Crackdown on cooking books: A financial crimes "Swat team" to crack down on the corrupt business practices that have shattered public faith in corporate America was announced by George Bush yesterday.

The US President also called for harsher penalties for executives convicted of corporate fraud as he promised his administration would end the days of "cooking the books, shading the truth and breaking the law".

evidence sold: The Crown Prosecution Service admitted yesterday it had been forced to abandon a case against a suspected Wolverhampton burglar after police sold off potential evidence - a hand drill, gardening gloves and other items - at auction.

Friendly fire: An investigation is under way after a shell fired from a Royal Navy frigate landed about a mile from houses in a Scottish Highlands village.

Royal drama: A visit by the Queen to the set of Emmerdale tomorrow will be marked with a spectacular stunt - the village Post Office gets blown up.

MILLION fridges: Britain's "fridge mountain" will hit the one million mark by the end of this month, the Liberal Democrats warned.

SPENDING date: Gordon Brown's long-awaited Comprehensive Spending Review is to be unveiled to MPs on Monday.

BOMBING arrest: Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a man in connection with last year's suspected Real IRA bomb blasts in London and Birmingham.

TUBE misery: Passengers face a summer of discontent on the Tube after London Underground workers voted to take strike action.

Jail break-in: A man broke into Exeter Prison yesterday to stage a three-hour rooftop protest. He is "now helping with police inquiries".

Exit bags: An Australian pro-euthanasia group said yesterday it will begin making free plastic bags to help its members commit suicide.

BIGGS TO WED: Train robber Ronnie Biggs, 72, is to marry Raimunda Rothen, the mother of his son Michael, in prison today.

FISHING tragedy: A 14-year-old boy died after apparently drowning while fishing at a lake in Lower Broad Heath, Worcester.

STAR IN REHAB: US actor David Hasselhoff, 49, has checked himself into The Betty Ford Centre for treatment of alcoholism.

HORMONES SCARE: The EC is investigating a food scare after the discovery of synthetic hormones in soft drinks and pork products