England won the toss and are batting first in the crucial final Ashes Test at the Oval. Openers Strauss and Trescothick have just notched up their 50, and you can follow all the action with Guardian Unlimited Sport's over-by-over commentary and live desktop scorecard. Our hard-pressed sports team are also rounding up reaction to the glorious victory/humiliating defeat (depending on which bit of the UK you're from) in last night's Northern Ireland v England World Cup qualifier.
Emergency officials in Louisiana have 25,000 body bags ready as they, like everyone else, try to work out exactly how many people died as a result of Hurricane Katrina. President Bush has asked Congress for an additional $51.8bn in disaster aid.
In other news, eBay is reportedly in talks to buy the internet phone company Skype; we're expecting interest rates to be held at 4.5% when the Bank of England announces its decision at midday; and this afternoon we'll hear which of these writers has made it onto the Man Booker Prize shortlist.
And to the student in the hostel opposite our office who has put a poster in his/her bedroom window offering that he/she "will strip for internship", here are the conditions on which we actually consider people for work experience placements.
