The failure to tackle the superbugs in our hospitals is heavily featured in the papers this morning

Hospitals losing fight to defeat superbugs says the Times

One in four NHS trusts is failing the latest government targets on cleanliness and tackling superbug infections, figures published today reveal.
Fewer hospitals and NHS trusts than last year can demonstrate that they are maintaining standards on cleanliness and infection control, despite the introduction of a strict “hygiene code” to eradicate illness caused by MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
Figures released by the Healthcare Commission show that six out of ten trusts in England have reported failing one or more of the twenty-four “core standards” on all aspects of care, on which they are assessed by the NHS watchdog.

The front page of the Mail says

Shame of the filthy hospital wards

One in four hospitals is so unhygienic it is putting its patients' lives at risk, it is revealed today.
Ninety-nine out of 394 English NHS trusts are breaching a Hygiene Code brought in to combat an increase in hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA.
A push to increase respect for patients' dignity has also faltered, according to the independent research. The Healthcare Commission watchdog is publishing figures today as part of an annual 'health check' of English NHS trusts.

The Guardian leads with the story that

Ministers defy judges on rape law reforms

The government is to press ahead with plans to reform the rape laws in an attempt to increase the low conviction rate, despite strong opposition from the judges who will have to put them into effect, the Guardian has learned.
Plans to try to clarify the law on drunkenness and consent are set to be dropped. But ministers are likely to proceed with other proposals outlined in a consultation paper last year, Mike O'Brien, the solicitor general, said in an interview.
"The conviction rate in rape cases is appalling," he said. "There are too many rapists getting away with it and many of them are repeat rapists."

The Telegraph concentrates on things political

Cameron reveals his blueprint for Britain

David Cameron will deliver the most important speech of his leadership today when he sets out a vision for Britain built on the twin pillars of opportunity and security for all.
As Tony Blair enters his last full week in power, the Conservative Party leader will declare that there is now clear blue water between a Tory party that believes in leaving people to run their own lives and Gordon Brown's commitment to interfering, ''big government''. adding that

Under the slogan "Our Society. Your Life," Mr Cameron will pledge to provide the secure platform for everyone in Britain to make the most of their opportunities.

Whilst sharing its front page with

Brown to defy Blair with public vote on EU

Geoff Hoon, the Minister for Europe, revealed that Mr Brown was ready to stage a national poll if Europe's leaders try to force through a deal that was unacceptable to Britain at this week's EU summit.Last night, sources close to Mr Brown confirmed his position, with one describing Mr Hoon's comments as a "sensible" analysis of the situation.

EU treaty row to dominate Blair's final days in power says the Independent

Tough negotiations over a replacement for the failed EU constitution will dominate Mr Blair's final full week in office as he tries to prevent a deal on a new treaty crossing a string of British "red lines".
Mr Blair and the Chancellor are expected to hold talks with the French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, before the Luxembourg Summit amid warnings that Britain faces "nerve-wracking" negotiations.

The Guardian reports that

Gazans stock up on petrol and food as fuel supplies run dry

Gazans rushed to stock up on petrol and food yesterday as Israel cut fuel supplies in its first concrete response to Hamas's seizure of power in Gaza.
The panic-buying came on another frenetic day of politics as President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a new government in Ramallah and outlawed the Hamas militias that deposed the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. He promised their members would be punished for their actions.
But Ismail Haniyeh, who was fired by Mr Abbas as prime minister on Thursday, insisted that he remained in power and that the new government was illegal.

NUKE THE AFGHANS reports the Mirror

TONY Blair feared George Bush would "nuke the s**t" out of Afghanistan in revenge for 9/11, a sensational documentary will claim this week.
Giving the inside story on the war, former British ambassador to the US Chris Meyer reveals: "Blair's real concern was that there would be quote unquote 'a kneejerk reaction' by the Americans... they would go thundering off and nuke the s**t out of the place without thinking straight."
Nuclear strikes would have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths - and sparked a wave of al-Qaeda attacks.

Whilst most of the papers speculate on the fate of Alan Johnston

The moment of greatest danger: after 97 days held captive in Gaza says the Times

The fate of Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza City three months ago, hung in the balance last night as Hamas claimed to be close to securing his freedom while his kidnappers threatened to kill him.
Throughout the day, spokesmen for Hamas suggested that a deal with the Army of Islam was imminent, and that Johnston could be freed within hours.
But last night, in a video broadcast by al-Jazeera, a masked spokesman for Army of Islam, flanked by gunmen carrying Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-launchers, denied that any deal had been reached. He threatened to kill Johnston if his group’s demands were not met and if Hamas sought to free him by force. “If we do not reach an agreement and the situation worsens for us, we will have to turn to God and have no choice but to slit the throat of the journalist,” he said.

35 killed in suicide bombing of Kabul bus reports the Guardian

The most devastating suicide bombing in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban killed 35 people and wounded 52 yesterday, in an attack aimed at a police academy bus in Kabul which heralded an escalation in Iraq-style insurgency tactics.
The Taliban, which had threatened to unleash a summer offensive by thousands of suicide bombers, claimed responsibility. It was a blow to the Nato force and the Afghan government it is trying to bolster, as it sapped hopes that Nato's pre-emptive spring offensive had taken the sting out of the Taliban threat.

The Mirror leads with

HUNGER STRIKE
EXCLUSIVE: Bored, depressed and missing his gay lover, Huntley refuses to eat

BESOTTED Ian Huntley is threatening to starve himself to death in a bid to see more of his gay jailbird lover.
The self-obsessed Soham killer began a hunger strike last Tuesday - and says he is prepared to die unless his latest demands are met.
Huntley, 33, says he is fed-up with being kept on the "boring" medical wing at Wakefield prison.
Instead he wants to be moved to one of the main wings, where he can be nearer to gay killer Dean Wood, 29.

The pair have become close since Wood was jailed last year for killing casino boss Barry De Lacy in Leeds.

Setback for Sarkozy in parliamentary elections reports the Telegraph

Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party won a majority in the parliamentary elections in France last night but it failed to pull off the landslide "blue tsunami" many had predicted.

In a shock defeat, Alain Juppé, the powerful ecology minister and government number two, lost his seat in Bordeaux to a Socialist party candidate. The opposition Socialists did not suffer the record slump that many had predicted, according to early results.
The results were a blow to Mr Sarkozy, who has appeared to be unstoppable since his presidential victory on May 6. But his party's victory should still give him enough room to start pushing his reforms through parliament.

BBC accused of institutional 'trendy left-wing bias' is picked up by the Mail

The BBC is criticised for its liberal leanings in an official report published today, leading to claims that the corporation is "institutionally biased".
BBC bosses have been attacked for not reflecting a "broader range of views" and not thinking outside of its Left-leaning "comfort zone" in its programming.
The report, commissioned by the BBC, also attacks the way the corporation has pandered to politically motivated celebrities such as Bob Geldof and allowed schedules to be hijacked by special interest groups promoting trendy issues.

Teddy's West Ham 'cam scam' reports the front of the Sun

TEDDY Sheringham could face jail after he and fellow West Ham soccer stars were arrested over an alleged scam to cheat driving bans.
The ex-England forward, 41, was held by cops investigating players said to have perverted the course of justice by agreeing to accept penalty points for each other.
Police launched their probe after one of them allegedly tried to claim he had been driving another’s car when it was caught by a speed camera — to stop his pal going over the 12-point limit and receiving a ban.

The Independent uses its front page to plead

Why museums must stay free following a story in yesterday's Mail the paper says

Senior figures from politics, education and the arts leapt to defend free admission to Britain's most famous museums and galleries after a senior Tory suggested that charges could be reintroduced.
The campaigners hailed the success of free access to museums, which has attracted an extra 30 million people to the nation's great artistic and cultural collections since admission charges were scrapped six years ago. It followed a campaign by The Independent to end charges.
Hugo Swire, the shadow Culture Secretary, faced a storm of criticism after suggesting that the proceeds of charges at museums and galleries could be used to fund new facilities.

The Express returns to Diana on its front page this time,

DIANA'S LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED SAYS DOCTOR

PRINCESS Diana’s life could have been saved if French doctors had acted differently after her Paris crash, a close friend claims.
Dr James Colthurst, 50, an independent medical practitioner, believes delays in getting her to hospital played a crucial part in her death.Dr Colthurst, who has more than 25 years medical experience, has questioned whether the French medical team could have done more to save the Princess. “My belief is that had Diana been moved more quickly, the surgeons may have had a better chance,” he said. “Her injuries of course were very serious, but there were delays in addressing those injuries that, to my mind, could have been critical.”

Caroline: I will save Barrymore reports the Sun

ROYLE Family funnygirl Caroline Aherne has told The Sun how she is plotting Michael Barrymore’s TV comeback — despite his arrest as a murder suspect last week.
Reclusive Caroline revealed she is writing a Channel 4 quiz show called Bolero for Barrymore to host.
She said the 55-year-old jetted back to the UK from New Zealand for an “informal” read-through just a day before being held over the swimming pool death of partygoer Stuart Lubbock. He was released without charge on Friday night.
Caroline, who like Barrymore has battled booze and depression, said: “Bolero is due to be filmed. We had a great night drawing it all out and practising with him. A day later, he was arrested.”

Finally the Express reports on the end of at least one reality show

SINGER PAUL IS THE BEST OF BRITISH

OPERA-LOVING mobile phone salesman Paul Potts sang his heart out to win Britain’s Got Talent last night.
Thirteen million viewers tuned in to see the shy 36-year-old from Port Talbot give a spine-tingling rendition of Nessun Dorma.It is the song associated with his idol Luciano Pavarotti, but last night his heartfelt performance stole the show – and picked up £100,000.The self-effacing man dubbed “Pavarpotti” by his friends will perform for the Queen at the Royal Variety Show.