Places where finding a plumber will drive you round the bend
It has some of the finest homes in the land and more millionaires per yard than anywhere else in Britain.
Internet search for lost grandfather revealed he was a shunned vicar who sided with hitler
The story of Henry Stanley Tibbs might never have been heard beyond his own village if it had not been for the arrival of his granddaughter in his old parish.
Protective parents deny children the chance to get on their bikes
Parents are denying their children the freedom they enjoyed in their own youth to take to the roads on a bicycle.
Air france pilot ‘showing off to boy’ has near miss at 33,000ft
A pilot narrowly escaped a collision with another aircraft at 33,000ft after “showing off” off mid-flight to a boy in the cockpit, it was claimed yesterday.
Foreign footballers face premier league language bar
He shoots, he scores . . . but does the foreign striker with the lethal left foot have the required language skills to cut it in the Premier League?
New york taxi drivers are thanked to the tune of $4m violin$
A rising star of classical music performed for taxi drivers at an airport in New York yesterday to thank a driver for returning his $4 million Stradivarius violin.$
Duck-billed platypus is dismissed by oxford scientists as daffy
When the first duck-billed platypus specimens were sent from Australia to Europe at the end of the 18th century, the bizarre combination of mammal, bird and reptile features led many zoologists to consider them a hoax.
Old bottles not old bones for fossil hunters in lyme regis
Fossil hunters who flocked to Lyme Regis in Dorset after the biggest landslip for 100 years were disappointed to discover the beach littered with rubbish from a dump. Instead of giant ammonites and the bones of prehistoric marine reptiles, for which the town has been famous since Victorian times, the debris contained tens of thousands of glass bottles, tyres, car batteries and radiators.
India is floored by homecoming of the great khali
Preparations for his visit have been meticulous; dignitaries have cleared their diaries and doorways have been enlarged - but then this is one guest you would not want to upset.
French flock to answer a call to work . . . by taking the day off
Schools will shut, business activity will slow and aperitifs will flow in sun-soaked gardens today while the French confirm their status as the world holiday champions with an unofficial day off.
Cartoon character hector teaches children about the danger of online paedophiles
LONDON Child abuse experts are addressing children as young as 5 for the first time to teach them about the dangers of online paedophiles.
Birds make easy weather of climate change
British great tits have proved themselves to be far more adaptable to climate change than their counterparts in the Netherlands.
Bosses asked to wage war on obesity crisis by mixing work with play
Nipping out of the office for a game of tennis will no longer be considered bunking off under a government initiative to incorporate sport into the national working day.
Credit crunch fails to produce the feared economic catastrophe
So the sky did not fall in. While the Chicken Littles of the world economy, led by Gordon Brown, George Soros and Warren Buffett, may still repeat mechanically the IMF’s surprising judgment that the world - especially America - faces its worst financial crisis since the 1930s, their hearts are no longer in it. Mr Brown, after last week’s election woe, can no longer blame the world economy for his political failure. Mr Buffett, having speculated against the dollar for years and declared that credit derivatives are financial weapons of mass destruction, has finally begun to find attractive opportunities to invest his money and told his shareholders last week that the worst of the credit crisis was probably over. Mr Soros, in his forthcoming book, The New Paradigm for Financial Markets, states unequivocally: “We are in the midst of a financial crisis the likes of which has not been seen since the Great Depression.” But after making $3 billion for Quantum Endowment Fund by anticipating last year$’s bear markets, he is now hedging his bets, as is only to be expected from the world’s most successful hedge fund manager. “I may well be proven wrong,” he told The New York Times last week, adding that he might yet again turn out to be “the boy who cried wolf”.
Local issues are a growing concern on national scale
Loyalty is a strange beast. Despite the dizzyingly rapid proliferation of media that technology has brought about, audiences have remained reassuringly attached to the old, traditional means of delivery.
British airways ditches beef in meals
British Airways has ditched beef for economy class passengers this summer in an attempt to appeal to a more international passenger base.
C&c fights as premium cider market goes flat
The dangers of following fashion in the drinks industry were laid bare today when C&C, the Irish cider maker, reported a 41.4 per cent fall in profits for its last financial year.
Microsoft appeals €899m fine from ec
Microsoft has lodged an appeal against a record €899 million (£713 million) fine handed out in February by the European Commission for defying sanctions imposed on the company for abusing its dominant position in the software market.
HMV urged shoppers to “get closer” to films, music and video games in its pre-Christmas marketing campaign last year and that injunction appears to have paid off.
It is tempting to conclude from today’s trading update from Aga that the former engineering conglomerate has disposed of its better half.
British Energy’s ageing nuclear reactors have a reputation for breaking down at inopportune moments so it seemed fitting that an auction for the company entered its final stages today amid a haze of uncertainty.
Hmv hits targets with computer games and duffy
HMV defied the high street gloom this morning helped by UK sales of the Nintendo Wii, the debut album from singer Duffy and with the benefits of the new Grand Theft Auto 4, still to come.
Middle england cools on cast iron aga
The correction in the housing market has hit sales of the Aga, the iconic but expensive cast iron cooker and symbol of middle England comfortable domesticity.
Credit crunch to claim 40,000 financial jobs
Job losses in the banking and insurance sector could reach as much as 40,000 over the next three years as the worldwide credit crunch takes hold on Britain.
Hunter attempts to stop dobbies rights issue
Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter today took another shot at Tesco after beginning legal action to block a £150 million rights issue planned by Dobbies Garden Centre, which is majority owned by the supermarket giant.
Repossessions hit near 1990s peak
Home repossession orders are nearing the level last seen in the recession of the early 1990s after rising by 16 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
Shareholders pump £400m emergency funding into baa
Shareholders of UK airport operator BAA have been forced to pump an emergency £400 million into the airport operator as credit crunch turmoil dashed hopes of re-financing £10 billion of debt by the summer.
Production fears send oil soaring to new $126 high$
Oil prices soared to fresh highs of more than $126 this afternoon, lifted by a new round of speculative buying after Opec brushed aside US calls for an increase in production, insisting that the market remained well-supplied.$
Sotheby’s keen to change luck with sizzling bacon
Sotheby’s, the auction house, is banking on a $70 million ($£36 million) sale of Francis Bacon’s 1976 painting Triptych next week to offset what it calls uncertain economic times.
Myeloma sufferers wait on decision to license revlimid
Up to 1,200 sufferers of myeloma, a rare blood cancer, will find out next week whether a drug that can prolong life by three years will be licensed in Scotland.
How did valiant vera baird ever pass for a dull politician?
Vera Baird is not so much a politician as a Valkyrie. Tall and willowy, with a head of flaming red hair, she is a fighter by nature.
Sir cliff celebrates his 50 greatest hits
Sir Cliff Richard marked the 50th anniversary of his start in showbusiness yesterday with the publication of a book containing his top 50 Bible stories for children.
Analysis: frustration for everyone - except investors
The repossession statistics released by the Ministry of Justice make alarming reading - until, that is, you consider the nature of these numbers.
British airways to move key long-haul flights to t5 on 5 june
British Airways will move more flights to Heathrow’s T5 on June 5, the airline announced today, saying that the troubled terminal was now “working well”.
Rabid bat discovered in surrey
A bat carrying the deadly rabies virus has been discovered in the UK just two weeks after three people survived bites from a rabid dog in northwest London.
Fatal london blast is suspicious, police say
Detectives were investigating yesterday whether a man found dead after an explosion that destroyed two cottages in North London was murdered.
Bbc banked £106,000 of children in need phone-in cash
The BBC was today forced to admit to another phone-in scandal in which £106,000 that should have gone to charity was in fact banked by the corporation.
Second catastrophe looms in burma as regime blocks aid shipments
Burma was said last night to be facing a catastrophe of “apocalyptic proportions” as the military regime stepped up its obstruction of international relief efforts after the cyclone.
Police hunt girl gang who poured liquid through letterbox of london blast house
Police are hunting for a gang of girls who were seen pouring a mysterious purple liquid through the letterbox of a house at the centre of a deadly blast in North West London.
Bbc and itv launch free-to-view hd television service
A free-to-view satellite television and radio service from the BBC and ITV is being launched across the UK today.
Htc touch diamond goes up against the iphone
HTC, the Taiwanese handset manufacturer, has laid down the gauntlet to Apple with a slender new phone that aims to dislodge the iPhone from its position as the pre-eminent touch-screen device.
New wi-fi devices warn doctors of heart attacks
The Bluetooth wireless technology that allows people to use a hands-free earpiece while making a mobile telephone call could soon alert the emergency services when someone has a heart attack, Ofcom predicts.
Free legal downloads promised by universal rights deal
Universal Music has signed a rights deal with a new music store that promises the first legal free file-sharing service but whose launch was overshadowed by claims that it did not have industry support.
Web-based interpreting offers hope for the deaf
Deaf people may no longer need interpreters to be present for doctors appointments and other meetings thanks to a technology which will enable them to communicate via a remote translator.
Emo on the web: exploring a subculture
The suicide of a schoolgirl who had apparently become obsessed with ‘emo’ culture has, once again, drawn attention to the movement and its teen followers. Recording a verdict of suicide after Hannah Bond, 13, had hanged herself, the coroner noted that she had “become an aficionado of the emo fad.”
Microsoft looks at $15bn takeover of facebook$
Mousetrap weblog: Does Microsoft really want Facebook?
Avram grant proud of brave chelsea
Avram Grant, the Chelsea manager, says whatever happens on Sunday he will be extremely proud of what he has achieved this season.
Roger federer crashes out of rome masters
Radek Stepanek scored a stunning victory over an out-of-sorts Roger Federer, the world No1, 7-6, 7-6 on Friday to qualify for the semi-finals of the Rome Masters.
County championship session reports: chris read continues fine form
Chris Read, the former England wicketkeeper, continued his fine start to the season making 88 to leave Kent chasing 244 for victory over Nottinghamshire.
Burma rejects need for foreign aid workers, un blasts regime
Eyewitness report from disaster-struck region
Tibetan woman carries olympic torch to the top of everest
A young Tibetan woman has carried the Olympic torch to the top of the world. Panting in the thin air at the top of Mount Everest, Tsering Wangmo was the last of five mountaineers battling high winds and freezing temperatures in a slow-moving mini-relay on the summit of the world’s highest peak — a trek that ended with jubilant shouts of “Beijing welcomes you!”.
Josef fritzl could be charged with murder over death of newborn
Josef Fritzl is likely to be charged with manslaughter after admitting in a statement made public by his lawyer that one of the children he had with his own daughter died shortly after birth without medical attention.
China shows little desire to exert pressure on burma
Many countries are looking to China to play a role in persuading cyclone-devastated Burma to open its doors to foreign aid workers in addition to emergency relief supplies.
Un suspends aid flights to burma after its shipment is impounded
The United Nations today suspended relief flights to Burma amid a tense standoff with the military regime which is refusing to allow foreign aid workers into the country to help with the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
The science of keeping a torch alight
To keep the Olympic torch burning at the summit of Everest, Chinese engineers have had to overcome two main challenges: the weather and the atmosphere. Average temperatures range from minus 36C (-33F) in January to minus 15C in July, and it is also buffeted by jet-stream winds that can reach hurricane force.
Barack obama sacks adviser over talks with hamas
One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed today that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas - prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.
Let bikes in bus lanes bojo told
BRITISH Motorcycle Federation urge Boris Johnson to let bikes use London bus lanes
Brumbies fail to take advantage
Despite having two players sin-binned the Northern Bulls scored a 28-17 victory against the ACT Brumbies.
Mortgage credit losses could total $500 bln: goldman
NEW YORK - Goldman Sachs economists expect a total of $500 billion in residential mortgage credit losses, a renewed slowdown in economic activity after the near-term boost from fiscal stimulus, and no monetary policy tightening in 2008 or 2009, according to a research note from the firm.
Countrywide falls on worry over b of a merger
NEW YORK - Countrywide Financial Corp shares fell nearly 6 percent on Friday on renewed speculation that Bank of America Corp will renegotiate or cancel its agreement to buy the largest U.S. mortgage lender.
U.s. space shuttle crew practices for launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - Seven astronauts climbed inside the space shuttle Discovery on Friday as part of a dress rehearsal for a May 31 mission to deliver a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station.
White house leaves door open on housing rescue
WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday set out terms for a possible deal on a housing market rescue plan, as a sweeping package backed by the House of Representatives was on its way to an uncertain greeting in the Senate.
Tech winners&losers: activision
Tech stocks slipped into the red Friday, along with the major market indices, despite strong earnings reports from companies such as ActivisionATVI, Priceline.Activision shares soar after 4Q results fly past estimates The Associated PressAhead of the Bell: Activision climbs premarket on earns ForbesBizjournals.com - Reuters - MarketWatch - Next Generation
Yen heads for biggest weekly gain versus euro since january
By Bo Nielsen and Ye Xie May 9 (Bloomberg) -- The yen increased against the euro, heading for its biggest weekly gain since January, as renewed concern credit market losses are spreading spurred investors to sell higher-yielding assets.Dollar Pares Losses on Trade Data Wall Street JournalDollar under pressure as crude surges to new high MarketWatchForbes - CNNMoney.com - Reuters
Advisory group lends support to rockefellers in exxon fight
The Rockefeller family and shareholders pushing Exxon Mobil to focus more on renewable energy now have the backing of a powerful advisory group for institutional investors.Exxon dissidents launch roadshow to promote independent CEO MarketWatchUPDATE 1-ISS recommends Exxon Mobil split CEO, Chairman posts Reuters UKWall Street Journal - FinancialWeek (subscription) - CRO (Corporate Responsibility Officer)
Kerkorian moves to buy a bigger stake in ford
By BILL VLASIC DETROIT - The billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian started a cash tender offer Friday to bolster his stake in the Ford Motor Company to 5.6 percent but stopped short of revealing his long-term plans as a major shareholder in Detroit’s ...Kerkorian Makes Formal Offer To Increase Stake in Ford Motor Wall Street JournalKerkorian Starts Tender for Ford Shares TheStreet.comBusinessWeek - Forbes - DetNews.com - Detroit Free Press
Col karuna was once known as the favourite of the reclusive tamil ...
He was one of his bodyguards having joined the rebels in their early days when he was aged 17. He rose to become commander of rebel territory in eastern Sri Lanka and effectively number two in the Tiger military organisation.UPDATE 1-UK will not charge ex-S.Lanka Tiger with war crimes Reuters IndiaSri Lankan Tamil Tiger leader in British detention centre AFPTimes of India - Bloomberg - Thaindian.com - Swindon Advertiser
Cafe bombing in eastern sri lanka kills 11
By VOA News A bomb explosion in a town in eastern Sri Lanka has killed at least 11 people, a day ahead of local elections in the region.Ex-Tamil Tigers set their eyes on polls BBC News11 killed in bomb explosion in eastern Sri Lanka (Roundup) Monsters and Critics.comReuters - Bloomberg - AFP - Hindu
Zimbabwe: mdc dumps mbeki as mediator
The Morgan Tsvangirai MDC has dumped President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa as the principal mediator of the crisis in Zimbabwe, saying they no longer have confidence in his mediation efforts.New Signs of Attacks in Zimbabwe as Mbeki Arrives New York TimesZimbabwe violence escalates Christian Science MonitorVoice of America - Wall Street Journal - BBC News - Reuters India
Train quarantined in ontario with mystery illness
TORONTO (AP) - Canadian authorities quarantined a train in northern Ontario Friday after a woman died and several other people came down with an undetermined illness.Canadian train quarantined after woman dies on board CNNOne dead, 280 quarantined on Canadian train Reuters IndiaUnited Press International - International Herald Tribune - Toronto Star - Bloomberg
Microsoft to offer office 2007 sp1 via automatic update
What does this mean for Office 2007 and Microsoft users in general? Well, it obviously means that Microsoft is finally ready to say that the Office 2007 SP1 is ready for the masses.Office 2007 SP1 to hit Automatic Update on June 16 Ars TechnicaOffice 2007 SP1 Begins Auto-Rollout in June PC MagazineBetaNews - eFluxMedia - Macworld - InformationWeek
Mariah and nick: separated already?
They just recently wed, but Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey -- newly dubbed CaCa -- may already be sick of each other. Surprise, surprise!Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon Make First Public Appearance As Married ... MTV.comMariah Carey and Nick Cannon spill wedding beans to People The Associated PressBBC News - New York Daily News - USA Today - E! Online
R. kelly jury selection begins...finally
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast The time has finally come for R. Kelly to face the music, and by the look of things, he may have a few more notes to account for than first thought.R. Kelly trial: Day One NME.comJudge: Jury selection can begin in R. Kelly pornography case The Associated PressTMZ.com - BBC News - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Sun-Times
Stop us if you heard this before -- dmx arrested!
DMX was busted again this morning at his home in Arizona -- and the Sheriffs tell us he barricaded himself in his bedroom when they came to get him!Rapper DMX Arrested On Animal Cruelty, Drug Charges KPHO PhoenixRapper DMX arrested for drugs, animal cruelty KOLD-TVAZFamily - Arizona Republic
Eyre glad to be back in bullpen
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com CHICAGO -- Scott Eyre was activated from the disabled list on Friday, and is feeling a little old. The Cubs left-handed reliever has arthritis in his left elbow, and now has to take glucosamine chondroitin tablets.Cubs activate Eyre Sports NetworkCubs activate Eyre, send Marshall down International Herald TribuneNational Post - Hardball - Chicago Tribune Blog - DesMoinesRegister.com - WTHI
Blake, chelios and pisani named finalists for the masterton trophy
NEW YORK - Toronto Maple Leafs winger Jason Blake, Edmonton Oilers winger Fernando Pisani and Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios were named finalists for the 2008 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy on Friday.Blake, Chelios, Pisani finalists for Masterton Trophy The Associated PressBlake, Chelios and Pisani finalists for Masterton Seattle Post IntelligencerDetroit Free Press - CBC.ca - National Post - Vancouver Sun
The Bulls (South Africa) beat ACT Brumbies (Australia) 28-17 (half-time 18-10) in their Super 14 match in Pretoria, South Africa.
German Open second-seed Ana Ivanovic is given hope when her match against Hungarian 10th seed Agnes Szavay is called off due to bad light. Ivanovic lost the first set 3-6 but battled back with a 6-4 second set win before play was suspended.
massa is quick to make lewis hamilton suffer
Hollywood can wait, after Lewis Hamilton admitted that this weeks toe-curling acting performance was one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. Flying on to the stage as part of a sponsors event in which he played the Greek god Apollo with all the animation of a mannequin was still rankling 24 hours on
smith banking on loyalty bonus
Mark Smith has shown great loyalty in the three years since Widnes left Super League but even that was tested when the club went into administration last October. Within minutes of Grand Final defeat and failure to win promotion, rumours were rife that one of the games grand old clubs were in crisis
borthwick leaving bath with a splash
Steve Borthwick finished last season with a few barbed comments over Baths ambition. He finishes this one on the high road to Twickenham, full steam ahead to the Premiership title and perhaps the captaincy of England
No country for old men? Sir Alex Ferguson refused to entertain such a suggestion yesterday, instead expressing more than a little relief that he aborted his plan to walk away from English football six years ago
SKY SPORTS pundit takes to the stage with unbelievable display
Dimi: stars will fetch $1million$
DIMITRI MASCARENHAS has tipped Freddie and KP to cash in on the IPL
FORMER Champions League winners Porto found guilty of match fixing
Grant and young barclays awards
Manager And Player Of The Month For April
Climate change in arctic action
RETREATING glaciers show first hand the effects of climate change in Alaska
PAUL Burrell will not face a police investigation over perjury allegations
IS potty-mouthed pan meister about to say F-off to any more Kitchen Nightmares?
LYNETTE and Bree rebuild their lives after the tornado
BRIAN has a crisis of faith following a shock discovery
BRITS throw away £10 billion worth of food a year, but how can you reduce your leftovers?
Players unhappy as spain choose madrid for davis cup semi
MADRID - The Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) went against the wishes of the players and chose Madrid as the venue for their Davis Cup semi-final against the United States in September.
European commission backs kyoto co2 trading reform
COLOGNE, Germany - The European Commission says it is standing by a desire to overhaul UN-led carbon trading rules to make it more difficult for developing nations to earn carbon offsets from cutting greennhouse gas emissions.
Brazil warns eu on green biofuel controls
BRASILIA - Brazil will contest any attempt by the European Union to place limits on biofuel exports because of environmental concerns, a senior Brazilian official said on Friday.
Microsoft appeals against eu fine
BRUSSELS - Microsoft said on Friday it was appealing against a record 899 million euro ($1.39 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission for using high prices to discourage software competition.
Latest pictures: uma thurman to be sued by cosmetics giant lancome
Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman is being sued by cosmetics giant Lancome, the French firm has confirmed.
R. kelly on trial for child porn charges
Six years after he was charged with videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl, R&B superstar R. Kelly went on trial on Friday, with his alleged victim prepared to deny she is not the person on the tape.
Chris Tremlett emerged from a disappointing winter to press his claims for an England recall with an eye-catching display for the Lions against New Zealand.