London, September 26: Scientists have invented a solar-assisted bicycle that gives riders extra pedal power.

According to a report in the Times, the bicycle, called a Cycle Sol, has been invented by Miroslav Miljevic, 40, as an eco-friendly form of transport.

The bright yellow device operates like a normal pedal cycle but has a canopy lined with solar cells overhead.

When the user pedals in the sunshine the rays charge a battery that powers an electric motor in the back wheel, propelling the bike at speeds of up to 15mph. It also lowers the resistance in pedalling to make it easier to go up hills.

London, September 26: Scientists have warned that the combined force of climate change, pollution, disease, habitat loss and degradation, could wipeout amphibians by 2050.

According to a report in the Times, the team of scientists, from the Zoological Society of London, has also said that half of Europe’s amphibian species could be wiped out in the next 40 years.

After assessing the amphibians’ prospects, they predicted that more than 50 per cent of the 81 species native to Europe faced extinction by 2050.

London, Sept 26 : A one million pound banknote, believed to be one of only two in existence, is expected to fetch 40,000 pounds, when it goes under the hammer next month.

The eight-inch-wide green note, which is no longer legal tender, will be auctioned by Spink, the specialist auctioneers, on Oct 1.

The Treasury issued the note on August 30, 1948, in connection with the Marshall Aid Plan after the Second World War.

Named after its architect - American Secretary of State George Marshall - the Marshall Aid Plan was the programme of funding given to Western Europe by America between 1948 and 1951.

US ploughed billions of dollars into Western Europe whose recovery from the 1939-1945 war had been slower than expected.

London, Sept 26 : The Queen could face a cash crunch by 2011 but her secret pleas to the Government for extra money are being refused, it has been claimed.

Palace aides have told ministers the monarchy''s finances have been eroded by inflation and more money is needed to pay for the royal family''s official duties and the upkeep of its palaces.

However, their calls have been ignored, leaving the Queen forced to make massive cutbacks before she goes broke.

Aides say Parliament must increase both the 15 million pounds it pays to maintain the Royal Estate, and the 7.9 million pounds for the Civil List, which pays for the senior royals'' official functions.

London, Sept. 26: A British Council-sponsored poll has found that most young Brits think the country’s national identity is being comprised by the unrestricted entry of immigrants.

Almost two-thirds (60 percent) of the young people surveyed thought the presence of foreign immigrants was "diluting" their sense of national identity.

A quarter said immigrants posed a threat to British workers' jobs and 12 percent said they thought the influx of people from abroad was a risk to security and public order.

London, Sept. 26: The Muslim community in Britain has decided to purge spiritual leaders (imams) who remain silent on the issue of domestic abuse, including incidents of women being burnt, lashed and raped in the name of Islam.

A Times report says that Muslim scholars will present the names of imams who have refused to help abused women to the Gordon Brown Government. The community will also target imams, who have refused to speak out against domestic abuse in their sermons.

Some of Britain's most prominent moderate imams and female Muslim leaders have backed the campaign, urging the Home Office to vet more carefully Islamic spiritual leaders coming to Britain to weed out hardliners.