Some differing themes emerge from the papers this morning.Both the Telegragh and the Mail lead with the government's climbdown on Home Packs.
FIASCO AS HOME SALE PACKS ARE SHELVED says the former
The Government was forced into a humiliating and chaotic climb-down over Home Information Packs yesterday, announcing that they would be postponed indefinitely for four out of five homes.
With less than two weeks to go before the packs were to become mandatory, Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, said they would only go ahead in England and Wales from Aug 1 - and only for larger houses with four or more bedrooms.
Humiliated Labour forced to postpone HIPs launch is the Mail's headline
Labour's much-criticised scheme for home improvement packs collapsed into a shambles last night.
It was put off for at least two months just ten days before it was due to begin.
There were jeers in the Commons as Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the humiliating U-turn.
It is the third time Labour has been forced into retreat on the HIPs policy, first unveiled in its 1997 manifesto.
It was put off for at least two months just ten days before it was due to begin.
There were jeers in the Commons as Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the humiliating U-turn.
It is the third time Labour has been forced into retreat on the HIPs policy, first unveiled in its 1997 manifesto.
The Guardian says that
Ms Kelly admitted to the Commons that not enough assessors were yet in place to carry out checks for energy performance certificates, which are a key component of the packs and are intended to improve the environmental efficiency of UK homes.
She could not say when the packs would be introduced for smaller homes and the government also admitted it did not possess a legally watertight definition of a four-bedroom house - making it likely that a rash of "three-bedroom houses with study" will suddenly flood the market as a way of avoiding costly Hips.
She could not say when the packs would be introduced for smaller homes and the government also admitted it did not possess a legally watertight definition of a four-bedroom house - making it likely that a rash of "three-bedroom houses with study" will suddenly flood the market as a way of avoiding costly Hips.
The news that the makes the lead in the Times,
Spy murder row poisons relations with Russia
Britain’s relations with Russia were at their lowest point since the Cold War after the authorities in Moscow refused yesterday to cooperate with an extradition request for the man accused of murdering Alexander Litvinenko.
Trade relations with Russia are expected to worsen significantly after an announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that it believed there was enough evidence to charge Andrei Lugovoy with the “deliberate poisoning” of Mr Litvinenko. Britain wants him to stand trial here before a judge and jury, but Moscow made it clear that this was out of the question
Trade relations with Russia are expected to worsen significantly after an announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that it believed there was enough evidence to charge Andrei Lugovoy with the “deliberate poisoning” of Mr Litvinenko. Britain wants him to stand trial here before a judge and jury, but Moscow made it clear that this was out of the question
Putin refuses to extradite suspect says the Guardian
The Crown Prosecution Service said police had gathered sufficient evidence to justify charging Andrei Lugovoi with murder and demanded that he be extradited to stand trial for an "extraordinarily grave" crime. A spokesman for Tony Blair said: "Murder is murder: this is a very serious case."
But in a swift response, Russia said there was no chance of Mr Lugovoi being sent to stand trial in Britain, and warned of a political backlash. Marina Gridneva, a spokeswoman for the Russian prosecutor general's office, said: "Under Russian law, a citizen of the Russian Federation cannot be handed over to a foreign country
'WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL HE COMES TO JUSTICE' says the Mirror
THE widow of murdered Russian Alexander Litvinenko said yesterday she would never stop fighting to bring his killer to justice.
Marina Litvinenko, 44, spoke out after Russia refused to hand over ex-KGB spy Andrei Lugovoi, whom crown prosecutors accuse of poisoning her husband. She declared: "I'm anxious to see that justice is done.
"Lugovoi should be extradited and brought to trial in the UK.
"I want my son to know my husband's death was not for nothing. I want to know who did it."
Marina Litvinenko, 44, spoke out after Russia refused to hand over ex-KGB spy Andrei Lugovoi, whom crown prosecutors accuse of poisoning her husband. She declared: "I'm anxious to see that justice is done.
"Lugovoi should be extradited and brought to trial in the UK.
"I want my son to know my husband's death was not for nothing. I want to know who did it."
For the Independent and the Guardian,Iraq once more takes prime position
Bush may turn to UN in search for Iraq solution reports the Guardian
The Bush administration is developing plans to "internationalise" the Iraq crisis, including an expanded role for the United Nations, as a way of reducing overall US responsibility for Iraq's future and limiting domestic political fallout from the war as the 2008 election season approaches.
The move comes amid rising concern in Washington that President George Bush's controversial Baghdad security surge, led by the US commander, General David Petraeus, is not working and that Iran is winning the clandestine battle for control of Iraq.
"Petraeus is brilliant. But he is the captain of a sinking ship," said a former senior administration official who questioned whether Iraq's divided political leadership could prevent a descent into chaos. "Iraq's government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer. Iraq probably can't be fixed."
The move comes amid rising concern in Washington that President George Bush's controversial Baghdad security surge, led by the US commander, General David Petraeus, is not working and that Iran is winning the clandestine battle for control of Iraq.
"Petraeus is brilliant. But he is the captain of a sinking ship," said a former senior administration official who questioned whether Iraq's divided political leadership could prevent a descent into chaos. "Iraq's government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer. Iraq probably can't be fixed."
Meanwhile the Independent warns of
Opium: Iraq's deadly new export
Farmers in southern Iraq have started to grow opium poppies in their fields for the first time, sparking fears that Iraq might become a serious drugs producer along the lines of Afghanistan.
Rice farmers along the Euphrates, to the west of the city of Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, have stopped cultivating rice, for which the area is famous, and are instead planting poppies, Iraqi sources familiar with the area have told The Independent.
The shift to opium cultivation is still in its early stages but there is little the Iraqi government can do about it because rival Shia militias and their surrogates in the security forces control Diwaniya and its neighbourhood. There have been bloody clashes between militiamen, police, Iraqi army and US forces in the city over the past two months.
Rice farmers along the Euphrates, to the west of the city of Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, have stopped cultivating rice, for which the area is famous, and are instead planting poppies, Iraqi sources familiar with the area have told The Independent.
The shift to opium cultivation is still in its early stages but there is little the Iraqi government can do about it because rival Shia militias and their surrogates in the security forces control Diwaniya and its neighbourhood. There have been bloody clashes between militiamen, police, Iraqi army and US forces in the city over the past two months.
Darling to unveil a nuclear future reports the same paper
A new generation of nuclear power stations will get the go ahead today as the Government unveils its blueprint of Britain's future energy supplies.
The Labour party will present its energy White Paper, endorsed by Gordon Brown, which is expected to confirm that nuclear power must be a part of the country's future energy market.
Published by Alistair Darling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, the paper will justify the replacement of existing nuclear power stations with newer ones, all of which will be privately funded. The paper will stress the need to reduce carbon emissions and to enhance "security of supply", relying less on other oil- and gas-producing countries.
The Labour party will present its energy White Paper, endorsed by Gordon Brown, which is expected to confirm that nuclear power must be a part of the country's future energy market.
Published by Alistair Darling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, the paper will justify the replacement of existing nuclear power stations with newer ones, all of which will be privately funded. The paper will stress the need to reduce carbon emissions and to enhance "security of supply", relying less on other oil- and gas-producing countries.
The Telegraph amongst many papers reports on
Marriage to earl was cursed, says wife accused of plotting his murder
A former escort girl accused of murdering the 10th Earl of Shaftesbury told a court yesterday: "Marrying him was a curse."The trial of the M'Bareks for premeditated murder opened in nearby Nice. Prosecutors claimed that she paid £100,000 to have Lord Shaftesbury, 66, killed because they were about to divorce.
But, during a highly emotional testimony, M'Barek said she had no need of his £6 million fortune, or property portfolio which included a 9,000- acre estate at Wimborne St Giles, Dorset.
"I had always been prosperous - marrying him was a curse, God bless his soul," said M'Barek, wearing a white shirt and designer jeans.
But, during a highly emotional testimony, M'Barek said she had no need of his £6 million fortune, or property portfolio which included a 9,000- acre estate at Wimborne St Giles, Dorset.
"I had always been prosperous - marrying him was a curse, God bless his soul," said M'Barek, wearing a white shirt and designer jeans.
Shaftesbury wife 'paid brother to kill peer then dump him in the woods' reports the Mail
The Earl of Shaftesbury's "moneygrabbing" widow visited a remote valley where her husband's body was dumped - two days before he was murdered for his £6million fortune, a court heard.
Mobile phone evidence placed former prostitute Jamila M'Barek yards from the spot where she hid Lord Shaftesbury's body in undergrowth on the French Riviera, it was claimed.
Jamila, 45, is accused of paying her brother Mohammed M'Barek £100,000 to kill the earl at her Cote d'Azur apartment in Cannes.
Mobile phone evidence placed former prostitute Jamila M'Barek yards from the spot where she hid Lord Shaftesbury's body in undergrowth on the French Riviera, it was claimed.
Jamila, 45, is accused of paying her brother Mohammed M'Barek £100,000 to kill the earl at her Cote d'Azur apartment in Cannes.
Thousands flee Lebanon refugee camp slaughter reports the Times
Thousands of desperate Palestinian refugees took advantage of a brief ceasefire to flee the beleaguered Nahr al-Bared camp yesterday as battles between the Lebanese Army and Islamic militants from Fatah al-Islam entered a third day.
Packed in vehicles, they sped along a narrow seafront road, waving white sheets even as snipers inside the camp fired on them. Trembling from fear and exhaustion, Mouein Safadi screamed in broken English: “The situation is very miserable. There are many, many people dead under the rubble. We have no water, no food, no electricity.”
The ceasefire was brokered to allow a convoy of United Nations lorries carrying food, water and medical supplies to enter the camp. It was able to unload its supplies then came under mortar fire. Three lorries were destroyed and two civilians were reported killed.
Packed in vehicles, they sped along a narrow seafront road, waving white sheets even as snipers inside the camp fired on them. Trembling from fear and exhaustion, Mouein Safadi screamed in broken English: “The situation is very miserable. There are many, many people dead under the rubble. We have no water, no food, no electricity.”
The ceasefire was brokered to allow a convoy of United Nations lorries carrying food, water and medical supplies to enter the camp. It was able to unload its supplies then came under mortar fire. Three lorries were destroyed and two civilians were reported killed.
The Sun leads with
Enders cancel Maddie plot
EASTENDERS last night scrapped a baby-snatch plot due to Madeleine McCann’s kidnap.Bosses of the BBC1 soap had already filmed it — but have now ordered a frantic rewrite.The scenes involving characters Dawn Swann, played by Kara Tointon, Rob Minter (Stuart Laing) and Rob’s wife May (Amanda Drew) were due to be screened late next month.
Viewers are already gripped by Dawn having lover Rob’s baby — and producers planned for May to kidnap it after the birth.
Viewers are already gripped by Dawn having lover Rob’s baby — and producers planned for May to kidnap it after the birth.
GIVE US A MIRACLE says the Mirror,
MISSING Madeleine McCann's parents will today make an emotional pilgrimage to the holy site of Fatima to pray for a miracle for their daughter.
Gerry and Kate McCann will visit the shrine - marking the visions of the Virgin Mary - in private for an hour and light candles. It will be the first time Kate has left Praia da Luz since four-year-old Madeleine went missing 20 days ago.
Gerry said: "We want to visit the shrine at Fatima to pray for Madeleine's safe return to us."
Gerry and Kate McCann will visit the shrine - marking the visions of the Virgin Mary - in private for an hour and light candles. It will be the first time Kate has left Praia da Luz since four-year-old Madeleine went missing 20 days ago.
Gerry said: "We want to visit the shrine at Fatima to pray for Madeleine's safe return to us."
Its lead though is
STALKED BY MY BANK
A MUM has won a settlement for harassment after being hounded by her bank for money she did not owe.
Battling Alison Turner, 31, was reduced to a tearful wreck after being bombarded by Halifax Bank with 33 phone calls and letters.
She brought a legal action under the Protection from Harassment Act.
The single mum-of-two is now expected to receive a cash payment after the bank agreed to settle out of court.
Alison, from Plymouth, was pestered by staff for £775 in overdraft charges the bank had already agreed to wipe out.
Halifax said yesterday: "We have no comment other than it's settled."
Battling Alison Turner, 31, was reduced to a tearful wreck after being bombarded by Halifax Bank with 33 phone calls and letters.
She brought a legal action under the Protection from Harassment Act.
The single mum-of-two is now expected to receive a cash payment after the bank agreed to settle out of court.
Alison, from Plymouth, was pestered by staff for £775 in overdraft charges the bank had already agreed to wipe out.
Halifax said yesterday: "We have no comment other than it's settled."
According to the front page of the Express
92,000 EAST EUROPEANS ARE MILKING OUR BENEFITS
ALMOST 92,000 Eastern Europeans who came to Britain looking for work are claiming tens of millions of pounds in state handouts.
The flood of migrants cashing in on benefits is costing the taxpayer at least £102million a year.
The Mail picks up on the same story
120 immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria arrive in Britain every day
More than 120 Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants are arriving in Britain every day, the Home Office revealed.
The figures - the first since the two countries joined the EU in January - show 10,535 have registered to work in Britain in the last five months.
The figures - the first since the two countries joined the EU in January - show 10,535 have registered to work in Britain in the last five months.
A lot of coverage of rubbish recently but the Indy shows that it is not just a problem here
Politicians stymied by great stink of Naples
Life in Italy's second city threatened to grind to a standstill this week as the biggest ever Naples rubbish crisis came to an evil-smelling crescendo.
Huge piles of uncollected rubbish have accumulated across the city, more than 2,700 tons of it according to the city authorities. Hundreds of fires have been started in the rubbish by infuriated residents, only aggravating the problem.
Protests rage in five locations selected for emergency landfills; in one of them, the town of Serre outside the city, Italy's environment minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, has come out on the side of the protesters as the planned dump is only a few kilometres from a protected beauty spot.
The rubbish remains uncollected because the city has run out of places to dispose of it, and by the end of this week the one remaining dump in active use, at Villaricca, will close because it is full to the brim. Then the city does not know what it will do.
Huge piles of uncollected rubbish have accumulated across the city, more than 2,700 tons of it according to the city authorities. Hundreds of fires have been started in the rubbish by infuriated residents, only aggravating the problem.
Protests rage in five locations selected for emergency landfills; in one of them, the town of Serre outside the city, Italy's environment minister, Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio, has come out on the side of the protesters as the planned dump is only a few kilometres from a protected beauty spot.
The rubbish remains uncollected because the city has run out of places to dispose of it, and by the end of this week the one remaining dump in active use, at Villaricca, will close because it is full to the brim. Then the city does not know what it will do.
The Telegraph reports from the Chelsea flower show
'Life on Mars' garden wins Chelsea
In the year that BBC One’s 1970s era police show proved such a ratings hit it was perhaps appropriate that an entry nicknamed the "Life on Mars Garden" should win the Chelsea Flower Show. But the Chelsea judges still caused something of a stir when they favoured Sarah Eberle’s garden for an astronaut on Mars over Ulf Nordfjell’s near perfect celebration of the tercentenary of the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus.
Yet the judges, all professional designers themselves, clearly thought Miss Eberle’s garden was out of this world.
Miss Eberle said she was "overwhelmed" to win her first best in show at Chelsea for "600 days with Bradstone," the Martian garden that has taken her eight years to research and build, with the help of the European Space Agency.
Yet the judges, all professional designers themselves, clearly thought Miss Eberle’s garden was out of this world.
Miss Eberle said she was "overwhelmed" to win her first best in show at Chelsea for "600 days with Bradstone," the Martian garden that has taken her eight years to research and build, with the help of the European Space Agency.
Finally from the Sun
Newborn saved by a trunk call
A SQUEALING newborn elephant is dramatically rescued — after his mother tried to CRUSH and DROWN him.
African elephant Pori, 26, gave birth to the 250lb baby at a zoo, but seconds later the three-ton mum appeared to stomp on him.
Then she rolled him through her enclosure like a beachball and pushed him underwater.
Keepers grabbed the half-drowned tot by the trunk and pulled him to safety.
But he was later REUNITED with his mum — who killed her first baby in 2005 by accidentally crushing him — after being given the all-clear by vets.
A spokesman for the zoo in Berlin, Germany, said Pori had been trying to stimulate the baby to stand up, adding: “She is a proud and loving mother now.”
African elephant Pori, 26, gave birth to the 250lb baby at a zoo, but seconds later the three-ton mum appeared to stomp on him.
Then she rolled him through her enclosure like a beachball and pushed him underwater.
Keepers grabbed the half-drowned tot by the trunk and pulled him to safety.
But he was later REUNITED with his mum — who killed her first baby in 2005 by accidentally crushing him — after being given the all-clear by vets.
A spokesman for the zoo in Berlin, Germany, said Pori had been trying to stimulate the baby to stand up, adding: “She is a proud and loving mother now.”
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