The highest ranking Army officer to be killed since the Falklands War is one of the two latest casualties in Afghanistan.
A London council withdraws its action against a mother it accused of lying to gain a school place.
Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw angers Tories by saying "a deep strain of homophobia still exists on the Conservative benches".
Changes recommended after a fatal drug slip-up eight years ago have not been implemented, MPs say in a review of patient safety.
The rising numbers of swine flu cases mean trying to contain the virus is no longer an option, ministers say.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw provisionally refuses an appeal for a pardon for jailed Liverpool football fan Michael Shields.
Investigators and engineers begin the second day of a recovery operation after a jet fighter crash which killed two air crew.
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne's expenses are to be investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
More funding needs to be ploughed into research into the "forgotten cancer" of brain tumours, campaigners say.
Climate change is causing a breed of wild sheep in Scotland to shrink, according to research.
The owners of a family-run fishmongers in Leeds market get a surprise visit from the Prime Minister.
Manchester United refuse to be drawn on growing speculation that they are in talks with striker Michael Owen.
Andy Murray will become the first British player for 71 years to reach the Wimbledon men's final if he can overcome Andy Roddick in Friday's semi-finals.
Riki Flutey and Joe Worsley will start against South Africa on Saturday as the injury-hit British and Irish Lions make a host of changes for the third Test.
Police officers can develop a strong bond with their dog
How a family has battled to free Michael Shields
What is Andy Murray's weird press-up for?
ID cards will not be compulsory - but the scheme lives on
Could this man help solve your love life dilemmas?
A woman tells how her family made her marry a violent man
Councils are warning of an increased risk of wildfires following the recent spell of warm weather.
Gordon Brown criticises personal attacks in politics as the spending row between Labour and the Tories continues to rage.
Lessons will be learnt from the deaths of two German Shepherd dogs left in a hot car, a Nottinghamshire police officer says.
The author of an influential report into the future of pensions in the UK tells the BBC his proposals were not radical enough.
The heatwave in parts of the UK is starting to ease, with severe weather warnings of heavy rain in some areas.
Chef Gordon Ramsay saw his UK restaurants struggle in 2008, forcing him to inject £3.5m of his own money into the business.
A convicted child sex offender is brought back to the UK after being tracked down in Mexico through a "most wanted" website appeal.
Can a stats website really be exciting? Yes, it can
Remember when folk used to blame their 'nerves'?
Are children more likely to survive a plane crash?
Two young men involved in the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl who was doused in caustic soda have their sentences increased.
The son of the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs says there is a risk his father could die if he does not respond to treatment.
A former police officer is jailed for three years after pleading guilty to downloading images of child abuse.
Four new cases of swine flu are confirmed in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of cases to 38.
Scots have an unhealthy approach to sunbathing and the highest risk of contracting skin cancer in the UK, research warns.
Strathclyde Police say they will not tolerate "sectarian behaviour" at the annual Orange Order parade in Glasgow this weekend.
A convicted conman faces life in jail after a jury finds him guilty of killing his partner in a Travelodge hotel room.
A family pays tribute to a student who dies in her sleep on holiday with friends after completing her A-level exams.
AP - Deborah Rowe, the ex-wife of Michael Jackson and the mother of two of his children, has not reached a final decision on whether to seek custody of the children, a lawyer said Thursday.
AP - President Barack Obama called Michael Jackson a brilliant performer whose talents were paired with a tragic personal life.
E! Online - UPDATE: A judge has postponed next week's custody hearing until July 13 at the request of Rowe's attorney, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court public information officer. Matters pertaining to Jackson's estate will still be addressed at the originally scheduled hearing on July 6.
E! Online - We pretty much knew the basic details of what was going to be in Michael Jackson's will based on the scant details that trickled out yesterday.
E! Online - Karl Malden, the acting great who worked the Waterfront with Marlon Brando and patrolled The Streets of San Francisco with Michael Douglas, died today at 97.
AP - The footage of Michael Jackson's last rehearsal may be coming to a theater near you.
AP - Hilary Duff is joining the cast of "Gossip Girl" but not on a regular basis.
Reuters - "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" grossed a cool $13.8 million in North American theaters on Wednesday, marking Hollywood's biggest mid-week opening for an animated film.
AP - California Attorney General Jerry Brown says his office is helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Michael Jackson's death.
Reuters - Online advertisers are proposing a mix of consumer education, disclosures about what information is being collected and special protections for children and sensitive information in an effort to head off tough legislation.
Playbill - Mauckingbird Theatre Company, Philadelphia's only professional theatre company devoted to gay-themed work, will present John Logan's Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story Aug. 8-30.
Fashion Wire Daily - Husband and wife designers Sachin and Babi have just finished their first full year rotation of fashion collections with their ready-to-wear line, yet their experience in the fashion industry is much further extended. The duo has taken their skills and expertise in embroidery and home decor and sophisticatedly segued into the women's wear scene.
AP - The Washington Post asked lobbyists and business leaders to pay $25,000 to attend a dinner discussion with government officials and journalists at the home of its publisher, and then canceled the event after the invitations became public.
More from the beginner's series from Mark Wintle and Graham Marsden. This week they look at float fishing basics.
Mark Wintle and Graham Marsden with more from the beginner's series. This week they discuss tackling up, casting and playing fish.
Mark Wintle and Graham Marsden continue with the beginner's series. This week is all about getting started.
Mark Wintle takes a further look at buying all the other fishing tackle accessories you need to go fishing.
With rods and reels dealt with Mark Wintle takes a close look at buying other fishing gear.
Different styles of fishing each have rods and reels that are best suited to them, writes Mark Wintle
Following on from Part 1 on legal necessities, Mark Wintle tells beginners about the main types of coarse fishing available.
Then pick up a copy of the Environment Agency's 'Where to go fishing' guide, now available in tackle shops.
Archive of float Trotting articles from expert Mark Wintle.
Mark Wintle with some expert advice for beginners.
So, what state is your tackle in? Asks Jeff Woodhouse. Did you clean and check yours before the new season?
You think stillwater carping is good? You ain't seen nothing until you've tried river carping, says Paul Williams.
Master Chef Scott Antony Ratcliffe shows you how to cook fresh food on the bank.
Lee Swords was desperate for a double figure barbel to end the season. Did he get one?
Sean Meeghan has some thoughts on cold water pike as he goes wandering on the Wharfe.
Dutch carp specialist Roy Van Goor with some good tips for early season carping.
Samantha Collins-Ratcliffe shows you her way of making PVA bags.
Jeff Woodhouse has some interesting thoughts on flavours and tastes and wonders just how effective they are where fish are concerned.
Jeff Woodhouse says you don't need 80lb braid for lure fishing - just learn how to cast properly!
With autumn knocking Tom Wood says it's time to start thinking about small river chubbing.
AP - A 16-year-old girl thought she heard her mother being assaulted by her boyfriend and rounded up some friends who beat him up, only to learn later that the couple actually were having sex, the woman and police said. The girl misinterpreted the woman's amorous screams, and she and four other teens went to the woman's bedroom in the Torrington home on June 6, police Lt. Bruce Whiteley said Thursday.
AP - Workers at the Frederick County Landfill were surprised by what they found in a large trash bin trucked in from a Goodwill Industries store: a woman who had apparently gotten trapped. "They opened the door and she got out," said landfill manager Ron Kimble.
AP - A northwestern New Jersey man said he was mugged in his driveway by a sandwich-craving bear. Henry Rouwendal said he was packing his car last Friday when he was hit from behind and knocked to the ground. He said the culprit was a black bear who took his Italian sandwich.
AP - It must rank among the easiest fires ever to put out. Zurich authorities say police and firefighters were called to the house of an elderly woman early Thursday after she reported her television set was burning. When they arrived, they discovered no signs of fire or smoke.
AP - Police used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse his congregants Wednesday after the pastor allegedly interfered with a traffic stop in the church parking lot. Congregants say they were in the Iglesia Profetica Peniel church for an early morning prayer when pastor Jose Elias Moran went to assist the stopped driver, a church member, by asking the police what had happened.
Reuters - Spanish police have arrested a man whom they suspect hired a contract killer to murder his boss in a desperate bid to avoid being laid off, newspaper El Pais reported on Tuesday.
Reuters - A Sri Lankan court threatened a mosquito repellent factory manager with six months in jail for failing to destroy mosquito breeding areas on company premises to stop the spread of dengue fever, an official said Tuesday.
Reuters - Having sex every day improves the quality of men's sperm and is recommended for couples trying to conceive, according to new research.
Reuters - Slovakia's president was evacuated from his official plane because of a telephone warning shortly before it was due to take off on Monday.
Reuters - Madrid's city hall Monday stripped former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco of his title as honorary mayor and adopted son of the capital, 33 years after his death began the transition to democracy.
Reuters - The British military is mystified after what was first announced as a major haul of opium poppy seeds amounted to nothing more than a hill of beans.
Reuters - A housewife from Sleaford in Lincolnshire will be the first of thousands of people to stand for one hour on top of a plinth in London's Trafalgar Square as part of a 100-day "live sculpture" exercise.
Reuters - Air New Zealand has hit on a novel way to make sure even the most jaded flyers keep their eyes glued on its flight safety briefing.
Reuters - After supervising around 3,000 re-strings during the Wimbledon fortnight one might think Roger Dalton could put his feet up with a bowl of strawberries on Sunday and watch the men's singles final in peace.
Reuters - Europe's highest court on Thursday upheld the right of Dutch and Italian brewers to sell their 'Bavaria' beer in Italy, rejecting a bid by a company making a rival beer with the equivalent name in German to stop them.
AP - A Connecticut woman's close encounter with the mythical beast, Sasquatch or Big Foot, turned out to be nothing more than a boy in a costume. Fairfield police said a woman driving last Tuesday night called police to report that she "almost hit Sasquatch," which was standing in the middle of the road.
Reuters - Independence day fireworks sent terrified Congolese sprinting for cover Tuesday in fear that war had broken out again in their eastern city.
AP - The Iron County sheriff's office said an inmate tried to escape from a correctional facility by fashioning a fake bomb. Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Pallesen said the 28-year-old inmate cornered an officer in a lobby while holding what looked like a silver device with a red detonator.
Reuters - What do Johnny Depp, Garfield, Paris Hilton and roast pork have in common? In China, the answer is that a new government-mandated Internet filter rates some pictures of all four of them as bad for your moral health.
AP - A passenger stripped naked during a US Airways flight and resisted a flight attendant's efforts to cover him with a blanket before two off-duty law enforcement officers on board subdued and handcuffed him, authorities said Wednesday.
StarWarsShop continues its 5-year anniversary celebration with two all-new exclusives this week!
Including a special, signed card from George Lucas!
DK has offered up an exclusive peek at one of the page spreads of this fantastic new book!
The Force is with these videos!
Robot Chicken Co-Creators Seth Green and Matt Senreich Celebrate the Release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II DVD with Nine-City Roller Skating Tour
Artist Jessica Hickman gives tips on how to draw the BD-3000 luxury droid from Revenge of the Sith.
It's not just Princess Leia representing in Episodes IV, V and VI...
Make these customized rings featuring your favorite Star Wars characters.
The Star Wars prequel trilogy greatly expanded the cast of female characters: here's a look at their databank entries.
Rounding out the Women of Star Wars week, the Senator from the Naboo joins the soundboard fun!
Back in the 1970s and '80s, female Star Wars fans didn't have much merchandise produced just for them -- or did they?
Artist Jessica Hickman gives tips on how to draw Senator Riyo Chuchi from The Clone Wars.
The second in an extremely limited-to-200 series featuring Twi'lek sisters Ann and Tann!
Star Wars Comic-Con Spectacular will feature exclusive footage and exciting announcements from the LIVE Lucasfilm Presentation!
Learn about how the fangirls who wear WWII-inspired Star Wars costumes support clone troopers and real soldiers alike.
Licensed Star Wars lightsabers and blasters for Wii helps gamers replicate battle experience!
The Star Wars movies inspire creativity across a wide spectrum of professions, hobbies and passions...
Today sees the release of Omen, the second book of the Fate of the Jedi series, by Christie Golden.
Artist Sarah Wilkinson gives tips on how to draw one of the Expanded Universe's leading ladies, Mara Jade.
Gus Lopez examines a rare prototype image of one of the very first electronic Star Wars games from the '70s
Car Enthusiast - White was the new silver, blue the new white, and now silver is the new blue as the fickle tastes of car buyers change once again.
Car Enthusiast - Former F1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen is set to make his World Rally Championship debut.
Car Enthusiast - Nissan has extended its minimum £2,000 trade-in offer until September, covering all of its Sunderland-built models.
Car Enthusiast - Law breaking drivers will be hit harder now as fines for seat belt and number plate infringements double.
Car Enthusiast - Jaguar's record-breaking XFR will be the star of its line-up at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as well as a special, one-off XKR.
Car Enthusiast - Charity Transaid is auctioning grid places to race Top Gear's original Stig.
Car Enthusiast - World's best selling sports car improved as it reaches the double decade.
Car Enthusiast - Bikes, pedestrians, cars and buses to monitor pollution on the move.
Car Enthusiast - All-new C3 Citroen arrives with panoramic windscreen and as low as 90g/km CO2.
Car Enthusiast - An Aston Martin designed city car will soon hit the streets.
Car Enthusiast - The 207 range has been facelifted by Peugeot to maintain its 'Europe's top selling small car' title.
Car Enthusiast - The Government has scrapped the proposed 'pay as you drive' road tax scheme after a massive public backlash
Car Enthusiast - Drivers are celebrating after a legal loophole could force police to refund millions in speeding ticket fines.
Car Enthusiast - Government figures reveal UK road deaths at their lowest ever rate.
Car Enthusiast - BMW launches the 316d, boasting 62.8mpg and £35 road tax.
Car Enthusiast - The 30 contenders for the 2010 Car of the Year have been listed.
Car Enthusiast - Current road building schemes could go over budget by as much as £4 billion, with little effect.
Car Enthusiast - Ford has added hundreds of pounds to its cars for the second time in months, blaming the weak pound.
Car Enthusiast - Toyota will build a cheaper hybrid this year, and it will be cleaner than the Prius and cost less than the Honda Insight.
Car Enthusiast - An ingeniously simple new invention uses laser beams to create a moving cycle lane for riders, warning cars to steer clear.
Car Enthusiast - Mercedes has stuffed even more kit inside its flagship S-Class AMG saloons, but CO2 emissions go down.
Car Enthusiast - The Government is determined to make the UK a leader in the proliferation of electric cars and will pledge £25m into getting them on the road.
Car Enthusiast - The RAC has invented a spare wheel that fits any car, drastically reducing the time it takes to recover a broken down vehicle.
Car Enthusiast - Swiss army knife maker and Airstream combine to make a special edition caravan.
Car Enthusiast - The electric Smart is confirmed for production in the UK after getting the Metropolitan Police stamp of approval.
Car Enthusiast - A Ferrari FXX has just smashed the Top Gear track lap record, but what exactly is the Formula One car with a windscreen wiper?
Car Enthusiast - Toyota receives 180,000 orders for the third-gen Prius, despite expecting to sell only a fraction of that during the first month.
Car Enthusiast - World of Top Gear will give fans the chance to see some of the most significant and spectacular moments from the show close up.
Car Enthusiast - An innovative new scheme makes it far cheaper for parents to insure the kids on their cars.
Car Enthusiast - With summer just around the corner, temperatures are going up - and so are second-hand convertible prices.