2nd Dec

The news that two more people have been tested positive for polonium 210 is the headline in a number of papers.

The Sun reveals that

“ITALIAN Mario Scaramella inhaled dust from the tiny polonium-210 grain that killed Alexander Litvinenko, police believed last night.
Detectives are convinced he was “nuked” as he breathed in particles coming from the former Russian spy’s food at their sushi bar meeting.
The professor — who was last night seriously ill in hospital with radiation poisoning — did not show immediate symptoms because his dose was far less than Litvinenko’s”

Whilst the Guardian headlines

Litvinenko affair: now the man who warned him poisoned too

“Last night it emerged that Mr Litvinenko's wife, Marina, had also tested positive for polonium-210. Tests showed that she had ingested a small amount, which posed no immediate health risk and a "very small" long-term risk.”

Sir Rod Eddington’s report on transport policy is also widely featured

The Telegraph says

Pay £24.57 a day for right to drive to work

“Sir Rod Eddington gave an unequivocal endorsement for the principle of pay-as-you-drive road pricing, with charges of up to £1.28 a mile on the busiest roads at the height of the rush hour.
"For me in the end, road pricing is an economic no-brainer," the former British Airways chief executive said.”

The Times headlines

'Road pricing is a no-brainer, but forget the grand projects'

The report calling for
modest enhancements to the existing network rather than investing tens of billions of pounds in new high-speed rail lines and other grand schemes.
He supports government plans to hold trials for congestion charging in regional cities and echoes the views of ministers by proposing that all drivers should pay by the mile for road use in ten years’ time.

The Mail is obviously not a fan

2 in 3 motorists could face higher costs under pay-as-you-go charges

“In a further blow, it emerged that people who use public transport will also be hit with extra charges for travelling on trains and buses at busy times.”

It is also up in arms over the potatoe

“Ministers have been accused of ignoring consumers and risking contamination of the countryside after giving the green light for genetically modified potatoes to be grown in the UK.
The Government granted permission for the GM variety to be cultivated at two trial sites, prompting claims that they are stealthily trying to reintroduce the technology after previously being forced to back away from it by public opposition.”

The Indy’s front page is dedicated to the falling dollar

The $2 question: Weak dollar is good for visitors to US, but outlook for world economy is bleak

Warning us that

“Transatlantic travellers hoping to cash in on a $2 pound for the first time in 14 years should enjoy the good times while they last, because a tumbling dollar could start an economic whirlwind. “

And also looks at the economic realities of the British High Street

Sales start early as shoppers stay away from the High Street
“Shops have cut prices by up to half in the approach to Christmas in an attempt to coax reluctant shoppers back to the high street.
“Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, House of Fraser and HMV are all running promotions in the face of a fall in the number of shoppers and a boom in online shopping. A feature of this year's discounting is the "short sharp sale" exemplified by WH Smith's 10 per cent off day last week”

However as the Telegraph reports,shopping is taking off on the streets of New York

“Thousands of bargain-hunting Britons are expected to flock to New York and other US cities before Christmas to take advantage of the "two dollar pound".
Airlines are reporting increased bookings on US flights and travel agents are getting more inquiries from transatlantic shoppers”

The Guardian reports on corruption in the rebuilding of Iraq.

“The Iraqi government is in danger of being brought down by the wholesale smuggling of the nation's oil and other forms of corruption that together represent a "second insurgency", according to a senior US official. Stuart Bowen, who has been in charge of auditing Iraq's faltering reconstruction since 2004, said corruption had reached such levels that it threatened the survival of the state.”

Whilst the Independent reports on the demonstrations in Beirut

“Hundreds of thousands of Hizbollah supporters packed the roads of the Lebanese capital yesterday as they took part in a huge anti-government rally. “
Hizbollah supporters called for the resignation of the anti-Syrian US-backed government of the Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora. "Siniora into the pit!" roared the crowd while many held signs that read: "We want a clean government."

The Mirror headlines with the result of last nights I’m a celebratory final

THE MUNCH KING

“MATT Willis was voted I’m A Celebrity’s King of the Jungle last night – after eating a crocodile’s willy and a kangaroo’s bum.
The 23-year-old former Busted star gulped down the bushtucker “treats” as part of a final challenge on the three-week TV reality show.”

The same paper also reports on some early Xmas cheer

“HALF a million people have joined a booze-buying frenzy after an off-licence chain's promotion went horribly wrong.

The Thresher Group emailed vouchers to a select group of suppliers, offering them a 40 per cent discount on wine and champagne. But some forwarded the emails to relatives and friends and the offer ended up on the internet where thousands more printed off vouchers.
Now the Thresher Group, which also includes Victoria Wine, Bottoms Up, Haddows, The Local and Wine Rack, has been hit by a stampede of bargain hunters stocking up with Christmas booze. Bosses at Thresher pledged to honour all vouchers until the promotion ends on December 10.”

The Sun reports that

SCIENCE genius Stephen Hawking has been invited on to the next series of Celebrity Big Brother.
The wheelchair-bound professor, 64, has been offered a “substantial fee”, according to a pal.
The friend said: “When Stephen heard, a big grin spread across his face. He thought it was very funny.”
But Prof Hawking, author of bestseller A Brief History of Time, is likely to say no.