US Congress is continuing its deliberations over US Treasury secretary Henry Paulson's $700bn bailout plan for the financial markets. President George Bush has met John McCain and Barack Obama in an attempt to reach consensus. He's warned that the entire US economy is at risk if Congress doesn't support the proposals - and support them now. Either McCain or Obama will inherit the economic mess. Both have expressed concerns at Paulson's strategy. The Guardian's reporting team in Washington has the details.
Standards of care for NHS patients requiring out-of-hours or emergency treatment vary from region to region, according to a major new study by the Heathcare Commission. The report's author, Michael Carpenter, says patients are facing unnecessary delays and are confused at what services are available.
The inhabitants of eco-towns may be montitored to ensure they're behaving in an environmentally-friendly manner, according to the government's advisors. Robert Booth reports.
And science correspondent Ian Sample tells me why more than half of all Europe's frogs, toads and newts face extinction within the next 40 years.
