Facebook has agreed to make worldwide changes to its privacy policy as a result of negotiations with Canada’s privacy commissioner. Last month the social network was found to breach Canadian law by holding on to users’ personal data indefinitely. Facebook has now agreed to make changes to the way it handles this information and be [...]
The NHS must remain "on top of its game" in the battle against swine flu, the chief medical officer says, despite the number of new cases falling. Department of Health figures show that in the past week there were 5,000 infections in England – compared to over 100,000 at the start of the month. But [...]
The first flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will take place by the end of 2009, the company has announced. Boeing also said it hoped to deliver the first plane for service in the last quarter of 2010. There have been a series of delays in the development of the aircraft, and it is now [...]
French consumer groups are investigating reports of iPhones that explode or crack spontaneously. An 80-year-old from the Paris suburbs was among eight people who said their phones’ screens were affected, according to the AFP news agency. Consumers in the UK, Holland and Sweden have reported similar problems, prompting an earlier EU investigation. Apple said [...]
Iran could face new sanctions if it does not show a willingness to negotiate on its nuclear programme, the German chancellor has said. Angela Merkel was speaking after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Berlin. She also called on Israel to freeze its settlement construction for the sake of progress in peace [...]
Researchers have found a potential way to correct an inherited disorder affecting thousands of women. Working on monkeys, they transferred genetic material needed to create a baby from a defective egg to a healthy one, resulting in healthy births. The US work, featured in the journal Nature, raises hopes of a treatment enabling women with [...]
US durable goods orders and new home sales both soared last month, the latest positive indications of the state of the world’s largest economy. Orders for goods expected to last more than three years increased 4.9% in July, beating analyst expectations of a 3% gain, said the Commerce Department. Durable goods orders were lifted by [...]
US President Barack Obama has led tributes to Senator Edward Kennedy, who has died from cancer at the age of 77. Mr Obama described Sen Kennedy as an extraordinary leader and "one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy". Lawmakers from both main parties praised a man who, but for a [...]
File-sharing website The Pirate Bay (TPB) is back online after its former internet service provider (ISP) was forced to take down the site. Stockholm district court made the order on 21 August, saying ISP Black Internet would be fined 500,000 kronor (£43,000) if it did not comply. The court order was the result of legal [...]
Long-term use of a common breast cancer drug may hike the risk of developing a deadly second tumour, a study suggests. Tamoxifen, given to thousands of British women, prevents tumours being fuelled by the sex hormone oestrogen, and stops them returning after surgery. But a US study links use of the drug to a [...]
The US budget deficit will soar to almost $1.6 trillion (£978bn) this year, the highest on record, both the White House and Congress have warned. Fuelled by President Obama’s $787bn stimulus package and reduced tax revenues due to the recession, it compares with a $455bn deficit in 2008. The White House says the deficit will [...]
Russia’s top investigator has said a cargo ship which went missing for more than two weeks may have been carrying a more sensitive cargo than first stated. Alexander Bastrykin’s comments to Interfax news agency are the first official suggestions that the Arctic Sea was carrying more than timber. The vessel was eventually found on [...]