Your daily e-mail from the BBC

	Friday, 17 August, 2007, 18:00 GMT 03:00 +09:00:Asia/Seoul

Laura K's Newslog The Tories are talking tax but will Cameron take it on board?		In pictures The birds staying away from the UK because of a warming climate

TOP STORIES
	US rate cut boosts global markets US and European markets rise after the Federal Reserve cuts the interest rate at which it lends money to banks.
	Russia restarts Cold War patrols Russia resumes a Soviet-era practice of long-range bomber flights, President Putin says, citing security worries.
	Hips extended to three-bed homes The government says it will extend its Hips scheme to cover three-bedroom homes from 10 September 2007.
	Tories 'will consider tax cuts' The Conservatives promise to look "very closely" at plans for wide-ranging tax cuts, including abolishing inheritance tax.
	Blast firms admit safety charges The operators of a Glasgow plastics factory where nine people died in an explosion admit four safety charges.

WORLD
	Russia restarts Cold War patrols Russia resumes a Soviet-era practice of long-range bomber flights, President Putin says, citing security worries.
	US rate cut boosts global markets US and European markets rise after the Federal Reserve cuts the interest rate at which it lends money to banks.
	Peru rattled by fresh earthquake A strong earthquake strikes panic into Peruvians as they continue to hunt for survivors of Wednesday's disaster.

AFRICA
	Apartheid murder plotters guilty Five security officials in South Africa's apartheid regime receive suspended sentences for plotting to kill an activist.
	HIV test before Nigerian marriage Couples must first take an HIV test before they will be allowed to marry, Nigeria's Anglican Church says.
	Uganda rejects a gay rights call Uganda's government rejects a call by the country's gay community for recognition and equal rights.

AMERICAS
	Peru rattled by fresh earthquake A strong earthquake strikes panic into Peruvians as they continue to hunt for survivors of Wednesday's disaster.
	Utah mine rescue efforts 'halted' Below-ground efforts to find six trapped US coal miners are halted indefinitely after three rescuers are killed.
	US rate cut boosts global markets US and European markets rise after the Federal Reserve cuts the interest rate at which it lends money to banks.

ASIA-PACIFIC
	WHO fears over Beijing pollution Pollution is a health risk for some visitors to Beijing's Olympics, the WHO says, as the city tries to cut car use.
	S Korea gives flood aid to North South Korea says it is sending $7.5m worth of emergency aid to North Korea following devastating floods.
	Bali bombing jail sentences cut Ten Indonesians jailed over bomb attacks in Bali have their sentences reduced, to mark Independence Day.

EUROPE
	Russia restarts Cold War patrols Russia resumes a Soviet-era practice of long-range bomber flights, President Putin says, citing security worries.
	BBC radio ordered off Russian FM The BBC's service is dropped by its last Russian FM radio partner on the orders of the media regulator.
	Athens suburb fire under control Firefighters tackling a blaze which burnt dozens of homes in an Athens suburb say the fire is under control.

MIDDLE EAST
	Iraq bomb death toll reaches 344 Officials in Iraq say 344 people died in Tuesday's bomb attacks against the minority Yazidi community.
	Warrant out for Saddam daughter Interpol circulates an arrest warrant for Raghad Saddam Hussein, the eldest daughter of the former Iraqi leader.
	Saudis in Syrian diplomatic spat Claims from Syria that Saudi Arabian foreign policy is in paralysis provoke a furious response from the kingdom.

SOUTH ASIA
	Fresh rain worsens S Asia floods Fresh rains in north India hit new areas and worsen regions already struck by some of the worst floods in 30 years.
	India parties mull nuclear deal Communist allies of India's government discuss their opposition to a landmark nuclear deal with the US.
	Court blow for Pakistan's ex-PM A Pakistan court's corruption charge ruling on Nawaz Sharif may affect the former PM's wishes to return.

UK
	Tories 'will consider tax cuts' The Conservatives promise to look "very closely" at plans for wide-ranging tax cuts, including abolishing inheritance tax.
	Hips extended to three-bed homes The government says it will extend its Hips scheme to cover three-bedroom homes from 10 September 2007.
	Blast firms admit safety charges The operators of a Glasgow plastics factory where nine people died in an explosion admit four safety charges.

ENGLAND
	Boy dies in car window accident The family of a five-year-old boy, who died when his neck became trapped in a car's electric window, pay tribute to the boy.
	Police sued over dead body stress A coroner's officer lodges a legal claim against Norfolk police claiming to have suffered trauma.
	MEP found guilty of fraud charges An MEP representing South East England is convicted of 21 charges of benefit fraud.

NORTHERN IRELAND
	£42m NI cash diverted to Olympics About £42m of lottery funding earmarked for good causes in NI is diverted to pay for the 2012 Olympic Games.
	Drug abuser jailed for aunt rape A man who raped his aunt before stealing her money and wrapping her head in duct tape is jailed for eight years.
	NI quango chief paid more than PM An NI quango chief executive received a salary of more than £213,000 - almost £26,000 higher than the PM.

SCOTLAND
	Blast firms admit safety charges The operators of a Glasgow plastics factory where nine people died in an explosion admit four safety charges.
	Experts confirm new E.coli case A further E.coli O157 infection case is linked to the investigation surrounding two Paisley supermarkets.
	Labour was 'at fault' for defeat Wendy Alexander launches her Labour leadership bid by saying the party was at fault for its defeat by the SNP.

WALES
	Victim's mum traps sex offender A mother tells of how she helped police trap a man who was trying to groom her young daughter via the web.
	Row over 'Bonjela prescriptions' Health chiefs deny that free prescriptions have led to "abuse" as GPs give out medicines such as Vaseline and Bonjela.
	Taxis used between rail platforms Rail bosses are using taxis to take disabled people around a station because a £5.5m new platform has no access.

POLITICS
	Tories 'will consider tax cuts' The Conservatives promise to look "very closely" at plans for wide-ranging tax cuts, including abolishing inheritance tax.
	Hips extended to three-bed homes The government says it will extend its Hips scheme to cover three-bedroom homes from 10 September 2007.
	MEP found guilty of fraud charges An MEP representing South East England is convicted of 21 charges of benefit fraud.

BUSINESS
	US rate cut boosts global markets US and European markets rise after the Federal Reserve cuts the interest rate at which it lends money to banks.
	Hips extended to three-bed homes The government says it will extend its Hips scheme to cover three-bedroom homes from 10 September 2007.
	Axe inheritance tax, Tories urged Inheritance tax should be abolished because it penalises too many families, a Tory policy group recommends.

ENTERTAINMENT
	Allen forced to postpone US tour Singer Lily Allen shelves her US tour and an appearance at the MTV awards after her US visa was revoked.
	Gerry favourite for Brother boot Gerry Stergiopoulos is the favourite to be the next housemate evicted from the Big Brother house.
	Winehouse cancels V Festival gig Amy Winehouse pulls out of appearing at this weekend's V Festival because of "health issues".

SCIENCE/NATURE
	EU biofuel policy is a 'mistake' The EU target of ensuring 10% of fuel comes from biofuels by 2020 is "mistaken", a study says.
	Missing DR Congo gorillas 'dead' A female gorilla and its infant, part of a group attacked by gunmen, are dead, say conservationists in DR Congo.
	Atlantic yields climate secrets For the first time, scientists plot the course of climate-crucial Atlantic circulation over a year's variation.

TECHNOLOGY
	Engineers work to reconnect Peru Technicians and engineers from Telecoms San Frontieres arrive in Peru to help the earthquake recovery effort.
	Compact disc hits 25th birthday Exactly 25 years ago the world's first compact disc was produced at a Philips factory in Germany.
	Guitar game takes design prizes A game revolving around a magical guitar has won a respected prize for student game makers.

HEALTH
	Exercise 'must be tough to work' To be healthy, you really do need to break into a sweat when you exercise, say sports scientists.
	Blood pressure cases 'to top 1bn' High blood pressure is out of control in the world, with over one billion sufferers expected by 2025, experts warn.
	Depression is 'over-diagnosed' Too many people are being diagnosed with depression, a leading psychiatrist writes in the British Medical Journal.

EDUCATION
	Schools enjoy jobs 'golden age' Secondary schools are facing a golden age of teacher recruitment where they can pick and choose staff, research shows.
	Concerns over S2 pupils' progress A survey suggests less than half of second year pupils are reaching expected reading and numeracy levels.
	Record numbers get student places More than 300,000 A-level students are allocated university places on results day alone.

ON THIS DAY NEWS FROM THE BBC ARCHIVES
	1998: Clinton admits Lewinsky affair President of the United States, Bill Clinton, admits having an inappropriate relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
	1987: Hitler's deputy found dead Rudolf Hess, Hitler's former right-hand man, is found dead in Spandau Prison.
	1999: Turkey hit by huge earthquake The most powerful earthquake to hit Turkey leaves at least 1,000 people dead.

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