"Many people don't know about the enormous progress most countries have made in recent decades - or maybe the media hasn't told them. But with the following five facts everyone can upgrade their world view."

"Country impounds huge shipment and claims British companies are using it as dumping ground for toxic old appliances"

"Alarming reports about our favourite treats - including chocolate, wine and prawns - are on the rise. So what is the truth behind the panic?"

"Technology company's renewable energy-powered Arizona laboratory set to grow sapphire crystals for fingerprint scanners"

"Turkish PM hails sub-sea structure linking European and Asian sides of city but engineers raise earthquake safety concerns"

"The population of an area changes as people move in and out of an area to work. For the workday population the usually resident population is re-distributed to their places of work, while those not in work are recorded at their usual residence. This map shows the percentage change, for 16-74 year olds, experienced in each area, as recorded by the 2011 Census. Hover over the map to explore the change in your area. "

"They are known as the mule women of Melilla. Everyday they carry heavy loads across the border between the Spanish enclave and Morocco. Melilla is an important entry point for goods into North Africa - and if the women can carry them, they can be imported into Morocco duty-free"

"Many workers earn just 30p a day and risk permanent injury, say NGOs, as they call for EU crackdown on unfair trading practices"

"For five years in a row, Iceland has been rated the country with the world's smallest gender gap by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The rating means Iceland is the country where women enjoy the most equal access to education and healthcare. It is also where women are most likely to be able to participate fully in the country's political and economic life."

"Parliament agrees by a single vote to open self-governing territory up to mining sectors dominated by China and Australia"

"The deaths of around 300 migrants off the small island of Lampedusa on 3 October has brought the issue of migration in the Mediterranean sharply back into focus."

"When you are in the middle of a torrent of change, innovation eclipsing innovation, it can be hard to know what is passing and what will last. But the BBC's Peter Day believes that, here, in 2013, we are in the middle of a revolution so great it could turn our old familiar world upside down."

This site is excellent. Choose abrand and you will see how they perform. Interesting to also see who owns who.

"Demand for sugar is triggering land conflicts, says Oxfam, as it calls on Coca-Cola and other major firms to have zero tolerance"