News
Patients to get more choice over where they die
More people will be able to choose to die at home under a 300 million pound investment in extra community services and nurses, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said on Wednesday.
Co-op to buy Somerfield for 1.57 bln
The Co-operative Group has agreed to buy Somerfield for 1.57 billion pounds to strengthen its position as the fifth-biggest food retailer and the market leader in local convenience stores.
Migration problems could raise tensions
The rapid pace of immigration has significantly impacted on community cohesion and without better government funding, these tensions could escalate, a report by a committee of MPs said on Wednesday.
MPs hide mental health problems
One in five MPs has suffered from mental health problems but decided to keep quiet because of fears of a hostile reaction, according to a survey published on Wednesday.
Russian says remains of last Tsar's son identified
Russia said on Wednesday that charred remains found in a pit belonged to Tsar Nicholas II's only son and his daughter, exactly 90 years after the Bolsheviks shocked the world by murdering the last Tsar.
Watchdog calls for shake-up of bank accounts
The consumer affairs watchdog called on Wednesday for a shake-up of the 8 billion pound market for personal bank accounts, saying existing arrangements were not working well for consumers.
Regulator seeks clearer green energy tariffs
Britain's energy suppliers must stop labelling any electricity tariffs "green" unless they commit to spending more of their own money on environmental projects, according to new guidelines from UK energy regulator Ofgem.
Aviation vaunts green agenda amid protest fears
Reeling from high oil prices and under pressure to curb pollution, the aviation industry flaunted a green agenda under tightened security amid fears of environmentalist protests at an air show on Wednesday.
Man's best friend frozen out as crunch bites
Thousands of dogs and cats face a bleak future in Britain because their owners are being forced to rent homes due to a housing downturn and landlords will not accept pets, a report showed on Wednesday.
Hezbollah delivers remains of Israeli soldiers
Hezbollah handed the bodies of two Israeli soldiers to the Red Cross on Wednesday to be exchanged for Lebanese prisoners held by Israel in a deal viewed as a triumph by the Lebanese Shi'ite guerrilla group.
Iraq hopes for full security control by year-end
Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscoring the government's growing confidence in its own forces.
Malaysia's Anwar arrested for sodomy
Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim has been arrested for sodomy, his lawyer said on Wednesday, setting the stage for a political showdown that could further rattle the country's financial markets.
U.S. troops abandon Afghan outpost following attack
U.S. troops have pulled out of a remote outpost in northeastern Afghanistan, NATO-led security force said on Wednesday, three days after Taliban militants tried to overrun the base and killed nine U.S. soldiers.
Ex-Samsung chief given 3-year suspended jail term
Former Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee, one of South Korea's most powerful businessmen, was handed a 3-year suspended jail sentence on Wednesday for tax evasion, but was cleared of other charges.
Turkish military says killed 11 Kurdish militants
Turkish soldiers have killed 11 Kurdish guerrillas in an operation in the southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari, Turkey's military said on Wednesday.
Fires rage outside Athens
Hundreds of firefighters battled fires that raged along the outskirts of Athens on Wednesday, some started by gypsies burning for scrap, with the fronts threatening to cut off a major highway out of the city.