News headlines provided by... BBC NEWS

Alcohol drinking 'still falling'

Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest.

Europe agrees finance watchdogs

The European Union agrees to reform financial supervision, with new agencies to oversee banks, insurers and financial markets.

Chinese consider rival Potash bid

Chinese investors approach Canadian pension fund over a possible rival bid for the fertiliser giant Potash Corporation.

Dell pulls out of battle for 3Par

Dell withdraws its bid for 3Par after rival Hewlett-Packard raises its offer for the data storage company to $2.1bn.

Burger King is sold for $3.26bn

Burger King is being sold to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn (£2.1bn), it has been announced.

Plans for more £5 notes in ATMs

All banks and building societies have put in place plans to begin dispensing £5 notes from the cash machines, a report reveals.

Four power firms face sales probe

Four of the "big six" UK energy suppliers are to be investigated amid concerns of mis-selling to customers, the regulator says.

Mozambique prices 'irreversible'

The government of Mozambique says price rises which have led to deadly riots are "irreversible", as Maputo residents are urged to continue their protests.

Explosion on Gulf of Mexico rig

An explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill.

Russia extends grain export ban

Russia will consider lifting its grain export ban only after the next year's harvest has been reaped, Vladimir Putin says.

ECB ups eurozone growth forecasts

The European Central Bank raises its forecast for eurozone growth for this year and next year, and keeps interest rates on hold.

German banker 'should be fired'

The German central bank calls on the country's president to dismiss one of its board members over comments he made about immigration and Jews.

Tube strikes on as talks collapse

Thousands of Tube workers will strike next week as talks between London Underground bosses and two unions break down.

Samsung releases iPad competitor

Samsung has become the latest manufacturer to enter into the tablet computer market with its Galaxy Tab.

Royal Mail puts first 'intelligent' stamp on sale

The Royal Mail launches the world's first "intelligent" stamp, the first to work with image recognition technology.

Record sales of smokers' pensions

Smokers and people with weight problems are buying a tailored pension income in greater numbers, according to research.

House prices fall again in August

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society.

Boots to dissolve pension scheme

The drug company Alliance Boots is dissolving one of its two final-salary pension schemes to 'ensure long-term security'.

Credit card debt is hitting banks

Banks have written off a record amount of credit card debt despite charities reporting a fall in calls from worried borrowers.

Afghan bank 'to avoid collapse'

The head of Afghanistan's Central Bank tells the BBC he will not allow the country's biggest commercial bank to collapse.

Blair 'warned on economy' in 2005

The UK should have addressed its public deficit back in 2005, former Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the BBC.

Higher student loan rates begin

Millions of graduates will now start paying interest on their student loans again as new interest rates come into effect.

RBS to cut a further 3,500 jobs

Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to cut 3,500 jobs from its technical and back office division.

Apple launches MySpace challenger

Apple launches a music-based social network called Ping as part of its latest upgrade to the iTunes music software.

Cold winter boosts Gazprom profit

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom reports a threefold surge in profits for the first three months of the year, despite a sharp fall in gas prices.

Hawk-Eye firm lined up for sale

The British company behind the Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology used in tennis and cricket is to be put up for sale.

Premier League spending tumbles

Spending by English Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window has tumbled 22% from last year, a report says.

Blackburn bidder's firm shut down

A Bahrain-based company run by the man behind a £300m takeover bid of Blackburn Rovers has been instructed to cease trading by Bahrain authorities.

Switching supplier 'made bills soar'

Ron Manuel agreed to switch energy supplier when he was contacted by a rival company. However, his bills ended up being higher.

RBS job losses 'horrific', says union

Royal Bank of Scotland has said it is planning to cut 3,500 jobs as part of its plans to halve its administration centres across the UK. Siobhan Endean of Unite called the job losses ''horrific'' and said union members ''are paying the price for decisions by senior bankers''.

Online clothes shopping booming

Online clothes shopping is expected to grow to $144 billion by 2014 in western Europe according to market research company

Nationwide: Sellers back in market

House prices fell for the second month in a row in August, according to the Nationwide building society.

India's cities running out of space

Indian cities are getting bigger and there is a growing need for more housing, business space and public facilities.

Ofgem to investigate mis-selling

Four of the UK's biggest energy suppliers are to be investigated over concerns that customers have been mis-sold contracts.

Peru island makes gains from guano

An island off Peru is making money from selling bird poo to use as organic fertiliser.

Boom allows Brazilians a home

The property market in Brazil is booming, as the country enjoys rapid economic growth - and it has enabled thousands of people to buy their first home.

Bird business

The back-breaking, ear-splitting work on Peru's guano islands

Massive Mini

How far can BMW stretch the brand before it snaps?

Paying the price

PayPal's co-founder worked so hard he would sleep in the office

Brazil's property boom

After years of building for others, Sergio has bought his own home

Winning formula?

Formula 1 sponsors form alliance to lobby the sport's power brokers

Plug and Play

Bringing like-minded entrepreneurs together

Saving lives

21st Century technology is helping to fight female foeticide

You're grounded

Airline compensation claims scuppered