London, Apr. 2 : Western classical composer George Frideric Handel was a binge eater and problem drinker.

According to a study reported by The Times, Handel's gargantuan appetite resulted in lead poisoning that eventually killed him 250 years ago this month at the age of 74.

London, Apr. 2  France''s First Lady Carla Bruni has been asked by Nelson Mandela to sing at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in South Africa.

Mandela wants the former supermodel turned singer to kick off the tournament by performing live in a packed stadium in front of millions of TV viewers worldwide.

According to a Sky News report, the 40-year-old met Mandela on a state visit to South Africa with her husband President Nicholas Sarkozy last year, but is yet to respond to his request.

London, Apr 2: Baby birds can count and perform basic arithmetic, say researchers.

The study, conducted by scientists from the universities of Padova and Trento, has shown chicks'' ability to add and subtract objects as they were moved behind two screens.

Lucia Regolin, the study''s author, said the animals "performed basic arithmetic" to work out which screen concealed the larger group of objects.

In the study, scientists found that the baby animals could distinguish between two and three and in tests consistently picked the higher figure.

London - The world's biggest economic powers are set to agree Thursday to a radical rewrite of the rules for global financial markets to bring them into line with the changes unleashed in recent years by fast-paced globalization.

The Group of 20 (G20) meeting of the world's most advanced and emerging economies in London is expected to sign off on steps aimed at greater global market supervision and closing gaps in the regulatory system in an effort to bolster the global economy, as well as avoiding future crises.

London  - Captain John Terry struck an 85th-minute winner as England maintained their 100-per-cent record in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Ukraine.

Peter Crouch put England ahead after 28 minutes, but with 16 minutes remaining Shevchenko stabbed in the equaliser.

Crouch probably would not have played but for injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole, but when the chance came, he pounced to score his 15th goal in 33 internationals.

Shevchenko also had a point to prove, having been left out by coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko, and added his 40th goal for his country with 16 minutes to play.