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In the last 30 minutes

Three London Olympic venues at risk   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - The future of three controversial London 2012 Olympic venues hangs in the balance after the government ordered a review into their viability and value for money. Figures ease US recession fears   (Guardian)  Government data shows US economy expanded in second quarter at better than expected rate Police set to search fire-hit mansion   (Guardian)  Specialist teams prepare to begin work inside home of millionaire and family feared killed in blaze Video: Baby elephant rescued from well   (Guardian)  Villagers rescue a baby elephant trapped in a well in Sri Lanka Wright-Phillips seals City return   (Guardian)  Sport: Winger leaves Chelsea to move back to Manchester City for a fee believed to be in the region of £9m Edinburgh Fringe director resigns   (Guardian)  Culture: Jon Morgan steps down a year into the job after festival saw first fall in ticket sales for eight years

In the last one hour

U.S. says more than 100 militants killed in Afghanistan   (Reuters UK)  KABUL (Reuters) - More than 100 militants have been killed in the southern Afghan province of Helmand in the past three days, the U.S. military said on Thursday. Police to search gutted mansion for family   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - Police searching for a family of three missing since a suspicious fire destroyed their Shropshire mansion hope to enter the gutted house on Thursday. BBC reporter met anti-terror officials   (Guardian)  News executive says correspondent met anti-terrorism unit while making radio documentary about al-Qaida Wikileaks touts Chávez aide's emails   (Guardian)  Whistleblower site asking for bids for what it claims is confidential information about Venezuelan president Hurricane Gustav threatens New Orleans   (Guardian)  New Orleans is on standby to evacuate as Tropical Storm Gustav heads towards the US, almost three years after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina Horse trainer Channon recovers after crash   (Guardian)  Mick Channon is recovering in hospital following a car crash on his way home from the Doncaster Sales Quiz: the news from... Denver   (Guardian)  Are you up to date with news from the convention in Denver Injured Smith ruled out of Oval clash   (Guardian)  Sport: Cricket: South Africa's captain may miss the rest of the one-day series because of an elbow injury

Previous

Man gets life for garden shed gun factory   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - A gunsmith who converted replica weapons into live sub-machine guns that were used in a wave of shootings and murders was jailed for at least 11 years on Thursday. Man jailed for life over arms factory   (Guardian)  At least eight people were killed by weapons converted by self-taught gunsmith Grant Wilkinson To Greece, by car, on grease   (Guardian)  Environment, science & technology: Carbon-conscious enthusiasts ask restaurants for waste vegetable oil to power their European journey Inside the bloggers' Big Tent   (Guardian)  Multimedia: What are the bloggers adding to the convention circus? Oliver Burkeman finds out House prices and retail sales slide   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - House prices fell 1.9 percent this month alone and retail sales dropped at their sharpest pace in at least 25 years, two separate surveys showed on Thursday, adding to the gloom on the economic outlook. Ex-Scotland Yard murder chief slams knife strategy   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - Police stop and search tactics to tackle knife crime in London could end up making teenage gangs stronger and the problem worse, the former head of Scotland Yard's murder prevention unit said on Thursday. Cheer up! You're in Wales   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - The most sparsely populated areas of Britain are the happiest, research has showed. Pope says crucified frog blasphemous   (Guardian)  Italian museum's board to decide artwork's future after local official went on hunger strike Tomasky talk: Obama's big speech   (Guardian)  Michael Tomasky looks ahead to Barack Obama's convention address tonight Indian monsoon floods leave a million homeless   (Guardian)  Prime minister declares 'national calamity' after 250,000 houses destroyed in one of worst floods in northern India for decades Spanair crash team focus on faulty thruster   (Reuters UK)  MADRID (Reuters) - One engine on a Spanair plane that crashed in Madrid last week killing 154 people may have had a fault that rammed it into reverse, causing the plane to veer off the runway, Spanish newspapers reported on Thursday. Retail sales post record fall in August   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - Retail sales fell at their sharpest annual pace in at least a quarter of a century in August as the housing market contraction and wet weather hit retailers hard, a survey indicated on Thursday. U.S. to hand back Anbar   (Reuters UK)  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops will on September 1 hand over control of Iraq's Anbar province, once the heart of a bloody Sunni Arab insurgency, reflecting a dramatic drop in violence across the country, an Iraqi official said on Thursday. Europe threatens sanctions against Russia   (Guardian)  Leading EU powers losing patience with Kremlin's sabre rattling in the Caucuses Man jailed for life over arms factory   (Guardian)  Grant Wilkinson to serve minimum of 11 years for converting replica guns linked to 52 shootings Tomasky talk: Obama's challenge   (Guardian)  Michael Tomasky looks ahead to Barack Obama's convention speech tonight Hacker McKinnon loses extradition appeal   (Guardian)  North London computer expert hacked into dozens of US military computers 18 sailors on warship test positive for cocaine   (Guardian)  Eighteen fail drugs tests after going ashore in Brazil A whole world of trouble   (Guardian)  Travel: Rory MacLean on Andrew Mueller's jovial jaunt of a guidebook around our violent and baffling world Pierre Boulez at the Lucerne festival   (Guardian)  Revolutionary music maestro Pierre Boulez offers lessons in conducting and talks about the future of contemporary music at the Lucerne festival Family flees home after Afghan spider 'kills dog'   (Guardian)  Creature thought to be camel spider believed to have been accidentally brought back to UK after man's Helmand tour of duty Police wait to search fire-hit mansion   (Guardian)  Reports suggest millionaire's family may have been shot dead inside house before it was set ablaze Pope angry over crucified green frog sculpture   (Reuters UK)  ROME (Reuters) - A modern art sculpture portraying a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg that Pope Benedict has condemned as blasphemous may have its days numbered. Gerrard out of World Cup qualifiers   (Guardian)  Sport: Liverpool midfielder ruled out of England's upcoming double header to undergo surgery on groin injury 'You just have to impose your will'   (Guardian)  Culture: Pierre Boulez has done more than anyone to define the idea of what is modern music, writes Tom Service Galleries scramble to keep Titians   (Guardian)  Culture: Pictures described by Lucian Freud as beautiful may be bought up after 200 years on display Can we go on not living together?   (Guardian)  Life & style: Private lives: I feel that I am too young to move in with my boyfriend, but it's been five years ... Fashion made me too thin - Moss   (Guardian)  Life & style: Model responds in rare interview to suggestions that at times in her career she has been too skinny Showboating over Gaza   (Guardian)  Comment is free: Ron Prosor: Protesters who came ashore last week should blame Hamas, not Israel, for territory's ills It's a windfall. Now share it   (Guardian)  Comment is free: Roy Hattersley: Energy firms' profits are unearned. It is intolerable that they cash in as people go cold Credit crunch boosts bus operator   (Guardian)  Business & money: Stagecoach says it has seen a significant increase in passenger numbers since May Aer Lingus to cut costs after loss   (Guardian)  Business & money: Airline raises fears of job losses after plunging into a deficit for the first half of this year Does my name affect the spam I get?   (Guardian)  Environment, science & technology: Alison will always get more spam than Zoey, according to a Cambridge University expert An interface for your eyes only   (Guardian)  Environment, science & technology: Software interfaces that are custom-generated for the individual could help disabled computer users Keothavong storms into third round   (Guardian)  Sport: US Open: Anne Keothavong knocks out 25th seed to become first British woman in third round for 17 years Kuyt rescues Liverpool at the death   (Guardian)  Sport: Champions League: Reds struggle to extra-time win over Standard Liège at Anfield Burn After Reading stars in Venice   (Guardian)  Well, we've checked the schedules, and after tonight's premiere of Burn After Reading, the new Coen brothers movie, the festival looks to be a little short on glamour. So we're going big with Brad, George et all - here's some pictures of them earlier today; stand by later this afternoon for an exclusive first review of Burn After Reading Tech Weekly podcast: Windows 7   (Guardian)  A look at what Windows 7 might have in store, plus a location based search gets a ride in the elevator Daily podcast: Bill Clinton backs Obama   (Guardian)  The Democratic National Convention in Denver, David Miliband's strong words for Russia; and world happiness, in our daily audio show UK battle for Ascension Island rights   (Guardian)  Diplomats go to UN laying claim to an area of ocean floor roughly the size of UK's entire land surface Livingstone to advise Chávez on urban issues   (Guardian)  Former London mayor to take up role as consultant on policing, transport and other municipal issues in Caracas Obesity epidemic spreads to new areas   (Guardian)  GP practices help to compile 'fat map' using registers of patients whose BMI is over 30 Thai protest continues despite court order   (Guardian)  Samak says he will not use force against demonstrators calling for his resignation 70 boat people missing off Malta   (Guardian)  Second such disaster in two days brings number of reported victims to more than 100 Review: Burn after Reading   (Guardian)  Venice film festival: Latest from Coen brothers is a bantamweight spy caper that packs a killer punch Mushroom soup forces flight to land   (Guardian)  Passenger treated for allergic reaction caused by soup leaking from overhead locker Man ran gun factory in garden sheds   (Guardian)  Weapons linked to nine murder scenes including robbery in which PC Sharon Beshenivsky died Blaze mystery of missing millionaire   (Guardian)  Police to wait until ruins declared safe before investigating possible arson attack on mansion UK steps up war of words with Russia   (Guardian)  David Miliband says division of Europe into spheres of influence is redundant in modern diplomacy WHO: social injustice cuts lifespans   (Guardian)  Inequality caused by poverty, poor education and bad housing is 'killing on a grand scale', study finds House prices suffer double-digit fall   (Guardian)  Prices fall by 1.9% in August and 10.5% over the past 12 months, says Nationwide Obama's best choice   (Guardian)  Martin Kettle: Joe Biden revealed the strengths he brings to the Democratic ticket The Big Dog can still hunt   (Guardian)  Jonathan Freedland: Bill Clinton makes the case for President Barack Obama Clinton and Biden rouse Democrats in call for unity   (Guardian)  Former president lines up solidly behind Obama after rancourous primary campaign Cervical cancer advances give hope to poor   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - New screening tests and effective vaccines from Merck & Co and GlaxoSmithKline make tackling cervical cancer in poor countries a real possibility for the first time, researchers said on Thursday. France says sanctions considered against Russia   (Reuters UK)  PARIS (Reuters) - European Union leaders are considering imposing sanctions against Russia ahead of a summit on Monday to discuss the situation in Georgia, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Thursday. Miliband says "no question" of war with Russia   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - There is no question of launching "all-out war" against Russia, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Thursday, while condemning Moscow's "invasion" of Georgia. Royal Navy sailors fail drugs test   (Reuters UK)  LONDON (Reuters) - Eighteen sailors on a Royal Navy warship have failed a routine drugs test during deployment in the South Atlantic, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Thursday. Paul McCartney to perform in Israel   (Reuters UK)  LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paul McCartney will perform for the first time ever in Israel next month -- more than 40 years after the Beatles were blocked from giving a concert in the country, the singer announced on Wednesday. Germany's Merkel voted most powerful woman again   (Reuters UK)  NEW YORK (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the world's most powerful woman for the third straight year, topping Forbes magazine's 2008 list of the top 100 women based on their career, economic impact and media coverage. Keothavong flies the flag for British women   (Reuters UK)  NEW YORK (Reuters) - It is not often that a British woman reaches the third round of the U.S. Open. In fact, until Wednesday, the last time it happened was in 1991. Pakistani lawyers to press government   (Reuters UK)  ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani lawyers were set to launch protests on Thursday pressing the government to reinstate judges purged by former president Pervez Musharraf, as militants attacked police in the northwest, killing 11 people. Iraq says U.S. agreed troop pullout compromise   (Reuters UK)