It was a way that people tried to legitimise racist beliefs and practices, but over the years scientists rejected such theories. Within 20 years or so, people had begun to shorten the terms to racism ...

The maker of Colgate toothpaste has been warned not to repeat its famous advertising claim that "more than 80% of dentists recommend Colgate". The Advertising Standards Authority concluded the claim ...

Called a coloboma, the defect can appear as a keyhole shape A girl resembling Madeleine McCann has been spotted in France by a woman who says she had the same eye blemish as the missing girl's. Police ...

The full text of Nelson Mandela's speech in London's Trafalgar Square for the campaign to end poverty in the developing world. I am privileged to be here today at the invitation of The Campaign to ...

A South Korean man dies after reportedly playing an online computer game for 50 hours with few breaks.

The 2004 local elections in Birmingham were marred by widespread postal vote fraud, a judge rules.

Builders at the site of a new tourist attraction in London are refusing to work alone after skeletons were found in a sealed vault in the basement. Old tombs beneath London Bridge are being excavated ...

BBC News Online explains how Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network grew up and the connections with other militants.

Ronaldo was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid last summer Cristiano Ronaldo has completed his world record £80m move from Manchester United to Real Madrid after agreeing a six-year deal.

Rage Against the Machine win the most gripping battle in years for the Christmas number one, beating X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy looks back at the legacy of the long and bloody Iran-Iraq war.

The BBC's Ingibjorg Thordardottir demonstrates how to pronounce 'Eyjafjallajokull', the tongue-twisting name of Iceland's erupting volcano.