domingo, 31 de julio de 2011

Plane crash pilot dies from injuries - The Sun

THE pilot of a plane which crashed between two houses on Friday has died from his injuries.

The 59-year-old at the controls suffered 70 per cent burns in the incident after the light aircraft came down between two semi-detached houses in Salford, Greater Manchester, shortly after take-off.

It then burst into flames leaving his passenger, a man aged 19, also badly burned. He remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Greater Manchester Police said the pilot died this morning.

Neighbours said the men screamed in agony as the light aircraft shot into flames after the crash. Miraculously no one else was hurt.

Video: Man dies in light plane crash

A LIGHT aircraft has crashed into two residential properties in Manchester

A group of 40 builders from a nearby site rushed to their aid and put out the blaze with buckets of water.

One of the men had to be cut from wreckage and the pair were airlifted from the scene in Eccles. A resident of one of the houses was helped out of his property, but was unhurt.

The two-seater Piper Tomahawk plane, from Ravenair Flying School, had just taken off from the nearby City Airport.

Eye-witness Sonia Vize, 41, said: "After it caught fire the screams from the two men were horrible. But the builders were the heroes."

An investigation into the crash is underway.

g.patrick@the-sun.co.uk

Fire deaths police stop drivers - BBC News

Police investigating the deaths of three people in a deliberate house fire said they had an "encouraging response" from motorists stopped near the scene.

They questioned drivers from 04:00 to 06:00 on Sunday, one week on from the incident in Helensburgh.

Thomas Sharkey, 21, and his eight-year-old sister Bridget died on the day of the fire. Their father Thomas, 55, died six days later.

The children's mother, 46-year-old Angela Sharkey, is still in hospital.

She has been too ill to be told that the other members of her family are dead.

"Start Quote

Someone, out of misplaced loyalty, may well be protecting this killer"

End Quote Det Insp Graham Cordner Strathclyde Police

A number of check points were set up in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire.

Officers said they spoke to a total of 95 drivers, including taxi and delivery drivers.

Det Insp Graham Cordner, of Strathclyde Police, said: "Drivers were stopped and spoken to exactly one week from when the fatal fire was started.

"We received an encouraging response from motorists and we will be following up each piece of information given to us.

"Someone, out of misplaced loyalty, may well be protecting this killer and it is time for them to look at their conscience and make that call to us."

The inquiry number for people to call is 01389 822162. The dedicated email address is: operationendeavour@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk

Amy Winehouse 'Was Planning To Adopt' - MTV UK

Ten-year-old St Lucia girl says she called Amy 'mum'…

Amy Winehouse was on the verge of adopting a girl from St Lucia before her death, according to reports.

Dannika Augustine, 10, has told The Sunday Mirror she and the Rehab singer became close over the last two years and the child's mother, a single mum, had agreed to an adoption because they were living in poverty.

 

"Amy was already my mother," Dannika said. "I would call her mum and she would call me her daughter. She took care of me and we had fun together. I loved her and she loved me. She was the most amazing person and I was looking forward to living with her here or in London. I cannot believe she is gone."

Dannika's grandmother, Marjorie Lambert, told the tabloid she had hired a lawyer to begin the adoption process. "Amy used to beg me, 'I want to adopt Dannika. I want to take her to England,' she recalled. "She was prepared to move to St Lucia to be her full-time mum. Amy wanted to have a child so bad.

"If she had not died, there is no doubt she would be here in St Lucia completing the adoption process," she continued. "There is no way she would have done what she did to herself if Dannika was with her."

In related news, reports state that a song Amy recorded before her death could be used on the soundtrack of a future Bond movie.

She and Mark Ronson hit the studio in 2008 to record a track for Quantum Of Solace but the Back To Black singer's declining health meant nothing was completed. Now a tabloid report states that Amy recorded three tracks with Bond in mind before her untimely death.

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Beaten Vettel still further ahead than ever - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was overtaken by both McLarens in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix yet ended up with an even bigger lead in a Formula One championship already beyond the reach of most of his rivals.

The German world champion, who won six of the first eight races, has now been beaten in the last three grands prix and struggled in damp conditions on intermediate tyres before benefiting from two Lewis Hamilton errors to finish second.

"Today I'm not 100 percent happy because I started from pole and had the feeling we could win the race," he told reporters after McLaren's Jenson Button reached the chequered flag first.

"Second is an important step but the win was in reach today."

Vettel's driving skills have come under greater scrutiny than ever in recent races but he is 85 points ahead of team mate Mark Webber, his biggest lead of the campaign so far.

With eight races to come after a month's break, it would be astonishing if the 24-year-old did not clinch his second successive title well before the end of the season.

All the drivers below seventh placed compatriot Nico Rosberg, who has 48 points to Vettel's 234, in the standings are now mathematically out of contention

Increased competition from McLaren and Ferrari are one reason for the recent 'blip' and Vettel is being as hard on his team as on himself to try to find some answers and make sure the end of the season does not turn into a nervous nailbiter.

"At the start of the race I was struggling a little bit on the intermediates," he said.

"Ferrari and McLaren in the last two races have made a step forward, we need to see why. There are things we can improve without looking at the others."

Webber came home fifth after qualfying sixth and had fun in the wet conditions, except when having to choose tyre strategy.

"It was quite an enjoyable Grand Prix up until when you make the wrong decision from the cockpit, I made the right one to go to the slicks," the Australian said.

"I got away reasonably, I saw the Mercedes' and those guys got a very good start as well, a lot better than me for sure. But you knew it was going to be (down to) some more decisions late in the race which I got some right and some wrong."

New models and growth in emerging markets to boost JLR sales - Livemint

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TruckTrend Magazine

New models and growth in emerging markets to boost JLR sales
Livemint
Mumbai: Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the UK subsidiary of Tata Motors Ltd, expects new model launches and brisk growth in luxury car markets in emerging markets such as China and Russia to compensate for the decline in sales in UK and Europe, said Kenneth ...
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AWESOME or AWFUL: West Coast Customs' Range Stormer Spotted In London, Worth ...AutoSpies.com
Range Rover EvoqueAutomotive Blog (blog)
Trade Arabia -SpeedLux -Leamington Spa Today -San Antonio Express
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As talks go on, Senate rejects Democratic plan - San Jose Mercury News

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The Hindu

As talks go on, Senate rejects Democratic plan
San Jose Mercury News
AP WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans have blocked action on a Democratic approach to resolving the debt-ceiling crisis. It was a test vote largely unrelated to the talks between the White House and congressional leaders on a compromise that can clear both ...
House Republicans to be key to passageFinancial Times
Senate 'very close' to debt deal: McConnellMarketWatch
McConnell sees reason for optimism on dealBoston Globe
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When driving becomes (almost) secondary - Toronto Sun

LONDON - 

The sound of the car resonates loudly; the driver is waiting impatiently for the green light and bolts, leaving behind a trail of smoke before making the first turns of the circuit. But a pilot error causes the car to go off the road. Not a problem, since it is Forza Motorsport 4 on Xbox, the player just has to push a button, rewind just before the moment he messed-up, and restart.

This feature is also found on the Forza 3, but the latest version of the franchise, which will be available on October 12 in America and two days later in the rest of the world, has many innovations that the latest version did not have.

Thus, the compatibility with Microsoft Kinect, a motion sensor that lets you play without a controller, adds a whole new dimension to Forza 4. In fact, the new racing game becomes more of a means of learning and fun than simply driving.

Upon the unveiling of the final details, where a handful of journalists from the four corners of the world, the spokesman for Turn 10, the game design company, Brian Ekberg, explained the new issues: expand the amateur client/customer base for video games of this genre, and to offer an interactive experience unparalleled to date while allowing gamers to learn about cars.

To do this, Turn 10 has partnered with the famous British show Top Gear and the star host Jeremy Clarkson that offers his own comments and descriptions on some cars.

And because Top Gear is what it is, we inserted the private circuit from the show in the list, but we also added some of the challenges proposed by Clarkson and his team, including Car Soccer and Car Bowling, two functions available against other players online.

But Kinect can push the experience even further, thanks to its function Autovisa, which allows you to admire some exotic cars as if they were right next to you. In fact, technology is so precise that the player can be as close as approximately 15 inches from the car. He may also open the doors, sit inside, start the engine, or admire the engine under the hood.

"We put great care to improve the graphics, including using more natural light and a greater amount of detail. We also proceeded individually with each of the sound recordings, to make the experience even more realistic, "said Mr Ekberg.

This same recognition feature from Kinect will also apply to the conduct mode, allowing the pilot to turn his head, as if he was really sitting inside, making the experience even more realistic.

We also worked with Pirelli, who provided all the data for the entire line of tires. Forza 4 cars are equipped with four tires that react with almost the same flexibility and temperature as the actual tire.

Community

But Forza 4 has also kept the community that allowed it to stand out from its competitors. With this new version, it is now possible to join a car club, allowing you to share your collection with other club members.

You can also challenge the other players, since the race can be recorded. The player can try to beat the time logged from a friend, or another member of the club.

Real or virtual

To convince us of the new reality of Forza 4, Xbox has allowed some journalists to try the game in the same studio where the show Top Gear is filmed – and then, to test the same car, right on the track. Many have chosen to be the Stig in the game, the secret driver of the show, but without success.

A short word about the interface of Forza 4, which is practically identical to that of his predecessor, save for a few details.

A note also on the new steering wheel, the wireless wheel, which will be launched at the same time as the Forza 4, and which combines driving and regular controller.

Sensitive, easy to use, it permits the player to log the best times at the wheel of the Kia C'eed virtual. Too bad we couldn't bring it on the real track.

 

Mobile Malware Reality Check - PCWorld

mobile malwareMalicious software is leaping from PCs to phones. Photograph by Robert Cardin.Malicious software is leaping from PCs to cell phones, as malware makers target the platform in hopes of making a quick buck. Examples include the infected Droid­Dream and Plankton Android apps. An infected app released into the Android Market can infect several thousand users' phones before anyone discovers the presence of the malware. Though the extent of Android malware has been overstated, it's best to learn now how to protect yourself and your data from attacks, instead of waiting until mobile malware becomes a more serious problem.

In the DroidDream incident, several thousand people downloaded software infected with a Trojan horse that rooted their phone and sent data such as the user's location and phone number to a remote server. That same day, Google killed the contaminated apps in the Android Market, wiped the apps from phones remotely, and issued an update to patch and re­­pair the damage that the DroidDream Trojan horse had done.

Because of how Android apps are built, a malware writer can disassemble a popular app, repackage it with malware, and reupload it to the Android Market with a slightly different title. Nevertheless, we've yet to see any mobile malware infestations or threats on the scale of desktop PC problems.

Thus far, all of the reported mobile malware incidents have been small, isolated outbreaks that malware fighters have patched or identified within several hours of their appearance. According to Sy­­mantec, it's still early in the smartphone malware game; and though the threat may seem overblown today, outbreaks are nevertheless very likely to increase in the future.

Threats to Watch Out For

Malware makers favor Android because it is an open platform that allows users to load custom applications onto their de­­vices. But other mobile gadgets are at risk of malware, too.

In its closed app ecosystem, Apple screens apps to ensure that they don't contain objectionable content. But Apple does not check every bit in every app submitted to the App Store, leaving open the possibility that programmers might successfully sneak malicious code into an app.

In July 2010, an app called Handy Light passed Apple's screening process and appeared in the App Store. Though Handy Light looked like a simple flashlight app, it contained a hidden unofficial tethering function that let users treat their iPhones as cellular modems (at the time, AT&T was the sole iPhone carrier in the US, and it did not offer a tethering option). Handy Light wasn't malicious, but it showed that no vetting system is entirely safe.

mobile malwareMost of the mobile malware we've encountered so far has taken the form of infected apps on the Android platform. For a phone to become infected, its user must install the compromised app; it isn't vulnerable to drive-by downloads and other infection methods, as PCs are. That situation may change as time passes and legions of malware makers begin to target other smartphone operating systems.

Ultimately, it's up to users to make the right decisions when choosing where to download apps and which apps to in­­stall. In June of this year, McAfee Labs released a report stating that alternative third-party app stores— unofficial app markets not sanctioned by Google or Apple—had more malware on average than the official markets. The Gemini Trojan for Android, for example, was distributed exclusively through third-party app stores in China.

How to Protect Yourself

The safest course is to avoid apps that you've never heard of and to research apps and their publishers thoroughly before pressing the Download button. When you install an app, you'll see a list of permissions for services that the app can access on your device. But an alarm clock app, say, probably shouldn't need to access your contacts. If something in the permissions screen looks fishy, just don't download the app.

You should also be wary of what you click (or tap) while browsing the Web. In late June, mobile security company Lookout discovered malicious advertisements aimed at smartphone users and designed to trick them into installing infected apps. Some types of mobile antivirus software, like Lookout Mobile Security, have features intended to protect you from phishing attacks like these.

If possible, install antivirus software on your phone. Most big-name security companies like AVG, McAfee, and Sy­­mantec have a downloadable mobile app for protecting your phone. Besides guarding against malware, these apps have such features as the ability to lock and wipe your phone remotely. When you receive a new phone, it's a good idea to install an antivirus program before you add any other apps. That way, your phone will be better protected against malware from the get-go.

At least for the moment, smartphone malware is relatively easy to avoid; but being aware that it exists is the first step toward protecting yourself and your data from falling victim to it.

<<CAPTION: Smartphone security software from Symantec (left) and Lookout can help protect mobile devices from malware infection.>>

Amy Winehouse: record firms and promoters must take responsibility for stars ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Such a list of convictions may have ended the livelihood of any "normal" person, but his music career has continued unaffected – and the music industry has been conspicuous by its silence over his convictions.

There has hardly been a whisper of concern over the drug-addict's own lifestyle or its influence on his young fans.

However, many people do not share the delight of the Camden crowd that the Babyshambles frontman is performing again.

The death of Amy Winehouse, aged 27, last week, another singer mired in drink and drugs abuse, has reinforced their anger at Doherty's "glorification" of drugs – and the music industry which continues to promote and profit from his work while doing nothing to change his behaviour.

Among those furious at the former Libertines singer's instant return are two families who lost loved ones, Doherty fans who emulated his squalid, drug-fuelled lifestyle or were sucked into his orbit.

"It is obscene that Doherty can still be rewarded for his drug-taking lifestyle," says Sheila Blanco, whose son Mark, 30, a Cambridge philosophy graduate, was found dead in an east London street in 2006 after a mysterious fall from a balcony following a confrontation with Doherty at a party.

"It gives out an appalling message to young people, telling them that it is cool to take drugs."

The music companies, which continue to make money from the trilby-wearing singer, have "lost their grip on morality," says Mrs Blanco, from Guildford, Surrey.

The fans' deaths, and that of the troubled Amy Winehouse at her flat in north London, have made tackling the drugs epidemic more urgent than ever, she says. She wants the courts to impose tougher penalties on drug users and end "celebrity justice" – softer penalties for the famous.

"Doherty's release after just six weeks shows that there is one rule for celebrities and another for the rest of us."

But it is not only the courts that have failed, she believes. "The police should close down the drug dens – they know where they are. And the record companies have a huge influence. The authorities in this country have been turning a blind eye for too long."

It is not just the authorities who stand accused.

The death of Winehouse last week created a debate over whether managers should have stopped her touring and performing, knowing that she was in the grip of addiction.

That certainly should apply to Doherty, says the father of another victim of drug abuse who worshipped the singer.

"Doherty should not be allowed to perform again until he has dealt with his addiction," says James McConnel whose son Freddy, a gifted 18-year-old, died of a heroin overdose after emulating his hero's addictions.

"It is wrong that Doherty's concerts continue even though his drug habit has not been tackled," he says at his home near Holt, Norfolk, where Freddy grew up.

"Amy Winehouse is yet another victim of the drugs culture and Doherty glorifies the taking of Class A drugs. He shouldn't be allowed back on the stage until he has ended his addiction.

"The record companies, the promoters and Doherty's managers all have a huge responsibility in all this. But they do nothing because they don't want to lose money," he says.

"If they are going to market him they have to control the image he projects. They should tell him simply: 'You can't glorify poison.

"Fame brings responsibility. His personal life cannot be separated somehow from his act and he needs to set an example to followers by getting better first."

Mr McConnel, his wife Annie and their daughter Daisy feel anger amid their grief. They do not blame Doherty for Freddy's death but Mr McConnel thinks he "could have been a factor in Freddy's downward spiral. Freddy had a propensity to addiction and the glorification of drugs fed into that," he says.

Freddy was found by Sarah, a family friend, a moment Mr McConnel has described movingly. "Sarah's distraught voice crying, 'he's dead, he's dead' down the phone will haunt us for ever. How our beautiful, precious boy could have gone from the happy baby who sang in his cot, to a pitifully thin, lifeless shadow lying in a filthy needle-strewn bed ..."

The parents of Robin Whitehead, a talented 27-year-old film-maker are understood to be similarly moved by Amy Winehouse's death and unimpressed by Doherty's return to the stage.

The granddaughter of the environmentalist Teddy Goldsmith and great-niece of the billionaire Sir James Goldsmith was found dead from a heroin overdose in a London flat in January last year.

The former fashion model was a friend of Doherty and had spent the last 10 days of her life filming a documentary about him. Doherty and his friend Peter "Wolfman" Wolfe, 42, were arrested after Miss Whitehead's death. Wolfe was jailed for a year for two counts of possessing cocaine and one count of supplying the drug.

Videos that Miss Whitehead made before her death showed another friend of Doherty, Alan Wass, a 30-year-old musician, smoking crack cocaine. He was given a three-year conditional discharge for heroin possession earlier this month after a judge told him: "Whatever emotions you feel now, I hope one is shame."

But none of that – or the death of Winehouse – appears to have changed the view of the music industry that Doherty should stay performing while addicted to drugs.

Paul Hutton, 49, a director of Doherty's promoters Metropolis Music, says Doherty does not write songs intended to "promote drug-taking" and has "every right" to appear in public. "Peter will have been in jail and has paid for his crimes like anyone else," he said.

"We have not been made aware of any concerns from police or authorities about future public appearances, nor would we expect that. He has not set himself up as an example to young fans. His private problems, serious though they are, should remain private.

"My children are 17, 14 and 11 and I would have no problems with them attending a Peter Doherty concert."

Other senior figures in the music industry who have continued to employ Doherty have been quiet over his prison sentence and mounting concern over the trail of deaths among his fans.

The singer has a busy schedule over the next couple of months and there is no suggestion that any of his gigs will be cancelled. Next month he is due to perform at the Reading and Leeds festivals. Neither Melvin Benn, 55, director of the festivals, nor his company, Festival Republic, would comment.

Steve Ball, owner of the Blues Kitchen and other London venues popular with celebrities – including Doherty's ex-girlfriend Kate Moss – refused to discuss his decision to book the singer.

There was a similar reticence from Paul Latham, 50, the UK chief executive of the music firm Live Nation, which owns Festival Republic and sells tickets for Doherty's concerts. He chose not to respond to questions from this newspaper.

It was the same story at the mobile phone company O2, which sponsors London's Brixton Academy – one of four places where Doherty is due to perform in September. Shadi Halliwell, the head of branding, referred questions to the venue owners, Academy Music Group, which refused to comment.

Across the industry the silence was deafening. EMI, the pop star's record label – which is keeping its contract with Doherty – declined to comment as did Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, two other giant music companies.

Andria Vidler, 45, EMI's UK president has previously claimed that EMI is concerned about media influences on children.

A member of an advertising industry committee set up to respond to a government report on commercialisation and sexualisation of children, Mrs Vidler said the company supported efforts to advise parents on the suitability of "content" for their children.

"It's vital that we stay up to date with the concerns of parents and ensure that we continue to inform and empower them," she said.

But critics argue that EMI should be taking action to address the concerns of parents of Doherty's fans. They reject the claim that the singer is not a role model to his fans.

"Doherty has a massive influence on young people," says Mr McConnel. "Pop stars are idolised by their fans. They copy their clothes and try to copy their lifestyles. And if the stars glorify drug-taking their fans will take drugs.

"Years ago we all knew that the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and other rock stars took drugs but they didn't go offstage and glorify it. Doherty does."

He dismisses as an "old myth" the notion that drug-taking helps artists' creativity. For every creative person who takes drugs there are "hundreds" who don't," he says.

"The crucial thing is not how creative you are when you are drunk or high but how much more creative you are when you are not."

Mr McConnel hopes that the high-profile death of Amy Winehouse will be a "wake-up call" to society and the music industry to reject the glamorisation of drugs. "At least then some good might come out of all the tragedy."

No Fancy Footwear for Royals at Zara Phillips' Wedding! - Us Magazine

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Sunday – July 31, 2011 – 12:17pm

Same foot forward!

Zara Phillips' wedding Saturday was attended by countless royals, athletes and famed Brits; but notably, Duchess Kate, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Duchess Camilla and Sophie, Countess of Wessex all donned very similar, simple beige pumps! 

PHOTOS: Kate, Prince William, Prince Harry and more at Zara's wedding

Although the ladies' dresses and fascinators varied, all the women -- ranging in age from 21 to 60 -- stayed true to the tried and tested neutral heel.

PIC: Look at Zara's beautiful wedding dress

Phillips, 30, stunned even amongst her gorgeous guests in a Stewart Parvin wedding gown. She said "I do" to rugby star Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, then guests enjoyed a royal reception at Queen Elizabeth's official Scottish home, the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

NEWS: 5 things you don't know about Zara Phillips

Tell Us: Are the nude pumps classy or cliche?

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Iraq inquiry: Tony Blair to be held to account in Chilcot report on war - Daily Mail

  • Iraq war deal 'signed in blood' by former Prime Minister
  • Cabinet members kept in the dark in build-up to the war
  • 'Obvious failings' in post-war planning

By Simon Walters

Last updated at 2:46 PM on 31st July 2011



Tony Blair is to face scathing criticism from the official inquiry into the Iraq War for the role he played in leading Britain into one of its biggest foreign policy fiascos in modern history.

The Mail on Sunday has been told that the former Prime Minister will be held to account on four main failings:

  • Bogus claims that were made about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
  • Not telling the British public about his secret pledge with George Bush to go to war.
  • Keeping the Cabinet in the dark by his 'sofa government' style.
  • Failing to plan to avoid the post-war chaos in Iraq.
The damning verdict of the Chilcot Inquiry comes eight years after Tony Blair went to war against Saddam Hussein with George Bush

The damning verdict of the Chilcot Inquiry comes eight years after Tony Blair went to war against Saddam Hussein with George Bush

Well-placed sources say the reputations of Mr Blair and key allies will suffer major damage when the report by Sir John Chilcot's Iraq War inquiry is published this autumn.

Mr Blair, former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and ex-Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell are all expected to be criticised.

All those taken to task by Chilcot's five-strong panel of experts will receive notice in the next few weeks of the inquiry's conclusions.

They will be given a final chance to respond to their alleged failings before the report is finalised. Although it has not yet been written, clear indications have been given as to which areas it will focus on.

The damning verdict of the Chilcot Inquiry comes eight years after Mr Blair went to war against Saddam Hussein with George Bush.

A total of 179 British soldiers died in Iraq while estimates for the number of Iraqi dead vary from 100,000 to 650,000.

Although Saddam was toppled within weeks, the invasion led to a bloody aftermath and there were claims that it contributed to increased terrorism in the UK and elsewhere.

In evidence, a defiant Tony Blair said he had no regrets about the war and maintained Britain would ultimately be able to look back on it with 'immense pride'

In evidence, a defiant Tony Blair said he had no regrets about the war and maintained Britain would ultimately be able to look back on it with 'immense pride'

The Chilcot Inquiry, set up by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown two years ago, is the third inquiry into the conflict. It followed the Butler Inquiry into the intelligence failings and the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Ministry of Defence weapons expert Dr David Kelly. 

Inquiry chairman, former civil servant Sir John Chilcot, 72, was asked to conduct a more searching investigation spanning the period from 2001, two years before the war, right through to 2009.

The Mail on Sunday understands that the inquiry rounds on Mr Blair for telling Parliament that intelligence suggesting Saddam had WMDs was 'beyond doubt'.

In evidence, a defiant Mr Blair said he had no regrets about the war and maintained Britain would ultimately be able to look back on it with 'immense pride'.

But he admitted he had misunderstood the claim in a Downing Street dossier that Saddam could launch WMDs in 45 minutes.

Ex-Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell (left with Tony Blair) is also expected to be criticised in the report

Ex-Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell (left with Tony Blair) is also expected to be criticised in the report

He also conceded there was not a 'growing' threat from Saddam in the autumn of 2002 – despite stating precisely that in the Commons before the war.

The inquiry report is also expected to criticise spin doctor Mr Campbell, whose denial that the dossier on Saddam's weapons was designed to 'make the case for war' was challenged by former spy chief Major-General Michael Laurie, who was head of intelligence collection for the Defence Intelligence Agency.

Major-General Laurie told the inquiry two months ago: 'Alastair Campbell said the purpose of the dossier was not "to make a case for war". I had no doubt at that time this was exactly its purpose and these very words were used.

Although Saddam Hussein was toppled within weeks, the invasion led to a bloody aftermath in Iraq

Although Saddam Hussein was toppled within weeks, the invasion led to a bloody aftermath in Iraq

'We knew at the time that its purpose was precisely to make a case for war, rather than setting out the available intelligence. I and those involved in its production saw it exactly as that, and that was the direction we were given.'

And earlier this month an unnamed MI6 officer said Mr Campbell acted like 'an unguided missile' in work on the intelligence dossier.

The spin doctor had 'a propensity to have rushes of blood to the head and pass various stories and information to journalists without appropriate prior consultation'.

The inquiry is also understood to focus on the way that Mr Blair privately told Mr Bush more than a year before the conflict that he would back the war, while claiming in public he had not made up his mind.

Mr Blair denied that a deal to go to war had been 'signed in blood' at President Bush's Texas ranch in 2002. He said they merely agreed to 'deal' with Saddam.

However, a rift between Mr Blair and Mr Straw over whether the UK supported 'regime change' will also feature prominently in Chilcot's conclusions.

Furthermore, Mr Straw is in the line of fire after saying he only 'very reluctantly' endorsed the war, but ignored warnings from Foreign Office legal advisers that it was illegal.

Sir Michael Wood, former senior legal adviser at the Foreign Office, said he considered resigning in protest at the war and was sidelined after he objected.

Mr Blair's 'sofa government' style, whereby key decisions on the war were made in his study by a small circle of confidants – with most Cabinet Ministers and officials excluded – is also expected to be condemned.

Sir John Chilcot's Iraq War inquiry is published this autumn

Sir John Chilcot's Iraq War inquiry is published this autumn

Former Cabinet Secretaries Lord Wilson and Lord Turnbull, who both served under Mr Blair, told of their failed pleas to Mr Blair to rely on traditional Cabinet committees.

Lord Turnbull said the Cabinet was not asked to approve the war until the eve of the invasion in March 2003, by which time they were 'imprisoned' and had little choice but to agree – or see Mr Blair ousted.

The failure to anticipate the post-war turmoil that followed Saddam's defeat is believed to be another major part of Chilcot's conclusions.

The inquiry heard how Major-General Tim Cross, a senior British officer, asked Mr Blair to delay the invasion of Iraq two days before the conflict, partly because planning for afterwards was 'woefully thin'.

Major-General Cross said: 'I remember saying, in so many words, I have no doubt at all that we will win this military campaign. I do not believe that we are ready for post-war Iraq.'

When he arrived in Baghdad after the war, things were worse than he expected. 'Baghdad was held together by chicken wire and chewing gum,' he said.

Last night sources close to Mr Blair said that they were aware of the kind of criticism he was likely to face.

A spokesman for the Chilcot Inquiry said: 'We will not provide a running commentary on the inquiry.' A source close to the inquiry said reports that Mr Blair would be heavily criticised were 'speculation'.

A spokesman for Tony Blair said: 'This is a deliberate attempt to pre-judge a report that hasn't even been written yet.

'We're not going comment until it has been published.'


How Chilcot put Blair on the rack


IRAQ WAR DEAL 'SIGNED IN BLOOD' BY BLAIR

The inquiry pursued a claim that a deal was 'signed in blood' by Mr Blair at Mr Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, in 2002, a year before the war – while Mr Straw denied regime change was considered.

Panel member Sir Roderic Lyne asked Mr Straw: 'What Mr Blair said about Crawford was very simple – Saddam either had a change of heart or regime change was on the agenda. He says it is on the agenda, you say it was off. Weren't you and the Prime Minister aiming for different objectives?'


SOFA GOVERNMENT

Inquiry member Sir Lawrence Freedman challenged the way Cabinet Ministers were kept in the dark in the build-up to the war.
His colleague Sir Roderic said: 'Would the board of any company ever be asked to take collective responsibility for a major strategic decision without a single paper or discussion in a board committee?'


DODGY INTELLIGENCE DOSSIERS

Sir John Chilcot said Mr Blair's claim that the secret services had established 'beyond doubt' that Saddam had WMD 'was not possible to make on the basis of intelligence'.

When Mr Blair insisted: 'I did believe it, frankly, beyond doubt,' Sir Lawrence said: 'Beyond your doubt, but beyond anybody's doubt?' Sir Roderic suggested Mr Blair had 'misled Parliament'.


POST-WAR BLUNDERS

Inquiry member Baroness Prashar questioned Mr Blair on 'obvious failings' in post-war planning. There was 'so much concentration on the (military) campaign planning that attention wasn't paid to the aftermath.'

She told Mr Straw: 'The U.S. was dysfunctional . . . yet we continued to assume they would sort it out. It wasn't for want of people drawing it to the attention of the Prime Minister. Why did we not pay enough attention to that?'

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

About time too, Blair and New Labour got away with way too much and in my opinion never aswered to anyone or anything, and that can only be because they were all about what they wanted and not the country they were representing.

Earthly criticism is nothing to a man who believes he has a direct line to God who alone will pass final judgement on his actions. On planet Blair, mere mortals have no right to do this.The findings of this report must provide the evidence needed to ensure that Blair, Campbell and Co. make a one-way trip to The Hague. With every passing day, it becomes clearer that Blair considered this country as his personal fiefdom, and the real objective was to secure his exit strategy and make lots of money. We can only hope that the rest of the world finally sees him for what he really is and hits him where it really hurts - in the pocket !

- Boguss claims..... He lied and misled Parlaiment and the British people. - Not telling........... Never mind not telling. That is the lesser crime. The real crime was in having such an agreement outside of government. He was acting like a dictator, running rough shod over our democracy. - Keeping the cabinet in the dark.................. Acting like a dictator again. - Failing to plan................ This was in spite of my clear recollection that this was a problem that needed addressing at the time. This whole enquiry is simply to give us a target to vent our rage at this dictator, this murderer and it's not going to be good enough. His crimes are war crimes. He is also at least giulty of accessory to murder after the fact, although it is pretty obvious he was much more involved than that. This is just not good enough, to simply chastize him. If we don't make an example of this type of behaviour, we will get more of it in the future.

He also committed treason (along with Brown) on the people of this country by giving away a country that wasn't his to give, can we get him on that too? - cozmikstroll, RIP-UK,-----------------------------------The short answer to that question is no, Blair got rid of the treason laws so he could do his dirty deeds, evil to the core!

...and Blair hasn't even said sorry yet or regretted his actions. Infact, he said he would do it again. He will always justify his position. Thats worse than the crime.

Charges should be brought against this man, a man who's greed and hunger for political and financial success lost lives, deceived the public and compromised the public's faith in Government then and for years to come. Politics no longer seem to be about serving the public and country to ensure human rights are met and fulfilled but to line the pockets of those who whisper and mutter in dark corners. It it long over due that these people who have the so-called interests of the people, are held accountable, and that does not mean a slap on the wrist. If a member of the public decided to partake in fraud and warmongering they would face a length detention! Blair and everyone involved should reap what they sow.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Doctor Who star Elisabeth Sladen dies - ITN

Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who, has died at the age of 63. Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/theshowbiz411

Asus releases Honeycomb Transformer source code - ZDNet UK (blog)

Virtuelle Communities für Good Governance

Der berufsbegleitende Studiengang "Master of Public Policy", den die HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA School of Governance anbietet,...

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O2 'best mobile operator' for web surfing - Financial Times

O2 has been named the UK mobile network operator providing the best web surfing speeds.

A report by Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, found O2 had been providing the fastest webpage download times for laptop users who rely on mobile rather than fixed-line networks for internet access.

Small facility among most hazardous in Europe - Financial Times

One of the biggest concentrations of hazardous nuclear waste in Europe is crammed inside Sellafield's 2.3 square miles.

This relatively small facility in Cumbria holds almost all the UK's remaining stock of plutonium, along with the waste produced over 50 years of civil nuclear power generation.

Would you be fooled by these royal look-alikes? - msnbc.com (blog)

Impersonators Mary Wills as The Queen, left, Simon Watkinson as Prince William, center, and Jodie Bredo as Kate Middleton, right, pose outside of a church in London on Friday April 1, 2011. Jackson became well known in 1999 with a book showing photographs of celebrity look-alikes in compromising positions.

footage shows huge gas explosion - Telegraph.co.uk

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  • Apple's iPad 2 launch abroad still on track - ZDNet Asia

    dim sql sql = "Insert into Users (UserName, FirstName, LastName, EMailAddress) " sql = sql & "Values('" & request.form("UserName") & "', ...

    4 days 42 minutes ago by Nidhi on Generate dynamic SQL statements in SQL Server

    Lewis Hamilton displays his championship-winning car to delighted Goodwood ... - Telegraph.co.uk

    Hamilton, who trails Red Bull's championship leader Sebastian Vettel by a massive 89 points going into Sunday's British Grand Prix, later pulled out of an on-stage Q & A at Lord March's annual motor sport jamboree near Chichester, Sussex, which was this year backed by the Daily Telegraph.

    Vodafone, Telefónica and Everything Everywhere to launch mobile payments joint ... - Telegraph.co.uk

    Classic 1950s novel to be re-released with gay content - Telegraph.co.uk

    The book was turned into a major motion picture in 1953, starring Frank Sinatra, Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster, and that won eight Oscars.

    Open Road are also releasing six other James Jones titles digitally, one of which, To the End of the War, has never before been published.

    ME sufferer says research should be on physical symptoms - BBC News

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    sábado, 30 de julio de 2011

    Aguero gets Atletico aggro - The Sun

    HATE-FILLED Atletico Madrid fans brandished "Aguero We Hope You Die" banners in a furious reaction to the striker's 38million move to Manchester City.

    Atletico's president has backed the "outraged" supporters, saying he understands their attitude.

    Enrique Cerezo said: "The fans have shown their disgust at him and I'm still asking myself what the hell we did to Aguero to make him treat us like this? Things could have been handled infinitely better.

    "But the player had a buy-out clause, City paid it and there was next to nothing we could do.

    "Our fans are outraged, but after selling Fernando Torres to Liverpool, Atletico must be doing something right if we've produced two of the most expensive players in Premier League history.

    Cheryl Cole And Simon Cowell 'Kiss And Make Up' - MTV UK

    The pair are pals again after Simon sent Chezza a text asking to be friends…

    Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell have buried the hatchet and are speaking again, two months after he sacked her from The X Factor USA.

    It was a simple text from Simon that is said to have cleared the air between the former best mates. It simply said: "Friends again? X"

    To which Cheryl apparently replied: "You've got a nerve! x"

    With that, one of the most shocking feuds in showbiz has come to an end, just in time for Simon to try to convince the Promise This singer to be a special guest on the live finals of The X Factor.

    A source close to the pair told The Mirror: "Simon's made no secret of the fact he'd love to work with Cheryl again and, as far as he is concerned, the door is always open to her. At the moment, there is a fifth guest judge role on UK X Factor and Simon is desperate for Cheryl to alternate with him in this role.

    "She'd be a fantastic surprise addition to the live final stages of the show."

    The insider added that the Geordie is seriously considering the offer. "Cheryl was thoroughly hurt and embarrassed by the whole US debacle. But she's done a lot of thinking over the past few weeks, and has moved on."

    Watch MTV News on the hour every hour on MTV - Sky Channel 126 and Virgin Channel 311

    Massacre suspect planned more attacks - Bangkok Post

    Anders Behring Breivik planned more attacks than the bombing and shooting spree that killed 77 people, Norwegian police prosecutor Paal-Frederik Hjort Kraby said Saturday.

    ``He wanted to do more, that we know. But if he wanted to do that... the same day or (at another time) we don't know for sure,'' Hjort Kraby told AFP.

    Norwegian media reported that the right-wing extremist, who admitted to the July 22 shooting on an island summer camp and a car-bomb blast in Oslo earlier the same day, also wanted to hit the royal palace and the ruling party headquarters.

    It is still not clear whether Behring Breivik acted alone or was working with other ``cells``, as he claimed following his arrest, though police seem to be favouring the first scenario.

    Asked if he had said anything about his plans going wrong, Hjort Kraby replied: ``He has mentioned that he was alone, and that because he was alone the logistics were more difficult, with the cars and the transport, and he's been telling us that's why things took more time than he had expected.''

    It also emerged that Behring Breivik had been saving money for some time to be able to fund his actions.

    ``He has said that he's been financing all this by himself, he's been working very hard to save money to use it in his actions,'' Hjort Kraby said. ``And obviously this is something we're checking by going through his properties and his bank accounts.''

    The self-confessed killer, who has admitted responsibility but declined to enter a guilty plea, had fully cooperated with police investigations so far, Hjort Kraby said.

    Did you know?

    You can subscribe to free e-newsletters and receive e-mail alerts when other people leave comments in articles after you did. Click here to take full advantage of the alerts!

    Alonso says fifth place is no surprise - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

    Fernando Alonso says he is not disappointed with his performance in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, despite failing to reach the first two rows of the grid.

    The Ferrari driver, the man who has scored the most points in the last three races, will start tomorrow's event from fifth position after finishing over half a second off the pace of pole position.

    Alonso admitted third place could have been possible had he managed a perfect lap, but said his position did not come as a surprise.

    "It's the same result as a week ago, so yet again today, we're neither surprised nor disappointed," said Alonso. "It's true I did not do a perfect lap in Q3 and I'm happy to admit that, but I don't think I could have made it to the front row.

    "Third place was within our grasp and it would have been a great place from which to start the race, but others did better than us, including my team-mate who drove a nice lap: it's important that both our cars are in positions from which we can fight for a place on the podium.

    "All the same, better fifth than fourth as it means at least I start from the clean side of the track. It seems that when it's time for Q3, Red Bull has a magic button that suddenly makes them go faster, but then it seems the button switches off in the race."

    The Spaniard believes the race is still very open, but predicted overtaking will be very hard, even with DRS.

    "It's always very difficult to overtake here and I don't think DRS will change that much: maybe a good tow and a gust of wind will be of more use," he said.

    "We will try and move up a few places tomorrow: we will need to maintain a good pace, doing a perfect job at the pitstops, of which I think there will be a lot, maybe three or four, because tyre degradation is significant.

    "It will also be important to get the timing of the stops right. I reckon anything could still happen: it will be a very open race."

    Alonso was outqualified by team-mate Felipe Massa for the first time this season, the Brazilian finishing in fourth.

    Massa is hopeful his Ferrari will be stronger in race trim after also finishing half a second off the pace today.

    "Usually our rivals find something extra for qualifying and we make a step forward in the race: we will see tomorrow if this unwritten rule will also be confirmed at this track," Massa said. "I hope I have a car that is competitive, as it was in the final part of qualifying."

    Killing Abdul Fattah Younes - New Yorker (blog)

    Arriving in Benghazi a few days after the uprising had begun, I had been intrigued by the apparition of Younes as a "rebel commander," and questioned some of the human rights lawyers and youthful student who had led the revolt about him. Their lips invariably curled, and some even expressed their distrust of him, but said they had no choice but to include him as a newfound ally, since they needed experienced military men. Nonetheless, in the weeks that followed, as fighting broke out, and surged back and forth along the highway between Benghazi and Ajdabiya and the towns of Ras Lanuf and Brega to the west, Younes and his vaunted "special forces," always reported to be somewhere out in the front, fighting against Qaddafi's troops, were never visible. Instead, there were untrained youngsters, students and workers, who tried to fight at the frontline, and who, whenever Qaddafi's superior firepower and forces came forward, fell back in bloodied, panicked retreat.

    It was only after Younes was confirmed in his position—besting Hefter in what was reported to have been an angry closed-door confrontation with other members of the rebel council present—that he made an appearance at the front. He drove up in a convoy to the frontline outside Brega and waved; the fighters mobbed his vehicle. At one point, he drove off toward Brega, where fighters were seeking to keep reporters back from an ill-defined frontline. After I saw Younes reemerge and drive past me in the other direction—back toward Benghazi—I drove to where he had come from with several companions, curious to see where the frontline was. A couple of miles down the road, we found the usual mob of untrained, excitable, and undisciplined youths with guns. We drove on, thinking that if Younes had been there, surely it meant that his "special forces" were on up the road ahead—we would find them, and then know where the "real" frontline was. A couple of hundred yards down the road, however, artillery shells began landing near us, and we turned our car around and retreated quickly. We realized that we had found the front line, and passed it, and were now in no-man's land.

    Back in Bengahzi, the news was all about Younes 's triumphal visit to the "Brega frontline," where the rebel troops were said to be advancing. They were not, however, and have not truly advanced from where we last saw them, from then until now.

    It's being said that Younes was back at the Brega front when he was recalled to Benghazi yesterday for questioning, on suspicion, apparently, of betraying the rebels by maintaining links to Qaddafi. Younes was then apparently shot, along with a pair of his officers, and his body was burned; the corpses were dumped in the streets. The head of the Transitional National Council first said he had been assassinated by pro Qadaffi loyalists, but a rebel minister, Ali Tarhouni, later said that another rebel leader had confessed that his men, who had been sent to bring Younes to Benghazi, had killed him.

    With someone like Younes —a man of no allegiances, or too many —anything was possible. For now, the question of identity that has hung over the anti-Qaddafi enterprise since it's beginning has deepened considerably. Who are the rebels?

    Erdogan unfazed by military resignations - The Hindu

    Top commanders put in their papers; new Army chief quickly appointed

    Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stamped his authority over the military by accepting the resignations of top armed forces commanders and quickly appointing an army chief of his choice.

    On Friday, the Prime Minister appointed military police chief Gen. Necdet Ozel as the acting army chief after Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner along with the commanders of the navy and air force resigned over controversy surrounding senior military appointments.

    Gen. Kosaner had two years of service left, while the air force and the navy chiefs were slated to retire next month. Unfazed by the resignation of the top rung of the military hierarchy, the Prime Minister's office issued an assured statement that said that the Turkish armed forces "will continue to do their duty in a spirit of unity".

    In a country, where the armed forces are known for their decisive interventions in politics, the resignations are seen as marking the military's acceptance that its era of dominance in running the country is over. Some analyst have interpreted the resignations as the demise the first Republic, conceived and nurtured by the founding father Kamal Ataturk, and the birth of a new one, under elected civilian stewardship.

    On three occasions in the past, the Turkish military has staged military coups. After its power grab in 1960, the armed forces went ahead to execute Adnan Menderes, the country's first democratically elected Prime Minister.

    Observers point out that since his election in 2002, Mr. Erdogan's government has steadily eroded the military's clout. This has been partly achieved through legal reforms, but more prominently through marathon investigations and trials, where a number of high-ranking military personnel along with journalists have been charged with conspiracy to overthrow Mr. Erdogan's government. The armed forces less than satisfactory performance in its campaign against Kurdish fighters may also have encouraged the government to act more assertively.

    The government's fierce assault has led to the arrest of more than 40 generals, eroding the senior military command of nearly 10 per cent of its work-force. Escalating the offensive, the government on Friday issued 22 more arrest warrants, in which two top generals were included, the Anatolian News Agency reported.

    With the arrests blocking promotions of the charged individuals, and the stock of the military, apparently falling low in the public eye, General Kosaner and his counterparts in the navy and the air force on Friday threw in the towel. The outgoing General's bitterness was evident in his farewell statement. He said the purpose of the conspiracy cases "is to create the impression that the Turkish Armed Forces are a criminal organisation."

    He added that the situation "has prevented me from fulfilling my duties to protect the rights of my personnel and thereby rendered me unable to continue this high office that I occupy."

    Analysts point out that Mr. Erdogan's confidence to take-on the army head on, and deepen the democratic foundations, can be attributed to his party's growing influence in all major Turkish institutions, including the military. A number of surveys indicate that from its 90 per cent popularity in 2002, only 60 per cent of the Turkish people are currently trustful of the military.

    Labour Reveals News International Meetings - Sky News

    4:20pm UK, Saturday July 30, 2011

    Ruth Barnett, politics reporter

    Labour frontbenchers have published details of dozens of meetings with senior News International figures after Ed Miliband attacked the Government for getting too cosy with the newspaper group.

    From left: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, David Cameron and Ed Miliband

    The Conservative and Labour party reveal their meetings with the press

    The party revealed a list of which editors, senior executives and media proprietors the shadow cabinet have met since May last year.

    It covers all news organisations, but the biggest focus will be on Labour's dealings with News International (NI) due to the party leader's attacks on the company over allegations of phone hacking.

    Tessa Jowell, the former culture secretary who believes her phone was hacked, spent Christmas Eve and Boxing Day with Rebekah Brooks, the documents show.

    She saw the former chief executive of News International, who was arrested and bailed in connection with the hacking inquiry, at a party and a dinner held by Elisabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch.

    Tessa Jowell

    The list shows Tessa Jowell was a guest at many News International events

    Mrs Jowell's link to the group is Matthew Freud, the PR chief married to Mrs Murdoch.

    She attended six events held by NI or senior staff.

    Mrs Jowell hired lawyers earlier this year after police told her that her mobile may have been hacked in 2006.

    The lists also confirm Mrs Jowell attended Elisabeth Murdoch's summer party with what has been dubbed the "Chipping Norton" set.

    Prime Minister David Cameron and a host of figures from the Conservatives, Labour and NI went to the bash, which came two days before revelations murder victim Milly Dowler's phone was hacked prompted a crisis for the media company.

    Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, is shown to have met Colin Myler, the most recent editor of the News Of The World (NOTW), on at least three occasions since the General Election.

    He attended eight meetings or social events with NI figures, including Mrs Brooks and NI executive Will Lewis, Times editor James Harding and Sunday Times editor John Witherow.

    Most of the shadow cabinet acknowledged attending receptions hosted by NI as well as Sky News, which is 39% owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

    Some, including shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle and shadow energy secretary Meg Hillier, said they had not met any senior media figures in the past 15 months.

    Mr Miliband had already published a list of the executives he mingled with since becoming leader but the latest document dates back to last May.

    It shows he met Mrs Brooks in September 2010, along with Dominic Mohan the editor of The Sun. He also met Mr Myler in August and attended an NI reception in June 2010.

    He sought to capitalise politically on his less close relationship with NI by drawing attention to the Prime Minister's social engagements with Mrs Brooks, who lives near his constituency, and his decision to hire Andy Coulson, ex-editor of the now-defunct NOTW.

    Mr Cameron and his Cabinet released details of their meetings with senior media figures earlier this month.

    The Conservatives accused the opposition of publishing the information at the weekend in the hope no one would notice.

    Baroness Warsi, the party chairman, said the details show Labour "courted News International staff extensively".

    England v India: second Test, day two report - Telegraph.co.uk

    First, he saw off India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni - edging a drive to be well caught by James Anderson at second slip.

    Then Harbhajan Singh was given out lbw by Marais Erasmus, even though he seemed to get bat on ball, and Praveen Kumar was the third to go in successive balls - bowled, as Broad became the 12th Englishman to take a Test hat-trick.

    When Dravid finally fell soon afterwards, caught at deep third-man off Tim Bresnan, the match had been turned on its head - and Broad completed career-best figures with Ishant Sharma last out, gloving a catch to short-leg.

    Broad's Botham-esque feat, to add to his counter-attacking 64 from number nine yesterday, put Dravid's hugely admirable six-hour tour de force in the shade.

    'The Wall' had continued to thwart England, even when their improved bowling performance after lunch was rewarded with the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina.

    Dravid, who owes that nickname to his renowned immovability in an international career dating back to 1996, shared a second-wicket stand of 93 with VVS Laxman (54).

    Home prospects of staying in contention were not helped by injuries to Graeme Swann and then, more worryingly, Jonathan Trott.

    The off-spinner was last night cleared of serious damage to his left hand by X-rays, having been hit while batting, but was off the field again this morning and did not bowl until after lunch.

    The heavy cloud cover which prevailed on day one was absent, as Dravid and Laxman (54) - who had joined forces without a run between them after opener Abhinav Mukund's golden duck last night - shut England out.

    The nearest England came to an early breakthrough was when Anderson and Matt Prior were convinced they had Laxman caught behind, on 27. But not for the first time, DRS merely created more confusion as microphone noises - and eventually 'snicko' - indicated the batsman had got a thin edge but Hotspot concurred with Asad Rauf's not-out verdict.

    Laxman therefore survived, on his way to a 104-ball half-century which was completed with a handsome off-drive off Anderson for his 10th four.

    There had been a collection of crunching pulls off Anderson too for Laxman, while Dravid dealt more in trademark deft deflections - often towards the unguarded third-man boundary - than full-blooded attack.

    Shortly before lunch, Bresnan gave England a lift when he got one to leave Laxman for an edge to Prior.

    That departure cleared the stage for Tendulkar. But his quest for an unprecedented 100th international hundred will go on, because he poked a catch to slip off Broad in the first over after lunch.

    Raina then endured an uncomfortable stay, as England targeted him with short balls, and he soon flapped a cut into the hands of point off Anderson.

    England ought to have then made it 144 for five, when Yuvraj pushed Broad to gully off the back foot - only for Kevin Pietersen to put down a notably straightforward chance to reprieve his old foe on four.

    Pietersen and his team-mates were still counting the cost of that drop as Dravid and Yuvraj's stand appeared to be taking the game away in a flurry of runs after tea.

    An out-of-sorts Swann suffered most, and took his aggravation out on the stumps at the non-striker's end, kicking the base and knocking off the bails after conceding 14 runs in the over which saw Dravid bring up his hundred with a neat sweep for his 13th four.

    Broad, it turned out, had a more productive way of letting off steam. But even after he had weaved his magic with this famous venue's first Test hat-trick, England were still behind the game - and when Cook was caught at point off a leading edge at Sharma, and Ian Bell had to come in at number three in place of the absent Trott, it was clear there was much more hard work to be done if they were going to score a second successive Test victory against the world's No 1 team.

    Tory MP Louise Mensch: 'I probably took drugs with Nigel Kennedy' - NME.com

    July 30, 2011 15:54

    Ex-EMI Records staffer partied with punk violinist in 1990s

    Photo: PA Photos

    Conservative MP Louise Mensch has said it is "highly probable" that she once took drugs with punk violinist Nigel Kennedy.

    The former EMI Records employee was responding to claims that she had spent a 'wild night' with the musician at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in Birmingham in the 1990s.

    After a reporter apparently issued her with photos showing her 'antics' at the nightspot, Mensch released a statement apologising for her "bad dancing", reports BBC News.

    Mensch said:

    Although I do not remember the specific incident, this sounds highly probable. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Nigel Kennedy, whom I remember with affection

    Kennedy also released a statement about the alleged incident and said that no one should "mess" with the "scary" MP for Corby.

    He added:

    I am a socialist myself but do remember having some great times with my beautiful and very clever right-wing friend when she was at EMI.

    Mensch, who has penned chick-lit novels under her maiden name Louise Bagshawe, was part of the Commons select committee which questioned News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch and son James over the News Of The World phone hacking allegations earlier this month.

    NEW! For the latest music videos and backstage interviews, check out our brand new sister site, NME Video.

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