Russia considers revival of nuclear option after threat to Poland
A senior Russian military source has said that Russia is considering replacing the nuclear warheads on its Baltic submarine fleet, for the first time since the end of the Cold War. The warning comes a day after Poland was threatened with a nuclear strike for backing America's missile defence shield, and while Russian forces remain within 20 miles of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. The Russians are also said to be thinking of reviving a military presence in Cuba. (Sunday Times) Return to the Cold War for John McCain 
In pictures: Russia's war with Georgia
Brits shine in Beijing gold rush
A thrilling comeback from Britain's coxless-four rowers, who were trailing Australia with 500 metres to go, was the most dramatic source of gold in what proved to be Britain's best day at the Olympics since 1908. An easier victory came in the swimming pool: 19-year old Rebecca Adlington broke the world record for 800m freestyle to win her second gold medal of the Games. Cyclists Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins justified years of lottery funding of their sport by taking Britain's gold tally up to four in a day. Five further medals made it nine in all for the nation's trophy cabinet. (Independent on Sunday) Beijing 2008: the sport and the drama in words and pictures
Health chief attacks drug giants
The health watchdog Nice has attacked drug companies for overpricing vital new medicines. Professor Sir Michael Rawlins was responding to critics of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), which has refused to licence expensive new kidney drugs on the NHS. Rawlins says that his hands are tied by the profit-hunger of the pharmaceutical industry. He claims that the kidney drugs could be produced for about a tenth of their current cost. (Observer) Drugs giants need a shot in the arm
Minister rebukes Charles over GM
Phil Woolas, the environment minister, has said that Prince Charles' position on genetically modified crops ignores the needs of the developing world. He said it was 'easy for those with plentiful food' to forget this aspect of the debate, and that GM crop trials would continue in Britain, while there was no scientific evidence of their harmfulness. The Prince last week called GM 'a gigantic experiment with nature and the whole of humanity which has gone seriously wrong.' (Sunday Telegraph) The wholesome truth about organic food
MI5 wants more gay spies
The Intelligence service MI5 is seeking the help of gay lobby Stonewall to recruit more homosexual spies, and to encourage its existing employees to be more open about their sexuality. Until the early 1990s gays were barred from the top jobs for fear they would be blackmailed, but times have changed, and the intelligence service has grown rapidly since the London bombings of 2005. (Sunday Times)
David Cameron (left) was yesterday accused of 'macho posturing' after dashing to Georgia to show his support, before any government minister has done the same. Downing Street aides dismissed his trip as a 'photo opportunity', and the Liberal Democrats said that it was irresponsible to raise Georgia's hopes of immediate Nato membership. (Observer) What the world is saying about Georgia A nightmare ride into South Ossetia
The health minister Ivan Lewis proposes today that the government should introduce a supertax on high earners, to regain popularity with the majority. The living standards of "the mainstream majority", who brought Labour to power, can only be safeguarded if extra revenue is sought from those at the very top, he suggests. (Sunday Times) Pros and cons: taxing the rich
Universities struggling to fill under-subscribed courses are offering cash incentives – Leicester Univeristy is offering women up to £1,000 a year to study science. A reporter posing as an applicant was also offered £500 to change to a less popular course. The cash being offered is unrelated to the applicant's family income. (Sunday Times)
The academic behind the think-tank report urging northerners to move south has said that the capital is overpriced. Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, the chief economist at Policy Exchange, has said that residents of London are consistently overcharged, and that the quality of life does not merit the extra expense. (Observer)
Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, sanctioned the surveillance of his most senior Asian colleague, according to leaked Scotland Yard documents. Tarique Ghaffur had more than 300 of his telephone conversations tapped, according to his lawyers. Ghaffur is accusing the Met of race discrimination – Blair has been placed under formal investigation by the Home Office. (Sunday Times) People: Ian Blair hits back at Boris
The average child has 1.5 rotten teeth by the age of five, according to new statistics. The revelation paints a ‘desperate' picture of children's dental health, says the British Dental Association, which adds that a botched NHS contract has left hundreds of thousands of families struggling to find a dentist. (Sunday Telegraph)
Ukraine has inflamed tensions between Russia and the West by offering a Soviet-built satellite facility to the European missile defence system. The offer is an act of defiance to Russia, and of solidarity with Poland, which was threatened with nuclear attack for siding with the West. (Sunday Telegraph) Russia knew the West would not step in
As Pakistan prepares to impeach its President, Pervez Musharraf (left), Saudi Arabia has intervened. The Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, flew to Islamabad to negotiate a deal that would allow Musharraf to leave office without being prosecuted. But many believe that the great survivor of Pakistani politics will stay and fight. (Independent on Sunday) Pakistan: blood on America's hands
The new issue dividing the presidential candidates is offshore oil-drilling. McCain has pledged to lift the ban on new drilling, in order to drive down petrol prices. The pledge is so popular that Democrats are reconsidering their position – Obama has moderated his stance, agreeing that the issue should be looked into. (Observer) US Election: news, comment and analysis from the campaign
BAA has been offered around £3 billion for Gatwick Airport, by various international infrastructure groups. This week the competition watchdog is expected to rule that BAA must surrender one of its airports, leading to the auction of Gatwick. The sale which could take two years will be highly profitable for the Spanish-run consortium that owns BAA. (Sunday Times) People: Boris and Prezza hit turbulence at Gatwick
The Chelsea Building Society predicts that retail inflation could rise to seven per cent by the end of the year, due to rising food, rent and petrol bills. Chelsea director Darren Stevens says that his customers have been using their savings to pay for bills, and the trend will continue. The prediction largely concurs with the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report, published last week. (Independent on Sunday)
Malcolm Walker (left), founder of the frozen food chain Iceland, has made a bid approach for Woolworths, the company that fired him 37 years ago. He is thought to have offered tens of millions of pounds for the failing stores, but insists that the Woolworths board should retain most of the group's debt and wipe out its pension deficit. (Sunday Telegraph)
The British Board of Film Classification has warned the big Hollywood studios to come clean, and provide clear information about the sex and violence content of new releases. Film companies are accused of often ignoring the rule that a film's classification must be displayed on all advertising and publicity material. (Sunday Telegraph)
A new arts centre in West Bromwich designed by the architect Will Alsop, which has swallowed almost £60m of public funds, has not had a single paying customer since it opened two months ago. The centre's main art gallery, called The Public, has failed to open on time due to a technical hitch, and the free concerts it has staged have had tiny audiences. (Sunday Times)
Veteran actor Brian Cox (left) has slammed the film industry for failing to promote new independent work, and allowing blockbusters to dominate. His latest film The Escapist has won plaudits at film festivals but has not found a distributor. He was speaking at the alternative film festival at Nairn run by Tilda Swinton. (Independent on Sunday)
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