Business

• BP blames contractors for U.S. oil spill
  LONDON (Reuters) - BP attempted to place much of the blame for the rig blast that led to the United States' worst-ever oil spill on its contractors, Transocean and Halliburton. […]
• UK manufacturing healthy in July but slowdown seen
  LONDON (Reuters) - British factory output maintained a healthy pace of growth in July, official data showed on Wednesday, but a slowdown in both manufacturing and the broader economy looks inevitable to economists. […]

UK

• Cameron's father dies after stroke on holiday
  LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron's father died on Wednesday after falling ill while on holiday in France, Downing Street said. […]

World

• Iran woman's stoning suspended after global outcry
  TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian authorities have suspended the execution by stoning of a woman convicted of adultery, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, after weeks of condemnation from around the world. […]