BP has rejected a charge by US politician Ed Markey that its officials understated the size of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Dozens of people have been killed and at least 53 are wounded following two bomb blasts in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

In one week floods across southern China have killed at least 132 people and left 86 missing, according to Chinese state media.

BP chief Tony Hayward went sailing this weekend despite criticism that he is not doing enough to control the oil spill disaster in the US.