Current News

Low uptake mars chlamydia testing
Chlamydia screening in England reached just a third of those it should have in its first full year, the BBC learns. (Jul 24 2008)

Discovery may boost statin safety
Scientists have pinpointed the genetic cause of a rare side effect of the cholesterol-lowering drugs statins. (Jul 24 2008)

Medic testing
Plans to ensure all doctors are competent (Jul 23 2008)

GPs told to cut antibiotics usage
Doctors are told to cut the number of prescriptions they hand out to help save the NHS millions of pounds a year. (Jul 23 2008)

Pensioners win sight drug battle
Three pensioners who launched a High Court bid for a "sight-saving" drug will get it - paving the way for others to receive it too. (Jul 22 2008)

Drinks industry facing tough laws
Ministers have told the drinks industry to act more responsibly or face new laws governing alcohol sales. (Jul 22 2008)

Drug for deadly prostate cancer
Scientists say a drug to treat aggressive prostate cancer may be the most significant advance in the field for 70 years. (Jul 22 2008)

From BBC Health
Fertility experts tackle the issues (Jul 21 2008)

Animal tissue rejection advance
Scientists have found a way to overcome the problem of the human body rejecting animal parts used in transplants. (Jul 21 2008)

Fear over pandemic disease effort
More needs to be done to protect against outbreaks of infectious diseases, a Lords report says. (Jul 21 2008)

Plan to curb arthritis drug use
People with rheumatoid arthritis should have access to a particular class of drugs limited, NHS advisers say. (Jul 21 2008)

NHS fit camp
Obese children shape up (Jul 21 2008)

Mental health poll reveals stigma
Nine out of ten people with mental health problems say they frequently face stigma - most often from those closest to them, says a survey. (Jul 21 2008)

Grief really hurts
How strong emotions can cause physical pain (Jul 20 2008)

Credit union rules to be reformed
Measures to strengthen the finances of credit unions are set to be brought into force by the government next year (Jul 24 2008)

Moscow tops list of pricey cities
Moscow tops the league of the most expensive cities to live in for expatriates, followed by Tokyo and London. (Jul 24 2008)

US lawmakers pass housing rescue
The US House of Representatives passes a housing rescue bill after President Bush says he will not veto it. (Jul 24 2008)

Amazon doubles three-month profit
The online retailer Amazon beats forecasts by doubling its profits as high petrol prices encourage home shopping. (Jul 24 2008)

Big unveiling
Replacing the Vectra is a major step for Vauxhall (Jul 24 2008)

Talking tough
The regulator is out to get mortgage fraudsters (Jul 24 2008)

Glaxo unveils plan to diversify
Global drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline wants to broaden its product base as it grapples with tough competition from generic drug makers (Jul 24 2008)

Strong rise in UK banking shares
UK bank shares enjoy strong rises amid takeover talk and on hopes of a recovery in the sector. (Jul 23 2008)

Top US lender suffers $3bn loss
Leading US mortgage lender Washington Mutual sees a $3.3bn quarterly loss following a rise in loan defaults. (Jul 23 2008)

US mortgage rates increase again
The cost of taking out a mortgage in the US rises again following fears over two key lenders, consumer figures indicate. (Jul 23 2008)

Three-way split on rate decision
The majority of Bank of England policymakers voted to keep rates at 5% this month, but one voted for a cut and another for a rise. (Jul 23 2008)

Mortgage approvals hit fresh low
The number of new mortgages approved by the major banks fell to a new record low in June, and is down 67% on the year. (Jul 23 2008)

Oil prices continue on downwards
The price of oil keeps on sliding as US demand wanes and a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico takes a favourable course. (Jul 23 2008)

Vodafone in surprise share move
Vodafone will buy £1bn of its own shares after a disappointing trading update saw its stock fall 14% on Tuesday. (Jul 23 2008)

Halfords upbeat despite slowdown
Car accessories and bike retailer Halfords defies the slowdown, saying profits for the first quarter have beaten its expectations. (Jul 23 2008)

Cost cuts boost Peugeot profits
Half-year profits at car maker Peugeot rise 50% thanks to cost cutting, but the firm warns of a sales slowdown. (Jul 23 2008)

Indian stocks up after key vote
Indian stocks rise more than 5% after the government wins a vote of confidence that could enable key reforms. (Jul 23 2008)

Samsung chief makes legal appeal
The ex-chairman of South Korean firm Samsung appeals against his conviction for tax evasion. (Jul 23 2008)

GE in $8bn Abu Dhabi investment
General Electric seals a $8bn tie-up with an Abu Dhabi investment firm to provide finance in the Middle East. (Jul 23 2008)

Clubbing Together
Small bookstores are trying to match the big boys (Jul 23 2008)

Money Talk
The tax pitfalls of selling a second home (Jul 23 2008)

Oil prices fall to six-week low
The price of oil hits a six-week low as US demand slides and a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico takes a favourable course. (Jul 23 2008)

Disappointing results from Yahoo
Yahoo reports an 18% fall in three month profits in a period when it was fighting off a bid from Microsoft. (Jul 23 2008)

BP says 60 staff leaving Russia
BP says the remaining 60 of its staff seconded to joint venture TNK-BP are being recalled from Russia. (Jul 22 2008)

Falling beer sales hit Enterprise
Falling beer sales and the need to help struggling landlords puts pressure on profits at Enterprise Inns. (Jul 22 2008)

FSA demands mortgage fraud action
The Financial Services Authority tells lenders to step up their defences against mortgage fraud. (Jul 22 2008)

Ford focus
Luxury and fuel efficiency will boost sales, firm says (Jul 22 2008)

Supermarkets reduce petrol prices
UK drivers are set to benefit after retailers including Asda and Morrisons said that they would cut petrol prices. (Jul 22 2008)

Wachovia ends wholesale mortgages
Wachovia, the fourth-largest US bank, says it will stop offering mortgages via brokers from 25 July. (Jul 22 2008)

Slowing economy hits chipmaker TI
Semiconductor firm Texas Instruments (TI) posts weaker-than-expected earnings for its April to June period. (Jul 22 2008)

Sales rise at luxury group Hermes
French luxury goods firm Hermes reports a 12.8% rise in first-half sales, as it bucks the economic downturn. (Jul 22 2008)

Revenue fears hit Vodafone shares
Shares in mobile phone giant Vodafone fall 11% after it warns revenue will be hit by the global economic slowdown. (Jul 22 2008)

Apple sees profits beat forecast
US technology giant Apple sees profits beat forecasts, but its shares fall as it warns of slower earnings ahead. (Jul 22 2008)

Carmaker GM unveils 2010 Camaro
US carmaker General Motors announces it will produce a fuel-efficient Camaro from 2009. (Jul 22 2008)

Amex hit by higher credit losses
American Express sees quarterly profits fall after credit losses increase more than forecast. (Jul 22 2008)

Argentina renationalises airline
The Argentine government renationalises Aerolineas Argentinas, nearly 20 years after it was privatised. (Jul 22 2008)

Load of rubbish
Do we really bin 1.3m unopened yoghurts a day? (Jul 22 2008)

To dye for
India points finger at China over recent pollution (Jul 22 2008)

Fitting solutions?
Trade talks first started in Doha swirl into Geneva (Jul 21 2008)

Vietnam ups petrol prices by 31%
Vietnam rises petrol prices by 31% and domestic fuel prices by as much as 36% as it seeks to cut state subsidies. (Jul 21 2008)

Government prepares Tote sale
The government says it has begun preparing for a possible sale of the state-owned bookmaker, the Tote. (Jul 21 2008)

EU offers 60% cut in farm tariffs
The European Union offers to reduce agricultural tariffs by 60% to kick-start trade talks in Geneva. (Jul 21 2008)

Roche in $43.7bn Genentech bid
Swiss drugs firm Roche offers to buy all outstanding shares in its US partner Genentech for $43.7bn. (Jul 21 2008)

Yahoo makes agreement with Icahn
Yahoo reaches an agreement with the activist investor Carl Icahn that will stop him trying to replace its board. (Jul 21 2008)

Travelodge invests in the seaside
Budget hotel chain Travelodge is to spend £150m on opening 55 new hotels in British coastal towns by 2015. (Jul 21 2008)

China drives VW sales to record
German carmaker Volkswagen posts record first-half sales thanks to a boost in deliveries to China. (Jul 21 2008)

Overdraft complaints frozen again
Banks will not have to deal with complaints about overdraft fees for another six months, regulators decide. (Jul 21 2008)

High-end mobiles boost LG profits
South Korean electronics firm LG Electronics increases quarterly earnings by 84%. (Jul 21 2008)

London car show
Car firms wow an audience spooked by economic gloom (Jul 21 2008)

The R-word
Can the UK economy avoid a recession? (Jul 21 2008)

Fresh push in global trade talks
Trade negotiators from 30 countries meet in Geneva on Monday to make a fresh push towards a global trade deal. (Jul 20 2008)

End in sight?
Is a global trade deal really on the horizon? (Jul 20 2008)

HBOS to reveal share issue result
Halifax Bank of Scotland will reveal on Monday the level of investor demand for new shares in its £4bn rights issue. (Jul 20 2008)