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BBC News - Home The latest stories from the Home section of the BBC News web site. Pakistan trio hit by ICC charges Three Pakistan cricketers accused of corruption are set to be questioned again by police, after being charged and provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council. Middle East talks 'constructive' Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Washington for the first direct peace talks in nearly two years and agree a framework for negotiations. School lottery 'failed in aim' England's first city-wide lottery system aimed at solving the problem of allocating places at over-subscribed schools failed to give poorer children equal access to top schools, academics say. Earl weakens as it nears US coast Hurricane Earl weakens as it nears the US East Coast, though officials warn it remains "large and powerful". Alcohol drinking 'still falling' Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest. BBC defends Thompson No 10 visit The BBC denies the director general compromised its independence by visiting Downing Street to discuss coverage of the govenrment's spending cuts. Compost sparks Legionnaire's fear Gardeners are being warned about the risk of Legionnaire's disease from compost after a pensioner developed the disease after handling compost. Openness urged on UK's emissions The government's chief environment scientist calls for more openness in admitting the UK's cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are an illusion. Explosion on Gulf of Mexico rig An explosion rips through an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, west of the site of the blast in April that caused a huge oil spill. UKIP meets as leader hunt begins UK Independence Party members gather for their autumn conference in Torquay with the search for a new leader top of its agenda. Cheryl Cole 'to be given divorce' X Factor judge Cheryl Cole will reportedly be granted a divorce from her footballer husband Ashley in a court hearing on Friday. New York dims the lights to save birds from collision A growing number of New York sky-scrapers switch off their lights at night to help reduce the number of migratory birds hitting the buildings. Royal Mail puts first 'intelligent' stamp on sale The Royal Mail launches the world's first "intelligent" stamp, the first to work with image recognition technology. Federer progresses as seeds fall Roger Federer overcomes windy conditions to beat Andreas Beck and reach the US Open third round, but seeds Nikolay Davydenko and Maran Cilic crash out. Carson out of England qualifier Goalkeeper Scott Carson is released from the England squad to face Bulgaria in the Euro 2012 qualifier on Friday because of a family bereavement. Newsfeed display by CaRP