WRAPUP 2-Haggling delays 3.5 bln euro A400M bailout

Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:34pm EST Related News Airbus partners OK A400M rescue plan: sourceTue, Feb 23 2010Airbus A400M partners reach financing deal -sourceTue, Feb 23 2010EADS awaits A400M, tanker decisions; shares riseTue, Feb 23 2010UPDATE 3-Airbus owner studies new A400M rescue offerTue, Feb 16 2010Airbus and buyers intensify push for A400M dealTue, Feb 2 2010 Stocks & &

* Disagreement over composition of one support tranche

Stocks&&&&Currencies&&&&Bonds

* France to host possible signing ceremony on March 8

* Bail-out to provide 3.5 billion euros in mixed aid

* EADS stock down 1.4 pct, in line with European blue chips

(Adds background, details, closing shares)

By Julien Toyer and Sabine Siebold

PALMA DE MAJORCA, Spain, Feb 25 (Reuters) - European nationsagreed on Thursday to pump in 3.5 billion euros ($4.7 billion)to save the delayed Airbus A400M airlifter, but left key detailsunresolved after more last-minute haggling over loans and jobs.

Technical problems have pushed the troop plane four yearsbehind schedule and 11.2 billion euros over budget, threatening10,000 jobs. After savings and writedowns, Airbus parent EADS(EAD.PA) still faces a hole of 5.2 billion euros.

The A400M is due to provide airlift capacity to Britain,Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain and Turkey.

Confirmation of the overall size of the rescue package cameafter EADS accepted a 10 percent increase in the price of theplane worth a total of 2 billion euros towards cost overruns.

"The company is no longer making further financial demands,"French Defence Minister Herve Morin said after talks betweenbuyers on the sidelines of European Union defence talks.

Some countries plan to defer deliveries of aircraft as a wayof raising the unit price, rather than stumping up new cash.

The plan also includes 1.5 billion euros of top-up support,billed by officials as guarantees to be repaid from exports.

An upbeat but inconclusive statement released afterseven-nation talks on the Mediterranean island of Majorca papered over tensions over the cost to each nation.

"Defence ministers consider that significant progress hasbeen achieved during the negotiations with industry at statesecretary (junior minister) level," the statement said.

"Nations have made an offer to the industry and after havingreceived a letter in response from EADS, it will be evaluated.Defence ministers hope this will help to reach an agreement."

Delegates said buyers had not yet agreed among themselves onthe composition of the 1.5 billion euro financial support, anissue which may have an impact on the allocation of jobs as wellas the size of provisions in the EADS full-year accounts.

The proposed deal leaves EADS with A400M losses of 1.7billion euros on top of 2.4 billion written off. But it could beforced to make a provision for 3.2 billion if it has to acceptthe top-up as a loan rather than an advance on future sales.

Buyers will meet in Paris for a possible signing on March 8-- a day before EADS must reveal the size of provisions againstA400M losses in its 2009 results.

There have been doubts over whether Britain and Turkey wouldjoin the loan deal, while Germany has not taken a decision.

Morin said Spain, which on Wednesday announced an "agreementin principle" to save the A400M, was pushing for any countriesthat failed to contribute to the 1.5 billion euros of extraguarantees to renegotiate their share of construction work.

STICKING POINTS

EADS shares, which have moved in step with prospects for adeal, closed down 1.4 percent at 14.53 euros, in line with otherEuropean blue chips .FTEU3.

Delegates said Germany was holding out on a number of pointsincluding sensitive military needs such as terrain-huggingsoftware that EADS wants to delay installing to save costs.

An EADS letter seen by Reuters called for assurances onthree fronts -- that individual nations should not weaken theircommitment, buyers should limit requests for optional extras andthat they should clarify the 1.5 billion euros of guarantees.

The plea from EADS Chief Executive Louis Gallois drew amixed reaction, with some buyers refusing to endorse anythingother than a terse acknowledgment. Press releases to trumpet afinal deal were shoved back in the drawer.

Speaking in Tokyo earlier, Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enderssaid he expected an agreement on the rescue package soon.

"I think we"ll get a very significant contribution ... Weare confident that we can now continue the project," he said.

German carmaker Daimler (DAIGn.DE), the largest shareholderin EADS, is also anxious for a deal. It hopes to book anyindirect charges before March so it can pack the loss into itsalready dreadful 2009 accounts, sweeping the risks off thisyear"s balance sheet before they can sully its turnaround plans. (Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Mariko Katsumura,Tim Hepher, Matthias Blamont, Christiaan Hetzner, editing byWill Waterman) ($1=.7421 Euro)

Stocks Currencies Bonds

Australia Senate delays opinion on CO traffic intrigue

James Grubel CANBERRA Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:46am EST Related News CORRECTED - CORRECTED-Australian Senate rejects health insurance lawsWed, Feb 24 2010FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch in AustraliaTue, Feb 2 2010FACTBOX-Five political risks to watch in AustraliaMon, Feb 1 2010Gloom gathers around divisive Australia CO2 lawsMon, Feb 1 2010Australia opposition eyeing voluntary CO2 cuts planWed, Jan 27 2010

MAX HASTINGS: Selfish and forward - but Max Hastings daredevil father was a favourite to him and each alternative schoolboy in Britain

Few journalists achieve legendary status in their lifetime, but Sir Max Hastings - war reporter, Fleet Street editor and acclaimed historian and author - is one of them.

On Saturday, in our first extract from his tender, entertaining and candid family memoir, he revealed for the first time the sadness in his peculiarly British childhood.

Today, he describes the man he hero-worshipped - his father Mac Hastings. An eccentric romantic, Mac was as charming as he was selfish - but his passion for adventure and his unwavering belief in his son inspired Max to achieve greatness.

When I was a boy, the appearances of my father, the writer and broadcaster Macdonald Hastings, in my life were most readily identified with the presents he brought home from far-flung places - an authentic cowboy outfit from America, smelly Bedouin robes from Jordan, the mounted hoof of a bison he had shot in India.

For the most part, however, he was more frequently observed going rather than coming - to shoots and fishing expeditions and on work assignments abroad.

How I yearned to accompany him, and how romantic he made even the most commonplace destinations sound!

Max Hastings with his father Mac looking at a steam engine: Max loved to listen to his father

When he spoke portentously of taking "the Great West Road" to Berkshire, where we had a country cottage, the journey seemed vastly more promising than a mere drive down the dreary old A4.

He seemed possessed of superhuman powers to make exciting things happen.

Because of his contacts, it was in his gift to provide such things as stars" autographs, and it seemed to me a miracle of social alpinism that he was invited to the annual Christmas lunch of Bertram Mills"s circus.

I took it for granted that if Father chose to command a boon, it would be conferred.

When once we took the Golden Arrow train en route for the Cote d"Azur, I threw a shocking scene because my request to travel on the engine footplate was denied.

It seemed likewise monstrous that, when we saw Len Hutton lunching in the Oval restaurant, Father had to admit he lacked the acquaintance necessary to introduce me to the great cricketer.

I loved to listen to Father, and from my earliest years, I was captivated by his gifts as a raconteur. Once in a while, he took me to watch him broadcast from the BBC"s studios in Portland Place.

I stood with face pressed against the glass wall of the control room, peering at his elegantly suited figure, addressing the microphone in impeccably modulated tones.

I swallowed some of his prejudices only temporarily, but adopted others for life - a suspicion of beards and bow ties, a loathing for cats and football, which he declared to be played by brutes for the amusement of other brutes.

Mac Hastings in the Kalahari Desert in 1956, where he sought out some of the last wild bushmen

He told me that team activities were mere games, while anything worthy to be dignified as sport must involve individual exertion - shooting, fishing, riding and suchlike.

The unworthy thought did not then dawn on me that the Hastings distaste for ball games is rooted in our gross incompetence at them.

Father"s life seemed the pattern of what I wanted for myself, so that as soon as I started to buy my own clothes, I dressed in imitation of him.

When I was old enough to choose my own holidays, I hastened to destinations which he loved, mostly Scottish.

When I wanted to test myself against physical danger, which he persuaded me that every right-thinking Englishman should do, I addressed the same perils he had confronted, regretting only that the Germans were unavailable to play their usual 45 minutes each way on the other side.

In only one respect did his personal record disappoint me. I was an eager and somewhat credulous reader of P. G. Wodehouse, whose works formed my image of how young English gentlemen comported themselves.

One day I asked Father how many times he had spent the night in chokey after stealing a policeman"s helmet or being discovered dancing in the fountains of Trafalgar Square. He assured me with some asperity that he had never served even an hour behind prison bars.

This was a blow to my image of him as a man-about-town, a role which in all other respects he seemed to fill with assurance. It was, however, as I later learned, a role he entirely created for himself.

Mac was the son of a journalist and playwright who had one big stage hit and then little but disappointment thereafter.

Aged seven, he was sent away to a Jesuit prep school in Lancashire where he was bullied mercilessly. When tormentors suspended him from a ladder in the gym, the master who released him slapped his face to stop him crying.

He found the brutality unforgivable. Because the boys" letters home were censored, it was impossible for him even to reveal his miseries.

In that cold, dank, draughty, cavernous place, he contracted pneumonia, at which the matron shrugged her shoulders and wrote him off. A priest gave him the last rites. He survived, but never forgot the readiness of his keepers to deliver him to his Maker.

It was there, however, that he discovered a gift for public speaking, and always applauded the fact that the school taught elocution as a specific skill.

He also shared the enthusiasm of almost every Hastings schoolboy through the generations for tales of war and adventure.

"I swallowed some of Father"s prejudices only temporarily, but adopted othersfor life - a suspicion of beards and bow ties, a loathing for cats andfootball, which he declared to be played by brutes for the amusement ofother brutes"

His language - things were "topping" and "ripping" - reflected not only the period, but also a natural exuberance which persisted for most of his life.

He loved the school cadet corps, and relished any opportunity to use firearms - the start of a lifetime obsession.

He was increasingly fascinated by the countryside. Roaming the fields and woods around the school, he developed a knowledge of birds and plants remarkable in the child of a family which was anything but rustic.

At home, he grew up in a mildly bohemian literary world and sat at the feet of such friends of his father as G. K. Chesterton, J. M. Barrie and Hilaire Belloc, whom he asked breathlessly whether he had indeed, as he recounted in print, walked from London to Paris with only sixpence in his pocket.

"Young man," responded Belloc magisterially, "I am a journalist," a remark which provided him with an early hint about the merits, when composing contributions for newspapers, of tempering a strict regard for truth with some savouring of romance.

When his father died early, aged 47, and penniless, Mac was abruptly brought home because there was no money for his school fees.

Rich family friends offered to fund him through Oxford but, with a delicate sense of honour, the young man refused, seeing it as his duty to go out and make a living to support his mother.

He came to regret this. For the rest of his life, he was nagged byself-consciousness about his lack of a university education anddisplayed an exaggerated deference towards those who possessed it.

For a few miserable months, he devilled as a clerk at Scotland Yard.

Then he found a job in the publicity department of the catering companyJ. Lyons, located at 61 Fleet Street, where he not only hugely enjoyedhimself for the next nine years, but also revealed a talent for writingadvertising copy.

Pope warns over injustice of airfield scanners

The Pope has spoken out over the use of full body scanners at airports

The Pope has spoken out over the use of full body scanners at airports, insisting that human dignity must be preserved.

The equipment has caused controversy because it makes those who pass through it appear naked.

Pope Benedict made his comments in an audience with airport workers at the Vatican.

Although he did not specifically use the words body scanner it was clear what he meant as he said it was "essential to protect and value the human person".

He spoke of the terrorist threat to the aviation industry before adding: " Even in this situation, one must never forget that respecting the primacy of the human person and attention to his or her needs does not make the service less efficient nor penalise economic management."

There are concerns that the new scanners break discrimination law and breach privacy.

Italian plastic surgeons claim they can reveal if a woman has had breast enhancement surgery.

The use of scanners has been an issue since Christmas Day terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a plane with explosives smuggled onboard in his underpants.

Officials say scanners would have prevented the Nigerian boarding the plane. However, critics say the scanners are far from foolproof.

They have been introduced at Heathrow and in Manchester and are due to be phased in at Rome and Milan airports in Italy.

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin outpost der Sar ready to put coop to paper on 12-month understanding

Veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar looks set to sign a new one-year contractwith Manchester United.

The 39-year-old Dutchman has been in talks with manager Sir Alex Ferguson overhis future and now appears ready to commit to a 12-month extension.

Quoted in the News of the World, he said: "I would like to keep on playing soI have decided to sign another contract.

New deal: Edwin van der Sar

"The club want me to stay and I"m happy here. My fitness is good and I feel Ican carry on playing for United."

Van der Sar returned to the Red Devils" first team last month a spell outthrough injury and compassionate leave following his wife"s suspected brainhaemorrhage.

"It"s been a hard time for all the family and when something like this happensit"s a tough situation," he said.

"Luckily I was back in Holland when it happened because I was injured and itmeant that I could be with her in hospital.

"It"s been a difficult period, but I"m happy things are improving at home."

More...England boss Fabio Capello is intimidating and just scary, reveals Wayne Rooney Everton 3 Manchester United 1: Sir Alex Ferguson"s men sunk by "new Wayne Rooney" Jack Rodwell Gary Lineker: Martin O"Neill is the man to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

Icelandic PM confident on new Icesave deal: inform

REYKJAVIK Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:00pm EST Related News UK, Netherlands to make new Icesave proposals-UK sourceFri, Feb 19 2010Iceland awaits British, Dutch verdict on IcesaveFri, Feb 19 2010UPDATE 1-EU to recommend start of Iceland talks - EU officialTue, Feb 16 2010Sources: New Icesave talks start Monday in LondonMon, Feb 15 2010Icesave talks to resume on Monday: Iceland ministerSun, Feb 14 2010

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - Iceland"s Prime Minister said on Saturday that a new Icesave debt repayment deal from Britain and the Netherlands would considerably ease the island nation"s financial burden, state radio reported.

Crisis in Credit

The two European countries have offered new terms for repaying more than $5 billion lost by savers during Iceland"s financial crisis, potentially heading off a politically risky referendum on the Icesave debt crisis.

"I believe this is something we could work with," Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir said in comments posted on the web site of Iceland"s state radio.

The new proposal would mean "considerably easing the payment burden on Iceland," she added.

The Icelandic government will respond to Britain and the Netherlands with its assessment of the new proposal within the next two days following a meeting between party leaders on Saturday, the radio reported on its web site.

The main feature of the plan is a floating interest rate designed to ease Iceland"s burden as it repays $5 billion to the two European Union countries, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday.

The offer maintains other elements of a deal the three sides agreed in October, including full debt repayment and a seven-year grace period, the source told Reuters.

Iceland owes Britain and the Netherlands more than $5 billion lost by savers when Icelandic bank Landsbanki collapsed in late 2008. The British and Dutch governments reimbursed their citizens, and now they want their money back.

Iceland has been pushing for a new deal with the two European nations after its president refused to sign a repayment plan which was approved by parliament in December, triggering a public vote on the divisive issue.

Opinion polls indicate that Icelanders will reject the Icesave deal in a March 6 referendum.

A rejection of the bill would further damage Iceland"s standing with capital markets and could be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the government and cause a political crisis.

(Reporting by Omar Valdimarsson; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Crisis in Credit

Wigan Athletic 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3: Roman Pavlyuchenko conquers as Spurs go fourth and pullulate from Eastlands shut-out

These are the games Tottenham are meant to lose. A long way northagainst physical opponents on one of the worst playing surfaces in thehistory of the Barclays Premier League, these matches are meant toexpose the southern softies in Harry Redknapp"s side.

But after they had finished slogging it out in the DW Stadium mud, it was Spurs who stood victorious. Deserving winners and unlikely occupants of fourth place in the table that changed hands three times on Sunday.

It could have been very different had referee Alan Wiley not allowed Jermain Defoe to stay on the pitch following an ugly two-footed challenge on Gary Caldwell, and then his assistant Jeremy Simpson allowed the England striker"s goal to stand when he was offside.

Super sub: Pavlyuchenko (left) celebrates scoring the first of his double

Furious Wigan felt Tom Huddlestone was also fortunate not be sentoff before Defoe"s replacement Roman Pavlyuchenko came on to score twogoals and send another, less contentious, message to his manager in aweek when the Russian criticised Redknapp over his treatment sincejoining the club for 14million 18 months ago.

Even in victory, the Spurs boss could not resist a veiled dig atPavlyuchenko"s work ethic. He said: "Pav"s got ability and when hewants to play and wants to work, he"s a good player. Technically he"stop class, and the fans love him. It was good to see him come off thebench and grab two.

"I said today the whole country is going to be looking at us and asking if we"re a soft touch, but we rolled our sleeves up."

Asked if he was concerned that Defoe"s opening goal was offside, Redknapp joked: "I won"t sleep tonight!"

Roberto Martinez failed to see the funny side, however, and it waseasy to sympathise with the Wigan manager. After tangling with Caldwellby the touchline in the 23rd minute, Defoe responded with an awfullunge at the defender and then shoved his victim in the chest with bothhands.

Determined: Pavlyuchenko beats Wigan"s Maynor Figueroa to the ball to net his first

It was worthy of a red card. Wiley, who missed Patrick Vieira inmidweek kicking Glenn Whelan in the groin, did not even show a yellow.

Defoe had already hurt Wigan enough this season after scoring fivegoals when Tottenham won 9-1 at White Hart Lane in November, but hemade the most of his lucky escape by scoring his 22nd of the seasonfour minutes later.

Wiley got it right this time by playing on when Hendry Thomasflattened David Bentley in midfield, and Niko Kranjcar released GarethBale on the overlap.

If there is any benefit whatsoever in having rugby league markingson a football pitch, it makes offside decisions even clearer, butassistant Simpson failed to spot Defoe more than a yard offside as heturned Bale"s low cross past Chris Kirkland in the 27th minute.

"It leaves a bad taste," said Martinez. "With the condition of thepitch, the first goal was going to be paramount. It"s a game of errorsand you have close calls, but to get someone one-and-a-half yardsoffside when the linesman has got nobody in his vision is verydifficult to explain. It should have been disallowed. They didn"texplain why. I tried to have a word at half-time but they didn"t seemto be in control of that area.

Off the mark: Defoe scores Tottenham"s first

"I don"t like to blame the referee but today it"s very difficult toexplain his performance. It"s a feeling of clear frustration."

It was of no consolation to Martinez that Defoe was finally bookedfor encroaching at a free-kick five minutes before half-time afterbeing warned by Wiley not to do so.

He had already become a target for the Wigan fans, and Spursassistant boss Kevin Bond admitted that one of the reasons Defoe wasreplaced by Pavlyuchenko was because they feared a red card.

MATCH FACTS

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-5-1): Kirkland 6; Melchiot 5, Caldwell 7, Scharner 6, Figueroa 6; NZogbia 7, Diame 6, Thomas 5 (Moses 56min, 6), McCarthy 6, Rodallega 5; Moreno 6 (Sinclair 76, 6).Booked: Diame, McCarthy.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomez 6; Corluka 6, King 6 (Bassong 52, 6), Dawson 7, Bale 8; Bentley 7, Huddlestone 6, Palacios 7, Kranjcar 6 (Modric 69, 7); Crouch 6, Defoe 6 (Pavlyuchenko 73, 7).Booked: Bentley, Defoe, Dawson, Huddlestone.

Man of the match: Gareth Bale.

Referee: Alan Wiley.

The change came in between two challenges in quick succession byHuddlestone; the first earned a booking for holding back CharlesN"Zogbia, and the second was a late challenge on James McCarthy thatwent unpunished.

Martinez added: "I felt Huddlestone and Defoe did enough to be sentoff. Defoe had both feet off the ground and it"s clearly a red card.Huddlestone gets a yellow card and the next challenge is also worthy ofa yellow card. I don"t think that we got the same treatment. Littlechallenges from our side were punished straightaway with a booking, butthey weren"t treated in the same manner.

"There are that many decisions, and there is nothing stopping the referee from making the right judgment.

"The 3-0 scoreline doesn"t reflect the performance at all." Kirklandcame out to block from Crouch, and Luka Modric hit a post with afirst-time shot before he set up the second goal for Pavlyuchenko inthe 84th minute, slipping the ball through for the Russian, who heldoff the challenge of Maynor Figueroa to score.

Pavlyuchenko netted another in the third of four minutes of addedtime, directing the ball home from a tight angle despite Figueroa"sefforts after Kirkland had saved his header. Wigan had their chances,too.

The best of them saw Heurelho Gomes turn over Hugo Rodallega"srising right-foot effort from the edge of the area, but a lack ofattacking threat - just three goals in seven games - is damaging theirchances of staying in the top flight.

For Redknapp and Spurs, riding high in fourth and dreaming of the Champions League, it could not look much better.

More...New deal to ease King"s pain after Spurs skipper"s impressive seasonTottenham boss Redknapp insists Champions League is within reachNigeria attempt to beat England in the chase for Wigan forward MosesWIGAN ATHLETIC FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NETTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET

The Devon getaway that strikes similar to a dart to the heart

The curtains in our sitting room slid back to reveal a majestic view of the River Dart.

My sons Lucas and Theo pressed their noses to the floor-to-ceiling windows and squealed with delight as they watched a small ferry make its way from Dartmouth to Noss.

Tuck in: Margarita and son Lucas enjoy lunch at Riverford Farm

We were staying in a self-catering apartment at Dart Marina in Dartmouth for a long weekend.

The accommodation was luxuriously spacious, with wonderfully comfortable beds and gizmos galore, including remote-controls to operate the curtains and lights.

Over breakfast, the sight of yachts in the marina made me yearn for a boat of my own. Wouldn"t it be perfect to have one moored nearby, ready to explore the South Devon coastline?

Heaven in Devon: Dartmouth enjoys spectacular views over the river and access to Agatha Christie"s home and garden

Our first task was to investigate the waterfront, inspecting Dartmouth"s old buildings as we went. The Butterwalk, home to the town"s museum, was built in the 1600s. It is a classic Tudor building supported on granite columns.

We also found The Cherub pub, Dartmouth"s oldest building, which dates from 1380. Later we walked to Bayard"s Cove, where the Pilgrim Fathers moored for a short time before sailing to the New World in August 1620.

More...Raymond Blanc"s own Kitchen Secret: the Michelin-starred chef loves English cheeseUK holiday tours: Let the experts show you Britain with top escorted getawaysFind the best of the latest travel deals here

Our walk gave us an appetite and we took a 30-minute drive out of town to the Riverford Organic Farm Field Kitchen in Buckfastleigh for a delicious lunch, with amazing vegetable combinations and gorgeously filling desserts. Yet somehow we made room later for an authentic Devon cream tea in the village of Ashprington.

Next day - following a short excursion across the river as foot passengers on the ferry - I had a relaxing Elemis face-and-body treatment at Dart Marina"s spa, while the boys and my husband splashed about in the indoor pool and Jacuzzi. Then we walked to the nearby Wildfire Bistro, where we enjoyed a superb fish lunch.

That afternoon, we drove along the scenic coastal road to the award-winning Blackpool Sands. The boys loved playing on the pine-fringed beach, which has an almost Mediterranean feel.

Digging it: Theo at Blackpool Sands

We also travelled to Slapton Sands, a beautiful long stretch of beach backed by a freshwater lagoon - which was used by the US military to rehearse for the D-Day landings in Normandy.

During one exercise in 1944, more than 700 soldiers died when their landing craft were hit by German torpedoes. We stopped by a Sherman tank which was recovered from the sea bed and is now displayed as a memorial to the dead.

On our last morning, we strolled along the waterfront to catch the ferry to Dittisham. High on the river bank opposite we could see Agatha Christie"s house, Greenway, which is owned by the National Trust and open to visitors. Unfortunately we didn"t leave ourselves time to explore Dittisham.

The pub was closed and, rather than wait an hour for the next ferry, we made a mad dash to catch the boat we had just arrived on, which was about to go back. It was a real wrench to leave our apartment - I had fallen in love with this part of Devon.

Travel facts

Coast & Country Cottages (01803 839499, www.coastandcountry.co.uk) offers the apartment at Dart Marina from 750 per week.

A 75-minute Elemis face-and-body treatment costs 80. See www.dartmarina.com. For further information about Devon, go to www.visitdevon.co.uk.

Dying to Live blog that chronicles professors conflict with engine neurone disease is online strike

A university professor chronicling his battle with motor neurone disease through an intimate online diary has attracted 200,000 followers in just nine months.

Professor Mark Cato, 75, launched his blog Dying to Live last year, after being diagnosed with the muscle-wasting terminal illness.

The top law professor, who has lectured around the world, visited his doctor after noticing his right arm becoming weak and floppy as he worked out in the gym.

Blog: Inspirational university professor Mark Cato details his intimate moments battling the terminal illness Motor Neurone Disease

The grandfather-of-three was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in March 2008. MND kills 50 per cent of sufferers within 14 months, while the remaining sufferers can expect to live for just two to five years.

But Professor Cato, who lives with his wife Alice, 70, in Saffron Walden, Essex, set up an internet site to show other sufferers that "life goes on".

Inspiration: Dr Mark Cato has done his best to maintain the lifestyle he had prior to his illness

The condition means that the academic cannot type - he described his hands as being "no more useful than flippers" - but instead dictates his entries using a microphone on his voice-activated computer.

Professor Cato, who can still walk and continues to work and travel, uses the site to relate tongue-in-cheek anecdotes of day trips to London where he was mistaken for a drunk, as well as Tuesday golf sessions and lecturing trips to Beijing.

He also talks of inventions he has designed to help him overcome his physical problems around the house. One is a handy cigar holder made from a wooden kitchen roll holder fitted with three metal clips to carry his favourite Monte Christos.

Between the light-hearted tales are details of his gruellingstruggles through medical tests and the deterioration in his health.

Since its launch in June last year, www.dmarkcato.com has been viewed by more than 205,000 people around the world.

MNDaffects seven in 100,000 people in the UK. It attacks the nerves thatsend messages to muscles, leading to wasting of muscle tissue,paralysis and finally death.

Last night Professor Cato said he was stunned by the response to the blog.

He said: "I launched the blog to inspire people who were ill, dying or depressed and show them that I am still playing golf, lecturing and travelling despite the illness.

"The upbeat nature is of paramount importance and in between the medical points there are jokes and anecdotes drawn from my own experience.

"If people can chuckle for five minutes, and realise that life maybe isn"t as bad as they think, that"s what it"s all about. My hands aren"t much more use than flippers anymore but I can still dictate a good yarn for the blog."

"I launched the blog to inspire people who were ill, dying or depressed"

He added: "I can"t pretend I was excited about having motor neurone disease and I know how I am going to die and the horrible things which are going to happen to me.

"When it hits the throat, that"s the ultimate finish. You can"t swallow, can"t speak, can"t breathe. You die of suffocation or drowning in fluid from your lungs.

"I knew I had a five-year death penalty, but there was no horror or sudden deep decline and I am battling through adversity."

The professor, who was crowned the world"s first Monopoly Champion in 1972, qualified as a chartered surveyor aged 21 before going to work in Australia and Arabia.

He beat prostate cancer after undergoing a prostatectomy which left him incontinent and needing an implant to control his urinary tract.

He went back to university and graduated with a Masters Degree in law from Kings College, London, at the age of 59. He has been lecturing on arbitration and dispute resolution in Britain and China for 25 years and has published four books.

In 2002 he was made a visiting professor at Shandong University, in China.

Mrs Cato, his wife of 47 years, described her husband as an "extremely gutsy and courageous person".

Professor Cato added: "The last entry will be the day before I die and hopefully I can pass away knowing I have given some solace to others in the same predicament.

"When I can"t eat or sleep and I am a complete vegetable, I hope I slip away in a dignified manner with a bottle of Bollinger and my family around me."

Celtic subsequent after Ross Countys hulk murdering Scotland

Graham Spiers & , : {}

Ross County last night tasted one of the greatest nights in the Highland clubs 81-year history when Derek Adamss side dumped Hibernian out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup to land a semi-final place against Celtic next month.

Goals from Garry Wood and Scott Boyd the latters winner in the 2-1 victory coming with just one minute of regulation time remaining stunned Hibernian, who had taken the lead through Anthony Stokes just after half-time. Wood equalised after 69 minutes before Boyds dramatic winner for the Irn-Bru first division club.

The outcome triggered delirium inside Victoria Park, whose tight 6,000 capacity housed as many people on the night as actually live in Dingwall. A pitch invasion at the final whistle left most of the County players being engulfed.

County will now face Celtic next month, while Hibernian will be subject once more to their annual, painful taunt. It is now, officially, 108 years since the Easter Road side last won Scotlands national cup competition.

Related LinksBoyds late winner sends Hibernian packingGardyne excited at prospect of Celtic draw

The night was a family triumph for George and Derek Adams George being Countys director of football, while Derek, his son, is the clubs manager. Between them the pair have revived the Dingwall club, who are also currently chasing promotion to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

It is unbelievable for a small town like us it is a dream occasion for us, Derek Adams said. Weve got a great team spirit. My players never know when they are beaten. This is a great occasion.

I am delighted for everybody, but I never stop to enjoy the moment. I always look forward to the next game. Weve got a big game coming up against Dundee on Saturday, so Im now praying about that.

Roy MacGregor, a long-standing fan and benefactor of the club, was also beside himself at the outcome. It has been wonderful tonight to see the joy and excitement of our fans, he said. Weve got an old-fashioned football ground here at Victoria Park and it made the occasion all the more exciting. Weve put this club on the map once more tonight.

John Hughes, the Hibernian manager, said he found the whole occasion galling. Its a huge disappointment, he said. We are not playing well at this moment in time.

We are not expressing ourselves right at the moment as a team. I think one or two of my players could look in the mirror and ask, Could I do more? Weve got the talent here, but we also need hard work, plus that mental tool.

But, as much as it pains me, I give credit to Ross County and I hope they go and enjoy their semi at Hampden.

Judges fright prisons will detonate underneath new rules

Frances Gibb, Legal Editor & , : {}

Britains heading rapist judges advise that a reorganization of sentencing discipline could pull jail overcrowding to predicament levels.

They fright that the Sentencing Council, that comes in to force subsequent month with the target of bringing some-more coherence to courts, will not quell judges make make make use of of of of custody, as hoped, but essentially enlarge it.

The Council of Circuit Judges, that represents 600 judges in England and Wales, told The Times that they would be left with no leisure to fit punishments to the specific resources of a case. They fright that cuts to reconstruction programmes will leave judges with no choice in a little cases but to jail offenders.

Judge Keith Cutler, vice-president of the Council of Circuit Judges, pronounced that the Sentencing Council requires that judges contingency follow guidelines, rather than take comment of them.

Related LinksOverloaded courts at violation point, says decider Fewer people should be sent to prisonTry your palm at sentencing

Although a little concessions were secured, permitting judges to judgment inside of a extended rope of endorsed penalties, they are endangered that they will be severely restricted.

Judges lend towards to make make make use of of of their option to work towards leniency, he said. We fright that the order contingency follow will eat away legal option and that will lead to heavier sentences.The goal was that the life of the legislature would revoke the make make make use of of of of custody. But in the benefaction meridian it is doubtful to issue discipline that are some-more lenient. Imagine the open outcry.

He pronounced that judges were in foster of village penalties where appropriate. But if someone needs a drug involvement programme and we are told that the Probation Service cant means it, you competence have to jail them to safeguard they got treatment.

Statistics for the last entertain of 2009 show that normal sentences were already removing longer: 33 per cent of sentences were 6 months or some-more compared with fifteen per cent in the prior year. The normal length was 197 days, up from 140 days.

If judges leisure is serve limited sentences might go on to rise. The jail race stood at 84,073 last week, less than 2,400 next capacity.

The Sentencing Council, chaired by Lord Justice Leveson, will issue discipline and guard the stroke of sentencing and of new probity legislation.

David Thomas, QC, writer of the heading text Sentencing Referencer, pronounced that all existent discipline would have to be rewritten to mention the new categories. At present, judges have far-reaching discretion: for robbery, the range is twelve months to twelve years; and for causing genocide by dangerous pushing 2 years to fourteen years.

Dominic Grieve, the Shadow Justice Secretary, said: The sincere target was to give larger coherence in sentencing. But the growth target was to emanate a complement by that ministers could foreordain that judges contingency take comment of the accessibility of jail places.

A Ministry of Justice orator insisted that judges option would sojourn unobstructed and would be respected. There will not be an American-style sentencing grid or matrix, he said. Judges will still have the option and coherence to give the judgment they think majority appropriate. Judicial option in sentencing in particular cases is the cornerstone of the probity system. We are not going to shift that.

hair wig

Message board: Too immature to sin

& , : {}

Angela MeesMurder is an adult crime? Since when? Children have killed for as prolonged as we have tangible what a kid is. It occurs often by ignorance, spasmodic by mental illness. But any nation that would severely indicate the execution or hold up bonds of a 10-year-old, rather than inspect because such an action took place, is damaged indeed.

Anne OliverSomeone needs to be hold accountable. If the chairman is as well young, afterwards the relatives should be hold accountable.

Sebastian WattsI cannot accept that a kid elderly eight, 9 or 10 does not know that murdering or torturing a kid is wrong. Are we observant that it is unfit for young kids to assimilate that they are inflicting pain?

Lucius MalfoyI do not think I had the smallest grasp of the law, crime or anything else, alternative than a ubiquitous idea of right and wrong, when I was 12.

Adrian ClarkThe issue here seems to be either a kid knows he is you do right or wrong. A obliged and amatory primogenitor will learn their young kids these simple dignified codes. A kid comes to know that there will be consequences for both great and bad behaviour. [The Bulger killers] Thompson and Venables knew what they were you do was wrong but probably believed there were no consequences. The shortcoming here lies especially with the relatives who unsuccessful to teach any morals.

hair wig

KKR and Warner eye break-up bid for bum EMI

James Ashton & , : {}

KKR, the in isolation equity firm, is in talks with Warner Music to launch a break-up bid for Warners rival, EMI.

The dual have met in new weeks to plead how they would make up a understanding for EMI, that is approaching to be put up for sale this summer.

The explanation ups the ante for EMI, home to artists such as Robbie Williams and Coldplay. It contingency digest a rescue plan in the subsequent 3 weeks that will remonstrate investors to branch up an additional 120m or face being taken over in Jun by the lender, Citigroup. Last week, EMI was rocked by the sudden depart of song trainer Elio Leoni-Sceti.

KKR, that filed for a New York batch marketplace inventory on Friday, is penetrating to take EMIs song edition arm, that owns the rights to songs such as Over the Rainbow and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It already has a edition corner try with Germanys Bertelsmann.

Related LinksEMI arch Elio Leoni-Sceti walks awayEMI turns to ex-ITV trainer to lead turnaround

Warner wants EMIs available song multiplication a esteem it has pursued for scarcely a decade. The tie-up has formerly been shut off by foe authorities, but Warner arch Edgar Bronfman Jnr is certain it will go by this time.

Bankers worth EMI Music Publishing at 1.2 billion. Putting a cost on the available song arm is most harder. Although it generated 55% of EMIs 293m organisation gain prior to restructuring costs last year, buyers consternation either it has a future. Big-name acts such as the Rolling Stones and Radiohead have already deserted, with some-more approaching to follow.

Sources contend there has nonetheless to be any hit with EMI and that a bid is doubtful to occur until the association has resolved the event with Citi. It contingency find 120m to heal a compact crack on the 3.2 billion of loans by Jun 14. At the same time, EMIs owner, Terra Firma, has soured family with Citi by suing it for allegedly dubious it over the sale of EMI in 2007.

Both groups of EMI are scheming five-year commercial operation plans that will embody distinction projections but are not thought to appoint resources for disposal. Charles Allen, the former ITV trainer who has stepped up to reinstate Leoni-Sceti as senior manager authority of EMI Music, will target to denote how EMI has grown arguable gain streams in areas such as digital. He will point out EMI can still furnish hits, such as Plastic Beach, the new recover from Gorillaz.

The commercial operation plan will be submitted by Maltby Investments, one of EMIs primogenitor companies, that will intercede in between Terra Firma and Citi. To give it an additional twelve months of respirating space, Terra Firma needs to win the subsidy of 150 out of 200 investors, who have already seen their primary 1.8 billion EMI investment all but wiped out.

However, Maltby is additionally approaching to suggest how most debt EMI can feasibly carry. If Terra Firma and Citi agree, that will pave the approach for a debt-for-equity barter that is expected to palm carry out of EMI to Citi, that will auction off the business.

Hands, who has relocated to Guernsey, will find out in the subsequent dual weeks either he contingency lapse to London for his Citi justice battle.

KKR said: Our process is not to criticism on understanding speculation.

n Online income expansion equivalent CD and DVD decrease for the initial time last year for Britains composers and songwriters. PRS for Music, the pciking up agency, reported annual income up 2.6% at 623m, helped by a 19% enlarge in abroad income.

hair wig

Devastated Wayne Bridge snubs England over John Terry sex liaison Football

Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent & , : {}

Wayne Bridge dumbfounded Fabio Capello this sunrise by branch his behind on his England career, observant that his on all sides had been rendered illogical and potentially divisive by the John Terry affair.

The Manchester City full-back voiced in a make a difference expelled by his lawyers that he has spoken himself taken for preference for England, a move that roughly positively manners him out of row for the World Cup finals.

Bridge has outlayed the past 3 weeks weighing up his options given being ravaged by the explanation that his former partner, Vanessa Perroncel, had an event with Terry, his former Chelsea team-mate.

Sources close to Bridge had hinted on multiform occasions that he would find it intensely formidable to be piece of the same England patrol as Terry, but Capello settled as not prolonged ago as Tuesday that he resolutely approaching both players to finalise the make a difference for the consequence of the inhabitant team.

Related LinksBridge reaction: it is the majority appropriate thing for EnglandCapello hopes time will heal injuries and egosBridge: timeline of sex liaison MultimediaOLIVER KAY QA: Bridge has shop-worn World Cup hopes PATRICK BARCLAY: Neville can compromise left behind complaint DEBATE: Has Bridge let down the nation? TOM DART: Five others who incited their behind on England

Bridge was due to be enclosed to one side Terry in a subject to 30-man patrol for the accessible compare opposite Egypt at Wembley subsequent Wednesday, but he sensitive Capello progressing currently that he felt he could not be piece of the inhabitant group for as prolonged as Terry who has been nude of the captaincy over this and alternative allegations about his in isolation hold up is involved.

In a statement, Bridge said: I have thought prolonged and tough about my on all sides in the England football group in the light of the stating and events over the last couple of weeks. It has regularly been an honour to fool around for England. However, after clever thought I hold my on all sides in the patrol is right away illogical and potentially divisive. Sadly thus I feel for the consequence of the group and in sequence to equivocate what will be unavoidable distractions, I have motionless not to put myself brazen for selection. I have currently sensitive the government of this decision. I instruct the group all the really majority appropriate in South Africa.

Although Bridge is not one of Englands majority critical players, the headlines is a outrageous blow to Capello, not slightest since Ashley Cole, the first-choice left-back, is struggling to be fit for the World Cup after pang a damaged ankle progressing this month. Capello settled quietly progressing this week that Bridge was the No 2 left-back, able of stuffing in for Cole in South Africa if required, but that purpose is right away expected to tumble to Leighton Baines or Stephen Warnock.

The headlines will additionally move Terrys on all sides in the patrol underneath uninformed scrutiny. Although Capello would not demur to select the former captain over Bridge if he had been compulsory to do so, the Chelsea defender will right away be hold obliged for the loss of a renouned team-mate.

Bridge will be incompetent to equivocate Terry in the evident term, however, with Chelsea and City locking horns in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge. With Bridge pronounced to be reluctant to shake up Terrys palm as piece of the pre-match festivities and with 3 of his team-mates carrying publicly displayed Team Bridge T-shirts during the 2-0 win over Portsmouth progressing this month, it promises to be a vigourous occasion.

hair wig

Serial sex delinquent Peter Chapman killed teen neat on facebook

Nico Hines , : {}

A sequence sex-offender was condemned to hold up in jail currently for kidnapping, raping and murdering a teen whom he lured to encounter him utilizing a fake temperament on the amicable networking site Facebook.

Peter Chapman, 33, altered his defence to confess murdering Ashleigh Hall, a 17-year-old student, on the eve of his conference at Teesside Crown Court.

Miss Hall, from Darlington, was strangled and dumped in a farmers margin nearby Sedgefield, County Durham, in Oct last year.

Ashleighs mom Andrea Hall sat with her hands clasped and arms related with dual friends in the open art studio as the conference began. She wept, grimaced and disfigured turn in her chair to glance at Chapman as he entered the guilty pleas.

Related LinksChapman"s prolonged story of rape allegationsFacebook photos led sceptical man to kill girlfriendeBay golf bar conman locked up for 4 years

Judge Peter Fox QC told Chapman that he was expected to outlay the rest of his hold up in jail - he contingency offer a smallest of 35 years in jail prior to he can be deliberate for release.

This was an immorality intrigue really delicately brought, and with substantial detail, to trap your victim, he said. It appears to me that you are, you were at the time, and have been for a little substantial time, a really good risk to immature women and, for what it is worth, I cannot predict your release.

As well as murder, he additionally pleaded guilty to unwell to forewarn military of a shift of address, as compulsory by the sex offenders register.

Chapman has been investigated for at slightest 6 aroused passionate attacks and twice convicted of rape. At the age of nineteen he was condemned to 7 years in jail for raping dual immature prostitutes at knifepoint.

He was expelled from jail in 2001 and has given been suspected of carrying out a series of attacks nothing of the cases went to trial.

In Sep last year, he done hit with Ashleigh, who was captivated by a design of a large immature man that Chapman had posted on the Facebook.

He simulated the design was a loyal design of himself and called himself Peter Cartwright. Ashleigh was one of 173 people to accept him as a crony on the networking site, roughly all of whom were immature women

The night prior to Ashleighs physique was found, she told her mom she was going to stay with a friend, but had motionless to go and encounter her internet friend.

Page 1 of 2&Next Page

Rentokil cancels payout notwithstanding mountainous profits

Francesca Steele & , : {}

Rentokil Initial, the harassment carry out and parcel smoothness group, cancelled the multiplication for 2009, even though it available a climb in increase of some-more than 50 per cent for the year.

Rentokil pronounced that the practiced pre-tax increase for the year were 166.5 million, a 54 per cent climb on the prior year.

However, the organisation pronounced that it would not compensate a last multiplication since of stability mercantile doubt and the enterprise to have firm the change sheet. Alan Brown, the arch executive, pronounced that the association was on the look-out for acquisitions.

Shares in Rentokil rose 5p, or 4 per cent, to 123p.

Related LinksRentokil City Link arch creates warn exit Business big shot: Alan Brown, Rentokil InitialRelieved investors send Rentokil shares mountainous

The association combined that cash-generation had been a key priority in 2009 and that the preference to pass on a dividend, joined with cost-reduction programmes via the year, had authorised it to retire an undrawn 125 million credit trickery twelve months early in September.

Revenue, at 647.6 million, grew by 5 per cent compared with the prior year.

Mr Brown pronounced that the commercial operation was right away seeking towards serve growth. He said: Although we see no easing in mercantile conditions opposite majority of the markets this year, the objectives are to broach medium income growth, take out some-more costs and have serve improvements in patron use and responsiveness.

Above all, in 2010 we intend to lay the foundations for essential expansion in 2011 and beyond.

Rentokil done 82 million of cost assets last year, often from changes at the City Link depot. It is formulation to close five plants opposite Belgium and France in the entrance year and is streamlining alternative operations opposite Europe.

In Jul last year, Petar Cvetkovic, handling executive of City Link, quiescent unexpectedly, among uneasy times for the parcel smoothness sector. However, he had already implemented a five-year liberation plan for the division. City Link returned to profitability in the fourth quarter, nonetheless it still done an handling loss of 5.6 million via the year.

Coronation Street star in Tory "death tax" film

Sam Lister, Health Editor & , : {}

The Conservatives delirious the row over the appropriation of amicable caring yesterday by releasing a video on Labours genocide taxation as the Governments caring accord discussion took place.

Defying requests from charities and caring member to stop domestic point-scoring, the Tories used an speak with the Coronation Street actress William Roache to conflict the choice of a mandatory estate levy.

The move risks isolating the celebration further, after the warding off of Andrew Lansley, the health spokesman, to attend the discussion on anticipating an agreement on how to compensate for long-term caring for the aged and disabled. Mr Lansley had pronounced that he would attend usually on condition that the mandatory levy choice was private from the stability consultation.

After the discussion the Department of Health expelled a make a difference suggesting that a mandatory grant was the rising consensus, but with a accumulation of options as to how people would pay.

Related LinksMystery U-turns on aged caring protestThe Tories will get burnt fighting glow with glow

Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, organized the discussion in reply to a minute from eighteen charities to The Times job for an finish to the mad domestic rows over the appropriation of care. It came after the hostile relapse of tip talks with his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts directed at substantiating cross-party accord on the matter.

In the Tories video, Mr Roache a long-term Conservative believer who plays Ken Barlow in the soap voices his regard about profitable for aged care. Titled William Roache on his worries about Labours genocide tax, the video shows the actress describing his fears that people will lose all of their assets and be left with zero to pass on to their children.

The video comes ten days after the Tories put up poster advertisement posters around London depicting a gravestone and notice of Labours plans for a genocide tax, call mad exchanges and calls from all sides to finish domestic squabbling on the debate.

Dame Joan Bakewell, the eccentric hold up for comparison people, told The Times that the move by the Tories was a process of desperation.

Everyone thinks the a great thought to know, assimilate and cruise all the options. This is a counsel preelection stunt, she said.

Imelda Redmond, arch senior manager of Carers UK, described the disastrous campaigning as really disappointing. She pronounced that concerns about the mandatory estate levy choice didnt get most of a plead at the conference.

Stakeholders are not entrance from the same place [as the Tories], she said. The discussion was a great event to air views on all options available, and to plead things similar to ensuring there is sufficient supply of caring in the right places.

Some representatives accepted, however, that the discussion was itself a square of domestic game-playing written to confuse Mr Lansley. The Shadow Health Secretary pronounced that he was happy to speak to anybody, anytime, anywhere but would not be drawn in to a Labour Party domestic smokescreen.

One million baby slings removed after links to infant deaths

1218PM GMT twenty-four March 2010

The slings hang around the chest so on-the-go relatives can lift their babies or only stay close as they down payment with their infants

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission pronounced babies could stifle in the soft fabric slings. The group urged relatives to rught away stop utilizing the slings for babies underneath 4 months old.

The stop involves 1 million Infantino "SlingRider" and "Wendy Bellissimo" slings in the United States and 15,000 in Canada.

Japan finds melamine in Chinese-made pumpkin steam buns Fears lifted over Chinese standards as US recalls 1.6m cots following deaths Chinese systematic cover of sinister divert liaison China divert liaison Two condemned to genocide Baby regulation stop in China after infant genocide

Jack Vresics, Infantino"s president, pronounced the association has been operative closely with the commission on the concerns over the sling.

"Our tip priority is the reserve of infants whose relatives and caregivers make use of the products," Mr Vresics pronounced in a statement. He pronounced the association would suggest a free deputy baby carrier, wake up gym or selling transport cover to any influenced consumer.

The slings hang around the chest so on-the-go relatives can lift their babies or only stay close as they down payment with their infants.

Earlier this month, CPSC released a extended notice about sling-style baby carriers, observant they poise a intensity suffocation risk to infants, generally babies underneath 4 months. Babies who had a low bieing innate weight, were innate betimes or had respirating problems such as colds were additionally at risk.

At the time, the commission did not singular out a specific sort of rope or manufacturer. It pronounced it had identified or was questioning at slightest fourteen deaths in the last twenty years compared with baby slings.

In Wednesday"s announcement, CPSC pronounced 3 of the deaths occurred last year and were related to Infantino slings. It did not contend just how the babies died.

In the ubiquitous rope notice progressing this month, CPSC pronounced infants can stifle in dual opposite ways

A sling"s fabric can press opposite a baby"s nose and mouth, restraint the baby"s respirating and suffocating a baby inside of a notation or two.

The alternative unfolding involves slings where the baby is cradled in a winding or "C-like" position, nestling the baby next the mother"s chest or nearby her belly. That winding on all sides can means a baby who doesn"t have clever neck carry out to wave the head forward, chin-to-chest, restricting the infant"s capability to breathe. "The baby will not be means to cry for assistance and can solemnly suffocate," warned the commission.

Slings have been promoted by baby experts as a approach to ease strict babies or for nursing mothers who can breast-feed their young kids in the sling.

Consumer Reports lifted concerns about slings behind in 2008, and had called on CPSC to issue a stop of the Infantino SlingRider. Safety advocates criticised the winding on all sides that the baby can tumble in to whilst inside the sling.

Baby experts and breast-feeding advocates demand that not all slings are dangerous. They contend carriers that keep a baby baby completely opposite the mother"s physique in an honest on all sides are safe.

The Infantino slings being removed were sole from 2003 by 2010 at multiform retailers, together with Target, Babies R Us and Burlington Coat Factory.

Fallen stars cant make amends by essay for young kids (includes video)

Amanda Craig & , : {}

What is it that draws embattled celebrities to essay childrens books? Once on a time, when open total were tarnished by illicit love event or alternative peccadilloes, they would take up free causes. The late John Profumo, whose Cabinet career imploded when his event with the call-girl Christine Keeler was exposed, expiated his sins by a lifetime of work on interest of Londons poor. He finished his days a improved man for it.

Now, however, celebrities try to wash afar their past by essay childrens books. This week sees the announcement of The Queen Must Die by one K. A. S. Quinn. She is nothing alternative than Kimberly Fortier, the former publishing house of The Spectator, whose unfaithful event with David Blunkett, afterwards Home Secretary, resulted in majority scandal, and a child. The British press, cruel as it is, will regularly pardon a penitent, generally one as crafty and desirable as Mrs Quinn. Her book is a magical, time-travel journey in the cover done renouned by E. Nesbit, and essentially not a bad bid but because write one at all? Madonna and Jordan have both followed this frequented route, as has Sarah, Duchess of York, post the scandalous toe-sucking incident.

The unusual success of J. K. Rowlings Harry Potter books cant be discounted, since that majority abounding people will burst at a possibility at removing richer still. Yet it is the design of childrens books as something pristine and chaste in this soiled universe that is majority appealing. When Madonna promoted her design books, desirous by the Kabbalah, she was attempting to remodel herself in the design of a important English dame who would never mental condition of cavorting similar to a porn star. The glorious indication Jordan, with whom we competence join forces with roving of utterly a opposite kind, has had a array of books about ponies ghosted underneath her genuine name, Katie Price. Sarah Ferguson anthropomorphised helicopters, recalling her honour in Prince Andrew during his piloting days. Religion, competition and troops use plan a rational design that promises to column up a flagging brand.

A reformed sinner is regularly a renouned figure, and never some-more so than when she morphs from prostitute to Madonna, studiously celebration of the mass her own work aloud to a throng of tinies as well small to know, or care, about smut.

The complaint is that immature kids are additionally the sternest critics, and novel for them is tough to compose. To write for them is not similar to being cleared in the red blood of the Lamb: it is similar to lying down in front of a unit of hungry, irked immature lions. Few celebrities, in moody from paparazzi, appear wakeful of this. They will, however, find out.

Amanda Craig is childrens book censor of The Times

Iraqs traffic method strike by 2.6 billion fraud

Marie Colvin & , : {}

Rampant supervision crime emerged as one of the greatest issues in the choosing campaign, with the bearing of a outrageous rascal at the traffic ministry.

Sabah al-Saadi, head of the Iraqi parliaments anti-corruption committee, pronounced papers showed that $4 billion (2.6 billion) had left blank from the ministry, but that the sum could be as high as $8 billion in the past 4 years.

Saadi pronounced he was posterior 20,000 authorised cases for executive corruption, majority of that had been behind until a new supervision was installed.

At his prosaic in executive Baghdad, Saadi pronounced his cabinet had found crime in roughly each supervision ministry. The liaison at the traffic method has already resulted in the abdication of Abdul Falah al-Sudani, the minister, who was arrested as he attempted to rush the nation for Dubai.

Related LinksGuns, women and wasted Iraqi supports Iraq insurgents try to explosion elections off march

Saadi deliberate the rascal at the traffic method the misfortune e.g. not usually since of the scale but since it strike so most bad Iraqis. The method reserve critical food rations to 60% of the country.

Saadi, a claimant for Fadila, a Shiite party, explained how the rascal worked. In one scam, hurtful officials paid for cheap, prehistoric food and charged the method the full price, pocketing the difference.

In an additional fraud, officials paid for products at full price, afterwards stole them and sole them behind on to the market, replacing them with poor substitutes from the ministrys stocks. In a third, miserly officials worked in tandem with merchants, profitable up to stand in the genuine cost and bursting the difference.

The liaison came to light last year when the method had to ask council to tip up the budget. Saadi pronounced an review showed usually half those authorised were reception their full rations of necessary items, together with sugar, tea and in progress oil.

Shopkeepers reliable Saadis charges. Makkey Khazal Racheed, who owns a emporium in the abundant Karrada district of Baghdad, constructed a array of allotment cards. They showed that of 9 staples granted monthly, sugarine had not been accessible for 7 months. Supplies of tea were sporadic.

Saadi additionally cited the counterclaim ministry, where purported rascal has ranged from the squeeze of officers commissions to millions outlayed on bribes for aircraft paid for overseas.

Another huge rascal underneath review involves a British organisation pronounced to have been paid $85m by the interior method to supply wands, that presumably acknowledge explosives. The Iraqi supervision paid 26,000 per wand, even though they are allegedly value a fragment of this.

The income that is being siphoned off comes from Iraqi oil revenues. They are hidden from the Iraqi people, Saadi said. I guess that 50% to 75% of the financing of terrorism comes from corruption.

Portsmouth goal to begin subsequent deteriorate with "completely new team" Football

Portsmouth will be authorised to sell players outward the send window to ease their monetary pressures. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA Archive/Press Association Ima

The director at Portsmouth, Andrew Andronikou, wants the bar to begin subsequent deteriorate with an wholly new group after they were since accede by the Premier League to sell players outward the send window.

Andronikou additionally suggested that 10 first-team players are up for sale, whilst multiform some-more will leave Fratton Park in the summer when their contracts end, as the bar attempts to both lift �30m and revoke their salary bill. The bar will afterwards move in players on free transfers in the summer.

Andronikou told ESPN: "First of all, I contingency encourage the supporters that we will begin subsequent deteriorate with a utterly new team, one that we hold will be means to compete, but majority importantly we will have cumulative the destiny of the bar for subsequent deteriorate and the deteriorate after that, at least.

"We have got to be crafty in the approach we maximize the worth of the clubs biggest asset, the players themselves. We need to sell in in between eight and 10 of the first-team squad. We right away have a initial group patrol of 28, we have 40 players at this club.

"We will have as most again who will be entrance to the finish of their contract, and we will be vouchsafing them go. The reason is that the diversion as a total will be shedding hundreds if not thousands of players this summer, and we can collect up a little tip bent on free transfers."

The Premier League has concluded that the bar might sell players outward the send window but usually underneath sure conditions. Portsmouth will usually be authorised to sell a player to a opposition Premier League bar underneath the condition the player does not fool around initial group football for their new side prior to the finish of this season. However, they will be means to come to terms "lease-back" deals that concede the players to see out the deteriorate at Fratton Park notwithstanding being sold.

Andronikou said: "We cannot sell to the Premier League rivals, of course, but with the Premier League giving us the benefaction to sell outward of the send window, we can sell players right away and keep them."

He added: "It is not usually realising a collateral benefit from the sale of players but we will additionally be shortening the overheads – we will be creation big inroads in to shortening a grievous salary bill.

"The intent is to lift in in between �20m and �30m in player sales, and we know we have 10 players who will capture clubs and are already attracting clubs."

The bar will be authorised to sell players to Football League or unfamiliar clubs but usually with Fifa"s approval.

"There are additionally a little markets whose windows are open," pronounced Andronikou, "such as Russia and the Middle East, and we are already negotiating to sell one player to the Middle East, nonetheless not for a good understanding of money."

Portsmouth have already been deducted 9 points for going in to administration department and their relegation from the Premier League is all but assured. They had formerly appealed to be means to sell players outward the send window last month but were incited down.

Chris Hughtons jot down is over words

Rod Liddle & , : {}

WHEN the Macclesfield manager, Keith Alexander, died last week, one of the initial tributes to him was filed by Chris Hughton, the physical education instructor of Newcastle United. It was, as common with Hughton, tedious and predictable: poetic man, nobody had a bad word to contend about him, good purpose indication for black players and managers.

All true, of course. Alexander was regarded, rightly, as probably a saint even whilst alive no meant attainment in the universe of veteran football decent, loyal, committed and talented, competence be in that order. But there was no soundbite in Hughtons memorial to his colleague, zero to grab the attention; there never is.

He doesnt unequivocally do the press thing, Hughton, and when he does he doesnt do it unequivocally well. When the Geordies are about to fool around a diversion and Hughton is asked for his prophecy he regularly says the same thing that it will be parsimonious since the hostile side are well organised. He even says that when Newcastle fool around QPR. He would probably contend it if Newcastle played the supervision of Somalia, or Babyshambles, or the Greek treasury. The same lifeless recitation of how it isnt going to be easy, since zero is.

But if there is to be a grade of objectivity at the finish of the deteriorate about who should be crowned the most appropriate manager, opposite all 4 divisions, who could disagree opposite the choosing of Hughton, even if his group lost each one of their last twelve games? His feat at St James Park has been small short of incredible, and opposite all odds. He has created a group of highly-strung, querulous small Premier League monkeys in to unusually committed battlers who are rebuilt to throw it out, when necessary, opposite the likes of Watford and Peterborough.

Related LinksRacist? Been there, finished that, paid for the T-shirtThey have peep saves but wheres the Mr Dependable?Unequal conflict is enormous the games fortitude

It is customarily the box that the some-more gilded the group relegated from the tip division, the some-more they will onslaught in the Championship; the some-more problems there will be in the sauce room, the some-more angst from desirous supporters, the some-more rumblings of displeasure from the board. None of that at Newcastle. Hughton has even won over the fans, as well he should since his win record, prior to yesterdays match, was a perceptibly convincing 58%. He has secure in being a bar that for as well prolonged had the sort of ambitions occasioned by a thriving every day money coming in of psychotropic drugs. Who would have guessed, last July, since the disharmony and violence that pertained at Newcastle?

The mutation is down to Hughton, and flattering most Hughton alone. Some cynics will contend that one reason Newcastle have finished so well this deteriorate is since their players have found their loyal level, that the likes of Alan Smith and Steven Taylor were regularly Championship players in all but name. But Hughton has additionally paid for well, and imposed a grade of fortify and ruthlessness on a side hooked to desiring it was a lot improved than it unequivocally was.

He is 51 now, that competence come as a warn when you see at him. And you competence proceed to consternation because his qualities as a physical education instructor were not recognized prolonged prior to now. Is there still a small extremist undertow that prevents black players, similar to Hughton, from apropos managers? You would theory so.

Some twenty years ago the afterwards Crystal Palace authority Ron Noades referred to that yer blacks, yer darkies, were fine in aggressive positions, but not most make use of when it came to defending, didnt have the fortify or the genius etcetera. Silly sod. Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand laid to rest that misapprehension, if it ever indispensable laying to rest. All black defenders indispensable was the possibility to be judged objectively instead of in a extremist demeanour by conceited gutbucket Tory chairmen. I consternation if the default on all sides between Noades benefaction day equivalents is that yer blacks, yer darkies well, theyre fine at playing, and they can even defend, marry concur that, but they dont have the genius to manage.

Hughtons prior reign as a physical education instructor was at those alternative long-lived under-achievers, Tottenham Hotspur. He was commissioned as caretaker physical education instructor for 6 games behind in 1998. He did unequivocally well in truth and his points jot down from an admittedly small bottom would put him in the tip five of Spurs managers from the past 125 years. But Spurs felt that they deserved improved than Hughton, they longed for somebody with an fair lane record, with chutzpah and brilliance, somebody to lead them to excellence rather than only safety. Which is because they allocated George Graham instead.

You be concerned a small about what will occur when the Geordies are promoted. You be concerned that they might, once again, be cheerless by intimations of greatness, by an arrogant clarity of themselves as sleeping giants who have suddenly, by chance, woken up, and that after 6 matches when they are residing in the bottom eight and, oddly, not on march for the Champions League, feel that they have somebody in assign of them who does not compare up to the picture they have of themselves. And they will try to draw towards bad Kevin Keegan out of his senescence, or begin importuning Alan Shearer. Dont let it happen, you Geordies; hang with the man who has already achieved miracles, watched all the whilst from on high by Keith Alexander.

It wasnt a pursuit but a lifestyle

First Person by Tristan Louis & , : {}

Youre not being desirous enough.

I was sitting opposite from a obvious try capitalist, presenting a new dot-com start-up with a plan to have $100 million in each year income by the fifth year. There was usually one hitch: the date was Feb 2000 and, as the try entrepreneur put it: If it doesnt contend billions, we cant take you public.

The dot-com feeling of well-being was in full pitch and, for a little of us, an nervous feeling that we competence have to compensate the piper earlier or after was starting to take hold. But the markets kept proof us wrong.

With income being radically free, dot-coms were not charity a pursuit but a lifestyle. We worked in offices that were piece office, piece clubhouse, with the majority appropriate of all from seat (the famous Aeron chair was the default) to 24/7 food services and on-site chefs. We brought dogs to work, rode around on scooters and played with the ultimate PlayStations and this was work.

Related LinksThe majority appropriate and misfortune of dot-com insanity

The new manners pronounced that work was fun, and we were conceptualizing a new universe to have that anticipation real, expanding to an ethos of prolonged hours in the bureau followed by parties featuring tip song bent I tangled with David Bowie and at an additional the Fugees played for 60 of us, it was unreal. It felt similar to we were vital in a movie.

At a little of the parties, industry veterans (people with some-more than five years experience) would wheeze about overheating. But that was far from the renouned perspective and even the majority regressive people doubted their own feelings about this, presumption that, given all seemed to be relocating along, their tummy was wrong.

It incited out that the tummy feeling was right and that the imaginary state we were in would shortly come to a crash. It would be the last time I would omit my tummy feeling.

• Tristan Louis worked on multiform internet start-ups, together with Boo.com and Earthweb. He right away functions on internet plan for a large bank in New York.

War was right call even if I didnt know most about it says Gordon Brown

David Brown & , : {}

There were regrets, suffering and justifications but Gordon Brown insisted yesterday that notwithstanding loss of hold up it had been the right preference to overpower Saddam Hussein.

The Prime Minister shielded both his consequential domestic subsidy for Tony Blairs fight plans and his own purpose as Chancellor in appropriation the Armed Forces during the dispute and occupation.

His justification to the Chilcot exploration was met with dishonesty by former commanders and counterclaim chiefs.

Major-General Patrick Cordingley, who ordered 7th Armoured Brigade in the Gulf War and late from the Army in 2000, said: I think it is formidable to see how ones demur can be transparent when the really viewable that the Armed Forces have been underfunded for most years. Despite enough income being accessible for operational requirements, it never overcame the capacity opening that had grown up over the years.

Related LinksBrown creates warn Afghan visitDefence chiefs conflict Brown"s Chilcot evidenceIt was similar to listening to him give a BudgetMultimediaGRAPHIC: 4 faces of Brown

Another comparison counterclaim source said: If it was probable for us to do whatever we longed for to do afterwards because has roughly each alternative singular declare to the exploration pronounced that the operation was undermanned and under-resourced?

Mr Brown pronounced that he had been unknowingly of key questions surrounding the legality of the invasion, the comprehension used to clear the fight publicly and Mr Blairs tip oath to stick on the United States in troops action.

Discussions about the fight bill began 9 months prior to the advance in Mar 2003, he told the inquiry.

I pronounced rught away to the Prime Minister that the troops options that were underneath discussion, there should be no clarity that there was a monetary patience that prevented us you do what was most appropriate for the military, pronounced Mr Brown.

My purpose in this was, initial of all, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, was to have certain that the appropriation was there for what we had to do.

The former Chancellor shielded his preference in Sep 2003 to carry out Ministry of Defence spending after new bill manners resulted in an astonishing 1.3 billion enlarge in troops spending in a have a difference of months.

General Lord Walker of Aldringham, the head of the Armed Forces at the time, had told the exploration that comparison commanders in jeopardy to renounce if cuts went most further.

Mr Brown pronounced he had been forced to shorten the spending because, if each supervision dialect followed the MoD understand of the rules, sum open spending would have increasing by twelve billion homogeneous to 3p in the bruise on income tax.

When asked about the disaster to reinstate the Armys easily armoured Snatch Land Rovers that were easy chase to the insurgents roadside bombs, he replied: I have to highlight it is not for me to have the troops decisions on the belligerent about the have use of of sold vehicles. What I can, however, contend is that at each point we were asked to yield income and the resources for new apparatus or for mending equipment, we done that income available.

The Treasury quickly authorized 90 million for new vehicles when the Army lifted concerns in 2006 about Snatch Land Rovers.

The new apparatus enclosed 100 Mastiff heavily stable vehicles, the instrumentation of a serve 50 Bulldog tracked crew carriers and new Vector couple transporters.

Mr Brown told the inquiry: If you see at the subject of output in Iraq you have got to begin at this one elemental truth: that each ask that the troops commanders done to us for apparatus was answered no ask was ever incited down.

Mr Brown conceded that he had regrets over not being some-more successful in credible America of the need for improved post-conflict planning. The matter was in contrariety to Mr Blairs, who had instead he felt shortcoming but not a bewail for any of his decisions.

The Prime Minister referred regularly to the lessons learnt from the Iraq war, together with the need to finish his predecessors lounge supervision decision-making and the need for correct postwar planning.

We won the conflict inside of 7 days but it has taken 7 years to win the assent in Iraq, pronounced Mr Brown. I think we are building the concepts of a usually assent and how we can essentially conduct conflicts similar to this.

The Prime Minister told the inquiry: It was one of my regrets that I wasnt means to be some-more successful in pulling the Americans on this issue that the formulation for reformation was essential, usually the same as formulation for the war. Mr Brown deserted progressing critique by Clare Short, the former International Development Secretary, that the Cabinet had been sidelined in the run up to the war. He insisted he had enough report prior to me to have that visualisation prior to choosing by casting votes in foster of the invasion.

I do contend that all that Mr Blair did during this period, he did properly, he added. But the Prime Minister certified he had been unknowingly of a array of argumentative issues.

Mr Brown concurred that he had not been benefaction at a array of key meetings hold by Mr Blair in the rave to the advance in Mar 2003. He pronounced he did not see a Cabinet Office options paper in Mar 2002 that enclosed the probability of invading Iraq. The paper was rebuilt forward of Mr Blairs assembly at President Bushs plantation in Crawford, Texas.

Mr Brown pronounced he was additionally unknowingly of a array of rarely trusted letters from Mr Blair to President Bush in that the Prime Minister is pronounced to have affianced that Britain would stick on in the troops action.

Mr Brown additionally did not know that of Lord Goldsmiths late shift of perspective on the legality of the war. The Attorney-General had pronounced in early 2003 that the advance would be wrong but told the Cabinet usually days prior to the fight that it would be legal. He was additionally unknowingly of doubts about justification performed by MI6 that Saddam hexed weapons of mass drop (WMDs), together with concerns from his Cabinet co-worker Robin Cook, who was the usually apportion to renounce over the war. Mr Brown had requested five briefings from comprehension chiefs about justification on Saddams WMDs in between Mar 2002 and Feb 2003.

I had full lecture from the comprehension use and I was since report that seemed credible, trustworthy at the time, he said. I do not stop a review with Robin about the intelligence. He might have referred to that at the Cabinet, I cannot recall. Mr Brown pronounced it was right to overpower Saddam for his steady disaster to imitate with United Nations resolutions.

Asked by Sir John Chilcot, the authority of the inquiry, to give his final thoughts, Mr Brown replied: Obviously the loss of hold up is something that creates us all sad. We have got to recognize that fight might be necessary, but it is additionally comfortless in the outcome it has on peoples lives. These were formidable decisions, these were decisions that compulsory judgment, these were decisions that compulsory clever leadership, these were decisions that were debated and widely separated a lot of perspective in the country. I hold they were the right decisions for the right reasons but I additionally hold it is the avocation to sense the lessons from what has happened.

Gordon Brown blames generals for Snatch Land Rover fiasco

Philippe Naughton & , : {}

Gordon Brown has in a huff deserted accusations that he underfunded UK forces in Iraq, deflecting the censure for the Army"s have make make use of of of of exposed Snatch Land Rovers on to the generals who were obliged for grouping the vehicles.

Testifying prior to the Chilcot inquiry, Mr Brown pronounced that each singular ask for apparatus had been authorized and the Treasury had "immediately" committed 90 million for the squeeze of new armoured vehicles after it became strong that the Land Rovers did not strengthen opposite roadside bombs.

Having obviously motionless that dispute can be the most appropriate form of defence, he went on to lay the censure for apparatus shortages on the generals who should have likely the operational needs of their troops.

"I have to highlight it is not for me to have the infantry decisions on the belligerent about the have make make use of of of of sold vehicles," Mr Brown told the panel. "What I can, however, contend is that at each point we were asked to yield income and the resources for new apparatus or for mending equipment, we done that income available."

Related LinksDid Brown"s physique denunciation give him away?Gordon Brown admits Iraq regrets at inquiryBrowns infantry cuts cost lives of soldiersMultimediaAS IT HAPPENED: Brown at the Iraq Inquiry 10 questions for Brown

Mr Brown has been indicted by both late generals and the kin of servicemen killed in Iraq of carrying carnivorous the Armed Forces of appropriation both prior to and after the advance of Iraq in Mar 2003.

Among those criticising the Prime Minister and former Chancellor was General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, former arch of the Defence Staff, who told The Times yesterday that the miss of appropriation had "undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers".

During today"s testimony, Mr Brown was asked to reply to the concerns of bereaved kin hurt by the have make make use of of of of the exposed Land Rovers.

He replied: "I think if you see at the subject of output in Iraq you have to begin with this one elemental truth: that each order done to us by infantry commanders was answered; no ask was ever incited down.

"And I would supplement to that, so prolonged as I have been Prime Minister, I have regularly asked the infantry at the point at that they are endeavour any new operation, can they assure me that they have the apparatus that they need for the charge that they are undertaking. And at each point the answer to the subject is, for the operation we are undertaking, we have the apparatus and we have the resources that are necessary."

He went on: "I dont hold that any budding apportion would send the infantry in to dispute but the declaration from the infantry that they had the apparatus required for the operations.

"And I do not hold that there was any ask that was done for apparatus during the march of these events in Iraq that was incited down."

The Prime Minister was asked about the preference to reinstate Snatch Land Rovers with some-more heavily-armoured vehicles, together with the Mastiff and the Bulldog, and he pronounced that the 90 million deputy programme was concluded rught away and the vehicles paid for inside of months.

Page 1 of 2&Next Page