The Afghan government is negotiating with Taliban commanders in an attempt to engineer a temporary ceasefire in the country's war-torn southern Pashtun region to allow next Thursday's election to go ahead. Jon Boone reports from Kandahar.
The Guardian reveals today how Prince Charles urged developers to sack one of the world's leading architects from a prestige building project near St Paul's Cathedral. Rob Booth says the heir to the throne wields considerable influence in shaping Britain's skyline.
Germany and France, two of Europe's biggest economies, have emerged from recession, reporting unexpected 0.3% second-quarter increases in GDP. Economics editor Larry Elliott looks at the implications for the rest of Europe, including Britain, whose GDP shrunk by 0.8% during the same period.
How did London become home to Russia's wealthy elite? That's the subject of a new book, Londongrad: From Russia With Cash: the Inside Story of the Oligarchs. Its co-author Mark Hollingsworth joins me.
Paul Doyle looks ahead to the new season in the Premier League, which starts tomorrow.
