 'to cut winter deaths'
Pensioners are being promised energy savings by the Liberal Democrats, as snow and cold temperatures continue. The party says the plans could save the…
Irish duo could block Man Utd bid
Irishmen JP McManus and John Magnier, who own a 29% stake in Manchester United, will reportedly reject any formal £800m offer for the club. The Sunday…
BP surges ahead on high oil price
Oil giant BP has announced a 26% rise in annual profits to $16.2bn (£8.7bn) on the back of record oil prices. Last week, rival Shell reported an annua…
Mourinho to escape FA charge
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will not face any Football Association action over the comments he made after their Carling Cup tie with Manchester United.…
Election deal faltered over Heath role
The Tories failed to hold onto power in 1974 after Liberals demanded Sir Edward Heath quit in return for co-operation. Documents released after 30 yea…
UK's 'useless' quangos under fire
The UK has 529 quangos financed with billions of pounds of taxpayers' cash - many of which are useless or duplicate each other's efforts, a report cla…
Mogul Wilson backing UK rap band
Tony Wilson, the music mogul who established the influential Factory Records in the 1980s, is to launch a new label - convinced he has discovered his …
Ask Jeeves joins web log market
Ask Jeeves has bought the Bloglines website to improve the way it handles content from web journals or blogs. The Bloglines site has become hugely pop…
Minister digs in over doping row
The Belgian sports minister at the centre of the Svetlana Kuznetsova doping row says he will not apologise for making allegations against her. Claude …
Bath faced with Tindall ultimatum
Mike Tindall's agent has warned Bath they have until next week to improve their contract offer to the England man or risk losing him to a rival club. …
Short attacks US over tsunami aid
Former Cabinet minister Clare Short has criticised the US-led tsunami aid coalition, saying the UN should be leading efforts. President Bush has annou…
McDonald's boss Bell dies aged 44
Charlie Bell, the straight-talking former head of fast-food giant McDonald's, has died of cancer aged 44. Mr Bell was diagnosed with colorectal cancer…
Venezuela identifies 'idle' farms
Venezuelan authorities have identified more than 500 farms, including 56 large estates, as idle as it continues with its controversial land reform pol…
How to make a greener computer
The hi-tech industry is starting to get more environmentally aware. Bill Thompson thinks it's about time. My first car ran on four star petrol and pum…
Robots learn 'robotiquette' rules
Robots are learning lessons on "robotiquette" - how to behave socially - so they can mix better with humans. By playing games, like pass-the-parcel, a…
Web logs aid disaster recovery
Some of the most vivid descriptions of the devastation in southern Asia are on the internet - in the form of web logs or blogs. Bloggers have been off…
Johnny Depp: The acting outlaw
Johnny Depp, whose latest role was Peter Pan creator JM Barrie in Finding Neverland, is celebrated as one of Hollywood's most maverick talents. Depp h…
Sundance to honour foreign films
International films will be given the same prominence as US films at next year's Sundance Film Festival, with movies dominated by the theme of war. Th…
Church anger over Bollywood film
Roman Catholic organisations in India have demanded the withdrawal of a film that depicts a priest having an affair with a girl half his age. Indian t…
BBC leads interactive Bafta wins
The BBC and the National Theatre have led the field at this year's Interactive Bafta awards. The National Theatre's Stagework website picked up the pr…
Church urges Nelly show boycott
Church ministers are trying to prevent rapper Nelly performing in Arkansas, saying they do not want his "vile and filthy lyrics" in their town. More t…
GM, Ford cut output as sales fall
US car firms General Motors (GM) and Ford have been forced to cut production in the face of falling car sales. US sales at GM sank 12.7% in February c…
Dollar slides ahead of New Year
The US dollar has hit a new record low against the euro and analysts predict that more declines are likely in 2005. Disappointing economic reports den…
Beckham rules out management move
Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has no plans to become a manager when his playing career is over. "I am not interested in being a coach but I wou…
Germany calls for EU reform
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has called for radical reform of the EU's stability pact to grant countries more flexibility over their budget def…
Metlife buys up Citigroup insurer
US banking giant Citigroup has sold its Travelers Life & Annuity insurance arm to Metlife for $11.5bn (£6.1bn). The sale is a further move by Citigrou…
Paraguay novel wins US book prize
A novel set in 19th century Paraguay has won the $10,000 (£5,390) fiction prize at the US National Book Awards. Lily Tuck's The News From Paraguay is …
Research fears over Kelly's views
Scientists have expressed concerns that new education secretary Ruth Kelly's religious views could hamper vital scientific research. Ms Kelly, who is …
Yukos heading back to US courts
Russian oil and gas company Yukos is due in a US court on Thursday as it continues to fight for its survival. The firm is in the process of being brok…
US company admits Benin bribery
A US defence and telecommunications company has agreed to pay $28.5m after admitting bribery in the West African state of Benin. The Titan corporation…
Roddick in talks over new coach
Andy Roddick is reportedly close to confirming US Davis Cup assistant Dean Goldfine as his new coach. Roddick ended his 18-month partnership with Brad…
Manics in charge of BBC 6 Music
The Manic Street Preachers are to take over the helm of BBC digital radio station 6 Music for a week in December. The Welsh band, whose hits include D…
Half-Life 2 sweeps Bafta awards
PC first person shooter Half-Life 2 has won six Bafta Awards, including best game and best online game. The title, developed by Valve, was released la…
Security warning over 'FBI virus'
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning that a computer virus is being spread via e-mails that purport to be from the FBI. The e-mails show …
Man Utd through after Exeter test
Manchester United avoided an FA Cup upset by edging past Exeter City in their third round replay. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the opener, slipping the ba…
Owen delighted with Real display
Michael Owen revelled in his return to the to the Real Madrid starting line-up and inspired a 3-1 win over Real Betis on Wednesday by scoring the firs…
New rules tackle 'sham weddings'
New rules on marriage for foreign nationals living in the UK are coming into force. From Tuesday, most non-EU citizens will need Home Office approval …
Deutsche Boerse set to 'woo' LSE
Bosses of Deutsche Boerse and the London Stock Exchange are to meet amid talk that a takeover bid for the LSE will be raised to £1.5bn ($2.9bn). Last …
Visa decision 'every 11 minutes'
Visa processing staff are sometimes expected to rule on an application every 11 minutes, MPs have said. Pressure was placed on staff to be efficient, …
The Sound of Music is coming home
The original stage production of The Sound of Music is to be performed for the first time in the Austrian capital, 40 years after the film was release…
Animation charms Japan box office
Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki's latest film has set a new Japanese box office record, with 1.5bn yen ($14.3m) in two days, according to report…
UK bank seals South Korean deal
UK-based bank Standard Chartered said it would spend $3.3bn (£1.8bn) to buy one of South Korea's main retail banks. Standard Chartered said acquiring …
Crude oil prices back above $50
Cold weather across parts of the United States and much of Europe has pushed US crude oil prices above $50 a barrel for the first time in almost three…
Ukraine revisits state sell-offs
Ukraine is preparing what could be a wholesale review of the privatisation of thousands of businesses by the previous administration. The new Presiden…
Parmalat to return to stockmarket
Parmalat, the Italian dairy company which went bust after an accounting scandal, hopes to be back on the Italian stock exchange in July. The firm gain…
Thousands join strike in Wales
Thousands of civil servants were on strike across Wales on Friday in protest at planned job cuts. A range of services in Wales were affected as civil …
US TV special for tsunami relief
A US television network will screen a celebrity TV special to benefit the tsunami relief effort in South Asia. NBC will encourage viewer donations dur…
Europe asks Asia for euro help
European leaders say Asian states must let their currencies rise against the US dollar to ease pressure on the euro. The European single currency has …
Lib Dems stress Budget trust gap
Public trust in the handling of the economy can only be restored if Gordon Brown opens up his books for unbiased inspection, say the Lib Dems. City ex…
Tautou film tops Cesar prize nods
French film A Very Long Engagement has received 12 nominations for France's Cesar film awards, despite a recent ruling it was "not French enough". The…
EU to probe Alitalia 'state aid'
The European Commission has officially launched an in-depth investigation into whether Italian airline Alitalia is receiving illegal state aid. Commis…
Feta cheese battle reaches court
A row over whether only Greece should be allowed to label its cheese feta has reached the European Court of Justice. The Danish and German governments…
Chepkemei joins Edinburgh line-up
Susan Chepkemei has decided she is fit enough to run in next month's Great Edinburgh International Cross Country. The Kenyan was initially unsure if s…
'UK will stand firm on EU rebate'
Britain's £3bn EU rebate is not up for renegotiation at next week's European Council summit, Jack Straw said. The foreign secretary told MPs the rebat…
More movies head to Sony's PSP
Movies Open Water and Saw are among those to be made available for Sony's PSP games console. Film studio Lions Gate entertainment has announced an ini…
Campese berates whingeing England
Former Australian wing David Campese has told England to stop whingeing in the wake of their defeat to Ireland. England coach Andy Robinson lambasted …
Real in talks over Gravesen move
Real Madrid are closing in on a £2m deal for Everton's Thomas Gravesen after the Dane's agent travelled to Spain to hold talks about a move. John Siva…
Minimum wage increased to £5.05
The minimum wage will rise in October, benefiting more than 1m people, the government has announced. Adults must be paid at least £5.05 an hour, up fr…
Tory 'stalking horse' Meyer dies
Sir Anthony Meyer, the Tory backbencher who challenged Margaret Thatcher for the party leadership in 1989, has died. He was 84, had been suffering fro…
Honda wins China copyright ruling
Japan's Honda has won a copyright case in Beijing, further evidence that China is taking a tougher line on protecting intellectual property rights. A …
US regulator to rule on pain drug
US food and drug regulators will decide on Friday whether to recommend the sale of painkillers that have been linked to a high risk of heart attack an…
Worldcom ex-boss launches defence
Lawyers defending former WorldCom chief Bernie Ebbers against a battery of fraud charges have called a company whistleblower as their first witness. C…
Beckham virus spotted on the net
Virus writers are trading on interest in David Beckham to distribute their malicious wares. Messages are circulating widely that purport to have evide…
Borders rail link campaign rally
Campaigners are to stage a rally calling for a Borders rail link which was closed in 1969 to be reopened. They will mark the 36th anniversary of the l…
Applegate's Charity show closes
US musical Sweet Charity has cancelled its run on Broadway after poor ticket sales for its early shows. Star Christina Applegate had to pull out of pr…
Owen set for skipper role
Wales number eight Michael Owen says replacing Gareth Thomas as Wales' captain will be straightforward because of the leadership quality in the squad.…
Kilroy launches 'Veritas' party
Ex-BBC chat show host and East Midlands MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk has said he wants to "change the face of British politics" as he launched his new party…
Hotspot users gain free net calls
People using wireless net hotspots will soon be able to make free phone calls as well as surf the net. Wireless provider Broadreach and net telephony …
Gebrselassie in London triple bid
Double Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie will race in the London Marathon for the next three years. The Ethiopian legend won Sunday's Almeri…
India unveils anti-poverty budget
India is to boost spending on primary schools and health in a budget flagged as a boost for the ordinary citizen. India's defence budget has also been…
Saudi ministry to employ women
Women will be employed in Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry for the first time this year, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has been reported as sa…
UK broadband gets speed injection
Broadband's rapid rise continues apace as speeds gear up a notch. An eight megabit service has been launched by internet service provider UK Online. I…
Athens memories soar above lows
Well, it's goodbye to another Olympic year and as usual there were plenty of highs and lows in Athens. Obviously, there's no getting away from the dif…
Oscars steer clear of controversy
The Oscars nominations list has left out some of the most controversial films of the past year in favour of safer, less contentious cinema. If best fi…
Davies favours Gloucester future
Wales hooker Mefin Davies is likely to stay with English side Gloucester despite reported interest from the Neath-Swansea Ospreys. BBC Wales understan…
Gerrard plays down European hopes
Steven Gerrard has admitted that Liverpool have little chance of winning the Champions League this season. The 24-year-old Reds skipper spoke out ahea…
Blair congratulates Bush on win
Tony Blair has said he looks forward to continuing his strong relationship with George Bush and working with him during his second term as president. …
Aviation firms eye booming India
India's defence minister has opened the country's Aero India 2005 air show with an invitation for global aerospace firms to outsource jobs to the nati…
Deadline nears for Fiat-GM deal
Fiat and General Motors (GM) have until midnight on 1 February to settle a disagreement over a potential takeover. The deadline marks the point at whi…
Row brewing over peer-to-peer ads
Music download networks are proving popular not just with an audience of youngsters keen to take advantage of free music but with advertisers equally …
'Few ready' for information act
Thousands of public bodies are ill-prepared for the Freedom of Information Act, due to come into force next month, because of government failures, say…
Uganda bans Vagina Monologues
Uganda's authorities have banned the play The Vagina Monologues, due to open in the capital, Kampala this weekend. The Ugandan Media Council said the …
Jobs growth still slow in the US
The US created fewer jobs than expected in January, but a fall in jobseekers pushed the unemployment rate to its lowest level in three years. Accordin…
Apple Mac mini gets warm welcome
The Mac mini has been welcomed by Apple fans, industry experts and PC users. The release of the tiny, low-cost machine is seen as a good move for Appl…
Hollywood to sue net film pirates
The US movie industry has launched legal action to sue people who facilitate illegal film downloading. The Motion Picture Association of America wants…
Saint-Andre anger at absent stars
Sale Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre has re-opened rugby's club-versus-country debate. Sale host Bath in the Powergen Cup on Friday, but…
Collins calls for Chambers return
World 100m champion Kim Collins says suspended sprinter Dwain Chambers should be allowed to compete in the Olympics again. Chambers was banned for two…
Labour faces 'cold calls' inquiry
Labour is to be investigated by a watchdog over claims its election campaign has broken the rules on "cold calling" householders. The information comm…
Labour MPs' fears over squabbling
If there is one thing certain to stiffen the spines of Labour MPs it is the prospect of losing their seats at a general election. And it was largely t…
Top stars join US tsunami TV show
Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro and Hugh Grant have been added to the line-up for a two-hour US TV special to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami. …
Top gig award for Scissor Sisters
New York band Scissor Sisters have won a gig of the year award for their performance at this year's V Festival. The award was voted for by listeners o…
Conservative MP defects to Labour
A Conservative MP and former minister has defected to Labour. Robert Jackson, 58, MP for Wantage in Oxfordshire, said he was disillusioned with the pa…
Henson stakes early Lions claim
The Six Nations may be a glittering prize in itself but every player from the four Home Unions will also have one eye on a possible trip to New Zealan…
Kennedy looks to election gains
They may not know quite how to describe their position in British politics - the real opposition, the valid opposition, the effective opposition or th…
Malaysia lifts Islamic bank limit
Malaysia's central bank is to relax restrictions on foreign ownership to encourage Islamic banking. Banks in Malaysia will now be able to sell up to 4…
Rapper 50 Cent scores chart first
Rapper 50 Cent has become the first solo artist to have three singles in the US top five in the same week. His track Candy Shop remained at the top of…
Jarre joins fairytale celebration
French musician Jean-Michel Jarre is to perform at a concert in Copenhagen to mark the bicentennial of the birth of writer Hans Christian Andersen. De…
Format wars could 'confuse users'
Technology firms Sony, Philips, Matsushita and Samsung are developing a common way to stop people pirating digital music and video. The firms want to …
Pandas benefit from wireless net
The world's dwindling panda population is getting a helping hand from a wireless internet network. The Wolong Nature Reserve in the Sichuan Province o…
Robertson out to retain Euro lure
Hearts manager John Robertson hopes a place in the knock-out stages of the Uefa Cup could help keep some of his out-of-contract players at the club. "…
Mirza makes Indian tennis history
Teenager Sania Mirza completed a superb week at the Hyderabad Open by becoming the first Indian in history to win a WTA singles title. In front of a d…
Hantuchova in Dubai last eight
Daniela Hantuchova moved into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open, after beating Elene Likhotseva of Russia 7-5 6-4, and now faces Serena Williams. A…
Thompson says Gerrard should stay
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has pleaded with Steve Gerrard to reject any overtures from Chelsea. The ex-Reds assistant boss also warned that any ho…
Tories plan migrant health checks
Non-European Union citizens wanting to work in the UK will have to undergo tests for Tuberculosis and HIV, under plans unveiled by the Conservatives. …
Ford gains from finance not cars
Ford, the US car company, reported higher fourth quarter and full-year profits on Thursday boosted by a buoyant period for its car loans unit. Net inc…
Why few targets are better than many
The economic targets set out at the Lisbon summit of European Union leaders in 2000 were meant to help Europe leapfrog its way past the United States …
Insurance bosses plead guilty
Another three US insurance executives have pleaded guilty to fraud charges stemming from an ongoing investigation into industry malpractice. Two execu…
Palace threat over Cantona masks
Manchester United fans wearing Eric Cantona masks will not be allowed in Selhurst Park on Saturday. United fans are planning to mark the 10th annivers…
NHS waiting time target is cut
Hospital waiting times for patients in Wales are to be cut, but not to the same extent as those in England. Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt said no pa…
Royal couple watch nation's mood
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are awaiting the nation's reaction after announcing they are to be married on 8 April. Mrs Parker Bowles will…
Crucial decision on super-casinos
A decision on whether to allow Westminster to legislate on super-casinos is set to be made by the Scottish Parliament. The government has plans for up…
US to probe airline travel chaos
The US government is to investigate two airlines- US Airways and Delta Air Lines' Comair subsidiary - after travel chaos over the Christmas weekend. S…
US crude prices surge above $53
US crude prices have soared to fresh four-month highs above $53 in the US as refinery problems propelled petrol prices to an all-time high. US light s…
Wenger signs new deal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has signed a new contract to stay at the club until May 2008. Wenger has ended speculation about his future by agreeing …
Lib Dems unveil women's manifesto
The Liberal Democrats are attempting to woo female voters with the launch of their manifesto for women. Charles Kennedy is pledging a maternity income…
Iraqis win death test case probe
The family of an Iraqi civilian allegedly killed by UK troops have won a challenge against the government's refusal to order a full inquiry. The High …
Go-ahead for Balkan oil pipeline
Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia has given the go ahead for the construction of a $1.2bn oil pipeline that will pass through the Balkan peninsula. The …
MCI shares climb on takeover bid
Shares in US phone company MCI have risen on speculation that it is in takeover talks. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Qwest has bid…
Ferguson fears Milan cutting edge
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said his side's task against AC Milan would not be made any easier by the absence of Andriy Shevchenko. Mi…
Moyes U-turn on Beattie dismissal
Everton manager David Moyes will discipline striker James Beattie after all for his headbutt on Chelsea defender William Gallas. The Scot initially de…
The comic book genius of Stan Lee
Stan Lee, the man responsible for a string of comic superheroes that have become household names, has won a court battle for a slice of the profits fr…
Finding new homes for old phones
Re-using old mobile phones is not just good for the environment, it has social benefits too. Research has found that in some developing nations old mo…
Booming markets shed few tears
The market, former British government minister Michael Heseltine once said, has no morality. And indeed, stock exchange traders around Asia have waste…
Ask Jeeves tips online ad revival
Ask Jeeves has become the third leading online search firm this week to thank a revival in internet advertising for improving fortunes. The firm's rev…
High fuel prices hit BA's profits
British Airways has blamed high fuel prices for a 40% drop in profits. Reporting its results for the three months to 31 December 2004, the airline mad…
Reaction from Spanish press
England's 1-0 defeat to Spain on Wednesday dominated the back and front pages of the country's press on Thursday. Controversy was in no short supply, …
US casino 'tricks' face ban in UK
Controversial new UK casinos will be banned from using American tricks of the trade to ensure they are "socially responsible", it has been suggested. …
February poll claim 'speculation'
Reports that Tony Blair is planning a snap general election for February 2005 have been described as "idle speculation" by Downing Street. A spokesman…
Video phone help for deaf people
Deaf people who prefer to communicate using British Sign Language (BSL) could soon be having their phone conversations relayed using webcams or videop…
Troubled Marsh under SEC scrutiny
The US stock market regulator is investigating troubled insurance broker Marsh & McLennan's shareholder transactions, the firm has said. The Securitie…
Novartis hits acquisition trail
Swiss drugmaker Novartis has announced 5.65bn euros ($7.4bn; £3.9bn) of purchases to make its Sandoz unit the world's biggest generic drug producer. N…
Dollar gains on Greenspan speech
The dollar has hit its highest level against the euro in almost three months after the Federal Reserve head said the US trade deficit is set to stabil…
Players sought for $1m prize
UK gamers are getting a chance to take part in a $1m tournament thanks to one of the country's top teams. The Four-Kings clan is staging a Pop Idol ty…
Hereford 1-1 Doncaster
Hereford win 3-1 on penalties. Rovers took the lead on 59 minutes as Michael McIndoe's corner found Adriano Rigoglioso, whose stunning volley soared i…
Blunkett hints at election call
Ex-Home Secretary David Blunkett has given fresh clues that the general election will be announced on Monday. He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm out in…
Will the Budget bring out smiling voters?
As Tory spokesman Oliver Letwin said - any chancellor would use his pre-election budget to offer some vote winning sweeteners, wouldn't he. And everyo…
Cebit fever takes over Hanover
Thousands of products and tens of thousands of visitors make Cebit the place to be for technology lovers. "Welcome to CeBit 2005" was the message from…
Ministers deny care sums 'wrong'
Ministers have insisted they are committed to free personal care for the elderly despite research suggesting the cost of the policy was under-estimate…
Douglas set for Indian adventure
Actor Michael Douglas is to co-produce and star in an adventure film about a diamond robbery set in India. The new picture is expected to be similar t…
Premier League planning Cole date
The Premier League is attempting to find a mutually convenient date to investigate allegations Chelsea made an illegal approach for Ashley Cole. Both …
Anti-spam screensaver scrapped
A contentious campaign to bump up the bandwidth bills of spammers by flooding their sites with data has been dropped. Lycos Europe's Make Love, Not Sp…
Ray Charles studio becomes museum
A museum dedicated to the career of the late legendary singer Ray Charles is to open in his former recording studio in Los Angeles. His longtime publi…
Campaigners attack MTV 'sleaze'
MTV has been criticised for "incessant sleaze" by television indecency campaigners in the US. The Parents Television Council (PTC), which monitors vio…
Santy worm makes unwelcome visit
Thousands of website bulletin boards have been defaced by a virus that used Google to spread across the net. The Santy worm first appeared on 20 Decem…
Castaignede fires Laporte warning
Former France fly-half Thomas Castaignede has warned the pressure is mounting on coach Bernard Laporte following their defeat by Wales. France suffere…
China continues rapid growth
China's economy has expanded by a breakneck 9.5% during 2004, faster than predicted and well above 2003's 9.1%. The news may mean more limits on inves…
2D Metal Slug offers retro fun
Like some drill sergeant from the past, Metal Slug 3 is a wake-up call to today's gamers molly-coddled with slick visuals and fancy trimmings. With it…
Scots suffer another injury blow
Scotland's back row crisis has worsened ahead of the RBS Six Nations with news that Scott Gray will miss out on the opening matches. The Borders flank…
Hitzlsperger waiting on O'Leary
Aston Villa's Thomas Hitzlsperger is waiting to learn the future of manager David O'Leary before committing himself to a new contract with the club. O…
Newcastle 27-27 Gloucester
Newcastle centre Mathew Tait answered his critics as he scored one try and made another, but he could not stop Gloucester grabbing a draw. The Falcons…
Howard rejects BNP's claim
Tory leader Michael Howard has dismissed claims that his immigration policy was "moving onto the turf" of the British National Party (BNP). BNP leader…
Actor Scott is new Bond favourite
Bookmaker William Hill has stopped taking bets on who will be the next James Bond, following a succession of large wagers on actor Dougray Scott. The …
Oil prices fall back from highs
Oil prices retreated from four-month highs in early trading on Tuesday after producers' cartel Opec said it was now unlikely to cut production. Follow…
Call for Kenteris to be cleared
Kostas Kenteris' lawyer has called for the doping charges against the Greek sprinter to be dropped. Gregory Ioannidis has submitted new evidence to a …
Blair stresses prosperity goals
Tony Blair says his party's next manifesto will be "unremittingly New Labour" and aimed at producing "personal prosperity for all". The prime minister…
Help for indies in download sales
A campaign has been launched to help independent labels get their music online and benefit from the growing trend for downloading music. The British P…
Dallaglio his own man to the end
Controversy and Lawrence Dallaglio have never been very far away from each other throughout a glittering international career. Even the end of his nin…
Holmes secures comeback victory
Britain's Kelly Holmes marked her first appearance on home soil since winning double Olympic gold with 1500m victory at the Norwich Union Internationa…
India-Pakistan peace boosts trade
Calmer relations between India and Pakistan are paying economic dividends, with new figures showing bilateral trade up threefold in the summer. The va…
End Bush 'denial' Blair tells EU
Tony Blair is urging European leaders to wake up from their "state of denial" over President Bush's re-election. "America has spoken. The rest of the …
$1m payoff for former Shell boss
Shell is to pay $1m (£522,000) to the ex-finance chief who stepped down from her post in April 2004 after the firm over-stated its reserves. Judy Boyn…
US firm pulls out of Iraq
A US company has pulled out of a major contract to rebuild Iraq's transport system after attacks on reconstruction efforts, Pentagon officials have sa…
BBC denies Blackadder TV comeback
The BBC has said there are no plans in the pipeline for a new series of hit comedy Blackadder, which ended in 1989. Tony Robinson, who played the serv…
Half of UK's mobiles 'go online'
Multimedia mobile phones are finally showing signs of taking off, with more Britons using them to go online. Figures from industry monitor, the Mobile…
Corry backs skipper Robinson
England forward Martin Corry says Jason Robinson is the right man to lead the national team back to winning ways. After losses to Wales and France, cr…
Probe launched on Ken Nazi jibe
An investigation by the Standards Board is under way following allegations that Ken Livingstone has brought his office into disrepute. The probe follo…
Mayor will not retract Nazi jibe
London mayor Ken Livingstone has again refused to retract a Nazi insult made to a Jewish reporter. Labour's Mr Livingstone, who says he is "standing b…
New consoles promise big problems
Making games for future consoles will require more graphic artists and more money, an industry conference has been told. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo …
Scotland v Italy (Sat)
Murrayfield, Edinburgh Saturday, 26 February 1400 GMT BBC1, Five Live and this website Victory for the Azzurri in Rome last year saw Scotland end thei…
Hacker threat to Apple's iTunes
Users of Apple's music jukebox iTunes need to update the software to avoid a potential security threat. Hackers can build malicious playlist files whi…
Hewitt overcomes wobble in Sydney
Lleyton Hewitt gave himself the perfect preparation for next week's Australian Open with victory over Ivo Minar in the final of the Sydney Internation…
Film star Fox behind theatre bid
Leading actor Edward Fox is one of the men behind plans to reopen a Swansea theatre thought to be Wales' oldest. The star of film and TV hits Day of t…
Weak end-of-year sales hit Next
Next has said its annual profit will be £5m lower than previously expected because its end-of-year clearance sale has proved disappointing. "Clearance…
Dominici backs lacklustre France
Wing Christophe Dominici says France can claim another Six Nations Grand Slam despite two lacklustre wins so far against Scotland and England. The cha…
Borders 19-20 Ulster
Ulster clung on for a morale-boosting Celtic League win over bottom club Borders at Netherdale on Friday night. A late try by Borders substitute Jonny…
Industrial output falls in Japan
Japanese industrial output fell in October while unemployment rose, casting further doubt on the strength of the country's economic recovery. Producti…
Mirza shocks Kuznetsova
Sania Mirza continued her remarkable rise with victory over US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Dubai Championships on Tuesday. The 18-year-ol…
Usher leads Billboard nominations
R&B singer Usher is leading the race for the Billboard awards with nominations in 13 categories, including best male. Alicia Keys has 12 nominations f…
Collins appeals against drugs ban
Sprinter Michelle Collins has lodged an appeal against her eight-year doping ban with the North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The 33-…
Brown visits slum on Africa trip
Chancellor Gordon Brown has visited Kenya's biggest shantytown as he opened a week-long visit to Africa. Mr Brown's trip is designed to highlight how …
Moya fights back for Indian title
Carlos Moya became the first man to successfully defend the Chennai Open title by beating four-times finalist Paradorn Srichaphan 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7/5). T…
Borussia Dortmund near bust
German football club and former European champion Borussia Dortmund has warned it will go bankrupt if rescue talks with creditors fail. The company's …
World tour for top video gamers
Two UK gamers are about to embark on a world tour as part of the most lucrative-ever global games tournament. Aaron Foster and David Treacy have won t…
Clyde 0-5 Celtic
Celtic brushed aside Clyde to secure their place in the Scottish Cup semi-final, but only after a nervy and testing first half. The home side's Craig …
EU aiming to fuel development aid
European Union finance ministers meet on Thursday to discuss proposals, including a tax on jet fuel, to boost development aid for poorer nations. The …
O'Driscoll/Gregan lead Aid stars
Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll will lead the Northern Hemisphere team in the IRB Rugby Aid match at Twickenham. O'Driscoll heads a star-studded cast for t…
Rochus shocks Coria in Auckland
Top seed Guillermo Coria went out of the Heineken Open in Auckland on Thursday with a surprise loss to Olivier Rochus of Belgium. Coria lost the semi-…
Kerr frustrated at victory margin
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr admitted he was frustrated his side did not score more than one goal in their friendly win over Croatia. Robbie…
Trial date is set for Balco case
A US judge has set a preliminary trial date for the Balco steroid distribution case which has rocked athletics. US district court judge Susan Ilston r…
Carry On star Patsy Rowlands dies
Actress Patsy Rowlands, known to millions for her roles in the Carry On films, has died at the age of 71. Rowlands starred in nine of the popular Carr…
Rush future at Chester uncertain
Ian Rush's future as Chester manager is uncertain after he and assistant Mark Aizlewood refused a severance package. Chester have won only two of thei…
Executive trio leave Aer Lingus
Three senior executives of Ireland's state-owned airline, Aer Lingus, are set to leave early on 28 January after accusations of a conflict of interest…
Fit-again Betsen in France squad
France have brought flanker Serge Betsen back into their squad to face England at Twickenham on Sunday. But the player, who missed the victory over Sc…
Galloway targets 'New Labour' MP
George Galloway is to stand against pro-Iraq war Labour MP Oona King at the next general election. Mr Galloway, who on Thursday won £150,000 in libel …
Saudi NCCI's shares soar
Shares in Saudi Arabia's National Company for Cooperative Insurance (NCCI) soared on their first day of trading in Riyadh. They were trading 84% above…
Hariri killing hits Beirut shares
Shares in Solidere, the Lebanese company founded by assassinated former prime minister Rafik Hariri, fell 15% in renewed trading in Beirut. The real e…
Asian banks halt dollar's slide
The dollar regained some lost ground against most major currencies on Wednesday after South Korea and Japan denied they were planning a sell-off. The …
Jol joy at 'professional' Cup win
Tottenham manager Martin Jol acclaimed his players for their patience in their 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round victory over a determined Nottingham Forest side…
Monsanto fined $1.5m for bribery
The US agrochemical giant Monsanto has agreed to pay a $1.5m (£799,000) fine for bribing an Indonesian official. Monsanto admitted one of its employee…
Call to overhaul UK state pension
The UK pension system has been branded inadequate and too complex by a leading retirement think-tank. The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) said replaci…
Building giant in asbestos payout
Australian building products group James Hardie has agreed to pay $1.1bn (£568m) to victims of asbestos-related diseases. The landmark deal could see …
Pernod takeover talk lifts Domecq
Shares in UK drinks and food firm Allied Domecq have risen on speculation that it could be the target of a takeover by France's Pernod Ricard. Reports…
Axa Sun Life cuts bonus payments
Life insurer Axa Sun Life has lowered annual bonus payouts for up to 50,000 with-profits investors. Regular annual bonus rates on former Axa Equity & …
Quiksilver moves for Rossignol
Shares of Skis Rossignol, the world's largest ski-maker, have jumped as much as 15% on speculation that it will be bought by US surfwear firm Quiksilv…
Lib Dems 'to target stamp duty'
The Liberal Democrats are promising to raise the stamp duty threshold if they win the general election, in a bid to court first-time house buyers. Vin…
Labour targets 'hardcore truants'
A fresh crackdown on persistent truants in England has been launched by Education Secretary Ruth Kelly. Serial truants make up one in 13 pupils. Previ…
Bridge could miss rest of season
Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge could miss the rest of the season with a suspected broken ankle. The England international, 24, was hurt in an innocuou…
Worldcom director ends evidence
The former chief financial officer at US telecoms firm WorldCom has finished giving evidence at the trial of his ex-boss Bernie Ebbers. Scott Sullivan…
Mixed signals from French economy
The French economy picked up speed at the end of 2004, official figures show - but still looks set to have fallen short of the government's hopes. Acc…
Merritt close to indoor 400m mark
Teenager LaShawn Merritt ran the third fastest indoor 400m of all time at the Fayetteville Invitational meeting. The world junior champion clocked 44.…
O'Sullivan could run in Worlds
Sonia O'Sullivan has indicated that she would like to participate in next month's World Cross Country Championships in St Etienne. Athletics Ireland h…
Irish company hit by Iraqi report
Shares in Irish oil company Petrel Resources have lost more than 50% of their value on a report that the firm has failed to win a contract in Iraq. Re…
Stock market eyes Japan recovery
Japanese shares have ended the year at their highest level since 13 July amidst hopes of an economic recovery during 2005. The Nikkei index of leading…
Dawson wins England squad recall
Wasps scrum-half Matt Dawson has been recalled to England's training squad ahead of the RBS Six Nations and been reinstated in the Elite Player Squad.…
Solskjaer raises hopes of return
Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he hoped to return next season following a career-threatening injury to his right knee. The 31-yea…
Guantanamo man 'suing government'
A British terror suspect held in Guantanamo Bay for 33 months plans to sue the government, it is reported. Martin Mubanga claimed in the Observer that…
Bank payout to Pinochet victims
A US bank has said it will donate more than $8m to victims of former Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet's regime under a Madrid court settlement.…
WorldCom trial starts in New York
The trial of Bernie Ebbers, former chief executive of bankrupt US phone company WorldCom, has started in New York with the selection of the jury. Mr E…
Consumer spending lifts US growth
US economic growth accelerated in the third quarter, helped by strong consumer spending, official figures have shown. The economy expanded at an annua…
Iranian MPs threaten mobile deal
Turkey's biggest private mobile firm could bail out of a $3bn ($1.6bn) deal to build a network in Iran after MPs there slashed its stake in the projec…
Reds sink 10-man Magpies
Titus Bramble's own goal put Liverpool on the comeback trail as injury-hit Newcastle were well beaten at Anfield. Patrick Kluivert's close-range finis…
Redknapp poised for Saints
Southampton are set to unveil Harry Redknapp as their new manager at a news conference at 1500 GMT on Wednesday. The former Portsmouth boss replaces S…
McClaren hails Boro's Uefa spirit
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has praised the way his side have got to grips with European football after the 2-0 Uefa Cup win against Lazio. Boro…
Labour MP praises Tory campaign
The Conservatives have been "a lot smarter" in the way they have conducted the general election campaign, a Labour backbencher has said. Derek Wyatt s…
Cabinet anger at Brown cash raid
Ministers are unhappy about plans to use Whitehall cash to keep council tax bills down, local government minister Nick Raynsford has acknowledged. Gor…
Eastwood's Baby scoops top Oscars
Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby beat Martin Scorsese's The Aviator to the top awards at the Oscars on Sunday. The boxing drama was named best pic…
DJ double act revamp chart show
DJ duo JK and Joel are taking over BBC Radio 1's flagship chart show on Sunday, adding showbiz news, celebrity interviews and between-song banter. The…
Stars gear up for Bafta ceremony
Film stars from across the globe are preparing to walk the red carpet at this year's Bafta award ceremony. The 2005 Orange British Academy Film Awards…
Buyers snap up Jet Airways' shares
Investors have snapped up shares in Jet Airways, India's biggest airline, following the launch of its much anticipated initial public offer (IPO). The…
Millions buy MP3 players in US
One in 10 adult Americans - equivalent to 22 million people - owns an MP3 player, according to a survey. A study by the Pew Internet and American Life…
Costin aims for comeback in 2006
Jamie Costin should be paralysed. He says so himself in a matter-of-fact way as he recalls the car accident which occurred nine days before he was sch…
Ban on hunting comes into force
Fox hunting with dogs is now illegal in England and Wales after a ban on the activity came into force overnight. The law faces a stiff test this weeke…
Concerns at school diploma plan
Final appeals are being made for the government not to ditch the reform plan for England's secondary schools put forward by the Tomlinson report. The …
Tsunami slows Sri Lanka's growth
Sri Lanka's president has launched a reconstruction drive worth $3.5bn (£1.8bn) by appealing for peace and national unity. President Kumaratunga said …
Deutsche Boerse boosts dividend
Deutsche Boerse, the German stock exchange that is trying to buy its London rival, has said it will boost its 2004 dividend payment by 27%. Analysts s…
Blair sets date for Africa report
The Commission for Africa's report will be released on 11 March - Comic Relief day, Tony Blair has said. July's G8 summit in Gleneagles in Perthshire …
Fry set for role in Hitchhiker's
Actor Stephen Fry is joining the cast of the forthcoming film adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Fry will provide the voice of The Gu…
Correction agency plans dropped
Plans to create a single correctional agency for Scotland have been scrapped. The Scottish Executive will not now merge the Scottish Prison Service wi…
Vibe awards back despite violence
The US Vibe awards will be held again next year despite a stabbing which happened during the ceremony. Vibe magazine president Kenard Gibbs said the a…
Khodorkovsky quits Yukos shares
Jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has transferred his controlling stake in oil giant Yukos to a business partner. Mr Khodorkovsky handed over his ent…
Mutu to hold talks with Juventus
Disgraced former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu is to begin talks with Juventus as he looks for a new club. "Mutu will be in our club's main stand to wat…
Plan to give elderly care control
Elderly and disabled people would choose how their own budget for personal care was spent and organised under government plans. Ministers say elderly …
Gazprom 'in $36m back-tax claim'
The nuclear unit of Russian energy giant Gazprom is reportedly facing a 1bn rouble ($35.7m; £19.1m) back-tax claim for the 2001-2003 period. Vedomosti…
Liberian economy starts to grow
The Liberian economy started to grow in 2004, but "sustained and deep reform efforts" are needed to ensure long term growth, the International Monetar…
China had role in Yukos split-up
China lent Russia $6bn (£3.2bn) to help the Russian government renationalise the key Yuganskneftegas unit of oil group Yukos, it has been revealed. Th…
Losing yourself in online gaming
Online role playing games are time-consuming, but enthralling flights from reality. But are some people taking their fantasy lives too seriously? When…
Security scares spark browser fix
Microsoft is working on a new version of its Internet Explorer web browser. The revamp has been prompted by Microsoft's growing concern with security …
Leeds v Saracens (Fri)
Headingley Friday, 25 February 2000 GMT The Tykes have brought in Newcastle prop Ed Kalman and Tom McGee from the Borders on loan while fly-half Craig…
Hearts 2-1 Livingston
Hearts wrapped up their Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Livingston with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Lee Miller scored inside the opening…
Green fear for transport ballot
The Green Party is concerned thousands of residents may not be able to vote in Edinburgh's transport referendum. Edinburgh City Council is to ballot c…
Tough schedule delays Elliot show
Preview performances of the £3m musical Billy Elliot have been delayed to give the child actors a less arduous rehearsal schedule. Director Stephen Da…
Soul sensation ready for awards
South West teenage singing sensation, Joss Stone, has been nominated in three categories in Wednesday's Brit awards. The 17-year-old from a small east…
UK TV channel rapped for CSI ad
TV channel Five has been criticised for sending "offensive" and "threatening" advertising material to viewers for a new show about murder scene scient…
Guantanamo four questioned
The four Britons freed from US custody in Guantanamo Bay are expected to be allowed a visit by one relative. Moazzam Begg, Martin Mubanga, Feroz Abbas…
Charity single for quake relief
Singers including Sir Cliff Richard and Boy George are recording a charity single to help raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami. They hope the …
Johnson too strong for GB runners
Britain's Kathy Butler and Hayley Yelling were no match for Benita Johnson in the 51st Cross International Zornotza in Amorebieta, Spain. Butler and Y…
Woolf murder sentence rethink
Plans to give murderers lighter sentences if they plead guilty have been watered down. There was an outcry three months ago when the Sentencing Guidel…
Senior Fannie Mae bosses resign
The two most senior executives at US mortgage giant Fannie Mae have resigned after accounting irregularities were uncovered at the company. Chief exec…
Qantas sees profits fly to record
Australian airline Qantas has posted a record fiscal first-half profit thanks to cost-cutting measures. Net profit in the six months ending 31 Decembe…
Text message record smashed
UK mobile owners continue to break records with their text messaging, with latest figures showing that 26 billion texts were sent in total in 2004. Th…
Moya emotional at Davis Cup win
Carlos Moya described Spain's Davis Cup victory as the highlight of his career after he beat Andy Roddick to end the USA's challenge in Seville. Moya …
Clarke plans migrant point scheme
Anyone planning to move to the UK will have to pass a test to prove they can contribute to the country, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has said. He is …
New drink limit 'would cut toll'
More lives than previously thought could be saved by cutting drink-drive limits by a third, a report says. University College London research claims c…
Rock band U2 break ticket record
U2 have smashed Irish box office records with ticket sales for their Dublin concerts, after more than 150,000 were sold within 50 minutes. Tickets for…
Broadband soars in 2004
If broadband were a jumbo jet, then 2003 would have seen it taxiing down the runway, firing up its engines and preparing for take-off. But this year h…
Tories attack burglar 'U-turns'
Tory leader Michael Howard has accused Tony Blair of performing U-turns over rules on using force against burglars. The government has ruled out amend…
Google's toolbar sparks concern
Search engine firm Google has released a trial tool which is concerning some net users because it directs people to pre-selected commercial websites. …
Choose hope over fear - Kennedy
Voters will have a clear choice between the politics of fear and the politics of hope in the next general election, said Charles Kennedy. In his New Y…
UK set to cut back on embassies
Nine overseas embassies and high commissions will close in an effort to save money, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has announced. The Bahamas, East T…
Khodorkovsky ally denies charges
A close associate of former Yukos boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky has told a court that fraud charges levelled against him are "false". Platon Lebedev has b…
Elvis fans hold birthday bash
Elvis fans around the world have been marking the legendary singer's 70th birthday on Saturday. A three-day Elvis convention took place in Blackpool, …
Open source leaders slam patents
The war of words between Microsoft and the open source movement heated up this week as Linux founder Linus Torvalds led an attack on software patents.…
Tevez - an Argentine in Brazil
Some 65 years ago Bernardo Gandulla left Boca Juniors in his native Argentina and headed for Brazil. He arrived at the Vasco da Gama club with conside…
Music man to the Oscars
Bill Conti's job of musical director of the Oscars show is not for the faint-hearted since conducting the orchestra is the ultimate plate-spinning ass…
Georgia plans hidden asset pardon
Georgia is offering a one-off 'tax amnesty' to people who hid their earnings under the regime of former president Eduard Shevardnadze. The country's n…
Cudicini misses Carling Cup final
Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini will miss Sunday's Carling Cup final after the club dropped their appeal against his red card against Newcastle. The…
Amex shares up on spin-off news
Shares in American Express surged more than 8% on Tuesday after it said it was to spin off its less profitable financial advisory subsidiary. The US c…
Sun offers processing by the hour
Sun Microsystems has launched a pay-as-you-go service which will allow customers requiring huge computing power to rent it by the hour. Sun Grid costs…
Supercomputer breaks speed record
The US is poised to push Japan off the top of the supercomputing chart with IBM's prototype Blue Gene/L machine. It is being assembled for the Lawrenc…
What the election should really be about?
A general election is the best chance most pressure groups get to make a real impact on government policy. Here is how six leading lobbies plan to mak…
Brown and Blair face new rift claims
For the umpteenth time, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are said to have declared all out war on each other. This time the alleged rift is over who should…
Davenport hits out at Wimbledon
World number one Lindsay Davenport has criticised Wimbledon over the issue of equal prize money for women. Reacting to a disputed comment by All Engla…
Moreno debut makes Oscar mark
Catalina Sandino Moreno has joined a rare group of actresses who have been nominated for an Oscar for starring in a foreign language film. The Colombi…
Saab to build Cadillacs in Sweden
General Motors, the world's largest car maker, has confirmed that it will build a new medium-sized Cadillac BLS at its loss-making Saab factory in Swe…
Looks and music to drive mobiles
Mobile phones are still enjoying a boom time in sales, according to research from technology analysts Gartner. More than 674 million mobiles were sold…
Aaliyah claim dismissed by court
Late R&B star Aaliyah's record company has failed in an attempt to sue the video producer who booked the ill-fated flight on which she died in 2001. A…
Green reports shun supply chain
Nearly 20% more UK top 250 firms produced non-financial reports on social and environment issues than last year. But of the 145 companies reporting, 7…
Attack prompts Bush site block
The official re-election site of President George W Bush is blocking visits from overseas users for "security reasons". The blocking began early on Mo…
Lords wrong on detainees - Straw
Jack Straw has attacked the decision by Britain's highest court that detaining foreign terrorist suspects without trial breaks human rights laws. The …
Egypt to sell off state-owned bank
The Egyptian government is reportedly planning to privatise one of the country's big public banks. An Investment Ministry official has told the Reuter…
Weak dollar hits Reuters
Revenues at media group Reuters slipped 11% during 2004, mainly due to the weakness of the dollar, the group said. The company said it was optimistic …
Junk e-mails on relentless rise
Spam traffic is up by 40%, putting the total amount of e-mail that is junk up to an astonishing 90%. The figures, from e-mail management firm Email Sy…
Hamm bows out for US
Women's football legend Mia Hamm has played her final game. Hamm, 32, who officially retired after this year's Athens Olympics, took to the field for …
Candidate resigns over BNP link
A prospective candidate for the UK Independence Party (UKIP) has resigned after admitting a "brief attachment" to the British National Party(BNP). Nic…
Blair hails Turkey-EU talks deal
Tony Blair has hailed a deal bringing Turkey a step closer to EU membership as important for the world's future "peace and prosperity". Mr Blair has b…
Nortel in $300m profit revision
Telecoms equipment maker Nortel Networks has sharply revised downwards its profits for the 2003 fiscal year. In a long-awaited filing, Nortel said it …
Fresh hope after Argentine crisis
Three years after Argentina was hit by a deadly economic crisis, there is fresh hope. The country's economy is set to grow about 8% this year after se…
Beckham relief as Real go through
David Beckham expressed his relief at Real Madrid's passage to the Champions League knockout phase. After Real's 3-0 win at Roma, the England skipper …
McIlroy continues winning streak
James McIlroy stormed to his second international victory in less than a week, claiming the men's 800m at the TEAG indoor meeting in Erfurt. The North…
John Peel replacement show begins
The permanent replacement for late DJ John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show goes on air on Tuesday, with three hosts chosen to fill the legendary presenter's s…
Cyber crime booms in 2004
The last 12 months have seen a dramatic growth in almost every security threat that plague Windows PCs. The count of known viruses broke the 100,000 b…
BT offers free net phone calls
BT is offering customers free internet telephone calls if they sign up to broadband in December. The Christmas give-away entitles customers to free te…
Plaid MP's cottage arson claim
A Plaid Cymru MP believes UK security services were involved in some arson attacks blamed on Welsh extremists. It is 25 years since the start of 12 ye…
Souness eyes summer move for Owen
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is lining up a summer move for England and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen. He sees Owen as the ideal replacement for A…
Oil rebounds from weather effect
Oil prices recovered in Asian trade on Tuesday, after falling in New York on milder winter weather across the US. With winter temperatures staying rel…
Gardener battles to narrow win
Jason Gardener fought all the way to the line to narrowly claim the men's 60m title at the Norwich Union Indoor trials and AAAs Championships. The wor…
Oscar nominee Dan O'Herlihy dies
Irish actor Dan O'Herlihy, who was nominated for best actor at the 1955 Oscars, has died at the age of 85. O'Herlihy, whose Oscar nomination was for L…
Hollywood ready for Oscars night
Hollywood is preparing for the biggest night in the film world's calendar, the 77th Academy Awards, on Sunday. A host of stars are expected to grace t…
Wipro beats forecasts once again
Wipro, India's third-biggest software firm, has reported a 60% rise in profit, topping market expectations. Net income in the last quarter was 4.3bn r…
Soaring oil 'hits world economy'
The soaring cost of oil has hit global economic growth, although world's major economies should weather the storm of price rises, according to the OEC…
Gadget show heralds MP3 season
Partners of those who love their hi-tech gear may want to get their presents in early as experts predict a gadget shortage this Christmas. With Apple'…
Ukraine strikes Turkmen gas deal
Ukraine has agreed to pay 30% more for natural gas supplied by Turkmenistan. The deal was sealed three days after Turkmenistan cut off gas supplies in…
Relay squad thrilled with honours
Jason Gardener says being made an MBE in the New Year Honours List underlines the achievement of Great Britain's 4x100m relay squad at the Olympics. G…
Mutant book wins Guardian prize
A book about the evolution of mutants and the science of abnormality has won the Guardian First Book Award 2004. Armand Marie Leroi, a lecturer at Lon…
Apple attacked over sources row
Civil liberties group the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has joined a legal fight between three US online journalists and Apple. Apple wants the…
Parry firm over Gerrard
Listen to the full interview on Sport on Five and the BBC Sport website from 1900 GMT. But Parry, speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, also admits Gerra…
Gamers snap up new Sony PSP
Gamers have bought almost all of the first batch of Sony's new PlayStation Portable (PSP) games console, which went on sale in Japan on Sunday. Thousa…
Goldsmith: 'I was not leant on'
The attorney general has again denied being "leant on" by Downing Street to make the legal case for invading Iraq. Claims a written answer on the lega…
'Landmark movies' of 2004 hailed
US film professionals have declared Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Passion of the Christ as two of the most significant cultural milestones of 2004. The Amer…
Market unfazed by Aurora setback
As the Aurora limped back to its dock on 20 January, a blizzard of photos and interviews seemed to add up to an unambiguous tale of woe. The ship had …
Yukos bankruptcy 'not US matter'
Russian authorities do not have to abide by any US court decisions taken with regard to troubled oil giant Yukos, a Houston court has been told. Legal…
IBM frees 500 software patents
Computer giant IBM says 500 of its software patents will be released into the open development community. The move means developers will be able to us…
Gadgets galore on show at fair
The 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is a geek's paradise with more than 50,000 new gadgets and technologies launched during the four-day e…
US manufacturing expands
US industrial production increased in December, according to the latest survey from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Its index of national m…
Mixed reaction to Man Utd offer
Shares in Manchester United were up over 5% by noon on Monday following a new offer from Malcolm Glazer. The board of Man Utd is expected to meet earl…
Weak dollar trims Cadbury profits
The world's biggest confectionery firm, Cadbury Schweppes, has reported a modest rise in profits after the weak dollar took a bite out of its results.…
IMF 'cuts' German growth estimate
The International Monetary Fund is to cut its 2005 growth forecast for the German economy from 1.8% to 0.8%, the Financial Times Deutschland reported.…
Jarvis sells Tube stake to Spain
Shares in engineering group Jarvis have soared more than 16% on news that it is offloading its stake in London underground consortium Tube Lines. The …
South Africa sweep top awards
South Africa's Schalk Burger was named player of the year as the Tri-Nations champions swept the top honours at the International Rugby Board's awards…
Abba reunite for musical premiere
The original stars of Swedish pop quartet Abba have reunited for the home premiere of hit musical Mamma Mia! which is based on the band's songs. It is…
Brookside creator's Channel 4 bid
The creator of defunct TV soap Brookside has written to the culture minister to offer to buy Channel 4. Phil Redmond, now chairman of Mersey TV, told …
Sainsbury's Labour election gift
Science Minister Lord Sainsbury has made a £2m donation to the Labour Party for its General Election fund. It is the latest hefty donation to the part…
Tories leave door open for Archer
The Conservative Party would deal "sympathetically" with any application by disgraced peer Lord Archer to rejoin its ranks, its co-chairman has said. …
French honour for director Parker
British film director Sir Alan Parker has been made an officer in the Order of Arts and Letters, one of France's highest cultural honours. Sir Alan re…
CSI shows give 'unrealistic view'
People have unrealistic expectations of forensic science thanks to the success of the CSI TV shows, real experts say. Evidence submitted to forensic l…
Rivals of the £400 Apple...
The Mac mini is the cheapest Apple computer ever. But though it is cheap for a Mac how does it compare to PCs that cost about the same amount? Dot.lif…
Melzer shocks Agassi in San Jose
Second seed Andre Agassi suffered a comprehensive defeat by Jurgen Melzer in the quarter-finals of the SAP Open. Agassi was often bamboozled by the Au…
Benitez issues warning to Gerrard
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has ordered captain Steven Gerrard not to play down their Champions League ambitions and be more positive. Gerrard to…
Blair to face trust issue head on
Tony Blair says he will be facing the issue of trust and his own integrity head on during the election campaign. During a question and answer session …
Japan's ageing workforce: built to last
In his twenties he battled tuberculosis for eight years, then went on to run his own clothing business before marrying in his late thirties. And the 1…
Wi-fi web reaches farmers in Peru
A network of community computer centres, linked by wireless technology, is providing a helping hand for poor farmers in Peru. The pilot scheme in the …
Artists' secret postcards on sale
Postcards by artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin have sold just hours after the opening of the Royal Academy of Arts annual Secrets sale. T…
The 'ticking budget' facing the US
The budget proposals laid out by the administration of US President George W Bush are highly controversial. The Washington-based Economic Policy Insti…
Chip maker backs net phone calls
Rich Templeton, the head of giant chip maker Texas Instruments, has given his backing to the growing sector of Voice over Internet Telephony (Voip) Vo…
Navratilova hits out at critics
Martina Navratilova has defended her decision to prolong her tennis career at the age of 48. Navratilova, who made a comeback after retiring in 1994, …
David Blunkett in quotes
David Blunkett - who has resigned as home secretary - built his reputation as a plain-speaking Yorkshire man. I fell in love with someone and they wou…
Water firm Suez in Argentina row
A conflict between the Argentine State and water firm Aguas Argentinas, controlled by France's Suez, is casting doubt on the firm's future. The firm, …
Ronaldo considering new contract
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo said he is close to agreeing to a new contract at Old Trafford. The Portugal star, who joined in August 200…
Smartphones suffer Skulls attack
Owners of some Nokia smartphones are being warned to watch out for malicious wallpaper. Those downloading the software could find all the icons on the…
'Ultimate game' award for Doom 3
Sci-fi shooter Doom 3 has blasted away the competition at a major games ceremony, the Golden Joystick awards. It was the only title to win twice, winn…
Young debut cut short by Ginepri
Fifteen-year-old Donald Young's first appearance in an ATP tennis tournament proved brief as the teenager went out in round one of the San Jose Open. …
Hoffman hits out over modern film
Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman has hit out at the quality of current films and theatre productions. The star of Rain Man and Tootsie said the film cu…
Holmes wins '2004 top TV moment'
Sprinter Kelly Holmes' Olympic victory has been named the top television moment of 2004 in a BBC poll. Holmes' 800m gold medal victory beat favourite …
Halo 2 sells five million copies
Microsoft is celebrating bumper sales of its Xbox sci-fi shooter, Halo 2. The game has sold more than five million copies worldwide since it went on s…
Chancellor rallies Labour voters
Gordon Brown has issued a rallying cry, telling supporters the "stakes are too high" to stay at home or protest vote in the forthcoming general electi…
UK troops on Ivory Coast standby
Downing Street has confirmed British troops are on standby in case they need to help evacuate several hundred UK citizens from Ivory Coast. The news c…
Minister defends hunting ban law
The law banning hunting with dogs in England and Wales is enforceable and "very clear", Alun Michael has said. The rural affairs minister said it woul…
WMC says Xstrata bid is too low
Australian mining firm WMC Resources has said it is worth up to 30% more than a hostile 7.4bn Australian dollar ($5.8bn; £3bn) bid by rival Xstrata. T…
Willis sues over movie 'injury'
Actor Bruce Willis is suing Revolution Studios over an injury he said he suffered while making Tears of the Sun. Willis is seeking medical expenses af…
Game makers get Xbox 2 sneak peek
Microsoft has given game makers a glimpse of the new Xbox 2 console. Some details of the Xbox's performance and what gaming will be like with the devi…
Consumers 'snub portable video'
Consumers want music rather than movies while on the move, says a report. Produced by Jupiter Research the analysis of the portable media player marke…
CSA chief who 'quit' still in job
The head of the "failing" Child Support Agency widely reported to have resigned three months ago is still at the helm of the troubled organisation. Do…
No jail for singer Courtney Love
Singer Courtney Love has been spared jail for assault and drug offences, but must serve three years probation. She had back-to-back court appearances …
Hillbillies singer Scoggins dies
Country and Western musician Jerry Scoggins has died in Los Angeles at the age of 93, his family has said. Scoggins was best remembered for singing th…
Rover deal 'may cost 2,000 jobs'
Some 2,000 jobs at MG Rover's Midlands plant may be cut if investment in the firm by a Chinese car maker goes ahead, the Financial Times has reported.…
Apple sues to stop product leaks
Computer firm Apple has issued a lawsuit to prevent online leaks of information about future products. The lawsuit, against an unidentified individual…
England's defensive crisis grows
England's defensive worries have deepened following the withdrawal of Tottenham's Ledley King from the squad to face Holland. Chelsea's John Terry and…
Israeli economy picking up pace
Israel's economy is forecast to grow by 4.2% in 2004 as it continues to emerge from a three-year recession. The main driver of the faster-than-expecte…
Air Jamaica back in state control
The Jamaican government is regaining control of Air Jamaica in an bid to help the ailing company out of its financial difficulties. The firm has faile…
US to rule on Yukos refuge call
Yukos has said a US bankruptcy court will decide whether to block Russia's impending auction of its main production arm on Thursday. The Russian oil f…
Giving financial gifts to children
Your child or grandchild may want the latest toy this Christmas, but how about giving them a present that will help their financial future? Gifts of t…
Dollar drops on reserves concerns
The US dollar has dropped against major currencies on concerns that central banks may cut the amount of dollars they hold in their foreign reserves. C…
France Telecom gets Orange boost
Strong growth in subscriptions to mobile phone network Orange has helped boost profits at owner France Telecom. Orange added more than five million ne…
Ministers lose slopping out case
The Scottish Executive has lost an appeal against an inmate's compensation for being forced to slop out in prison. Armed robber Robert Napier, 25, won…
Smart search lets art fans browse
If you don't know art but know what you like, new search technology could prove a useful gateway to painting. ArtGarden, developed by BT's research un…
Corbett attacks 'dumbed-down TV'
Ronnie Corbett has joined fellow comedy stars Victoria Wood and David Jason in attacking the declining standards of British television programmes. Spe…
'No re-draft' for EU patent law
A proposed European law on software patents will not be re-drafted by the European Commission (EC) despite requests by MEPs. The law is proving contro…
Laporte tinkers with team
France coach Bernard Laporte has made four changes to the starting line-up that beat England for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Wales. He opted for…
Bid to cut court witness stress
New targets to reduce the stress to victims and witnesses giving evidence in courts in England and Wales have been announced by the lord chancellor. L…
Singer Ferguson 'facing eviction'
Three Degrees star Sheila Ferguson is the favourite to be evicted from ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here on Monday. Bookmakers Ladbrokes say…
Elvis regains top chart position
Elvis Presley has scored his 19th number one single in the UK charts with the re-release of Jailhouse Rock, 27 years after his death. Elvis knocked X …
Nissan names successor to Ghosn
Nissan has named a lifetime employee to run its operations after Carlos Ghosn, its highly successful boss, takes charge at Renault. As chief operating…
Tautou 'to star in Da Vinci film'
French actress Audrey Tautou, star of hit film Amelie, will play the female lead in the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, it has been reported. Th…
FAO warns on impact of subsidies
Billions of farmers' livelihoods are at risk from falling commodity prices and protectionism, the UN's Food & Agriculture Organisation has warned. Tra…
Mobile music challenges 'iPod age'
Nokia and Microsoft have agreed a deal to work on delivery of music to handsets, while Sony Ericsson has unveiled its phone Walkman and Motorola is wo…
Verizon 'seals takeover of MCI'
Verizon has won a takeover battle for US phone firm MCI with a bid worth $6.8bn (£3.6bn), reports say. The two firms are expected to seal the deal on …
Clijsters hope on Aussie Open
Kim Clijsters has denied reports that she has pulled out of January's Australian Open because of her persistent wrist injury. Open chief Paul McNamee …
Greek sprinters suspended by IAAF
Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou have been suspended after failing to take drugs tests before the Athens Olympics. Athletics' rulin…
Bellamy fined after row
Newcastle have fined their Welsh striker Craig Bellamy two weeks' wages - about £80,000 - following his row with manager Graeme Souness. But Bellamy, …
Double eviction from Big Brother
Model Caprice and Holby City actor Jeremy Edwards have both left the Celebrity Big Brother house in a surprise double eviction on Friday. Caprice, who…
German economy rebounds
Germany's economy, the biggest among the 12 countries sharing the euro, grew at its fastest rate in four years during 2004, driven by strong exports. …
AstraZeneca hit by drug failure
Shares in Anglo-Swedish drug have closed down 8% in UK trade after the failure of its Iressa drug in a major clinical trial. The lung cancer drug did …
US adds more jobs than expected
The US economy added 337,000 jobs in October - a seven-month high and far more than Wall Street expectations. In a welcome economic boost for newly re…
Ireland call up uncapped Campbell
Ulster scrum-half Kieran Campbell is one of five uncapped players included in Ireland's RBS Six Nations squad. Campbell is joined by Ulster colleagues…
Controversial film tops festival
A controversial film starring Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon as a convicted paedophile won top honours at the London Film Festival on Thursday. The Woods…
EMI shares hit by profit warning
Shares in music giant EMI have sunk by more than 16% after the firm issued a profit warning following disappointing sales and delays to two album rele…
Yahoo moves into desktop search
Internet giant Yahoo has launched software to allow people to search e-mail and other files on their PCs. The firm is following in the footsteps of Mi…
Mourinho defiant on Chelsea form
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has insisted that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger would swap places with him. Mourinho's side were knocked out of the F…
Fockers fuel festive film chart
Comedy Meet The Fockers topped the festive box office in North America, setting a new record for Christmas Day. The sequel took $44.7m (£23.2m) betwee…
Tokyo says deflation 'controlled'
The Japanese government has forecast that the country's economic growth will slow to 1.6% in the next fiscal year starting in April 2005. While it pre…
Orange colour clash set for court
A row over the colour orange could hit the courts after mobile phone giant Orange launched action against a new mobile venture from Easyjet's founder.…
D'Arcy injury adds to Ireland woe
Gordon D'Arcy has been ruled out of the Ireland team for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Scotland in Murrayfield. Like skipper Brian O'Driscoll, …
Hitch holds on to US box office
Will Smith's first romantic comedy, Hitch, has topped the North American box office for a second weekend. Smith plays a New York "date doctor" with lo…
Film row over Pirates 'cannibals'
Plans to portray Dominica's Carib Indians as cannibals in the sequel to hit film Pirates of the Caribbean have been criticised by the group's chief. C…
G7 backs Africa debt relief plan
G7 finance ministers have backed plans to write off up to 100% of the debts of some of the world's poorest countries. UK chancellor Gordon Brown said …
Prop Jones ready for hard graft
Adam Jones says the Wales forwards are determined to set the perfect attacking platform for the backs by dominating the powerful France pack in Paris.…
Tory candidate quits over remark
A Conservative election challenger is quitting after being quoted as wanting a "period of creative destruction in the public services". Danny Kruger, …
Tarantino to direct CSI episode
Film director Quentin Tarantino is to direct an episode of US television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction directo…
Camera phones are 'must-haves'
Four times more mobiles with cameras in them will be sold in Europe by the end of 2004 than last year, says a report from analysts Gartner. Globally, …
Stuart joins Norwich from Addicks
Norwich have signed Charlton midfielder Graham Stuart until the end of the season for an undisclosed fee. "It was a very easy decision to make," the 3…
Police probe BNP mosque leaflet
Police are investigating a British National Party leaflet posted to homes in south Wales opposing plans for a new mosque. Anti-racism campaigners in S…
Jones doping probe begins
An investigation into doping claims against Marion Jones has been opened by the International Olympic Committee. IOC president Jacques Rogge has set u…
China's Shanda buys stake in Sina
Chinese online game operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment has bought a 20% stake in Sina, the country's biggest internet portal firm. The move may…
New UKIP defection to 'Veritas'
The UK Independence Party has lost one of its two London Assembly members to Robert Kilroy-Silk's new political party, expected to launch on Wednesday…
Student 'inequality' exposed
Teenagers from well-off backgrounds are six times more likely to go to university than those from the most deprived areas, a report says. The Higher E…
Blair buys copies of new Band Aid
Prime Minister Tony Blair purchased two copies of the charity single Band Aid 20 in Edinburgh on Friday. Staff were surprised when the Prime Minister …
England claim Dubai Sevens glory
England beat Fiji 26-21 in a dramatic final in Dubai to win the first IRB Sevens event of the season. Having beaten Australia and South Africa to reac…
Parker misses England clash
Tom Shanklin will start in the centre for Wales against England in Cardiff on Saturday after Sonny Parker failed to recover from a trapped neck nerve.…
Microsoft plans 'safer ID' system
Microsoft is planning to make Windows and Internet Explorer more secure by including software to give people more control over personal information. "…
Moya suffers shock loss
Fifth seed Carlos Moya was the first big name to fall at the Australian Open as he went down to fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Monday. Moya…
BBC 'should allow more scrutiny'
MPs have urged the BBC to give watchdogs more freedom to scrutinise how £2bn in licence fee money is spent. The Public Accounts Committee called for t…
SBC plans post-takeover job cuts
US phone company SBC Communications said it expects to cut around 12,800 jobs following its $16bn (£8.5bn) takeover of former parent AT&T. SBC said 5,…
Peer-to-peer nets 'here to stay'
Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks are here to stay, and are on the verge of being exploited by commercial media firms, says a panel of industry experts. Onc…
English clubs make Euro history
All four of England's Champions League representatives have reached the knockout stages for the first time. Arsenal and Chelsea are seeded as group wi…
Mourinho expects fight to finish
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho expects the Champions League clash with Barcelona to be a fight to the finish. Mourinho is relishing the first leg of th…
Japan economy slides to recession
The Japanese economy has officially gone back into recession for the fourth time in a decade. Gross domestic product fell by 0.1% in the last three mo…
Fed chief warning on US deficit
Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan has warned that allowing huge US budget deficits to continue could have "severe" consequences. Speaking to the…
Apple laptop is 'greatest gadget'
The Apple Powerbook 100 has been chosen as the greatest gadget of all time, by US magazine Mobile PC. The 1991 laptop was chosen because it was one of…
Parliament's record of scandal
In a locked room at the heart of Parliament there is a hive of scandal. Sex, betrayal and custody of children are all there in this affair but this ti…
MPs demand 'Budget leak' answers
Ministers have been asked to explain how Budget details were printed in a London newspaper half an hour before Gordon Brown made his speech. The Torie…
Spike Lee backs student directors
Film-maker Spike Lee says black representation is stronger than ever in cinema and TV but the true power in entertainment lies behind the camera. The …
News Corp eyes video games market
News Corp, the media company controlled by Australian billionaire Rupert Murdoch, is eyeing a move into the video games market. According to the Finan…
Making your office work for you
Our mission to brighten up your working lives continues - and this time, we're taking a long hard look at your offices. Over the next few months, our …
White prepared for battle
Tough-scrummaging prop Julian White is expecting a resurgent Wales to give him a rough ride in England's Six Nations opener in Cardiff on Saturday. Th…
UK rebate 'unjustified' - Chirac
French president Jacques Chirac has called the UK's £3bn rebate from the European Union "unjustified". Speaking after a summit meeting he said unless …
Final hunts held as ban looms
Hunts in England and Wales have begun on the last day that hunting with dogs is legal, with more due out later. Thousands of supporters are expected t…
Films on war triumph at Sundance
A study of the United States at war in the past 50 years has picked up one of the main awards at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, in the US. W…
Bening makes awards breakthrough
Film actress Annette Bening is up for an Oscar for her starring role in the award-winning film Being Julia. Bening, who was born in Texas in 1958, has…
Mourinho receives Robson warning
Sir Bobby Robson has offered Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho some advice on coping under pressure. The pair worked together at Barcelona and Porto and Robs…
Legendary music studio to close
The New York music studio where John Lennon spent his final hours is to close next month. The Hit Factory, which opened 37 years ago, has played host …
Mild winter drives US oil down 6%
US oil prices have fallen by 6%, driven down by forecasts of a mild winter in the densely populated northeast. Light crude oil futures fell $2.86 to $…
Firms pump billions into pensions
Employers have spent billions of pounds propping up their final salary pensions over the past year, research suggests. A survey of 280 schemes by Inco…
Bank voted 8-1 for no rate change
The decision to keep interest rates on hold at 4.75% earlier this month was passed 8-1 by the Bank of England's rate-setting body, minutes have shown.…
Scotland 18-10 Italy
Six Chris Paterson penalties gave Scotland victory in a dour but clinical encounter against Italy at Murrayfield. Coach Matt Williams' side were outmu…
Profile: David Blunkett
Before he resigned the position of home secretary on Wednesday, David Blunkett had been in charge of a substantial body of government portfolios inclu…
Media seek Jackson 'juror' notes
Reporters covering singer Michael Jackson's trial in California have asked to see questionnaires completed by potential jurors. Lawyers for news organ…
Finnan says Irish can win group
Steve Finnan believes the Republic of Ireland can qualify directly for the World Cup finals. After Saturday's superb display in the draw in Paris, Ire…
Court halts Mark Morrison album
Premiership footballer and record company boss Kevin Campbell has gained a court injunction stopping R&B singer Mark Morrison from releasing an album.…
Mandelson warns BBC on Campbell
The BBC should steer away from "demonising" ex-Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell, Peter Mandelson has said. The European commissioner and f…
US blogger fired by her airline
A US airline attendant suspended over "inappropriate images" on her blog - web diary - says she has been fired. Ellen Simonetti, known as Queen of the…
Blair sees greater Bush consensus
George W Bush will display a more consensual approach to world politics as he begins his second term as US President, Tony Blair has said. The prime m…
Tarantino 'to make Friday sequel'
Director Quentin Tarantino is in talks to write and direct a new instalment in the Friday the 13th horror franchise, according to the Hollywood Report…
TOTP turns to Elvis impersonator
Top of the Pops has turned to the star of Elvis Presley musical Jailhouse Rock after the late rock legend scooped the UK's 1,000th number one single. …
Microsoft launches its own search
Microsoft has unveiled the finished version of its home-grown search engine. The now formally launched MSN search site takes the training wheels off t…
Roddick splits from coach Gilbert
Andy Roddick has ended an 18-month association with coach Brad Gilbert which yielded the US Open title and saw the American become world number one. R…
Paris promise raises Welsh hopes
Has there been a better Six Nations match than Saturday's epic in Paris? And can the Welsh revival continue all the way to a first Grand Slam since 19…
Army chiefs in regiments decision
Military chiefs are expected to meet to make a final decision on the future of Scotland's Army regiments. A committee of the Army Board, which is made…
Snow Patrol feted at Irish awards
Snow Patrol were the big winners in Ireland's top music honours, the Meteor Awards, picking up accolades for best Irish band and album on Thursday. Th…
Record year for Chilean copper
Chile's copper industry has registered record earnings of $14.2bn in 2004, the governmental Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) has reported. Strong …
Ireland 19-13 England
Ireland consigned England to their third straight Six Nations defeat with a stirring victory at Lansdowne Road. A second-half try from captain Brian O…
UK's National Gallery in the pink
The National Gallery, home to some of the UK's greatest artworks, has seen a big jump in visitor numbers. Five million visitors made the London galler…
Slimmer PlayStation triple sales
Sony PlayStation 2's slimmer shape has proved popular with UK gamers, with 50,000 sold in its first week on sale. Sales have tripled since launch, out…
Pearce keen on succeeding Keegan
Joint assistant boss Stuart Pearce has admitted he would like to succeed Kevin Keegan as manager at Manchester City. Keegan has decided to step down a…
Labour's four little words
Labour has unveiled the four little words that will form the heart of its general election campaign which, for those just returned from the planet Gal…
DVD review: I, Robot
Only one man recognises that robots are a threat to humanity - but that's fine because it only takes one man to save the day in the thriller I, Robot.…
Hodgson relishes European clashes
Former Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson says the Premiership should follow the rest of Europe and have a winter break - but insists that a gruelling domesti…
Brown comes out shooting
Labour may have abolished hunting - but that didn't stop Chancellor Gordon Brown using his Budget to fire both barrels at some of the opposition parti…
Rocker Doherty in on-stage fight
Rock singer Pete Doherty has been involved in a fight with his band's guitarist at their biggest gig to date. Babyshambles played for 5,000 fans at Lo…
Oil prices reach three-month low
Oil prices have fallen heavily for a second day, closing at three-month lows after news that US crude stocks have improved ahead of winter. London Bre…
Balco case trial date pushed back
The trial date for the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (Balco) steroid distribution case has been postponed. US judge Susan Illston pushed back a prel…
LSE 'sets date for takeover deal'
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is planning to announce a preferred takeover by the end of the month, newspaper reports claim. The Sunday Telegraph sa…
Kuznetsova 'failed a drugs test'
US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has tested positive for a banned drug, according to Belgian authorities. Belgian sports minister Claude Eerdekens…
Guantanamo pair's passport ban
The government has written to two of the British men freed from Guantanamo Bay telling them they will not be allowed passports. A letter sent to Marti…
Labour chooses Manchester
The Labour Party will hold its 2006 autumn conference in Manchester and not Blackpool, it has been confirmed. The much trailed decision was ratified b…
Lib Dems target first-time buyers
The Liberal Democrats have unveiled plans to build 100,000 new "affordable" homes on publicly owned land. The party's scheme would allow people to buy…
Tulu to appear at Caledonian run
Two-time Olympic 10,000 metres champion Derartu Tulu has confirmed she will take part in the BUPA Great Caledonian Run in Edinburgh on 8 May. The 32-y…
Lib Dems' 'bold' election policy
Charles Kennedy has told voters his Liberal Democrats will offer them an "honest choice" at the next general election. With the other two big parties …
US retail sales surge in December
US retail sales ended the year on a high note with solid gains in December, boosted by strong car sales. Seasonally adjusted sales rose 1.2% in the mo…
US top of supercomputing charts
The US has pushed Japan off the top of the supercomputing chart with IBM's prototype Blue Gene/L machine. It is being assembled for the Lawrence Liver…
Singer Knight backs anti-gun song
R&B star Beverley Knight said she sang on an anti-gun single after being "haunted" by the fatal 2003 shooting of two teenage girls in Birmingham. Knig…
Oasis star fined for German brawl
Oasis singer Liam Gallagher has been fined 50,000 euros (£35,000) after a fight in a German hotel two years ago. Gallagher was arrested along with dru…
India's Reliance family feud heats up
The ongoing public spat between the two heirs of India's biggest conglomerate, Reliance Group, has spilled over to the board meeting of a leading comp…
Manufacturing recovery 'slowing'
UK manufacturing grew at its slowest pace in one-and-a-half years in January, according to a survey. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply …
Telegraph newspapers axe 90 jobs
The Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers are axing 90 journalist jobs - 17% of their editorial staff. The Telegraph Group says the cuts are needed to…
Levy takes Whitbread novel prize
Orange Prize winner Andrea Levy has seen her book Small Island win the Whitbread Novel of the Year Award. She is now favourite to win the overall priz…
Lacroix label bought by US firm
Luxury goods group LVMH has sold its loss-making Christian Lacroix clothing label to a US investment group. The Paris-based firm has been shedding non…
Singapore growth at 8.1% in 2004
Singapore's economy grew by 8.1% in 2004, its best performance since 2000, figures from the trade ministry show. The advance, the second-fastest in As…
Search wars hit desktop PCs
Another front in the on-going battle between Microsoft and Google is about to be opened. By the end of 2004 Microsoft aims to launch search software t…
Teenager Tait picked for England
Newcastle's teenage centre Mathew Tait has been named as a centre in England's team to face Wales in the Six Nations opener in Cardiff on Saturday. Th…
What now for Kelly Holmes?
Last April, Kelly Holmes spoke to the BBC Sport website about her loneliness, her fight to stay fit and her decision not to contest both the 800m and …
Prime minister's questions
So who, if anyone, is playing politics with the security of the nation? Michael Howard has no doubt it is the prime minister who, he claims, is "rammi…
British stars denied major Oscars
British hopes of winning major Oscars were dashed as UK stars failed to win acting and directing prizes. Despite three nominations, Mike Leigh's Vera …
South Bank Awards honour hit soap
Coronation Street has become the first soap to triumph at the South Bank Show Awards, which traditionally reward highbrow and groundbreaking culture. …
Electronics firms eye plasma deal
Consumer electronics giants Hitachi and Matshushita Electric are joining forces to share and develop technology for flat screen televisions. The tie-u…
Australia rates at four year high
Australia is raising its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in four years despite signs of a slowdown in the country's economy. The Reserve …
Roddick to face Saulnier in final
Andy Roddick will play Cyril Saulnier in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose on Sunday. The American top seed and defending champion overcame German…
Ink helps drive democracy in Asia
The Kyrgyz Republic, a small, mountainous state of the former Soviet republic, is using invisible ink and ultraviolet readers in the country's electio…
Parry relishes Anfield challenge
BBC Sport reflects on the future for Liverpool after our exclusive interview with chief executive Rick Parry. Chief executive Parry is the man at the …
Lasting influence of legend Charles
Ray Charles, who has won a string of posthumous Grammy Awards, belonged to a pioneering generation of artists that had a huge influence on the course …
Blair 'up for it' ahead of poll
Tony Blair says his personal standing in the eyes of voters will be "an issue" in the general election. The prime minister said he was "up for it" as …
UKIP's secret weapon?
By any measure, New Yorker Dick Morris is that thing Americans love over everything else - a winner. This is the man who, some pundits believe, was al…
Blair rejects Iraq advice calls
Tony Blair has rejected calls for the publication of advice on the legality of the Iraq war amid growing calls for an investigation. The prime ministe…
Burren awarded Egyptian contracts
British energy firm Burren Energy has been awarded two potentially lucrative oil exploration contracts in Egypt. The company successfully bid for the …
Microsoft takes on desktop search
Microsoft has entered the desktop search fray, releasing a test version of its tool to find documents, e-mails and other files on a PC hard drive. The…
Bomb threat at Bernabeu stadium
Spectators were evacuated from Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium on Sunday following a bomb scare during the game between the hosts and Real Sociedad. Mo…
Global release for Japan hit film
Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, Howl's Moving Castle, is to be released in 50 countries around the world, its distributor has sai…
Bond game fails to shake or stir
For gaming fans, the word GoldenEye evokes excited memories not only of the James Bond revival flick of 1995, but also the classic shoot-em-up that ac…
Bates seals takeover
Ken Bates has completed his takeover of Leeds United. The 73-year-old former Chelsea chairman sealed the deal at 0227 GMT on Friday, and has bought a …
Aragones angered by racism fine
Spain coach Luis Aragones is furious after being fined by The Spanish Football Federation for his comments about Thierry Henry. The 66-year-old critic…
Radcliffe will compete in London
Paula Radcliffe will compete in the Flora London Marathon this year after deciding her schedule for 2005. The 31-year-old won the race in 2002 on her …
Enron bosses in $168m payout
Eighteen former Enron directors have agreed a $168m (£89m) settlement deal in a shareholder lawsuit over the collapse of the energy firm. Leading plai…
Clijsters could play Aussie Open
Kim Clijsters has denied reports that she has pulled out of January's Australian Open because of her persistent wrist injury. Open chief Paul McNamee …
Faultless Federer has no equal
Roger Federer - nice bloke, fantastic tennis player - the ultimate sportsman. When Lleyton Hewitt shook his hand after getting another thrashing, a th…
Wales silent on Grand Slam talk
Rhys Williams says Wales are still not thinking of winning the Grand Slam despite a third Six Nations win. "That's the last thing on our minds at the …
Media gadgets get moving
Pocket-sized devices that let people carry around video and images are set to have a big year in 2005, according to industry experts. Last year saw th…
Prutton poised for lengthy FA ban
Southampton's David Prutton faces a possible seven-match ban when he goes before the Football Association. The 23-year-old has admitted two charges of…
Foxx and Swank win US awards
Jamie Foxx and Hilary Swank have won the Screen Actors Guild Awards for best male and female film actors, boosting their Oscars hopes this month. Foxx…
Lit Idol begins search for author
The second Pop Idol-style search for literary talent has begun with the help of the brother of Simon Cowell. Writer Tony Cowell is among the judges wh…
'Errors' doomed first Dome sale
The initial attempt to sell the Millennium Dome failed due to a catalogue of errors, a report by the government's finance watchdog says. The report sa…
US firm 'bids for Lacroix label'
A US firm has said it is in final negotiations with luxury goods group LVMH to buy the loss-making Christian Lacroix haute-couture house. Paris-based …
Labour seeks to quell feud talk
Labour's leadership put on a show of unity at a campaign poster launch after MPs criticised Tony Blair and Gordon Brown over reports of their rift. Mr…
MPs to debate 'euthanasia laws'
MPs are preparing to debate a bill which critics claim would legalise euthanasia "by the back door". The bill would give legal force to "living wills"…
Grammys honour soul star Charles
The memory of soul legend Ray Charles dominated the music world's leading music ceremony on Sunday as he was given eight posthumous Grammy Awards. Cha…
Winemaker rejects Foster's offer
Australian winemaker Southcorp has rejected a takeover offer worth 3.1bn Australian dollars ($2.3bn; £1.8bn) from brewing giant Foster's Group. Southc…
'Standoff' on Deutsche's LSE bid
Deutsche Boerse investors unhappy with its London Stock Exchange bid will have no chance to throw out the exchange's management until May, Reuters say…
France v Wales (Sat)
Stade de France, Paris Saturday, 26 February 1600 GMT BBC1, Radio 4 LW and this website France may have beaten Scotland and England but they were tedi…
Cole faces lengthy injury lay-off
Aston Villa's Carlton Cole could be out for six weeks with a knee injury. The striker, who is on a season-long loan from Chelsea, picked up the knock …
UK 'needs true immigration data'
A former Home Office minister has called for an independent body to be set up to monitor UK immigration. Barbara Roche said an organisation should mon…
J-Lo and husband plan debut duet
Singers Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony, a Latin pop star, are to perform a duet at this month's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Anthony became …
Quake's economic costs emerging
Asian governments and international agencies are reeling at the potential economic devastation left by the Asian tsunami and floods. World Bank presid…
Musicians 'upbeat' about the net
Musicians are embracing the internet as a way of reaching new fans and selling more music, a survey has found. The study by US researchers, Pew Intern…
Microsoft makes anti-piracy move
Microsoft says it is clamping down on people running pirated versions of its Windows operating system by restricting their access to security features…
Sporting rivals go to extra time
The current slew of sports games offers unparalleled opportunities for fans who like to emulate on-field action without ever moving from the couch. Th…
Profile: David Miliband
David Miliband's rapid rise through the ranks of government continues with his promotion to Cabinet Office minister. Elected in a safe Labour seat in …
India's rupee hits five-year high
India's rupee has hit a five-year high after Standard & Poor's (S&P) raised the country's foreign currency rating. The rupee climbed to 43.305 per US …
Online commons to spark debate
Online communities set up by the UK government could encourage public debate and build trust, says the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR). Exi…
Chelsea hold Arsenal
A gripping game between Arsenal and Chelsea ended with the honours finishing even at Highbury. Thierry Henry produced a sublime strike to put Arsenal …
Broadband takes on TV viewing
The number of Europeans with broadband has exploded over the past 12 months, with the web eating into TV viewing habits, research suggests. Just over …
E-University 'disgraceful waste'
A failed government scheme to offer UK university courses online has been branded a "disgraceful waste" by MPs. The e-University was scrapped last yea…
DS aims to touch gamers
The mobile gaming industry is set to explode in 2005 with a number of high-profile devices offering a range of gaming and other features such as movie…
Intel unveils laser breakthrough
Intel has unveiled research that could mean data is soon being moved around chips at the speed of light. Scientists at Intel have overcome a fundament…
Beattie return calms attack fears
Everton striker James Beattie has been declared fit for training on Tuesday, despite suffering an alleged assault last Saturday. Beattie, 27, is not b…
Benitez joy as Reds take control
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was satisfied after his team's 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen despite conceding a goal in the last minute. "Before the ga…
Hobbit picture 'four years away'
Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has said that it will be up to four years before he starts work on a film version of The Hobbit. The Oscar wi…
Slater to star in Broadway play
Actor Christian Slater is stepping into the role of Tom in the Broadway revival of The Glass Menagerie. Slater, 35, is replacing actor Dallas Roberts …
Yangtze Electric's profits double
Yangtze Electric Power, the operator of China's Three Gorges Dam, has said its profits more than doubled in 2004. The firm has benefited from increase…
Gatlin and Hayes win Owen awards
American Olympic stars Justin Gatlin and Joanna Hayes have been named the winners of the 2004 Jesse Owens Awards, USA Track & Field's (USATF) top hono…
Career honour for actor DiCaprio
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio's "exceptional career" has been honoured at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The star was presented with the awa…
Slowdown hits US factory growth
US industrial production increased for the 21st month in a row in February, but at a slower pace than in January, official figures show. The Institute…
Reboot ordered for EU patent law
A European Parliament committee has ordered a rewrite of the proposals for controversial new European Union rules which govern computer-based inventio…
Dementieva prevails in Hong Kong
Elena Dementieva swept aside defending champion Venus Williams 6-3 6-2 to win Hong Kong's Champions Challenge event. The Russian, ranked sixth in the …
Yachvili savours France comeback
France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili praised his team after they fought back to beat England 18-17 in the Six Nations clash at Twickenham. Yachvili kick…
Edwards tips Idowu for Euro gold
World outdoor triple jump record holder and BBC pundit Jonathan Edwards believes Phillips Idowu can take gold at the European Indoor Championships. Id…
Brookside actress Keaveney dies
Actress Anna Keaveney, who appeared in Brookside, My Family and A Touch of Frost, has died of lung cancer aged 55. Keaveney, who played Brookside's Ma…
Byrds producer Melcher dies at 62
Record producer Terry Melcher, who was behind hits by the Byrds, Ry Cooder and the Beach Boys, has died aged 62. The son of actress Doris Day, he help…
Pre-poll clash on tax and spend
Labour and the Tories have clashed over tax and spending plans as the row over Gordon Brown's Budget turned into a full scale pre-election battle. Ton…
Rapper Kanye West's shrewd soul
US hip-hop star Kanye West - who leads the race for this year's Grammys with 10 nominations - rose to prominence by producing songs for artists such a…
The future in your pocket
If you are a geek or gadget fan, the next 12 months look like they are going to be a lot of fun. The relentless pace of development in the hi-tech wor…
Mido makes third apology
Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam has made another apology to the Egyptian people in an attempt to rejoin the national team. The 21-year-old told a news conference …
File-swappers ready new network
Legal attacks on websites that help people swap pirated films have forced the development of a system that could be harder to shut down. One site behi…
Yeading face Newcastle in FA Cup
Premiership side Newcastle United face a trip to Ryman Premier League leaders Yeading in the FA Cup third round. The game - arguably the highlight of …
Iraqi voters turn to economic issues
Beyond the desperate security situation in Iraq lies an economy in tatters. A vicious cycle of unemployment, poor social services and poverty has been…
Mobile multimedia slow to catch on
There is no doubt that mobile phones sporting cameras and colour screens are hugely popular. Consumers swapping old phones for slinkier, dinkier versi…
Retail sales show festive fervour
UK retail sales were better than expected in November as Christmas shoppers began their seasonal flock to the High Street, figures show. The Office fo…
Campbell returns to election team
Ex-Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell will return to the fold to strengthen Labour's general election campaign, the party has confirmed. Mr …
Warnings on woeful wi-fi security
Companies are getting worse at keeping their wireless data networks secure. A survey of wi-fi networks in London, Frankfurt, New York and San Francisc…
Broadband set to revolutionise TV
BT is starting its push into television with plans to offer TV over broadband. As a telecoms company, BT is moving to a content distribution strategy,…
MSPs hear renewed climate warning
Climate change could be completely out of control within several decades, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is warning a committee of MSPs. E…
Dollar hits new low versus euro
The US dollar has continued its record-breaking slide and has tumbled to a new low against the euro. Investors are betting that the European Central B…
Yahoo celebrates a decade online
Yahoo, one of the net's most iconic companies, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week. The web portal has undergone remarkable change since it …
Xbox 2 may be unveiled in summer
Details of the next generation of Microsoft's Xbox games console - codenamed Xenon - will most likely be unveiled in May, according to reports. It was…
Rusedski angry over supplements
Greg Rusedski has criticised the governing body of men's tennis for not releasing contamination-free supplements in time for the new season. Rusedski …
England 'to launch ref protest'
England will protest to the International Rugby Board (IRB) about the referee's performance in the defeat by Ireland, reports the Daily Mail. England …
Donor attacks Blair-Brown 'feud'
The reported feud between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has prompted a Labour donor to say he will almost certainly refuse to give more funds. Duncan Ba…
Wales 'must learn health lessons'
The new health minister for Wales says there are lessons to learn from England in tackling waiting lists. Dr Brian Gibbons, on his first full day in t…
McCririck out of Big Brother show
Racing pundit John McCririck has become the latest contestant to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother. He was nominated to leave the Channel 4 show b…
Howard and Blair tax pledge clash
Tony Blair has said voters will have to wait for Labour's manifesto to see if the party has plans to increase tax. The premier was responding to a cha…
Firefox browser takes on Microsoft
Microsoft's Internet Explorer has a serious rival in the long-awaited Firefox 1.0 web browser, which has just been released. Few people get excited wh…
Star Trek fans fight to save show
Star Trek fans have taken out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times in an attempt to persuade TV executives not to scrap Star Trek: Enterprise. Made…
Da Vinci Code is 'lousy history'
The plot of an international bestseller that thousands of readers are likely to receive as a Christmas present is 'laughable', a clergyman has said. T…
FBI agent colludes with analyst
A former FBI agent and an internet stock picker have been found guilty of using confidential US government information to manipulate stock prices. A N…
Blogger grounded by her airline
A US airline attendant is fighting for her job after she was suspended over postings on her blog, or online diary. Queen of the Sky, otherwise known a…
Officials respond in court row
Australian tennis' top official has defended the Australian Open courts at Melbourne Park after criticism of the playing surface by Lleyton Hewitt. He…
Man Utd stroll to Cup win
Wayne Rooney made a winning return to Everton as Manchester United cruised into the FA Cup quarter-finals. Rooney received a hostile reception, but go…
Cherie accused of attacking Bush
Cherie Blair has been accused of criticising George W Bush's policies in a private address she gave during a United States lecture tour. The prime min…
Bush website blocked outside US
Surfers outside the US have been unable to visit the official re-election site of President George W Bush. The blocking of browsers sited outside the …
Duff ruled out of Barcelona clash
Chelsea's Damien Duff has been ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Duff sustained a knee injury in the FA …
Chepkemei hit by big ban
Kenya's athletics body has suspended two-time London Marathon runner-up Susan Chepkemei from all competition until the end of the year. Athletics Keny…
Could rivalry overshadow election?
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are desperately trying to stuff the genie of their rivalry back into the bottle. Along with any number of senior cabinet c…
Wall Street cool to eBay's profit
Shares in online auction house eBay fell 9.8% in after-hours trade on Wednesday, after its quarterly profits failed to meet market expectations. Despi…
Ferguson urges Henry punishment
Sir Alex Ferguson has called on the Football Association to punish Arsenal's Thierry Henry for an incident involving Gabriel Heinze. Ferguson believes…
'Strong dollar' call halts slide
The US dollar's slide against the euro and yen has halted after US Treasury Secretary John Snow said a strong dollar was "in America's interest". But …
Text message record smashed again
UK mobile owners continue to break records with their text messaging, with latest figures showing that 26 billion texts were sent in total in 2004. Th…
Jones files Conte lawsuit
Marion Jones has filed a lawsuit for defamation against Balco boss Victor Conte following his allegations that he gave her performance-enhancing drugs…
Hanks greeted at wintry premiere
Hollywood star Tom Hanks was in London's Leicester Square for the UK premiere of Polar Express. The West End landmark was turned into a festive landsc…
Murray to make Cup history
Andrew Murray will become Britain's youngest-ever Davis Cup player after it was confirmed he will play in the doubles against Israel on Saturday. The …
Clijsters set for February return
Tennis star Kim Clijsters will make her return from a career-threatening injury at the Antwerp WTA event in February. "Kim had considered returning to…
Tory leader urges Harry apology
Prince Harry should personally make clear how sorry he is about wearing a Nazi uniform to a friend's fancy dress party, says Tory leader Michael Howar…
Horror film heads US box office
A low-budget horror film produced by Evil Dead director Sam Raimi has topped the North American box office. Boogeyman, which focuses on a man who retu…
'Last chance' warning for voters
People in England, Scotland and Wales must have registered by 1700 GMT to be able to vote in the general election if it is held, as expected, on 5 May…
Abbas 'will not tolerate' attacks
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said he will not tolerate attacks such as last Friday's suicide bombing in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. In an in…
Jones happy with Henson heroics
Wales fly-half Stephen Jones admitted he was happy to hand Gavin Henson responsibility for taking the match-winning kick against England. Jones had mi…
McClaren targets Champions League
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren believes his side can clinch a top-four spot in the Premiership and secure qualification for the Champions League. A…
Whitehall cuts 'ahead of target'
Thousands of civil service jobs have already been cut or moved out of London as part of a major cost-cutting drive. Chancellor Gordon Brown said 12,50…
Baron Kinnock makes Lords debut
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has officially been made a life peer during a ceremony in the House of Lords. He will be known Baron Kinnock of Bedw…
'More to do' on adult literacy
The government will only hit its target for improving adult maths and literacy skills if courses are made more attractive, a report says. The National…
Fiat chief takes steering wheel
The chief executive of the Fiat conglomerate has taken day-to-day control of its struggling car business in an effort to turn it around. Sergio Marchi…
Wales hails new superstar
One game into his Six Nations career, and Gavin Henson is already a Welsh legend. A mesmeric display against England, topped off by his howitzer of a …
MPs assess Scots fishing industry
A group of MPs are on a two-day fact-finding mission to Scotland to gather evidence for a report into the UK's fishing industry. Members of Westminste…
Greek sprinters 'won't run again'
The careers of sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou are over, says the boss of the organisation that cleared them of missing a drugs test. Gr…
Tories 'would cut number of MPs'
The Conservative Party would cut the number of MPs by about one-fifth if they were elected, Tory leader Michael Howard has said. The plan forms part o…
Millions go missing at China bank
Two senior officials at one of China's top commercial banks have reportedly disappeared after funds worth up to $120m (£64m) went missing. The pair bo…
Golden rule boost for Chancellor
Chancellor Gordon Brown has been given a £2.1bn boost in his attempts to meet his golden economic rule, which allows him to borrow only for investment…
News Corp makes $5.4bn Fox offer
News Corporation is seeking to buy out minority investors in Fox Entertainment Group, its broadcasting subsidiary, for about $5.4bn (£3.7bn). The medi…
Goodrem wins top female MTV prize
Pop singer Delta Goodrem has scooped one of the top individual prizes at the first Australian MTV Music Awards. The 21-year-old singer won the award f…
New media battle for Bafta awards
The BBC leads the nominations for the Bafta Interactive Awards, including one for the Radio Times website and one for Sport Interactive's Euro 2004 co…
Battered dollar hits another low
The dollar has fallen to a new record low against the euro after data fuelled fresh concerns about the US economy. The greenback hit $1.3516 in thin N…
Peugeot deal boosts Mitsubishi
Struggling Japanese car maker Mitsubishi Motors has struck a deal to supply French car maker Peugeot with 30,000 sports utility vehicles (SUV). The tw…
US woman sues over ink cartridges
A US woman is suing Hewlett Packard (HP), saying its printer ink cartridges are secretly programmed to expire on a certain date. The unnamed woman fro…
WRU proposes season overhaul
The Welsh Rugby Union wants to restructure the Northern Hemisphere season into four separate blocks. The season would start with the Celtic League in …
Rusedski forced out in Marseille
Greg Rusedski was forced to withdraw from the Open 13 in Marseille on Thursday with a rib injury. The British number two had been scheduled to play qu…
Vickery out of Six Nations
England tight-head prop Phil Vickery has been ruled out of the rest of the 2005 RBS Six Nations after breaking a bone in his right forearm. Vickery wa…
US industrial output growth eases
US industrial production continued to rise in November, albeit at a slower pace than the previous month. The US Federal Reserve said output from facto…
Profits jump at China's top bank
Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICBC), China's biggest lender, has seen an 18% jump in profits during 2004. The increase in earnings has allowed the f…
Slovakia reach Hopman Cup final
Slovakia will play Argentina in the final of the Hopman Cup after beating Group B rivals the Netherlands 3-0. Daniela Hantuchova defeated Michaella Kr…
Mac Mini heralds mini revolution
The Mac Mini was launched amid much fanfare by Apple and great excitement by Apple watchers last month. But does the latest Macintosh justify the hype…
Oscar nominees lack pulling power
This year's clutch of Oscar nominees have been the least popular for 20 years according to box office figures. In the US the five nominated for best f…
Qatar and Shell in $6bn gas deal
Shell has signed a $6bn (£3.12bn) deal with the Middle Eastern sheikhdom of Qatar to supply liquid natural gas (LNG) to North America and Europe. The …
MPs issued with Blackberry threat
MPs will be thrown out of the Commons if they use Blackberries in the chamber Speaker Michael Martin has ruled. The £200 handheld computers can be use…
Hingis hints at playing comeback
Martina Hingis has admitted that she might consider a competitive return to tennis if an appearance in Thailand later this month goes well. The former…
Report attacks defence spending
The Ministry of Defence has been criticised over the soaring spending costs and growing delays of its top equipment projects. A National Audit Office …
US 'afflicted' with awards fatigue
The film world and media may be wild about the Oscars but cinema-goers and the TV-viewing public are sick of watching award ceremonies, according to s…
Baby becomes new Oscar favourite
Clint Eastwood's boxing drama Million Dollar Baby has become the new favourite to win best picture at the Oscars on Sunday. According to pundits, the …
'Super union' merger plan touted
Two of Britain's big trade unions could merge to form a "super union" of two million members. The move by Amicus and the Transport and General Workers…
Nuclear strike 'key terror risk'
The UK and US must realise they cannot prevent all terror attacks and should focus on making sure they are not nuclear strikes, says a top academic. A…
Vera Drake leads UK Oscar hopes
Mike Leigh's film Vera Drake will lead British hopes at this year's Academy Awards after getting three nominations. Imelda Staunton was nominated for …
Italy to get economic action plan
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will unveil plans aimed at kickstarting the country's sputtering economy on Thursday night in Rome. He will p…
Indie film nominations announced
Mike Leigh's award-winning abortion drama Vera Drake has scooped seven nominations at this year's British Independent Film Awards. But the Venice winn…
'Podcasters' look to net money
Nasa is doing it, 14-year-old boys in bedrooms are doing it, couples are doing it, gadget lovers - male and female - are definitely doing it. It is po…
Redknapp's Saints face Pompey tie
New Southampton manager Harry Redknapp faces an immediate reunion with his old club Portsmouth after they were drawn together in the FA Cup fourth rou…
Fear will help France - Laporte
France coach Bernard Laporte believes his team will be scared going into their game with England on Sunday, but claims it will work in their favour. T…
Celtic unhappy over Bulgaria date
Martin O'Neill hopes to block Stilian Petrov's call-up by Bulgaria during Celtic's busy festive programme. The Celtic manager does not view the friend…
US trade deficit widens sharply
The gap between US exports and imports has widened to more than $60bn (£31.7bn), an all-time record. Figures from the Commerce Department for November…
Lib Dems' new election PR chief
The Lib Dems have appointed a senior figure from BT to be the party's new communications chief for their next general election effort. Sandy Walkingto…
India to deport Bollywood actress
India has ordered the deportation of Iranian-born model and actress Negar Khan to Norway after saying she was working illegally on her visa. Khan has …
LSE doubts boost bidders' shares
Shares in Deutsche Boerse have risen more than 3% after a shareholder fund voiced opposition to the firm's planned takeover of the London Stock Exchan…
Absa and Barclays talks continue
South Africa biggest retail bank Absa has said it is still in talks with UK bank Barclays over the sale of majority stake in the group. In November, A…
Virgin Radio offers 3G broadcast
UK broadcaster Virgin Radio says it will become the first station in the world to offer radio via 3G mobiles. The radio station, in partnership with t…
PC ownership to 'double by 2010'
The number of personal computers worldwide is expected to double by 2010 to 1.3 billion machines, according to a report by analysts Forrester Research…
Voters 'don't trust politicians'
Eight out of 10 voters do not trust politicians to tell the truth, a new poll conducted for the BBC suggests. And 87% of the 1,000 adults quizzed by I…
Blair pledges unity to Labour MPs
Tony Blair has sought to reassure Labour backbenchers that nothing will stand in the way of the party's bid for a third term in power. Mr Blair was sp…
Blair 'damaged' by Blunkett row
A majority of voters (68%) believe the prime minister has been damaged by the row over David Blunkett's involvement in a visa application, a poll sugg…
Turkey-Iran mobile deal 'at risk'
Turkey's investment in Iran's mobile industry looks set to be scrapped after its biggest mobile firm saw its investment there slashed by MPs. Iran's p…
Tsunami debt deal to be announced
Chancellor Gordon Brown has said he hopes to announce a deal to suspend debt interest repayments by tsunami-hit nations later on Friday. The agreement…
Nintendo adds media playing to DS
Nintendo is releasing an adapter for its DS handheld console so it can play music and video. The add-on for the DS means people can download TV progra…
Games 'deserve a place in class'
Computer games could enhance learning and have a legitimate place in the classroom, say researchers. Academics from the Institute of Education at Lond…
Sayeed to stand down as Tory MP
Tory MP Jonathan Sayeed is to stand down on the grounds of ill health. The decision comes after Mr Sayeed survived an attempt to de-select him in a ro…
Safin plays down Wimbledon hopes
Newly-crowned Australian Open champion Marat Safin has ruled out any chance of winning Wimbledon in the future. After losing in round one last year, S…
Blunkett tells of love and pain
David Blunkett has spoken of his love for married publisher Kimberly Quinn for the first time. The home secretary described how it affected his friend…
Could Yukos be a blessing in disguise?
Other things being equal, the notion of entrepreneurs languishing in jail while their companies are sold off for a song ought to be bad for business. …
Gadget market 'to grow in 2005'
The explosion in consumer technology is to continue into 2005, delegates at the world's largest gadget show, in Las Vegas, have been told. The number …
Radcliffe enjoys winning comeback
Paula Radcliffe made a triumphant return to competitive running with victory in the New York Marathon. The Briton, running for the first time since dr…
Howard's unfinished business
He's not finished yet, whispered the Conservative Party person as your reporter attempted to slip quietly from the hall. And indeed he wasn't. Michael…
VW considers opening Indian plant
Volkswagen is considering building a car factory in India, but said it had yet to make a final decision. The German giant said it was studying the pos…
Holmes back on form in Birmingham
Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes was back to her best as she comfortably won the 1,000m at the Norwich Union Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix. The 34-…
EU referendum question unveiled
The question to be asked in the referendum on the EU Constitution has been unveiled by the government. It will be: "Should the United Kingdom approve …
Brown names 16 March for Budget
Chancellor Gordon Brown will deliver his Budget to the House of Commons on 16 March, the Treasury has announced. The Budget, likely to be the last bef…
Sideways dominates Spirit awards
The comedy Sideways has dominated this year's Independent Spirit Awards, winning all six of the awards for which it was nominated. It was named best f…
Latin America sees strong growth
Latin America's economy grew by 5.5% in 2004, its best performance since 1980, while exports registered their best performance in two decades. The Uni…
Web radio takes Spanish rap global
Spin the radio dial in the US and you are likely to find plenty of Spanish-language music. But what you will not find is much Spanish-language hip-hop…
All Black magic: New Zealand rugby
Playing colours: All black The Haka and more! The All Blacks Charles John Munro discovered rugby at London's Christ College, and on his return to Nels…
S Korean lender faces liquidation
Creditors of South Korea's top credit card firm have said they will put the company into liquidation if its ex-parent firm fails to back a bail-out. L…
French wine gets 70m euro top-up
The French government is to hand its struggling wine industry 70m euros ($91m) in aid to help it battle falling sales and damaging overproduction. The…
Microsoft releases bumper patches
Microsoft has warned PC users to update their systems with the latest security fixes for flaws in Windows programs. In its monthly security bulletin, …
Youssou N'Dour wins music prize
Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour has been named a winner of a BBC Radio 3 World Music Award. His album Egypt won the critics' award for album of the…
DVD review: Spider-Man 2
It's a universal rule that a film can either be a superhero special effects extravaganza or it can be good. But Spider-Man 2 breaks that rule in two. …
Split-caps pay £194m compensation
Investors who lost money following the split-capital investment trust scandal are to receive £194m compensation, the UK's financial watchdog has annou…
Double injury blow strikes Wales
Wales centre Sonny Parker and number eight Ryan Jones will miss Saturday's game with Italy because of injury. Parker has not recovered from a trapped …
Labour plans maternity pay rise
Maternity pay for new mothers is to rise by £1,400 as part of new proposals announced by the Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt. It would me…
China 'ripe' for media explosion
Asia is set to drive global media growth to 2008 and beyond, with China and India filling the two top spots, analysts have predicted. Japan, South Kor…
Napster offers rented music to go
Music downloading, for those that have rejected the free peer to peer services, can be a costly business. The cost of paying even as little as 70p per…
Edu blasts Arsenal
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Edu has hit out at the club for stalling over offering him a new contract. Edu's deal expires next summer and he has be…
Manchester wins Labour conference
The Labour Party will hold its 2006 autumn conference in Manchester and not Blackpool, it has been confirmed. The much trailed decision was ratified b…
Triple triumph for Little Britain
Top TV cult hit Little Britain has triumphed over The Office at the 15th annual British Comedy Awards. The BBC show beat The Office Christmas Special …
Berlin cheers for anti-Nazi film
A German movie about an anti-Nazi resistance heroine has drawn loud applause at Berlin Film Festival. Sophie Scholl - The Final Days portrays the fina…
Cairn Energy in Indian gas find
Shares in Cairn Energy rose 3.8% to 1,088 pence on Tuesday after the UK firm announced a fresh gas discovery in northern India. The firm, which last y…
Lord Scarman, 93, dies peacefully
Distinguished lawyer Lord Scarman, who conducted the inquiry into the 1981 Brixton riots, has died aged 93. The peer enjoyed a celebrated judicial car…
No seasonal lift for house market
A swathe of figures have provided further evidence of a slowdown in the UK property market. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), British Bankers Ass…
Civil servants in strike ballot
The UK's biggest civil service union is to ballot its 290,000 members on strikes in protest at government plans to extend their pension age to 65. The…
Israeli club look to Africa
Four African players, including Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro, are all ready to play for Israeli club Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin in the Uefa Cup. Bn…
GE sees 'excellent' world economy
US behemoth General Electric has posted an 18% jump in quarterly sales, and in profits, and declared itself "in great shape". "We are benefiting from …
Ad sales boost Time Warner profit
Quarterly profits at US media giant TimeWarner jumped 76% to $1.13bn (£600m) for the three months to December, from $639m year-earlier. The firm, whic…
Slow start to speedy net services
Faster broadband in the UK is becoming a reality as more internet providers offer super-fast services. Some lucky Britons can already take advantage o…
Dozens held over ID fraud site
Twenty-eight people, including a Briton, have been arrested after a global operation against a website allegedly involved in identity fraud. Those arr…
Defiant hunts put ban to the test
Thousands of hunt supporters have been out on the first day of hunting in England and Wales after the ban on hunting with dogs came into force. The Co…
Hendrix guitar fetches £100,000
A much-loved guitar belonging to Jimi Hendrix has been sold for £100,000 at an auction in London. The 1965 Fender Stratocaster was one of a number of …
New York rockers top talent poll
New York electro-rock group The Bravery have come top of the BBC News website's Sound of 2005 poll to find the music scene's most promising new act. T…
Ireland win eclipses refereeing 'errors'
The International Rugby Board may have to step in to stop frustrated coaches and players from publicly haranguing referees when things go belly-up. It…
Johnson edges out rival Sotherton
Jade Johnson edged out rival Kelly Sotherton with her last effort to claim the AAAs long jump title at the Norwich Union European Indoor trials. Olymp…
New Harry Potter tops book chart
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has topped Amazon's book chart less than 24 hours after its release date - 16 July - was announced. Thousands o…
Macy's owner buys rival for $11bn
US retail giant Federated Department Stores is to buy rival May Department Stores for $11bn (£5.7bn). The deal will bring together famous stores like …
Halo 2 heralds traffic explosion
The growing popularity of online gaming could spell problems for net service firms, warns network monitoring company Sandvine. It issued the warning f…
Hingis to make unexpected return
Martina Hingis makes her return to competitve tennis after two years out of the game at the Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya, Thailand, on Tuesday. She f…
McCall earns Tannadice reprieve
Dundee United manager Ian McCall has won a reprieve from the sack, with chairman Eddie Thompson calling for an end to speculation over his future. It …
Will Tory tax cuts lift spirits?
Michael Howard has finally revealed the full scale of his planned Tory tax cuts. Should he win the next general election, he has earmarked £4 billion …
Halloween writer Debra Hill dies
Screenwriter and producer Debra Hill, best known for her work on the 70s horror classic Halloween, has died in Los Angeles aged 54. Hill, who had been…
Wine comedy up for six film gongs
Sideways, a wine-tasting comedy starring Paul Giamatti, is up for six Independent Spirit Awards, the art-house version of the Oscars. The awards are h…
South African car demand surges
Car manufacturers with plants in South Africa, including BMW, General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, have seen a surge in demand during 2004. New vehi…
Owen determined to stay in Madrid
England forward Michael Owen has told the BBC he is happy in Spain and has no plans to quit Real Madrid to return to the Premiership in the near futur…
UK heading wrong way, says Howard
Tony Blair has had the chance to tackle the problems facing Britain and has failed, Michael Howard has said. "Britain is heading in the wrong directio…
Nat Insurance to rise, say Tories
National Insurance will be raised if Labour wins the next election, Tory leader Michael Howard has claimed. Tony Blair has said he does not want highe…
Fightstar take to the stage
Charlie Simpson took his new band Fightstar to the stage on Friday night, just hours after officially announcing his departure from pop band Busted. H…
Dutch watch Van Gogh's last film
The last film to be made by the slain Dutch director Theo van Gogh, called 06/05, has been premiered in The Hague. Members of Van Gogh's family and ce…
Bank holds interest rate at 4.75%
The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold again at 4.75%, in a widely-predicted move. Rates went up five times from November 2003 - as the b…
Drive to 'save' festive holidays
Efforts are being made to 'protect' workers' days off on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Support is being sought for a bill which would ensure that …
Beatles suits sell for $110,000
Four suits worn by the Beatles on their Please Please Me album cover have sold for $110,00 (£59,000) at a US auction. But some of Elvis Presley's earl…
Berlin hails European cinema
Organisers say this year's Berlin Film Festival, which opens on Thursday with period epic Man to Man, will celebrate a revitalised European cinema. Of…
Court mulls file-sharing future
Judges at the US Supreme Court have been hearing evidence for and against file-sharing networks. The court will decide whether producers of file-shari…
Europe backs digital TV lifestyle
How people receive their digital entertainment in the future could change, following the launch of an ambitious European project. In Nice last week, t…
Hodges announces rugby retirement
Scarlets and USA Eagles forward Dave Hodges has ended his playing career to pursue a coaching role in the States. The 36-year-old, who has 54 caps, wa…
UK youth 'interested' in politics
The majority of young people are interested in politics, holding "strong opinions" on policies and have a "keen appetite" for direct action. Research …
Critics back Aviator for Oscars
Martin Scorsese's The Aviator will win best film at the Oscars, according to the UK's leading movie critics. But several of those surveyed by the BBC …
India opens skies to competition
India will allow domestic commercial airlines to fly long haul international routes, a move it hopes will stoke competition and drive down prices. How…
Capriati out of Australian Open
Jennifer Capriati has become the third leading lady to withdraw from the Australian Open because of injury. The organisers of the first grand slam of …
Observers to monitor UK election
Ministers will invite international observers to check the forthcoming UK general election is fairly run. The move comes amid claims the poll could be…
S Korea spending boost to economy
South Korea will boost state spending next year in an effort to create jobs and kick start its sputtering economy. It has earmarked 100 trillion won (…
Apple unveils low-cost 'Mac mini'
Apple has unveiled a new, low-cost Macintosh computer for the masses, billed as the Mac mini. Chief executive Steve Jobs showed off the new machine at…
Brown 'proud of economy record'
Gordon Brown has delivered a rousing speech to Labour's spring conference setting out the government's agenda for the next general election. The chanc…
Kennedy questions trust of Blair
Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has said voters now have a "fundamental lack of trust" of Tony Blair as prime minister. He said backing his party was n…
Tory backing for ID cards
The Tories are to back controversial government plans to introduce ID cards. The shadow cabinet revealed its support ahead of next week's Commons vote…
£1.8m indecency fine for Viacom
Media giant Viacom has paid out $3.5m (£1.8m) to end investigations into indecency in its US radio and TV shows. The settlement to the Federal Communi…
More power to the people says HP
The digital revolution is focused on letting people tell and share their own stories, according to Carly Fiorina, chief of technology giant Hewlett Pa…
Williams battles to Aussie title
Serena Williams staged a remarkable recovery to beat Lindsay Davenport and win her second Australian Open title. The 2003 champion claimed her seventh…
Howard pitches for UK ethnic vote
Michael Howard is to make a pitch for Britain's ethnic vote urging people who feel "taken for granted" by Tony Blair to vote Conservative. He will say…
Top judge clashes with ministers
The UK's top judge has revealed he has clashed with ministers about how the heads of public inquiries are chosen. Lord Woolf said he was determined hi…
Watchdog probes Vivendi bond sale
French stock market regulator AMF has filed complaints against media giant Vivendi Universal, its boss and another top executive. It believes the pros…
Crossrail link 'to get go-ahead'
The £10bn Crossrail transport plan, backed by business groups, is to get the go-ahead this month, according to The Mail on Sunday. It says the UK Trea…
Wood - Ireland can win Grand Slam
Former captain Keith Wood believes Ireland can win only their second Grand Slam - and first since 1948 - in this year's RBS Six Nations Championship. …
U2's desire to be number one
U2, who have won three prestigious Grammy Awards for their hit Vertigo, are stubbornly clinging to their status as one of the biggest bands in the wor…
Net fingerprints combat attacks
Eighty large net service firms have switched on software to spot and stop net attacks automatically. The system creates digital fingerprints of ongoin…
How to smash a home computer
An executive who froze his broken hard disk thinking it would be fixed has topped a list of the weirdest computer mishaps. Although computer malfuncti…
Mansfield 0-1 Leyton Orient
An second-half goal from Andy Scott condemned Mansfield to a ninth successive game without a win. Early in the second half Wayne Carlisle's cross was …
France set for new Da Vinci novel
French booksellers are braced for a rush of interest after another book from the author of The Da Vinci Code is translated into French. Angels and Dem…
Parker's saxophone heads auction
A saxophone belonging to legendary jazz musician Charlie Parker is expected to fetch up to $1m (£535,000) at an auction of jazz memorabilia next month…
US actor 'found with gun residue'
Actor Robert Blake had gunshot residue on his hands and clothes the night his wife was shot dead, a court has heard. But it may not have come from the…
Dirty Den's demise seen by 14m
More than 14 million people saw "Dirty" Den Watts killed off on Friday, marking EastEnders' 20th anniversary, according to unofficial figures. Den's d…
Mobile gaming takes off in India
Gaming on the move is one of the fastest-growing activities among the tech-savvy in India, says a report. The Indian mobile gaming market is expected …
Hong Kong in 2011 World Cup bid
Hong Kong is hoping to join Japan as co-host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Japan has applied to host the tournament on its own, with the aim of taking …
Thomas out of Six Nations
Wales captain Gareth Thomas has been ruled out of the rest of the Six Nations with a broken thumb. The full-back will have surgery on Monday after fra…
Kidman wins photographer battle
Actress Nicole Kidman has won a restraining order against two paparazzi photographers who she claims left her fearful of leaving her Sydney mansion. T…
Anelka apologises for criticism
Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka has issued an apology for criticising the ambitions of the club. Anelka was quoted in a French newspaper as say…
Giggs handed Wales leading role
Ryan Giggs will captain Wales as he wins his 50th cap in Wednesday's friendly against Hungary in Cardiff. John Toshack, in his first game as coach aft…
Markets signal Brazilian recovery
The Brazilian stock market has risen to a record high as investors display growing confidence in the durability of the country's economic recovery. Th…
Car giant hit by Mercedes slump
A slump in profitability at luxury car maker Mercedes has prompted a big drop in profits at parent DaimlerChrysler. The German-US carmaker saw fourth …
Steady job growth continues in US
The US created fewer jobs than expected in December, but analysts said that the dip in hiring was not enough to derail the world's biggest economy. Ac…
Cairn shares up on new oil find
Shares in Cairn Energy have jumped 6% after the firm said an Indian oilfield was larger than previously thought. Cairn said drilling to the north-west…
Umaga ready for "fearsome" Lions
All Blacks captain Tama Umaga has warned the British and Irish Lions will be his most fearsome opponents yet ahead of their summer tour. But Umaga, in…
Labour trio 'had vote-rig factory'
Three Labour councillors in Birmingham were caught operating a "vote-rigging factory", an Election Court has heard. Police found the trio handling uns…
Commons hunt protest charges
Eight protesters who stormed the House of Commons chamber during a debate on the Hunting Bill have been charged with disorderly conduct. The men were …
'Debate needed' on donations cap
A cap on donations to political parties should not be introduced yet, the elections watchdog has said. Fears that big donors can buy political favours…
Nigeria to boost cocoa production
The government of Nigeria is hoping to triple cocoa production over the next three years with the launch of an ambitious development programme. Agricu…
Visa row mandarin made Sir John
The top civil servant at the centre of the David Blunkett visa affair has been knighted in the New Year Honours. Sir John Gieve was Home Office perman…
WorldCom bosses' $54m payout
Ten former directors at WorldCom have agreed to pay $54m (£28.85m), including $18m from their own pockets, to settle a class action lawsuit, reports s…
Gold falls on IMF sale concerns
The price of gold has fallen after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it will look at ways of using its gold reserves to provide debt relief. …
Ore costs hit global steel firms
Shares in steel firms have dropped worldwide amid concerns that higher iron ore costs will hit profit growth. Shares in Germany's ThyssenKrupp, the UK…
US peer-to-peer pirates convicted
The first convictions for piracy over peer-to-peer networks have been handed down in the US. New Yorker William Trowbridge and Texan Michael Chicoine …
Robinson answers critics
England captain Jason Robinson has rubbished suggestions that the world champions are a team in decline. England were beaten 11-9 by Wales in their Si…
Talks aim to avert pension strike
Talks aimed at averting a series of national strikes over pensions reforms will take place this weekend. Five public sector unions will hold private t…
Band Aid 20 single storms to No 1
The new version of the Band Aid song Do They Know It's Christmas? has gone straight in at number one in the UK singles chart. The charity record is al…
Adventure tale tops awards
Young book fans have voted Fergus Crane, a story about a boy who is taken on an adventure by a flying horse, the winner of two Smarties Book Prizes. P…
Asian quake hits European shares
Shares in Europe's leading reinsurers and travel firms have fallen as the scale of the damage wrought by tsunamis across south Asia has become apparen…
Murphy: That was a bruising battle
That's what I call a tough game. It was very physical and fair play to the Italians they made us work very hard for our victory. Their organisation wa…
Dunne keen to commit to Man City
Richard Dunne is ready to commit his long-term future to Manchester City after turning his career around. He was once threatened with the sack by City…
SFA awaits report over Mikoliunas
The Scottish Football Association is awaiting referee Hugh Dallas's report before acting against Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas. Mikoliunas, 20, bar…
Councils 'must find Gypsy sites'
Ministers are telling councils to find more sites for travellers, amid continuing rows concerning a string of unauthorised encampments. Councils are a…
India and Iran in gas export deal
India has signed a $40bn (£21bn) deal to import millions of tonnes of liquefied natural gas from Iran. Firms led by the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation …
Robinson out of Six Nations
England captain Jason Robinson will miss the rest of the Six Nations because of injury. Robinson, stand-in captain in the absence of Jonny Wilkinson, …
O'Gara revels in Ireland victory
Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara hailed his side's 19-13 victory over England as a "special" win. The Munster number 10 kicked a total of 14 points, incl…
Lewis-Francis eyeing world gold
Mark Lewis-Francis says his Olympic success has made him determined to bag World Championship 100m gold in 2005. The 22-year-old pipped Maurice Greene…
Kluft impressed by Sotherton form
Olympic heptathlon champion Carolina Kluft was full of admiration for Britain's Kelly Sotherton as the pair prepared to clash in Birmingham. Both will…
MPs tout Lords replacement plan
A group of MPs has tried to raise the pressure on Tony Blair over reform to the House of Lords by publishing a detailed blueprint for change. The cros…
Argonaut founder rebuilds empire
Jez San, the man behind the Argonaut games group which went into administration a week ago, has bought back most of the company. The veteran games dev…
GM issues 2005 profits warning
General Motors has warned that it expects earnings this year be lower than in 2004. The world's biggest car maker is grappling with losses in its Euro…
Mobile games come of age
The BBC News website takes a look at how games on mobile phones are maturing. A brief round-up follows but you can skip straight to the reviews by cli…
Software watching while you work
Software that can not only monitor every keystroke and action performed at a PC but also be used as legally binding evidence of wrong-doing has been u…
Celts savour Grand Slam prospect
The Six Nations has heralded a new order in northern hemisphere rugby this year and Wales and Ireland rather than traditional big guns France and Engl…
Clarke to unveil immigration plan
New controls on economic migrants and tighter border patrols will be part of government plans unveiled on Monday. Home Secretary Charles Clarke wants …
Kelly trails new discipline power
Teachers could get more powers to remove unruly pupils from classes under a "zero tolerance" drive, Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has suggested. Ms K…
Christmas shoppers flock to tills
Shops all over the UK reported strong sales on the last Saturday before Christmas with some claiming record-breaking numbers of festive shoppers. A sp…
India power shares jump on debut
Shares in India's largest power producer, National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) have risen 13% on their stock market debut. The government's partial sell…
Apple makes blogs reveal sources
Apple has won its legal fight to make three bloggers reveal who told them about unreleased products. The bid to unmask the employees leaking informati…
Captains lining up for Aid match
Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll is one of four Six Nations captains included in the Northern Hemisphere squad for the IRB Rugby Aid match on 5 March. Franc…
Super Size Me wins writers' award
Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock has won the Writers Guild of America's award for documentary feature writing. The Oscar-nominated film followed…
Howl helps boost Japan's cinemas
Japan's box office received a 3.8% boost last year, with ticket sales worth 211bn yen (£1.08bn). The surge was led by animated movie Howl's Moving Cas…
Remote control rifle range debuts
Soon you could go hunting via the net. A Texas company is considering letting web users use a remote-controlled rifle to shoot down deer, antelope and…
French boss to leave EADS
The French co-head of European defence and aerospace group EADS Philippe Camus is to leave his post. Mr Camus said in a statement that he has accepted…
Robben sidelined with broken foot
Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has broken two metatarsal bones in his foot and will be out for at least six weeks. Robben had an MRI scan on the injury, …
China suspends 26 power projects
China has ordered a halt to construction work on 26 big power stations, including two at the Three Gorges Dam, on environmental grounds. The move is a…
EA to take on film and TV giants
Video game giant Electronic Arts (EA) says it wants to become the biggest entertainment firm in the world. The US firm says it wants to compete with c…
Low-cost airlines hit Eurotunnel
Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel has seen sales fall in the face of the upsurge in European low-cost airlines. The firm said sales were down 4% in 2…
Music mogul Fuller sells company
Pop Idol supremo Simon Fuller has sold his 19 Entertainment company to an US entrepreneur in a $156m (£81.5m) deal. Robert Sillerman's Sports Entertai…
Can Yahoo dominate next decade?
Yahoo has reached the grand old age of 10 and, in internet years, that is a long time. For many, Yahoo remains synonymous with the internet - a vetera…
Ivanovic seals Canberra victory
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic captured her first WTA title with a straight-sets victory over Hungarian Melinda Czink in the final of the Canberra Classic. The…
Slovakia seal Hopman Cup success
Slovakia clinched the Hopman Cup for the second time by beating Argentina 3-0 in Saturday's final in Perth. Daniela Hantuchova put the third seeds ahe…
Snow Patrol bassist exits group
Snow Patrol had "no other course of action" but to ask their co-founder and bassist to leave the band, lead singer Gary Lightbody has said. Mark McCle…
Steel firm 'to cut' 45,000 jobs
Mittal Steel, one of the world's largest steel producers, could cut up to 45,000 jobs over the next five years, its chief executive has said. The Neth…
Long life promised for laptop PCs
Scientists are working on ways to ensure laptops can stay powered for an entire working day. Building batteries from new chemical mixes could boost po…
EU software patent law delayed
Controversial new EU rules for the patenting of computer-based inventions have been put on hold due to a last minute intervention from Poland. Poland …
UK net users leading TV downloads
British TV viewers lead the trend of illegally downloading US shows from the net, according to research. New episodes of 24, Desperate Housewives and …
Hollywood hunts hits at Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival, the movie industry's top destination for uncovering the next independent hits and new talent, opens on Thursday. The event…
Famed music director Viotti dies
Conductor Marcello Viotti, director of Venice's famous La Fenice Theatre, has died in Germany at 50. Viotti, director of La Fenice since 2002, conduct…
The Force is strong in Battlefront
The warm reception that has greeted Star Wars: Battlefront is a reflection not of any ingenious innovation in its gameplay, but of its back-to-basics …
Director Nair's Vanity project
Indian film director Mira Nair has said she was thrilled to be given the chance to make William Makepeace Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair - as the book …
Windows worm travels with Tetris
Users are being warned about a Windows virus that poses as the hugely popular Tetris game. The Cellery worm installs a playable version of the classic…
M&S cuts prices by average of 24%
Marks & Spencer has cut prices in London and the regions by an average of 24%, according to research from a City investment bank. Dresdner Kleinwort W…
Thanou bullish over drugs hearing
Katerina Thanou is confident she and fellow sprinter Kostas Kenteris will not be punished for missing drugs tests before the Athens Olympics. The Gree…
Microsoft debuts security tools
Microsoft is releasing tools that clean up PCs harbouring viruses and spyware. The virus-fighting program will be updated monthly and is a precursor t…
Howard hits back at mongrel jibe
Michael Howard has said a claim by Peter Hain that the Tory leader is acting like an "attack mongrel" shows Labour is "rattled" by the opposition. In …
Talks held on Gibraltar's future
Two days of talks on the future of Gibraltar begin at Jack Straw's country residence later on Wednesday. Officials at the two-day summit at the foreig…
Glazer makes new Man Utd approach
Malcolm Glazer has made a fresh approach to buy Manchester United, which could lead to a bid valuing the Premiership club at £800m. The US tycoon, who…
BMW reveals new models pipeline
BMW is preparing to enter the market for car-style people carriers, the firm's chief has told BBC News. Speaking at a BMW event ahead of the Geneva mo…
X Factor show gets second series
TV talent show The X Factor is to return for a second series after being recommissioned by ITV. Judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne a…
Japan turns to beer alternatives
Japanese brewers are increasingly making money from beer-flavoured drinks rather than beer itself Beer and spirits are heavily taxed in Japan, driving…
Parties' plans for council tax
Anger at council tax rises spilled over into mass protests in 2003, when the average English bill rose 12.9%. Pensioners' protests spread - some march…
Mourinho takes swipe at Arsenal
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has attempted to pile the pressure on title rivals Arsenal ahead of the Gunners facing Newcastle on Wednesday. Arsenal will…
Johnny and Denise lose Passport
Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen's Saturday night entertainment show Passport to Paradise will not return to screens, the BBC has said. The ex-Big …
Tories unveil quango blitz plans
Plans to abolish 162 quangos have been unveiled by the Conservatives as part of their effort to show how government red tape can be cut. Six governmen…
Bargain calls widen Softbank loss
Japanese communications firm Softbank has widened losses after heavy spending on a new cut-rate phone service. The service, launched in December and d…
Elton plays Paris charity concert
Sir Elton John has performed at a special concert in Paris to raise money for the victims of the Asian tsunami. The British singer played to a 2,700-s…
Profits stall at China's Lenovo
Profits at Chinese computer firm Lenovo have stood still amid slowing demand at home and stiffening competition. The firm is in the international spot…
O'Driscoll saves Irish blushes
Two moments of magic from Brian O'Driscoll guided Ireland to a workmanlike victory against Italy. A pair of classic outside breaks from the Ireland ca…
Everton's Weir cools Euro hopes
Everton defender David Weir has played down talk of European football, despite his team lying in second place in the Premiership after beating Liverpo…
EU rules 'won't stop UK spending'
The shape of the UK's economy In graphics But he denied that he was ruling out British membership of the euro despite saying there would be no assessm…
TV future in the hands of viewers
With home theatre systems, plasma high-definition TVs, and digital video recorders moving into the living room, the way people watch TV will be radica…
Pompeii gets digital make-over
The old-fashioned audio tour of historical places could soon be replaced with computer-generated images that bring the site to life. A European Union-…
Cup holders Man Utd visit Everton
Holders Manchester United and Premiership leaders Chelsea both face difficult away ties against Premiership opposition in the FA Cup fifth round. Unit…
Van Nistelrooy set to return
Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy may make his comeback after an Achilles tendon injury in the FA Cup fifth round tie at Everton on Saturd…
Kilroy names election seat target
Ex-chat show host Robert Kilroy-Silk is to contest the Derbyshire seat of Erewash at the next general election. Labour's Elizabeth Blackman won the se…
Jowell rejects 'Las Vegas' jibe
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, has hit out at critics of the Gambling Bill. She told the Guardian newspaper there …
Euronext 'poised to make LSE bid'
Pan-European group Euronext is poised to launch a bid for the London Stock Exchange, UK media reports say. Last week, the LSE rejected a takeover prop…
Moya sidesteps Davis Cup in 2005
Carlos Moya has chosen not to help Spain try and defend the Davis Cup crown they won in Seville in November. Moya led Spain to victory over the USA bu…
Campbell lifts lid on United feud
Arsenal's Sol Campbell has called the rivalry between Manchester United and the Gunners "bitter and personal". Past encounters have stirred up plenty …
Indian oil firm eyes Yukos assets
India's biggest oil exploration firm, Oil & Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), says it is in talks to buy the former assets of troubled Russian crude producer Y…
Moya clinches Cup for Spain
Spain won the Davis Cup for the second time in their history when Carlos Moya beat the USA's Andy Roddick in the fourth rubber in Seville. Moya won 6-…
Bryan twins keep US hopes alive
The United States kept the Davis Cup final alive with victory in Saturday's doubles rubber, leaving Spain 2-1 ahead going into the final day. Masters …
Show over for MTV's The Osbournes
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne has said his family will not make any more episodes of reality TV show The Osbournes. "At the end of it I didn't like having c…
Mobiles rack up 20 years of use
Mobile phones in the UK are celebrating their 20th anniversary this weekend. Britain's first mobile phone call was made across the Vodafone network on…
Straw to attend Auschwitz service
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will visit Auschwitz for the 60th anniversary of the former Nazi concentration camp's liberation, it has been announced. …
Fears raised over ballet future
Fewer children in the UK are following in the dainty footsteps of dancers like Darcey Bussell, and carving out potential careers as ballet dancers. Ne…
UK house prices dip in November
UK house prices dipped slightly in November, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has said. The average house price fell marginally to £180,…
Wembley firm won't make a profit
Shares in Multiplex Group, which is building the new Wembley stadium, fell as much as 19% after it said it would not make any money on the project. Th…
Angry Williams rejects criticism
Serena Williams has angrily rejected claims that she and sister Venus are a declining force in tennis. The sisters ended last year without a Grand Sla…
IAAF will contest Greek decision
The International Association of Athletics Federations will appeal against the acquittal of Greek athletes Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou. The hi…
Election 'could be terror target'
Terrorists might try to target the UK in the run-up to the election, London's most senior police officer has said. Sir Ian Blair said terror groups wo…
Police chief backs drinking move
A chief constable has backed the introduction of 24-drinking, saying police had a responsibility to ensure people could benefit from a law change. How…
Campaign 'cold calls' questioned
Labour and the Conservatives are still telephoning the millions of people who have signed up to make sure they do not get marketing "cold calls". The …
Singer Ian Brown 'in gig arrest'
Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown was arrested after a fight during a concert in San Francisco on Tuesday, his spokesman has said. A fan jumped on s…
'Golden economic period' to end
Ten years of "golden" economic performance may come to an end in 2005 with growth slowing markedly, City consultancy Deloitte has warned. The UK econo…
Guantanamo four free in weeks
All four Britons held by the US in Guantanamo Bay will be returned to the UK within weeks, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told the Commons on Tuesday. M…
Bookmakers back Aviator for Oscar
The Aviator has been tipped by UK bookmakers as the favourite to win the best film award at this year's Oscars. Ray star Jamie Foxx is clear favourite…
Kirwan demands Italy consistency
Italy coach John Kirwan has challenged his side to match the performance they produced in pushing Ireland close when they meet Wales on Saturday. Desp…
Yukos drops banks from court bid
Russian oil company Yukos has dropped the threat of legal action against five banks it had accused of involvement in the sale of its key Yugansk unit.…
UK Directors Guild nominees named
Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood are among the nominees for the top prize at the Directors Guild of Great Britain awards, now in their second year. …
Dent continues Adelaide progress
American Taylor Dent reached the final of the Australian hardcourt event in Adelaide with a crushing 6-1 6-1 win over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. De…
Brits debate over 'urban' music
Joss Stone, a 17-year-old soul singer from Devon, beat Dizzee Rascal, Jamelia, Lemar and The Streets to win best British urban act at the Brit Awards.…
Confusion over high-definition TV
Now that a critical mass of people have embraced digital TV, DVDs, and digital video recorders, the next revolution for TV is being prepared for our s…
Greek pair set for hearing
Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou will fight the provisional two-year bans imposed on them by the IAAF at an independent tribunal this weekend. Athl…
Branson show flops on US screens
Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson's US TV show, The Rebel Billionaire, is proving a flop in the ratings. The programme suffered poor viewing figures on…
Parties warned over 'grey vote'
Political parties cannot afford to take older UK voters for granted in the coming election, says Age Concern. A survey for the charity suggests 69% of…
US trade gap ballooned in October
The US trade deficit widened by more than expected in October, hitting record levels after higher oil prices raised import costs, figures have shown T…
Cars pull down US retail figures
US retail sales fell 0.3% in January, the biggest monthly decline since last August, driven down by a heavy fall in car sales. The 3.3% fall in car sa…
What price for 'trusted PC security'?
You can now buy "trusted computers", but can we really trust the PC vendors, asks technology analyst Bill Thompson. If you have recently bought an IBM…
UK 'risks breaking golden rule'
The UK government will have to raise taxes or rein in spending if it wants to avoid breaking its "golden rule", a report suggests. The rule states tha…
Ex-Boeing director gets jail term
An ex-chief financial officer at Boeing has received a four-month jail sentence and a fine of $250,000 (£131,961) for illegally hiring a top Air Force…
US bank in $515m SEC settlement
Five Bank of America subsidiaries have agreed to pay a total of $515m (£277m) to settle an investigation into fraudulent trading share practices. The …
Jamieson issues warning to bigots
Scotland's justice minister has warned bigoted soccer fans that she wants to hit them "where it hurts most" by banning them from matches. Cathy Jamies…
Campbell: E-mail row 'silly fuss'
Ex-No 10 media chief Alastair Campbell is at the centre of a new political row over an e-mail containing a four-letter outburst aimed at BBC journalis…
Vera Drake's Bafta triumph hope
At the Bafta film awards on Saturday night, there is the prospect that a home-grown movie could walk off with a clutch of trophies. Vera Drake, Mike L…
'My memories of Marley...'
To mark the 60th anniversary of the birth of reggae star Bob Marley, Rob Partridge - Marley's former head of press at Island Records - remembers the m…
Bangkok film festival battles on
Organisers of the third Bangkok International Film Festival have been determined to carry on with this year's event despite the ravages of the Asian t…
Benitez 'to launch Morientes bid'
Liverpool may launch an £8m January bid for long-time target Fernando Morientes, according to reports. The Real Madrid striker has been linked with a …
US seeks new $280bn smoker ruling
The US Justice Department is to try to overturn a court ruling that threw out its claim for $280bn (£149bn) in damages from tobacco firms. Earlier thi…
Disputed Nirvana box set on sale
A box set featuring 68 unreleased Nirvana tracks has gone on sale in the US, after years of legal wrangles. With the Lights Out was intended to be rel…
Wal-Mart to pay $14m in gun suit
The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, has agreed to pay a total of $14.5m (£7.74m) to settle a lawsuit over gun sales violations in California. The …
Iraq and Afghanistan in WTO talks
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is to hold membership talks with both Iraq and Afghanistan. But Iran's bid to join the trade body has been refused …
Britannia members' £42m windfall
More than 800,000 Britannia Building Society members are to receive a profit share worth on average £52 each. Members of the UK's second largest build…
Microsoft releases patches
Microsoft has warned PC users to update their systems with the latest security fixes for flaws in Windows programs. In its monthly security bulletin, …
Tory expert denies defeatism
The Conservatives' campaign director has denied a report claiming he warned Michael Howard the party could not win the next general election. The Time…
Chinese exports rise 25% in 2004
Exports from China leapt during 2004 over the previous year as the country continued to show breakneck growth. The spurt put China's trade surplus - a…
Diageo to buy US wine firm
Diageo, the world's biggest spirits company, has agreed to buy Californian wine company Chalone for $260m (£134m) in an all-cash deal. Although Diageo…
Computer grid to help the world
Your computer can now help solve the world's most difficult health and social problems. Launched this week, the World Community Grid will use idle com…
Wenger steps up row
Arsene Wenger has stepped up his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson by claiming the Manchester United manager is guilty of bringing football into disrepute. …
Wolves appoint Hoddle as manager
Glenn Hoddle will be unveiled as the new Wolves manager on Tuesday. The club have confirmed that the former England coach will be unveiled as the succ…
Student 'fee factor' played down
A rise has been recorded in the number of students from south of the border applying to universities in Scotland. However, Lifelong Learning Minister …
Buffy creator joins Wonder Woman
The creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is to take on a new female superhero after signing up to write and direct the Wonder Woman movie. Joss Whedon …
Train strike grips Buenos Aires
A strike on the Buenos Aires underground has caused traffic chaos and large queues at bus stops in the Argentine capital. Tube workers walked out last…
Day-Lewis set for Berlin honour
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is to be presented with an award for his career in film at the Berlin Film Festival. The 47-year-old, whose credits include his…
Blair defends terror law changes
The prime minister has defended measures to allow house arrest without trial, saying "several hundred" people in the UK are plotting terror attacks. T…
Hunt demo at Labour meeting
Pro-hunt supporters are set to protest at Labour's spring conference. The Countryside Alliance says it expects up to 4,000 supporters to demonstrate a…
Queen recruit singer for new tour
The remaining members of rock band Queen are to go on tour next year with former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers taking Freddie Mercury's pla…
DVD review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
This third Harry Potter film brought a change of director and a dramatic visual shake-up that really shines on DVD. Gone are the warm, bright colours …
Laura Ashley chief stepping down
Laura Ashley is parting company with its chief executive Ainum Mohd-Saaid. The clothing and home furnishing retailer said Ms Mohd-Saaid had resigned f…
Slim PlayStation triples sales
Sony PlayStation 2's slimmer shape has proved popular with UK gamers, with 50,000 sold in its first week on sale. Sales have tripled since launch, out…
Davenport dismantles young rival
Top seed Lindsay Davenport booked her place in the last 16 of the Australian Open with a convincing 6-2 6-4 win over Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Rep…
Ferrero eyes return to top form
Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero insists he can get back to his best despite a tough start to 2005. The 2003 French Open champion has slipp…
Munster Cup tie switched to Spain
Munster's Heineken Cup quarter-final tie against Biarritz on 3 April has been switched to Real Sociedad's Paseo de Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian. Re…
Labour accused of 'EU propaganda'
A "taxpayer subsidised propaganda exercise" on the EU is being used to lull the British public into a false sense of security, say the Tories. Shadow …
Amnesty chief laments war failure
The lack of public outrage about the war on terror is a powerful indictment of the failure of human rights groups, Amnesty International's chief has s…
Fockers retain film chart crown
Comedy Meet The Fockers has held on to the number one spot at the North American box office for a second week. It took $42.8m (£23.7m) at the weekend,…
Police praise 'courageous' Ozzy
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne has been praised by police for "very courageously" tackling a burglar who stole jewellery from his house. The singer grabbed a…
GM in crunch talks on Fiat future
Fiat will meet car giant General Motors (GM) on Tuesday in an attempt to reach agreement over the future of the Italian firm's loss-making auto group.…
Standard Life cuts policy bonuses
Standard Life, Europe's largest mutual life insurer, has cut bonuses for with-profit policyholders. Annual bonus rates on its with-profits life polici…
Chinese dam firm 'defies Beijing'
The China Three Gorges Project Corp is refusing to obey a government order to stop construction of one of its giant dams, the Chinese state press has …
Delta cuts fares in survival plan
Delta Air Lines is cutting domestic fares by as much as 50% as part of a plan to ensure its financial survival. Other US carriers, including United, h…
Howard attacks 'pay later' Budget
Tory leader Michael Howard has dismissed Gordon Brown's Budget as "vote now, pay later" spending plans. The simple fact was that under a new Labour go…
Blair and Blunkett Sheffield trip
Tony Blair is to join Home Secretary David Blunkett in a visit to Sheffield on Thursday. Mr Blunkett's conduct is being looked at to establish whether…
Patti Smith to host arts festival
Rock star Patti Smith has been made artistic director of this year's Meltdown festival, to be held at London's South Bank Centre in June. The punk pio…
BBC to pour £9m into new comedy
The BBC is to invest £9m in developing new comedy and entertainment programmes outside London. The changes come as part of a shake-up of several depar…
Obituary: Dame Alicia Markova
Dame Alicia Markova, who has died in Bath aged 94, was the UK's first prima ballerina of the modern age, and, in her heyday, the greatest in the weste…