Diego Costa: Chelsea agree transfer with Atletico Madrid

Diego Costa: Chelsea agree transfer with Atletico Madrid Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Diego Costa after reaching agreement with Atletico Madrid. The Stamford Bridge club had wanted the 25-year-old Spain striker to complete a £32m move prior to the...

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Ebola death toll in West Africa rise to 467, WHO says

The number of people killed by the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa has risen to 467, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. Sixty-eight of the deaths had been recorded since 23 June, the WHO said. The number of cases had risen from 635 on 23 June to 759, a 20% increase, the WHO added. It is the largest outbreak - in terms of cases, deaths and geographical spread - to affect Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia....

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan to run for Turkey presidency

Mr Erdogan remains popular with large sections of Turkish society Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will run for Turkish president in the first direct election in August, his governing AK Party has confirmed. Mr Erdogan has been PM since 2003 but is barred from seeking a new term. In the midst of corruption allegations, critics say he has become more authoritarian, but Mr Erdogan says political foes are trying to...

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Isis leader calls on Muslims to 'build Islamic state'

Isis militants said they would now want to be known as "the Islamic State" The leader of jihadist militant group Isis has called on Muslims to travel to Iraq and Syria to help build an Islamic state, in an audio message. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called on Muslims to immigrate to the "Islamic State", saying it was a duty. He made a "special call" for judges, doctors, engineers and people with military and administrative expertise. ...

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French ex-President Sarkozy held over influence claims

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling. Mr Sarkozy is being held at Nanterre, near Paris, in an unprecedented step against a former president. Mr Sarkozy is being questioned about whether he sought inside information from a judge concerning an investigation into campaign funding. The latest developments are seen as a blow to Mr Sarkozy's attempts to challenge for...

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Israel holds murdered teenagers' funerals

Thousands gathered around Modein cemetery, as the BBC's Yolande Knell reports The funerals of three teenagers who were abducted and murdered while hitch-hiking in the occupied West Bank have been held in Israel. Addressing thousands of mourners, PM Benjamin Netanyahu described their killers as "heinous murderers". Israel has blamed the Palestinian militant group Hamas for the deaths. Hamas has denied any involvement. The...

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Messi will claim the Golden Boot - Di Maria

Photo: Gett Images Lionel Messi can do what nobody else in the world can do and will emerge as the top scorer at the World Cup, according to Argentina team-mate Angel Di Maria. Messi started slowly in the Albiceleste's opener versus Bosnia and Herzegovina before bursting into life by scoring the eventual match-winner, and he did the same again when they defeated Iran 1-0 in their second game. An impressive double in the final group game saw...

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Carbohydrates boost trees' drought survival chances

Tropical forests are projected to face a growing risk from droughts in the future Higher levels of compounds called non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) boost tropical trees' chances of surviving droughts, a study has suggested. An international team of scientists found that species with elevated NSC levels survived up to 17 days longer. The discovery could help restore forests devastated by logging and increase their...

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Bird brains: Public asked to look out for clever rooks

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is asking the public to take part in a national survey of bird intelligence. From 1 July, the charity is asking people to submit video clips or descriptions of the behaviour or rooks - some of our cleverest garden birds. Rooks have already demonstrated their intelligence in lab-based studies that have tested their ability to solve problems and use tools. This survey will examine...

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Diabetes drugs 'may not be best'

The downsides of taking medication for type-2 diabetes may exceed the benefits for some patients, researchers have advised. Their study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, argued elderly people had the least to gain. The team at University College London (UCL) has called on doctors to discuss the risks more clearly with patients. The charity Diabetes UK said doctors needed to strike a...

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Liberian president warns against hiding Ebola patients

Medical authorities are struggling to contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has warned that anyone caught hiding suspected Ebola virus disease (EVD) patients will be prosecuted. She told state radio that some patients had been kept in homes and churches instead of receiving medical attention. Sierra Leone issued a similar warning last week, saying some patients had left hospital...

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Malaria parasite 'can manipulate body odour of mice'

Malaria parasites may manipulate the body odour of the host to ensure reproduction Malaria parasites can manipulate the body odour of mice, research in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests. Researchers believe parasites may change odours in order to help them with a key stage in their reproduction. And scientists found the altered scent persists at a critical time when mice have no symptoms...

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West Midlands PCC Bob Jones dies aged 59

Bob Jones was elected to the The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Bob Jones has died aged 59. Mr Jones, from Wolverhampton, was elected to the role as a Labour candidate in November 2012. He courted controversy when he called for PCCs to be scrapped, but also lent his support to several campaigns while occupying the role. His deputy Yvonne Mosquito confirmed he had died this morning, describing his death as...

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Labour plan to give economic power to English cities

Labour leader Ed Miliband outlined the plan in a speech in Leeds Labour leader Ed Miliband has set out plans to shift economic power in England from London to the regions. Under a Labour government councils would be encouraged to join forces to create regional "economic powerhouses" to attract more jobs and boost growth, he said in a speech in Leeds. They would be allowed to keep any extra business rates income generated...

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Rolf Harris guilty: 'Up to a dozen' new victims

As many as 12 new victims of Rolf Harris have come forward to make fresh allegations, lawyers say. The legal firm which also represents victims of Jimmy Savile said it was considering the claims against Harris. The disgraced entertainer was found guilty on Monday of 12 counts of indecent assault in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including girls as young as seven or eight. The Metropolitan Police said it was considering "new allegations". Dozens...

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China manufacturing growth hits six-month high in June

The manufacturing sector has been a key driver of China's economic growth China's manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace for six months in June, suggesting that recent stimulus moves have started to have an impact. The official purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 51, from 50.8 in May. The PMI is a key indicator of the sector's health and a reading above 50 shows expansion. China, the world's second-largest...

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