Varied stories in the papers this morning.

Both the Times and the Independent lead with the UN's assessment of the State of the Environment.

Not an environment scare story says the Indy

A landmark assessment by the UN of the state of the world's environment paints the bleakest picture yet of our planet's well-being. The warning is stark: humanity's future is at risk unless urgent action is taken. Over the past 20 years, almost every index of the planet's health has worsened. At the same time, personal wealth in the richest countries has grown by a third.
The report, by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), warns that the vital natural resources which support life on Earth have suffered significantly since the first such report, published in 1987. However, this gradual depletion of the world's natural "capital" has coincided with unprecedented economic gains for developed nations, which, for many people, have masked the growing crisis.

'Humanity's very survival' is at risk, says UN says the Times with a picture of the earth from space

The speed at which mankind has used the Earth’s resources over the past 20 years has put “humanity’s very survival” at risk, a study involving 1,400 scientists has concluded.
The environmental audit, for the United Nations, found that each person in the world now requires a third more land to supply his or her needs than the Earth can supply.

The edge of oblivion: conservationists name 25 primates about to disappear says the Guardian

Sri Lanka's Horton Plains slender loris has been seen just four times since 1937. Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey was not found in an exhaustive six-year study ending in 1999 and there have been no definite sightings since. Vietnam's golden-headed langur and the Hainan gibbon in China both number in the dozens.
These are the primate species on the edge of oblivion and, according to a report commissioned by three leading conservation charities, scores of others of our closest relatives are poised to suffer the same fate. It names the top 25 species most in need of help but concludes that 114 primate species are also close to extinction.

The paper leads though with

Cannabis use down since legal change

Gordon Brown's plans to tighten the law on cannabis by increasing the penalties for possession suffered a fresh blow yesterday as the latest official figures showed the decision to downgrade the drug had been followed by a significant fall in its use.
British Crime Survey statistics showed that the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds using cannabis slumped from 28% a decade ago to 21% now, with its declining popularity accelerating after the decision to downgrade the drug to class C was announced in January 2004.

There is much coverage of America's decision to impose sanctions

US imposes strict economic sanctions on Iran says the Telegraph

The unprecedented steps are designed to cut international financial support to Teheran's theocratic regime as well as targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corp, which is accused of supporting Shia insurgents in Iraq.Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and Henry Paulson, the US treasury secretary, said the actions were being taken in response to Teheran's interference in Iraq and its refusal to abandon uranium enrichment.

President Bush turns the screw on Iran with sanctions against its military elite says the Times

President Bush imposed the harshest sanctions on Iran for a generation and branded its military a supporter of terrorism yesterday, fuelling claims that he is preparing possible air strikes against Tehran.

US hits Iran with toughest penalties since 1979 siege says the Independent arguing that

The Bush administration has moved a step closer to military conflict with Iran, imposing punitive measures on its Revolutionary Guard Corps and calling the al-Quds unit of the guards a terrorist organisation.
Vladimir Putin immediately called the new US sanctions the work of a " madman with a razor blade in his hand". The Russian President said: "Why worsen the situation by threatening sanctions and bring it to a dead end?"

The Telegraph leads with the latest opinion poll

TORIES 3 POINTS AHEAD OF LABOUR

The Conservative Party is enjoying a remarkable turnaround in its electoral fortunes by maintaining its lead over Labour as Gordon Brown suffers from his decision to postpone the election.An exclusive poll for The Daily Telegraph puts the Tories on 41 per cent and Labour on 38. Less than a month ago, the Conservatives trailed by 11 points and were facing the prospect of a landslide defeat in an early election.

Peer was paid to introduce lobbyist to minister reports the Guardian

A Labour peer has admitted taking money to introduce an arms company lobbyist to the government minister in charge of weapons purchases. The case of "cash for access" in the House of Lords is likely to ignite fresh concern about ethical standards in parliament.
The lobbyist paid cash for an introduction to Lord Drayson, the defence minister in charge of billions of pounds of military procurement, according to evidence obtained by the Guardian.

Brown's talk of civil rights marks move to regain voters' trust reports the Indy

A shake-up of Britain's secrecy laws and those powers enabling police to enter the home has been ordered by the Prime Minister as part of sweeping changes to the constitution.
A review has been ordered by Gordon Brown of the 250 powers of entry for police and public authorities to a person's home without permission, following concerns that they were abused in recent high-profile cases of terrorist suspects. "We should consider whether we need to do more to offer redress for the individual against any disproportionate use of powers by the state," said Mr Brown.

Gordon Brown launches 'liberty' vision says the Telegraph

He acknowledged that criticism of the rise of the ''Big Brother" society under Tony Blair had to be confronted.The Prime Minister reinforced his commitment with a series of announcements – ranging from greater access to Government information to a relaxation of restrictions on the freedom to protest – to reinforce his commitment.

The Sun leads with the last words of Diana

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

PRINCESS Diana mumbled “Oh my God, Oh my God” as she lay dying, it was revealed yesterday.
The inquest into her death was told that the words – possibly her final ones – were heard by a fireman who was first to reach her wrecked limo.
Frenchman Damien Dalby was driving into the Alma Tunnel in Paris with his brother when they saw the Mercedes on the opposite side.

But Maddy continues to concern the tabloids

70% DON’T BELIEVE MCCANNS says the Express

Viewers who watched Kate and Gerry McCann’s tearful TV interview delivered a damning verdict yesterday.
A phone vote moments after the broadcast revealed nearly 70 per cent thought the couple were not telling the truth about Madeleine’s disappearance.
The verdict came as police chiefs in Portugal reacted angrily to the McCanns’ decision to set up a phone hotline in neighbouring Spain manned by private detectives.

The front page of the Mirror has

Madeleine McCann: New sketch 'shows her abductor'

This is the chilling image released by Kate and Gerry McCann in a desperate effort to trace Madeleine's kidnapper.
The artist's impression is of a man the McCann's friend Jane Tanner insists she saw striding along near their apartment with a child in his arms about 45minutes before Kate discovered Madeleine had vanished.
Ms Tanner did not see the man's face - but the sketch shows him to be slim and of southern European or Mediterranean origin. He has unkempt, jet black hair plastered back across his head and the slight hint of a beard around his chin.

The Mail asks

Is Madeleine's mother finally beginning to crack?

Friends fear Kate McCann is near breaking point as the six-month anniversary of her daughter's disappearance approaches.
She and her husband Gerry are "going in opposite directions" as they struggle to cope with life without Madeleine, it was claimed yesterday.
While Mr McCann is desperate to return to work and regain at least a sense of normality, his wife is said to be increasingly fragile.

The paper leads with

The Great Commons Gravy Train - MPs pick up £200,000 for 34 weeks a year

MPs are costing taxpayers £87 million a year in expenses alone, it was revealed last night.
The 646 members claimed an average of £136,000 each last year, with the highest payouts going to three ministers.
With salaries of £60,277, even backbench MPs are now pocketing almost £200,000 a year each.
Critics said last night they should be 'ashamed of themselves' for being such a drain on the taxpayer.

Marginal MPs prove the biggest spenders in review of expenses reports the Times

Three Labour ministers and MPs in marginal seats claimed the highest amounts in expenses last year. MPs’ claims rose by almost 5 per cent.
The average rose to £135,850 for the year to April, up from £128,280, with the total bill running to £87.6 million. The cost of running a second home, including food, utilities and cleaning, rose by £1,100, while average stationery bills rose from £4,612 to £5,024.

Many of the papers report the news that

From No 10 to Random House: Blair signs book deal

Tony Blair has signed a deal to write his memoirs of life in Downing Street, the publisher Random House announced last night, although it is understood that his account of his 10 years as prime minister is unlikely to appear for two years.
Since his successor Gordon Brown has indicated that a general election is unlikely before 2009, the delay could allow Mr Blair more leeway in discussing their difficult relationship.
Those close to the former prime minister say the book will be "frank but not disloyal". That suggests it could offer a fuller account of the two men's dealings than his former communications chief Alastair Campbell's recent diaries.

Blair signs book deal 'worth £6m' - and he hasn't written a word yet says the Mail

The Times carries an exclusive interview

The tide came at us like a missile’ - the survivor’s story

A survivor of the Algarve beach drowning has described the desperate attempts to save his son from a whirlpool in which four other parents died.
Dean Plumb, 40, dashed into the sea when he realised that Samuel, 12, was with a group of children who were trapped by a treacherous current at Praia do Tonel.
Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Plumb wept as he recalled the 30-minute ordeal in which his friends Robert and Deborah Fry and Jean Dinsmore and a German tourist were swept to their deaths.

ARMAGEDDON US INFERNO reports the Sun

THIS is Armageddon — it feels like the whole world is on fire”, the fireman yells as 30ft flames roar up a California mountainside to our feet.
I wince, turning towards the wall of heat behind him. It stings my face and coats the inside of my lungs.
White, flaky ash rains down, sticking to everything.

Bush swoops in with pledge to help California reports the Independent

President Bush took a helicopter tour of the fire-ravaged hillsides of southern California yesterday, determined to prove that he was on top of a major disaster in all the ways he was not when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans two years ago.
Having already dispatched his Homeland Security chief and the full resources of the Pentagon and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the president himself decided to make a rare appearance in a state which has shown little political love for him in the past.

The Sun reports that

A MUM killed herself after a sex attack witnessed by her five-year-old son, a court heard.
Hayley Jordan took an overdose of pills following the assault by three men who filmed it on a mobile phone, a jury was told.
In footage from the mobile played in court her little boy Daniel could clearly be heard screaming: “No, don’t do that! Don’t do that to my mummy!"
The film showed Hayley – unconscious after drinking – being assaulted with a TV remote control and being subjected to a simulated sex act.

5 LIVE TURN-OFF reports the Mirror

A miserable summer of sport saw BBC Radio 5 Live slump to its worst ratings for seven years.
Just 5.5million listeners a week tuned in - matching the previous low at the end of 2000 - Rajar figures show.
Bosses blamed the lack of a major football tournament, England's poor cricket displays and Andy Murray's absence from Wimbledon for the drop from the 2002 high of 6.7 million


A380 makes aviation history reports the Telegraph

Aviation history was made today with the successful inaugural flight of the superjumbo Airbus A380 from Singapore to Sydney.
The double-decker giant – the largest commercial airline ever to fly – completed the seven-and-half hour journey with aplomb, ushering in a new era of air travel.


Many of the papers report

Russell Watson in intensive care after surgery

The singer underwent three hours of surgery, but the early signs are positive, according to a spokesman for the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire where Watson, 40, is being treated.
Giles Baxendale, Watson's agent, said last night: "It's been a tough day. He looks pretty grim.
"He's in and out of consciousness - he's spoken. He was having waves of consciousness." says the Telegraph.

Finally the Mirror reports on

The £1.4m allotment

Just popping down that dilapidated allotment of ours dear, someone's giving us £1.4million for it...
This rubble-strewn plot of land has been flogged to housing developers by a group of retired miners and shipbuilders who bought it for £5,000 between them off a colliery in 1979.
The 49 owners sold up after the allotments became a target for vandals and arsonists.
Chairman John Curry, 54, claimed the council offered them £50,000 for the 1.65-acre site in Sunderland. But surveyor Paul Airey told him it was worth more. Then, developers Gentoo offered them the £1.4million.