We're just hearing that the US vice-president Dick Cheney has been rushed to hospital suffering from shortness of breath. At the moment it doesn't sound too serious - a spokeswoman has said Cheney is expected to be released from the hospital later today. Nevertheless we'll have a story with all the details soon.
And in another hospital, this time in Jerusalem, Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has begun breathing on his own after doctors started bringing him out of an induced coma.
On the British political scene, former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has backed Sir Menzies Campbell for taking over the helm of the party: we'll be profiling Sir Menzies and we've updated our picture gallery of contenders.
And here on News blog we'll be asking you to select your alternative cultural treasures of England, assuming that the Routemaster bus and Punch and Judy don't sum up Blighty for you.
