UNITED KINGDOM

Even as world leaders are still trying to cope with the recent flood of global political secrets leaked by the whistle-blower site Wikileaks, its founder Julian Assange is all set to write his autobiography promising more in the offing. Speaking to the Sunday Times, the 39-year-old Australian announced that he had signed deals worth $1.5 million for publishing his memoirs.

Is there a real-life Da Vinci code? Was there a real message that Leonardo Da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece wanted to convey to the world?

German automaker, Audi, has announced that the company has broken its record for annual vehicle sales in the U.S. recording its 93,507th transaction on December 13, 2010.

NORAD Tracks Santa, the annual Christmas tradition, is gaining popularity like never before. But did you know that the U.S. military department NORAD has been keeping a close eye on Santa's flight since 1955 and the idea was born in 1897?

England skipper Andrew Strauss said Ian Bell wouldn't be pushed up the batting order despite the widespread calls while Australian skipper Ricky Ponting came through a net session despite a broken finger and looks set to play in the Fourth Ashes test at Melbourne.

Snow creates havoc in air travel again this year in Europe, as many flights were halted or canceled due to heavy snowfall in the U.K. and several other parts of Europe.

Academic salaries in South Africa have grown by 51% - the highest among seven Commonwealth countries surveyed - since 2006-07.

Core OPEC ministers said on Friday they saw no need to supply the world with more crude as oil prices traded near a two-year high and some consumers said they fear a rally above $100 per barrel would spur inflation.

World stocks held near the previous day's two-year high on Friday while oil hit fresh two-year peaks after strong U.S. data this week encouraged investors to maintain their risk positions into 2011.

Oil hovered around its highest levels in more than two years on Friday, supported by cold weather across the globe, appetite for risk assets and signals from OPEC it would not arrest the rally.

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. (SEV) and the Tanfield Group announced today that the American maker of all-electric trucks will purchase its United Kingdom-based parent company, Smith Electric Vehicles U.K. for $15 million in January.

Google Inc. has started its 2010 Christmas with new holiday doodle, which has 17 interactive images of holiday destinations and cuisines from around the world.

Oil hovered around its highest levels in more than two years on Friday, supported by cold weather across the globe, appetite for risk assets and no signals from OPEC it was prepared to arrest the rally.

Oil hovered around its highest levels in more than two years on Friday, supported by cold weather across the globe, appetite for risk assets and no signals from OPEC it was prepared to arrest the rally.

Oil rallied to its highest price in more than two years on Friday, supported by unusually frigid weather that has fueled demand, depleted supplies and stoked inflationary worries from South Korea to India.

Sony announced its monthly subscription based streaming music service, Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, has made its official debut in the United Kingdom.

Copper's climb to all-time records will spur substitution in some applications, but the metal's unrivalled conductivity and a dearth of alternative technologies will ultimately limit this trend.

The UK's GMB union has said thousands of public sector workers in the country are getting at risk warning letters, dampening the upcoming holidays, the BBC has reported.

Growth in the eurozone will be weaker than in the US and the UK in 2011 and the euro will fall further, despite positive near-term forecasts for the region and improving global economic prospects, analysts have said.

Almost 5 million Britons are expected to go online on Christmas Day and spend over 150 million pounds ($232 million) as they look to grab bargains and beat a rise in January in VAT sales tax, a retail group said on Thursday.

Starbucks Corp unveiled new details about its unraveling relationship with Kraft Foods Inc on Wednesday, ahead of a court conference on Kraft's request to force Starbucks to stop plans to take over distribution of its packaged coffee.