The controversy of the selling of the Iranian hostages story returns to the front pages this morning.
Browne fights to keep his job as storm over sailors rages on says the Telegraph
Des Browne's ability to survive as Defence Secretary was in serious doubt last night after Tony Blair and a fellow minister cut him adrift by criticising the way the Iran hostages were allowed to sell their stories to the press
In his first public comments on the controversy, the Prime Minister admitted that the sailors should never have been encouraged to profit from their ordeal on returning after 13 days of captivity.
Browne takes blame for allowing captive sailors to sell stories reports the Indy
Mr Browne admitted that "with hindsight" he could have acted to stop the media deals and confirmed that he would face MPs and make a statement to Parliament on Monday about the affair.
The dead soldiers who WON'T be selling their stories is the front page of the Mail with pictures of the coffins of the four servicemen killed in Basra last week
Four young British men and women who died proudly serving their country have begun their final journey home.
Lieutenant Joanne Dyer, Private Eleanor Dlugosz, Corporal Kris O'Neill and Kingsman Adam Smith were killed last week, the latest victims of the Iraq conflict.
Their silent homecoming from Basra, in coffins draped with the Union Flag, could not have been more different from the return last week of the 15 sailors and Marines held captive in Iran - with goody bags and a green light to hawk their stories for cash.
Lieutenant Joanne Dyer, Private Eleanor Dlugosz, Corporal Kris O'Neill and Kingsman Adam Smith were killed last week, the latest victims of the Iraq conflict.
Their silent homecoming from Basra, in coffins draped with the Union Flag, could not have been more different from the return last week of the 15 sailors and Marines held captive in Iran - with goody bags and a green light to hawk their stories for cash.
The explosions in Algeria are widely reported
Al-Qaeda suicide bombers kill 23 as fears grow of new terror campaign reports the Times
At least 23 people were killed and 162 injured in Algeria yesterday as suicide bombers struck the capital, raising the spectre of a return to Islamist terrorism that spread mayhem across the country in the 1990s.
The explosions came 24 hours after a series of suicide bombs in neighbouring Morocco had fuelled fears of a regional extremist campaign, although Moroccan authorities deny that the attacks are linked.
In a blow to the heart of the State, one vehicle exploded as it hit the offices of Abdelaziz Belkhadem, the Prime Minister, in central Algiers. He escaped unhurt but officials said that 12 people had died and 118 were injured in the blast, which came seven months after the main terrorist movement in Algeria joined al-Qaeda.
The explosions came 24 hours after a series of suicide bombs in neighbouring Morocco had fuelled fears of a regional extremist campaign, although Moroccan authorities deny that the attacks are linked.
In a blow to the heart of the State, one vehicle exploded as it hit the offices of Abdelaziz Belkhadem, the Prime Minister, in central Algiers. He escaped unhurt but officials said that 12 people had died and 118 were injured in the blast, which came seven months after the main terrorist movement in Algeria joined al-Qaeda.
The Guardian reports that
Bombs have been going off in Algeria since last October, but mostly in outlying areas and causing small numbers of casualties. The first of yesterday's attacks took place in a heavily guarded part of the capital, making a mockery of the government's security measures and undermining its controversial policy of granting amnesties to convicted terrorists.
"It's a direct challenge to the government," said George Joffe, a Cambridge University authority on north Africa. "This is really going to hurt."
A spokesman for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb [north Africa] later claimed responsibility for the attacks in a phone call to al-Jazeera TV. "We won't rest until every inch of Islamic land is liberated from foreign forces," said a man identified as Abu Mohammed Salah.
"It's a direct challenge to the government," said George Joffe, a Cambridge University authority on north Africa. "This is really going to hurt."
A spokesman for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb [north Africa] later claimed responsibility for the attacks in a phone call to al-Jazeera TV. "We won't rest until every inch of Islamic land is liberated from foreign forces," said a man identified as Abu Mohammed Salah.
It leads with the continuing speculation about a challenger to Gordon Brown
Blairite plot to lure Miliband into leadership contest
Opponents of Gordon Brown are considering a last-ditch tactic to try to persuade David Miliband to stand for the party leadership next month, hoping they can create a momentum behind their candidate and show that Mr Brown is beatable.
They are looking to raise nominations for Mr Miliband from MPs who would declare their support on the Labour party website after Tony Blair announces his timetable for leaving office in early May.
They are looking to raise nominations for Mr Miliband from MPs who would declare their support on the Labour party website after Tony Blair announces his timetable for leaving office in early May.
BROWN'S ARMY says the Mirror
GORDON Brown has the backing of two thirds of Labour MPs to take over from Tony Blair, it has been claimed.
The Chancellor's allies said about 200 of the party's 352 MPs want him as the next PM.
Yesterday it emerged Home Secretary John Reid refused to rule out standing for the leadership in a late night phone call to Mr Brown.
Mr Reid rang the Chancellor last Saturday night to say he was keeping his options open. A source close to Mr Reid said: "He will make his position known when the Prime Minister stands down."
The Chancellor's allies said about 200 of the party's 352 MPs want him as the next PM.
Yesterday it emerged Home Secretary John Reid refused to rule out standing for the leadership in a late night phone call to Mr Brown.
Mr Reid rang the Chancellor last Saturday night to say he was keeping his options open. A source close to Mr Reid said: "He will make his position known when the Prime Minister stands down."
Meanwhile the Prime Minister gets coverge over his speach yesterday
Blair: Black community must oppose gangs says the Telegraph
The Prime Minister, speaking after a series of murders of young people, said such "severe disorder" was not a symptom of a wider social problem. It was a matter of individuals who needed to be "taken out of circulation" through legislation, police work and denunciation within the culprits' own communities.
He told an audience in Cardiff that tackling violence was the "missing dimension" to an otherwise successful regeneration of Britain's cities. Delivering the Callaghan Memorial Lecture, Mr Blair said: "In respect of knife and gun gangs, the laws need to be significantly toughened.
He told an audience in Cardiff that tackling violence was the "missing dimension" to an otherwise successful regeneration of Britain's cities. Delivering the Callaghan Memorial Lecture, Mr Blair said: "In respect of knife and gun gangs, the laws need to be significantly toughened.
Blair slams black gang violence reports the Sun
TONY Blair last night blamed black yobs for a recent spate of knife and gun murders — and urged their families to help sort out the problem.
He ACCUSED black parents of turning a blind eye to their lawless teenagers, saying families and communities had to speak out against gang mayhem.
And he WARNED it was dangerous to pretend anyone other than black thugs were behind soaring violence.
He added: “We won’t stop this by pretending it isn’t young black kids doing it.
He ACCUSED black parents of turning a blind eye to their lawless teenagers, saying families and communities had to speak out against gang mayhem.
And he WARNED it was dangerous to pretend anyone other than black thugs were behind soaring violence.
He added: “We won’t stop this by pretending it isn’t young black kids doing it.
It leads with the story that
99% WANT MEGAN'S LAW
SUN readers last night told Tony Blair: “Now you MUST listen to us on Sarah’s Law.”
The clear message came in a 99 per cent vote backing tougher steps to protect children from paedophiles.
Our poll left no doubt that three watered-down trial schemes to allow public information on perverts are NOT enough.
The clear message came in a 99 per cent vote backing tougher steps to protect children from paedophiles.
Our poll left no doubt that three watered-down trial schemes to allow public information on perverts are NOT enough.
The Times claims an exclusive
Secret talks open way to nationalise rail network
Trains and tracks could be reunited and put under public control for the first time since privatisation, under plans to make Scotland a test case for the rest of the rail industry, The Times has learnt.
Network Rail, the not-for-profit company created by the Government to run Britain’s tracks, has held secret talks with Scottish Labour politicians about taking control of trains north of the Border. The move would reverse the fragmentation of the industry after British Rail was broken up and sold off in the mid1990s.
Labour’s Scottish election manifesto, published on Tuesday, contains a thinly veiled reference to the idea of Scotland pioneering a new structure for the rail industry. It states: “The case for running the Scottish franchise on a not-for-profit basis needs to be fully examined as part of the preparation for the next franchise.”
Network Rail, the not-for-profit company created by the Government to run Britain’s tracks, has held secret talks with Scottish Labour politicians about taking control of trains north of the Border. The move would reverse the fragmentation of the industry after British Rail was broken up and sold off in the mid1990s.
Labour’s Scottish election manifesto, published on Tuesday, contains a thinly veiled reference to the idea of Scotland pioneering a new structure for the rail industry. It states: “The case for running the Scottish franchise on a not-for-profit basis needs to be fully examined as part of the preparation for the next franchise.”
The Telegraph reports on its front page that
Bus and train fares zoom past car costs
The cost of bus and train travel has outstripped the price of motoring since Labour came to power, according to the latest official figures.
While the Government considers pay-as-you drive road tolls to persuade people to curb their car use, the latest statistics show that the prices passengers face have risen far faster than those absorbed by motorists.
Persuading people to switch to public transport was one of John Prescott's key pledges when he became Deputy Prime Minister.
While the Government considers pay-as-you drive road tolls to persuade people to curb their car use, the latest statistics show that the prices passengers face have risen far faster than those absorbed by motorists.
Persuading people to switch to public transport was one of John Prescott's key pledges when he became Deputy Prime Minister.
The HSBC comes in for critisism in most of the papers
The front page of the Mirror reports
BANK BANS THE POOR
GREEDY HSBC bosses were last night slammed for heaping yet more misery on their long-suffering customers.
The bank is already under fire for making record profits of £11BILLION last year while fleecing people with outrageous penalty charges.
Now it has decided to ban its ordinary, hard-working customers from a branch that will cater exclusively for the rich. And a bank spokesman twisted the knife by declaring yesterday: "Not everybody in the world is equal.
"Some people have higher incomes and need greater services through the bank.
These customers demand a better service."
The branch will only serve those who have savings of at least £50,000, a £200,000 mortgage or a £100,000 mortgage plus a £75,000 salary.
Ordinary customers can also receive the personal service - but only if they pay £19.95 a month to join the bank's Premier Service account.
Eddie Weatherall, of the Independent Banking Advisory Service, said last night: "It's outrageous.
The bank is already under fire for making record profits of £11BILLION last year while fleecing people with outrageous penalty charges.
Now it has decided to ban its ordinary, hard-working customers from a branch that will cater exclusively for the rich. And a bank spokesman twisted the knife by declaring yesterday: "Not everybody in the world is equal.
"Some people have higher incomes and need greater services through the bank.
These customers demand a better service."
The branch will only serve those who have savings of at least £50,000, a £200,000 mortgage or a £100,000 mortgage plus a £75,000 salary.
Ordinary customers can also receive the personal service - but only if they pay £19.95 a month to join the bank's Premier Service account.
Eddie Weatherall, of the Independent Banking Advisory Service, said last night: "It's outrageous.
The bank that likes to say ... push off says the Guardian
It calls itself the world's local bank, a slogan which conjures up images of kindly cashiers ushering rich and poor alike through the door to deposit their savings. At the HSBC branch in Canford Cliffs, Dorset, however, customers are judged by quite different criteria.
The Independent leads on its front page with
Revolution in cancer treatment
Cancer treatment could be on the brink of a revolution following a study showing that it may be possible significantly to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs without causing side effects.
Scientists have conducted a series of pioneering experiments demonstrating a new way of making tumour cells far more susceptible to attack with extremely low doses of anti-cancer drugs. The development offers hope that the gruesome side effects of chemotherapy, suffered by tens of thousands of cancer patients, may at some point become a thing of the past.
Scientists have conducted a series of pioneering experiments demonstrating a new way of making tumour cells far more susceptible to attack with extremely low doses of anti-cancer drugs. The development offers hope that the gruesome side effects of chemotherapy, suffered by tens of thousands of cancer patients, may at some point become a thing of the past.
The weather returns to the headlines,not suprisingly the Express headlines that
DROUGHTS THREATEN BRITAIN AGAIN
THOUSANDS of lives will be at risk from intense heat and droughts this summer.
Families face queueing for water amid a scorching climate even more intense than last year.The warning came as the Met Office yesterday revealed that current records may be smashed and that standpipes will become vital, as the prospects for rain are uncertain. Forecasters predicted temperatures could soar past the sweltering summer of 2003, which led to a rise in heat-related deaths across the UK and France
but the Times also joins in
Get ready to sizzle again, like we did last summer
Get the suncream and electric fans ready. This summer is expected to be another hot one, and the Met Office says there is a chance that it will match or even beat last year’s scorcher.
Forecasters said yesterday that they could predict with 70 per cent certainty — about as certain as a weatherman can be this early in the year — that temperatures this summer will be above average. Preliminary rainfall figures suggest that it may have started already, with very few April showers so far.
The prediction is in line with trends that show warmer than average summers for nine of the past ten years, with 1998 being the odd one out.
Forecasters said yesterday that they could predict with 70 per cent certainty — about as certain as a weatherman can be this early in the year — that temperatures this summer will be above average. Preliminary rainfall figures suggest that it may have started already, with very few April showers so far.
The prediction is in line with trends that show warmer than average summers for nine of the past ten years, with 1998 being the odd one out.
Japan and China agree to build a 'beautiful future' reports the Independent
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Premier Wen Jiabao agreed yesterday to build a "beautiful future" together after the first visit by a Chinese leader to Japan in seven years. But Japan's Second World War record cast a shadow over efforts to mend relations.
This visit is all about breaking the ice between the two Asian powers, one the established regional titan and the other a rising force in global politics. To go by the language, it looked like the start of a beautiful friendship but people remain wary about the long-term prospects for Sino-Japanese relations.
Mr Wen said he wanted a "true ice-melting trip" to build on Mr Abe's successful visit to Beijing last October. But in China, there was no doubt where the burden of responsibility lay.
This visit is all about breaking the ice between the two Asian powers, one the established regional titan and the other a rising force in global politics. To go by the language, it looked like the start of a beautiful friendship but people remain wary about the long-term prospects for Sino-Japanese relations.
Mr Wen said he wanted a "true ice-melting trip" to build on Mr Abe's successful visit to Beijing last October. But in China, there was no doubt where the burden of responsibility lay.
The Guardian meanwhile continues its series of articles on Russia
Gazprom targets key UK names in drive for expansion
The Russian gas group, Gazprom, is making a determined effort to increase its influence in Britain by targeting landmark buildings as customers. It has started supplying power to York Minster, Headingley cricket ground and the City Point tower in London. Other targets include the National Health Service as it seeks to increase market share in Britain from 2% now to 10% by 2010.
The energy company, whose chairman is Dimitry Medvedev, the first deputy prime minister of Russia and a presidential hopeful, has also stepped up its lobbying efforts in the UK with the appointment of a high-profile public relations executive who successfully sold the concept of new nuclear plants to New Labour.
The energy company, whose chairman is Dimitry Medvedev, the first deputy prime minister of Russia and a presidential hopeful, has also stepped up its lobbying efforts in the UK with the appointment of a high-profile public relations executive who successfully sold the concept of new nuclear plants to New Labour.
Finally the Express reports on
I'M TAUNTED BY COUGHS WHEREVER I GO, MOANS THE MILLIONAIRE CHEAT
WHO Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheat Charles Ingram yesterday told a court how he was mercilessly taunted by coughers.
The ex-Army major, who was stripped of his TV winnings and is now on benefits, said he was mocked by everyone from comedians to people in the street.But he snapped when a 13-year-old boy “deliberately aimed a wet cough into my face”.Ingram was convicted of attacking the youth. But sympathetic magistrates decided to impose no punishment because of the teenager’s “severe provocation” and the “constant comments” directed to Ingram and his family since his downfall.
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