Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol  —  Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide ‘renewable petroleum’  —  “Ten years ago I could never have imagined I'd be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive …

Many historians see little chance for McCain  —  One week into the general election, the polls show a dead heat.  But many presidential scholars doubt that John McCain stands much of a chance, if any.  —  Historians belonging to both parties offered a litany of historical comparisons that give little hope to the Republican.

A Partnership With Iraq  —  The Shiite government signals a desire for an alliance with the United States.  Shouldn't that be welcomed?  —  THOUGH IT was hardly noticed in Washington, Iraq's Shiite-led government sent a powerful message to Iran and to the Middle East last week.

Don't listen to the liberals - Right-wingers really are nicer people, latest research shows  —  George Orwell once wrote that politics was closely related to social identity.  ‘One sometimes gets the impression,’ he wrote in The Road To Wigan Pier, 'that the mere words socialism …

Get Osama Bin Laden before I leave office, orders George W Bush  —  President George W Bush has enlisted British special forces in a final attempt to capture Osama Bin Laden before he leaves the White House.  —  Defence and intelligence sources in Washington and London confirmed that a renewed hunt …

Powerful Iraqi Cleric Recalibrates Strategy  —  The movement of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Saturday that it would not take part in provincial elections this year, one day after it formed a new paramilitary group to fight U.S. troops.  —  The back-to-back moves suggested …

Gallup Daily: Obama 45%, McCain 42%  —  Obama's lead stays at the three-point level  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama maintains a three percentage point advantage over John McCain in national registered voter preferences for the general election, with a 45% to 42% edge in Gallup Poll Daily …

George W Bush visit to cause Heathrow misery  —  Hundreds of thousands of air passengers face delays because of the arrival of President George W Bush at Heathrow this weekend for a brief visit to Britain.  —  The disruption at the airport is likely to begin on Friday as staff prepare …

Edwards backs off from veep refusal  —  John Edwards this morning backed away from statements he made in Spain earlier this month that he would not take the vice presidential slot if Barack Obama offered it to him.  —  Still, Edwards told moderator George Stephanopoulos on ABC's “This Week” …

Lost city of ... Iowa  —  The streets in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - all 400 blocks of them - were filled with floodwaters and other strange sights: floating Dumpsters and utility poles and sandbags piled in vain.  —  The cresting Cedar River wreaked widespread havoc Friday on Iowa's second-largest city …

Olbermann Asked To Tone Down Hillary Hate, Refused … (Emphasis supplied.)  More . . .  BTW, this is the same Phil Griffin who was quoted as saying: … There appears to be a credibility problem for Phil Griffin on this issue.  Obviously he DID think his network, or at the least …

At Obama's Former Church, Hurt Lingers  —  Members Feel Bruised By Time in Media's Glare  —  CHICAGO — They paraded through the summer-like heat last weekend in long dresses and suit coats, hundreds of families following the same paths that lead them to church every Sunday morning.

Free and Flush, Russians Eager to Roam Abroad  —  ANTALYA, Turkey — Yelena Kasyanova booked her trip at a local travel agency in about as much time it takes to drop by the market for a few groceries.  She was soon lounging here by the Mediterranean, a working-class anybody from an anyplace deep in Russia …

In Illinois, Clues to Obama's Electability  —  CHESTER, Ill. — The rookie state senator from Chicago had driven 340 miles to explore southern Illinois, but Barb Brown could muster only 20 Democrats in this small town on the Mississippi River to have breakfast with him.