Michael Jackson denies being ill

LONDON - Pop legend Michael Jackson has denied that he is seriously ill and needs a lung transplant, slamming his biographer’s claims to be a ‘complete fabrication’.

Bank of England says economic crisis was underestimated

LONDON - The Bank of England (BoE) failed to understand the seriousness of the looming economic crisis despite rocketing house prices and credit levels, its deputy chief has said.

Carla Bruni donates proceeds of latest album to charity

LONDON - French first lady Carla Bruni has done her bit of philanthropy by donating all proceeds of her latest album to charity.

Shocker to British cops: No climbing 3-ft ladder without training

LONDON - What’s the height of bureaucracy? The British version seems to be banning police officers from climbing a three-foot tall ladder without formal training.

British woman seeks truth about daughter’s death in India

LONDON - A British woman is running from pillar to post to find the cause of her daughter’s death days after she married her Indian boyfriend in India.

Promising Asian model jumps to death

LONDON - Sahar Daftary, an aspiring model and last year’s Miss Face of Asia, reportedly jumped to her death from her boyfriend’s apartment in Manchester following a break-up with him.

Caffeine produces greater effect on men than women

LONDON - Caffeine produces a greater effect on men than women. The effect begins to make itself felt just 10 minutes after it is drunk.

Champagne sales fall in festive season

LONDON - Champagne sales have been falling in keeping with the tone of global doom and gloom, according to new figures, but manufacturers say people should be drinking up the bubbly to keep up spirits.

Hallelujah! Burke takes top spot

LONDON - Alexandra Burke has won the race for the Christmas number one slot with her version of ‘Hallelujah’.

Richard Branson’s daughter saves ill passenger

LONDON - Richard Branson’s daughter Holly ordered one of her dad’s jumbo crews to make an emergency landing to save a seriously-ill passenger’s life.

On holiday, Winehouse sets St Lucia abuzz

LONDON - Singer Amy Winehouse may be getting some much needed rest and relaxation in a swanky resort in St Lucia in the Caribbean but that hasn’t stopped her getting stuck in with the locals.

Claire Richards loses 32 kg, releases DVD

LONDON - Singer Claire Richards of Steps fame has lost a massive 32 kg and is releasing a keep fit DVD in celebration.

Stricken Jackson moves into multimillion dollar mansion

LONDON - A 25 million pound ($37 million) mansion is the Thriller star Michael Jackson’s new home.

Midfielder Diarra moves to Real Madrid

LONDON - Midfielder Lassana Diarra passed a medical with Real Madrid and completed his transfer from Portsmouth to the Spanish football champions.

Terry sent off as Everton holds Chelsea

LONDON - England captain John Terry was sent off as Chelsea’s run of away victories came to an end with a goalless draw against Everton in the English Premier League.

British queen’s former butler jailed for child abuse

LONDON - A former butler to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was sentenced by a court in Manchester city Monday to at least six years in prison for child abuse.

‘India’s Sapat eyes Britain’s troubled Whittard’

LONDON - Sapat, an Indian tea company, is eyeing Whittard of Chelsea, an upmarket British tea and coffee retailer that is reported to be on the brink of entering administration, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

British economic slowdown faster than expected in third quarter

LONDON - The British economy slowed down faster in the third quarter of 2008 than previously estimated, official figures showed Tuesday.

Victoria Beckham gifted 40,000-pound bag by D&G

LONDON - Former Spice girl Victoria Beckham has been gifted a new designer bag by Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana on her arrival in Italy with husband ace soccer star David.

HuJI chief gets death term for 2004 grenade attack on British envoy

DHAKA - The chief of Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) and two others of the banned militant outfit were sentenced to death Tuesday for a grenade attack that seriously injured British envoy to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury and killed three people in May 2004.