Hotels in London were boosted by strong figures in July but are cautious about August.

After almost a week of being held captive by Gaddafi loyalists, a group of international correspondents was freed from the Rixos Hotel yesterday evening.

A drawing by Rembrandt, valued at $250,000 (£152,000) has been stolen from a hotel in California.

A giant US property investor has acquired a hotel at the heart of the King's Cross regeneration, next to the busy mainline London station. Pramerica has bought the 157-year-old Great Northern Hotel, due to reopen in 2013 after redevelopment. Pramerica has bought the 999 year lease for £12m.

Dozens of retailers launched their summer sales earlier this week with Gap and online fashion outlet Very.co.uk leading the way. Best selling items at Very include a blue or black embellished unwired tankini top by Resort, reduced from £18 to £11 and a Brooker men's check shirt, down from £25 to £12.50.Check out http://ind.pn/qBmwdz for a conclusive list of items in the Very sale. Meanwhile, Gap's most popular sale products include a classic rich brown trench coat reduced from £80 to £39.99 and a women's red and white striped T-shirt, down from £17 to £12.99. View all of the Gap deals at http://ind.pn/pagdKY.

The prime suspect in the double murder of two hotel workers was in hospital last night with serious wrist and neck injuries.

Great Britain showjumping performance manager Rob Hoekstra will meet with top rider Michael Whitaker before deciding on any possible disciplinary action against the five-time Olympian.

The leisure group Whitbread hailed the "stronger" London market for quarterly sales growth at its Premier Inn chain.

The Villa

Pavarotti's summer residence, Villa Giulia, near Pesaro in Le Marche, is to be opened to paying guests.

Go to villeinitalia.com

Prince Williams future wife has arrived at The Goring Hotel where she will spend her last few hours as Miss Middleton.

A lesbian couple is taking legal action against a hotel after they claimed they were turned away for being gay.

A leading budget hotel chain has launched a management apprenticeship programme for school-leavers with a pledge to create 500 places. Travelodge said the scheme will offer a fast-track route into hotel management, with the chance of youngsters becoming a manager by the age of 21.

Poetry

Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg; £6.75

A landmark portrayal of a “generation destroyed by madness” and the downtrodden lives of Ginsberg and his fellow “angelheaded hipsters”, ‘Howl’ is one of the most important poems of the post-war period. The story of the obscenity trial that followed its 1956 publication forms the basis of the new film, Howl, starring James Franco.