News

Two arrested over teenager's murder

Police investigating the murder of an 18-year-old teenager in Edmonton, north London, have arrested two men in their twenties, Scotland Yard said.

Obama camp not amused with magazine cover

This week's New Yorker magazine pokes fun at smears directed at Barack Obama, but the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate isn't laughing.

Australian man spent 487 pounds a week on beer

An Australian man convicted of his seventh drink-driving charge was spending about A$1,000 (487 pounds) a week on beer - enough to buy more than 2,500 small bottles a month, a newspaper said on Tuesday.

Retail sales fall back as May sun disappears

Retail sales values fell back last month after May's sun-driven boost as consumers cut back on most items except groceries, a survey showed on Tuesday.

Indonesia president regrets E.Timor violence

Indonesia's president expressed regret on Tuesday for violence surrounding East Timor's 1999 independence ballot after a joint probe blamed state institutions for "gross human rights violations".

Belgian PM resigns and king mulls next step

Belgium plunged back into political crisis on Tuesday after Prime Minister Yves Leterme tendered his resignation, having failed to push through measures to devolve more power to the regions.

Gunmen kidnap two Turkish nationals in Afghanistan

Unknown gunmen kidnapped two Turkish nationals working on construction project in western Afghanistan on Monday, a senior police official said.

Fresh Sri Lanka fighting kills 32 in north

Fresh fighting in Sri Lanka's north has killed 28 Tamil Tiger rebels and four soldiers, the military said on Tuesday.

Former Archbishop of Wales, Noakes, dies

The Rt Rev George Noakes, who was Archbishop of Wales from 1987 until 1991 died at his home in Carmarthen on Monday, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Jean.

South Korea beefs up patrols near disputed isles

South Korea's coastguard said on Tuesday it had stepped up patrols near islands at the centre of a territorial dispute with Japan, a day after Seoul recalled its ambassador in anger at new Japanese claims to the rocky outcrops.

Italian police officers convicted of G8 violence

An Italian court on Monday found 15 police officers guilty of beating protesters at the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001 and sentenced them to between five months' and five years' imprisonment.

Stolen bank data gets cheaper on Web

Prices charged by cybercriminals selling hacked bank and credit card details have fallen sharply as the volume of data on offer has soared, forcing them to look elsewhere to boost profit margins, a new report says.

Ulcer bacteria may protect from asthma: study

A bacteria only recently revealed as a major cause of ulcers and stomach cancer may help protect children from developing asthma, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Global warming may raise kidney stone cases: study

One more unwanted consequence of global warming may be an increase in cases of kidney stones in areas with rising temperatures, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Australian court rules pope protest laws 'unconstitutional'

Anti-protest laws imposed for Pope Benedict's visit to Sydney this week, which could see protesters arrested for annoying Catholic pilgrims, were unconstitutional, a court ruled on Tuesday.

Nepal finally opening up to Gospel, says GFA missionary

The world's former only official Hindu country is now open to the preaching of the Gospel, a Christian missionary working there declared joyfully this past weekend.