Mortgage loans reach 'record low'
The number of new mortgages approved in June hit the lowest level since records began in 1993, the Bank of England says.
Sikh girl wins bangle law battle
A Sikh teenager wins her legal battle against a school which excluded her for wearing a religious bangle.
BA and Iberia hold merger talks
British Airways and Spain's Iberia are in talks over a merger as the airlines attempt to weather economic turbulence.
Six held over honeymoon killing
Police in Antigua are questioning six people over the murder of a British doctor and the shooting of her husband on honeymoon.
Changes in murder laws proposed
People who kill after suffering domestic abuse may be able to use a new defence to escape a murder conviction.
3,000 passports and visas stolen
Manchester police launch an investigation into the theft of 3,000 blank passports and visas after a raid on Monday.
Disabled 'face suffering in NHS'
People with learning disabilities are suffering and even dying as laws to protect them are ignored by the NHS in England, says a report.
Russia claims world-record dive
Russian scientists claim to have reached the bottom of the world's deepest body of fresh water - Lake Baikal in Siberia.
Singer Amy Winehouse returns home
Singer Amy Winehouse is sent home from hospital after a reaction to medication, her spokesman confirms.
The secret to women losing weight - and keeping it off
Women who want to lose weight - and keep it off - need to be exercising for almost an hour, five days a week, research suggests.
Tiny tree-shrew is a heavyweight boozer, scientists discover
A tiny tree-shrew that lives on alcoholic nectar could - pound for pound - drink the average human under the table.
Harmison left out of England team
England leave out Steve Harmison and Stuart Broad for the third Test against South Africa, but Paul Collingwood is recalled.
Keane delight at Liverpool switch
Robbie Keane says he has fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining Liverpool from Spurs.
China defends human rights record
Beijing rejects a report by Amnesty International saying that human rights have deteriorated in the run-up to the Olympics.
What do you want to talk about?
What do you want the world to talk about?
Istanbul attacks
Turks ask who could have planted the deadly bombs
No time to think?
Five ways to beat the office grind and think more clearly
World domination
Pussycat Dolls singer reveals the band's plans
Fuel harvest
In spite of global fears, Brazil hails its ethanol revolution
Heaven or hell?
Has the latest Big Brother lived up to its early promise?
Hero's tale
How a Royal Marine risked his life to save comrades
Woman held after fire at hostel
A homeless woman is arrested on suspicion of starting a fire at a hostel and church in west London.
Jamieson to launch leadership bid
Cathy Jamieson MSP is expected to officially launch her campaign to become Scottish Labour leader.
Patient's sex attack carer jailed
A care worker who sexually assaulted a 77-year-old female dementia patient at a care home is sentenced to nine years.
Motorcyclist dies after accident
A 28-year-old motorcyclist dies after a crash outside Larne, County Antrim, the Police Service of Northern Ieland says.
UN split over Darfur peace force
South Africa and Libya link war crimes allegations against Sudan's president to the renewal of a Darfur peacekeeping mandate.
Branson unveils space tourism jet
Virgin Galactic boss Richard Branson unveils a key piece of his space tourism programme in California.
Iraqis attack al-Qaeda stronghold
Iraqi forces backed by American troops launch a major operation against insurgents in the Iraqi province of Diyala.
Australia abandons asylum policy
The Australian government abandons the country's controversial policy of jailing all asylum seekers.
EU puts off Serbia bid decision
EU ambassadors put off a decision on Serbia's EU ambitions until Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is sent to The Hague.
Kashmir rivals to discuss firing
Indian and Pakistani army officials are to hold urgent talks following clashes between troops along the dividing line in disputed Kashmir.
UK mulls mortgage market options
The government may have to guarantee billions of pounds of mortgage bonds in order to revive the market, a report says.
Tories tackle 'huge social gulf'
The Conservatives will set out their ideas for tackling the social divide between rich and poor in the UK's cities.
Statins 'may cut dementia risk'
Scientists have found more evidence cholesterol-lowering statins may protect against dementia and memory loss.
Pupils 'confused' by exams maze
Teenagers in England are being left bewildered by a confusing array of qualifications, teachers are warning.
Cavers recover ancient bear bones
The remains of a bear which may have died 11,000 years ago are retrieved from a cave in Scotland.
Kelsey Grammer back in hospital
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer is admitted to hospital because he felt faint after a heart attack last month, his publicist says.
Search site aims to rival Google
Former staff from Google launch Cuil, a rival search engine that aims to beat the web giant at returning relevant results.
Report Faults Aides in Hiring at Justice Dept.
Senior aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales broke the law by using politics to guide their hiring decisions, a Justice Department report said.
The Evidence Gap: A Call for a Warning System on Artificial Joints
If American patients who ended up with agonizing hip replacements lived in certain other industrialized countries, many might have been spared the risk.
Alcatel-Lucent Chiefs to Step Down
Alcatel-Lucent posted a second-quarter net loss and said its chief executive and its chairman would step down by the end of 2008.
Guantсnamo Memo: A U.S. Trial by Its Looks, but Only So
At the first trial for a Guantсnamo detainee, two trials are unfolding at once: one for Salim Hamdan and one for the military commission system.
2008 Beijing Olympics: Before Guests Arrive, Beijing Hides Some Messes
Some businesses and residents will spend the Olympics behind walls erected to keep their property out of sight.
A Major Tuneup for a Sports Machine
Russia has pumped billions of dollars from its oil-soaked coffers into rebuilding its athletics infrastructure.
Rush for Natural Gas Enriches Corner of the South
A no-holds-barred, all-American gold rush for natural gas is under way in a forgotten corner of the South.
From Comics to James Bond to a Liftoff in the Yard
An inventor plans to unveil what he calls тАЬthe worldтАЩs first practical jetpackтАЭ at an air show in Wisconsin.
Paterson and Bloomberg Warn of Huge Deficits
Gov. David A. Paterson and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg warned of further deterioration in state and city finances.
British Airways in Merger Talks
British Airways and SpainтАЩs Iberia SA say they are in talks over a potential combination.
Political Memo: Obama-Clinton Ticket Is Seen as Unlikely
There is mounting evidence that Barack ObamaтАЩs interest in Hillary Clinton for the post of vice president has faded.
Execution by Military Is Approved by President
President Bush approved the first execution by the military since 1961, upholding the death penalty of an Army private convicted of a series of rapes and murders more than two decades ago.
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US, Iraqi military offensive under way in Diyala (AP) 
AP - U.S. and Iraqi forces fanned out in the volatile Diyala province Tuesday in a new operation aimed at clearing al-Qaida in Iraq from safe havens in an area considered the last major insurgent belt around the capital.
Bush: Former Army cook's crimes warrant execution (AP) 
AP - President Bush could have commuted the death sentence of Ronald A. Gray, a former Army cook convicted of multiple rapes and murders.
Senior al-Qaida figure reported killed in Pakistan (AP) 
AP - Pakistan investigated reports Tuesday that a senior al-Qaida figure was among six people killed in a suspected U.S. missile strike amid anger that the attack had violated the Islamic nation's sovereignty.
Study proposes revamping US security system (AP) 
AP - In a report aimed at the next president, security specialists are proposing a vast overhaul of the U.S. security system, declaring it problem-plagued.
Police: Man shot churchgoers over liberal views (AP) 
AP - Children from the Unitarian church where authorities said an out-of-work truck driver shot and killed two people, ended a prayer vigil by singing a song from the musical the gunman interrupted.
Obama seeks to overcome doubts among women (AP) 
AP - After Hillary Rodham Clinton lost the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, one of her delegates wanted to send a message. So Mary Beth Pyle wore a Clinton T-shirt to a unity dinner meant to build support for Barack Obama.
Wildfire threatens homes and vacations in Yosemite (AP) 
AP - Visitors to Yosemite National Park weighed whether to cut their vacations short Tuesday as a destructive wildfire raging miles from the famed wilderness threatened thousands of homes and left evacuees stranded.
Los Angeles wants to take bite out of fast food (AP) 
AP - In the impoverished neighborhood of South Los Angeles, fast food is the easiest cuisine to find Ч and that's a problem for elected officials who see it as an unhealthy source of calories and cholesterol.
Winehouse released from London hospital (AP) 
AP - Troubled singer Amy Winehouse was released from a London hospital Tuesday after an overnight stay to treat what her spokesman said was an adverse reaction to medication.
Torii Hunter, Angels beat Red Sox yet again, 7-5 (AP) 
AP - The defending champion Red Sox made easy work of the Angels in last year's playoffs. It's been a much tougher matchup this season.
Guantanamo trial views graphic 9/11 video (Reuters) 
Reuters - Prosecutors in the trial of Osama bin Laden's driver unveiled a graphic video on Monday of the September 11 attacks and other al Qaeda operations that is likely to play a repeated role in pending war crimes cases.
Obama win not to supplant civil rights campaign (Reuters) 
Reuters - If Barack Obama wins November's election and becomes the first black president in U.S. history, will an older generation of civil rights leaders go out of business?
WTO talks brought back from brink, still at risk (Reuters) 
Reuters - Talks to rescue a world trade deal were brought back on Tuesday from the brink of collapse over measures intended to help poor countries protect their farmers, but they remained at high risk.
Mideast deal seems beyond reach as Rice hosts talks (Reuters) 
Reuters - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet this week to work toward the long-shot U.S. goal of achieving a comprehensive peace deal this year that even Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says is out of reach.
Iran tells developing states to fight world-power bias (Reuters) 
Reuters - Iran's president called on Tuesday for developing nations to unite to fight what he said was bias shown by the U.N. Security Council and other world bodies that only serve the big powers' interests.
Merrill to sell $8.5 bln stock after big write-down (Reuters) 
Reuters - Merrill Lynch & Co said on Monday it will take a $5.7 billion third-quarter write-down as it unloads huge amounts of risky debt, and will raise $8.5 billion by selling new stock.
Al Qaeda chemist killed in U.S. strike: Pakistani agents (Reuters)
Reuters - An al Qaeda chemical and biological weapons expert named Abu Khabab al-Masri was killed in a suspected U.S. missile strike, Pakistani intelligence officials said a day after the attack.
Beijing haze recedes but rights concerns remain (Reuters)
Reuters - Haze that covered Beijing for days cleared on Tuesday as rain fell 10 days before the Olympics open, but China's government came under fresh pressure from a damning human rights report.
Hardliners rally in anger at looming Karadzic transfer (AFP)
AFP - Belgrade was bracing Tuesday for an ultra-nationalist protest rally in defiance of Radovan Karadzic's arrest and impending transfer to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Zimbabwe crisis talks deadlocked: opposition (AFP)
AFP - Negotiations in South Africa aimed at ending the political crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe are deadlocked, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's spokesman told AFP on Tuesday.
Kaine Near Top of Obama's Short List
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has told close associates that he has had "very serious" conversations with Sen. Barack Obama "about joining the Democratic ticket and has provided documents to the campaign as it combs through his background," the Washington Post reports.
Politico also cites sources that say Kaine is on a list of finalists.
Sen. Evan Bayh, Sen. Joe Biden and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius are also being vetted, according to "sources with knowledge of the process."
USAT/Gallup: McCain Moves Into National Lead
Sen. John McCain moved from being behind by 6 points among "likely" voters a month ago to a 4-point lead over Sen. Barack Obama, 49% to 45%, in the latest USA Today/Gallup Poll. The poll was taken over the weekend.
McCain still trails among the broader universe of "registered" voters, 44% to 47%.
This poll is separate from the Gallup Tracking poll which today shows Obama ahead by 8 points among registered voters, 48% to 40%.
Key Obama Aides Converge in D.C.
NBC News notes that Sen. Barack Obama is joined in Washington, D.C. today by top aides David Plouffe, David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs. In addition, his vice presidential search team leaders, Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, are also in D.C. today.
Could a decision on Obama's running mate be near?
"The convergence of all the senior staff here with that search committee only further signals that the process is at a critical stage. The campaign, of course, is not commenting on it."
Update: MSNBC spotted Obama at Holder's office.
Unconventional Wisdom
In the mail: Unconventional Wisdom: Facts and Myths About American Voters by Karen Kaufmann, John Petrocik and Daron Shaw.
"Late deciders go for the challenger; turnout helps the Democrats; the gender gap results from a surge in Democratic preference among women -- these and many other myths are standard fare among average citizens, political pundits, and even some academics. But are these conventional wisdoms -- familiar to anyone who watches Sunday morning talk shows -- really valid?"
Novak Hospitalized
Political columnist Robert Novak "was admitted yesterday to a Boston hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor," according to Human Events.
In a written statement, Novak said, "I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period."
Last week, Novak was cited for hitting a pedestrian and later said he had no idea he had done it.
Obama's Tabloid Strategy
Bonnie Fuller -- the creator of today's celebrity journalism -- comments on the Obama family being photographed for the cover this week's People magazine and notes "it's apparent that Team Obama has a clear and clever presidential marketing strategy: present Michelle and Barack as the beloved Brangelina of the political world.""Like every in-demand A-list couple who concedes to allowing a peek behind the curtain, the Obamas insist this will be the 'first and last' up-close and personal look at them as a family. What they don't admit to is that this was a carefully orchestrated, well-thought out brand presentation. And it isn't actually the first highly personal look at the photogenic family. No, it's the culmination of a publicity campaign designed to take advantage of the couple's charisma and Hollywood-worthy good looks. Team Obama is using popular mass-media vehicles such as People, Us Weekly, The View, Access Hollywood and The Colbert Report to familiarize the American public with the candidate and his wife, and to dispel myths about the couple, in a far more aggressive way than has ever been done before in a presidential election."
Quote of the Day
"I used to say that Barack Obama raises taxes and John McCain cuts them, and I was convinced. I stand corrected."
-- Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's chief economic policy adviser, quoted by Time magazine.
Update: Holtz-Eakin now says his remarks were taken out of context.
Did Obama Rule Out Picking a Senator as Veep?
Though Sen. Barack Obama promised not to talk about his vice presidential running mate until he actually announced his pick, Tom Brokaw got him to elaborate a little on Meet the Press yesterday.
Said Obama: "I'm going to want somebody with integrity; I'm going to want somebody with independence, who's willing to tell me where he thinks or she thinks I'm wrong; and I'm, I'm going to want somebody who shares a vision of the country where we need to go, that we've got to fundamentally change not only our policies, but how our politics works, how business is done in Washington."
Which leads First Read to ask, "Did he just rule out that he would pick a sitting Democratic US senator? Try and use that description Obama gave with Bayh, Biden, Clinton, or Reed? Now, try using it with Kaine, Sebelius, Nunn, or Hagel? Just sayin'... If Obama picks someone from the first group, he's going to have a tough time making the case that this person has shown a history of changing the way business is done in Washington. Frankly, it's tough naming any Washington player using that standard."
Cuomo Still Hasn't Backed Obama
The Albany Times-Union reports former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo (D) still hasn't endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president because he hasn't been "specific enough."
Said Cuomo: "We have these big, big issues, and the political theory is: 'I don't want to get into the specifics, because if I do I'm going to get into trouble.'"
Economist/YouGov Poll: Obama Slightly Ahead Nationally
The latest Economist/YouGov national poll shows Sen. Barack Obama edging Sen. John McCain, 41% to 38%.
The survey was conducted July 22-24.
Romney Could Help McCain Carry Michigan
According to Robert Novak, private polls show Mitt Romney "could make all the difference in Michigan. A McCain-Romney ticket carries the state by a moderately comfortable margin. With any other running mate, McCain loses Michigan."
This is "the principal reason" why Romney "has climbed to the top of Sen. John McCain's practical wish list for vice president is the possibility that he could bring Michigan's 17 electoral votes to the Republicans for the first time since 1988."
Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune notes another reason Michigan may flip to the GOP: "This normally reliable state for Democrats may not be so reliable this year as issues of race and class cloud the election and voters say they still know little about the Democratic nominee because of a botched primary that kept him away."
Obama to Meet With Economic Advisers
From the Obama campaign: "Today, Barack Obama will travel to Washington DC to hold a meeting with his top economic advisors on America's pressing economic challenges. Senator Obama will be joined by leading figures from business and labor, Democrats and Republicans to talk about the recent developments in the economy: job loss, financial markets, and the rising costs of oil, food and other commodities. Senator Barack Obama's opening remarks will be open to the press pool. Participants of the early afternoon meeting include: Warren Buffett, Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker, Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt and other economic leaders."
Update: ABC News has learned that two former Bush administration officials will appear with Obama: Former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and former Securities and Exchange Commissioner William Donaldson.
R2000: Obama Holds Double Digit National Lead
A new Research 2000 national poll finds Sen. Barack Obama leading Sen. John McCain, 51% to 39%, with Bob Barr getting 3% and Ralph Nader getting 2%.
The survey was conducted July 25-27.
Income Inequality Grows
"In a new sign of increasing inequality in the U.S., the richest 1% of Americans in 2006 garnered the highest share of the nation's adjusted gross income for two decades, and possibly the highest since 1929," according to the Wall Street Journal.
"Meanwhile, the average tax rate of the wealthiest 1% fell to its lowest level in at least 18 years. The group's share of the tax burden has risen, though not as quickly as its share of income."
Gallup: Obama Opens His Largest Lead
Sen. Barack Obama now leads Sen. John McCain among national registered voters by a 49% to 40%, according to the latest Gallup Tracking Poll.
"The margin, coincident with the extensive U.S. news coverage of Obama's foreign tour, is the largest for Obama over McCain measured since Gallup began tracking the general election horserace in March."
Another McCain Veep Rumor
Marc Ambinder: "On Sunday, McCain hosts a group of political allies and major fundraisers at his ranch in Sedona, AZ. That's a fact. The rumor is that he's going to use the event to introduce his vice presidential choice to his inner circle, and then, on Monday, introduce the choice to the world."
Obama Gets Bounce From Overseas Trip
When asked about the political ramifications about his recent trip abroad, Sen. Barack Obama told the New York Times, "I wouldn't even be surprised if in some polls we saw a little bit of a dip because we've been out of the country for a week."
However, at least two daily tracking polls show Obama getting a decent 6-7 point bounce.
Before the trip:
After the trip:
Quote of the Day
"In terms of raw politics, in the short-term there's just as much downside as upside to a trip like this, even when it's well executed. People at home are worried about gas prices, they're worried about mortgage foreclosures --- and for a week they're seeing me traipse around the world? It's easy to paint that as somehow being removed from people's day-to-day problems... We thought it was worth the risk."
-- Sen. Barack Obama, in an interview with the New York Times.
R2000: McCain Way Ahead in South Carolina
A new Research 2000 poll in South Carolina finds Sen. John McCain with a healthy lead over Sen. Barack Obama, 53% to 40%.
Key finding: Obama gets just 15% of the white vote.
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
"I am interested in serving in the United States Senate and that interest trumps any consideration of serving as a vice president."
-- Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), in an interview with the Providence Journal, putting this speculation to rest.
Obama Considers Republican for Veep
Sen. Barack Obama's vice presidential search team "has floated the name of a member of President Bush's first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate," according to Politico.
"The mention of Veneman's name surprised Democratic lawmakers. The low-profile Republican was close to food and agriculture industries but clashed with farm-state Democrats and environmentalists during her tenure, which lasted from 2001 to 2004."
Insiders See Big Gains for Democrats
According to the National Journal's Congressional Insiders Poll, Democrats think their party will pick up an average of 16.5 seats in the House of Representatives and 5.8 seats in the Senate this fall.
By contrast, GOP insiders think the Democrats will gain an average of 6.6 seats in the House and 3.9 seats in the Senate.
Republican Senate Candidates Skipping Convention
According to Congress Daily, 9 of 12 targeted Republicans running in the most competitive U.S. Senate races this fall "are either skipping the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., or have not decided whether to attend."
Among those who will not attend: Ted Stevens of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Bob Schaffer of Colorado.
Six others have not yet decided: Roger Wicker of Mississippi, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Gordon Smith of Oregon, John Kennedy of Louisiana and Steve Pearce of New Mexico.
Bonus Quote of the Day
"Obviously one is interested in a candidate looking towards the future rather than the past."
-- French President Nicolas Sarkozy, quoted by ABC News, all but endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president.
Quote of the Day
"He's in a position to make the decision on short notice if he wanted to."
-- Charlie Black, quoted by the Washington Post, on the timing of Sen. John McCain's running mate announcement.
