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. 2,000 more soldiers for Helmand . review comes after bloodiest dayThousands more troops could be sent to Afghanistan within months under an emergency review of the UK mission being carried out by the Ministry of Defence.The news of a possible troop surge comes after eight British soldiers were killed within 24 hours, leading to fresh calls from senior military and political figures for urgent reinforcements - and an end to Treasury constraints on spending on the Afghan war. Fifteen British soldiers have died during the first 11 days of July, with the total of 184 deaths surpassing the 179 killed in Iraq. Two of the soldiers who died on Thursday have been named as Daniel Hume, 22, from 4th Bn, The Rifles, and John Brackpool of the Prince of Wales's Company, 1st Bn Welsh Guards, who would have celebrated his 28th birthday yesterday.Private Brackpool, a father-of-one, died from a gunshot wound following a battle near Lashkar Gah with insurgents who attacked a compound seized as part of

Radical policy shift as homes shortage deepensThe Conservatives are preparing to unleash a new era of council house-building, in a radical shift that would undo 30 years of right-wing thinking.The shadow housing minister, Grant Shapps, said the Conservatives want to increase council involvement in low-cost housing, overturning one of Margaret Thatcher's trademark policies.Conservative insiders are quick to stress they do not wish to see a return to the days of large-scale municipal estates. But they are preparing the ground to allow councils to build tens of thousands of new homes in smaller developments.Tory leaders are convinced housing is an area where they can outflank the government. Under Labour, the number of households on waiting lists has nearly doubled in 12 years to 1.8 million. At the same time, the amount of new homes built in Britain this year is expected to plumb new depths, despite Gordon Brown's ambitious targets of building millions of new properties. 'We're very enth

Iran said yesterday that it was preparing a new package of 'political, security and international' issues to put to the west in negotiations over its pursuit of nuclear technology.On Friday, the G8 meeting in Italy gave Tehran a September deadline for entering talks or risk facing a new round of sanctions. Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said yesterday: 'The package can be a good basis for talks with the west. It will contain Iran's stances on political, security and international issues.' The latest statement follows the promise in April by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran would offer new proposals to the world to solve various world issues, including Tehran's nuclear programme.There was, however, speculation that the package on offer was the same as that offered in May 2008, suggesting partnerships to produce nuclear fuel, including within Iran.President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said last week the G8 would give Iran until September to accept negotiations over its

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso faces a crucial test in a Tokyo municipal election Sunday, seen as a bellwether for a coming national vote in which the ruling party risks losing power after governing for virtually all the past 50 years....

LONDON (AP) -- The deaths of eight British soldiers in Afghanistan within 24 hours triggered a debate in Britain on Saturday that could undercut public support for the war just as the U.S. is ramping up its own participation in the conflict....

Finance minister says military will get whatever equipment they need as pressure builds after the death of eight soldiers

Foreign Minister Mottaki says the package to contain Iran's stances on political, security and international issues

Britain's prime minister on Saturday grieved over the losses of 15 British troops over 10 days in Afghanistan, but underscored that preventing terror from reaching the UK streets was the top goal.

Foreign Minister Mottaki says the package to contain Iran's stances on political, security and international issues

A lawyer for the Halimi family, Francis Szpiner, immediately called on France's justice minister to appeal the verdict because, he said, the sentences that went to the top lieutenant's of Fofana were ...