The Federal Reserve slashed its forecast for US economic growth from 2.9 per cent to between 2.1 and 2.3 per cent. Nevertheless, the central bank continued to wind down its stimulus package and even said that it may raise interest rates in 2015.

BlackBerry has agreed on a licensing deal with Amazon to let its smartphones access more than 240,000 Android apps through the online retailer's app store. The new software will arrive on BlackBerry 10 smartphones in an update later this year as ...

Militants from al-Shabaab have claimed responsibility for a second attack on Kenya's coast that killed at least 10, just a day after an assault on the nearby town of Mpeketoni left almost 50 dead, officials and the fighters said on Tuesday. Armed gunmen raided ...

Angela Merkel was so delighted with Germany's brilliant 4-0 win against Portugal that she sought out the players after the game. The German Chancellor was loving every minute of the side's victory, led by a Thomas Muller hat-trick in Salvador. Ms Merkel is ...

The photograph circulating on social media is of a man with a striking long, red beard, dressed in a simple robe and prayer cap, emerging smiling from a vehicle. The picture is of Umar al-Shishani, one of the most feared commanders of Isis, the Sunni militia ...

The shooting down of a military transport plane in Ukraine yesterday, killing all 49 people on board, prompted threats of a renewed government offensive on pro-Russian separatists in the country's violent eastern regions. President Petro Poroshenko has ...

Iraq's descent into chaos sent the oil price soaring to a nine-month high as investors panicked over the threat of disrupted supplies. Brent crude hit $114.69 a barrel — its highest since September — amid the prospect of more turmoil in the region as Sunni ...

The San Antonio Spurs are one step away from winning the NBA Finals after they dominated the Miami Heat in their own arena last night. The Spurs took a 3-1 lead in the series with a stunning 107-86 victory in the American Airlines Arena, Kawhi Leonard ...

The San Antonio Spurs are one step away from winning the NBA Finals after they dominated the Miami Heat in their own arena last night. The Spurs took a 3-1 lead in the series with a stunning 107-86 victory in the American Airlines Arena, Kawhi Leonard ...

The answer, as it so often is when it comes to the World Cup, is Brazil. And then it is Italy, the sensible fall-back option when venturing into the tournament's history. Between them Brazil and Italy have collected nine World Cups to the rest of the world's 10 and ...

Facebook announced late on Monday it had recruited PayPal president David Marcus to head up its mobile messaging business. “David is a widely respected leader in the technology industry with a track record of building great products and finding creative ...

So Rihanna wore a dress that showed pretty much everything to the CFDAs this week, but of course you knew that already as it's been, understandably, one of the most talked-about pictures of this week. For the most part, the press have conservatively wailed ...

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal expects Robin van Persie to hit peak fitness for the start of the World Cup. Manchester United striker Van Persie is hoping to get back to his best in Brazil after a frustrating and injury-hit season at Old Trafford.

Samsung has launched the world's first smartphone powered by Tizen – an operating system that the company is hoping will help to wean it off Google's Android OS. Samsung says that the Linux-based Tizen will one day power a range of devices including ...

Samsung has launched the world's first smartphone powered by Tizen – an operating system that the company is hoping will help to wean it off Google's Android OS. Samsung says that the Linux-based Tizen will one day power a range of devices including ...

Google has begun the process of complying with the EU's recent “right to be forgotten” ruling, launching a new webform where European citizens can request the removal of search results. The online form is applicable to search results (not the content itself) ...

Russia appears to be pulling most of its forces from the Ukrainian border, US defence officials have confirmed, a day after 12 army forces were killed by rebels as the crisis in Ukraine intensified. The move follow weeks of demands from the US that the Russian ...

Brad Pitt was allegedly punched in the face by an Ukrainian reporter at the Maleficent premiere in Los Angeles yesterday (27 May). The actor was not seriously hurt. The reporter, named Vitalii Sediuk, has since been arrested on suspicion of battery.

It has been difficult for some time to work out precisely what Daniel Levy wants from a Tottenham manager. The Spurs chairman has veered from the intense Spanish approach of Juande Ramos, to the nous and instincts of Harry Redknapp, back to the ...

British police are reportedly looking into allegations of attempted match-fixing involving a friendly between Scotland and Nigeria to be played in London on Wednesday. The Daily Telegraph website reported that officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) ...