Don't cross me again, warns Tory's accuser is the lead in the Guardian

Nat Rothschild, the merchant banker who accused shadow chancellor George Osborne of securing a £50,000 donation from Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, has warned he will destroy Osborne if the Tories continue to question his account of the discussions that took place at his villa on Corfu.
Declaring a form of uneasy truce, friends of Rothschild said he did not at this stage want to escalate the public battle with his old friend. They said Rothschild had not intended to bring Osborne down by disclosing the shadow chancellor's involvement in talks about raising money from Deripaska. Instead, the friends said, Rothschild had intended it as "slap on the wrist" because he was furious that Osborne had breached confidences in an attempt to damage Labour business secretary Lord Mandelson

The Times leads with Gordon Brown wades in with call for George Osborne
investigation

The Prime Minister told the Commons that the claim that the Shadow Chancellor solicited a donation from Russia’s richest man was “a very serious matter and I hope it is investigated by the authorities”.
But his comments appeared to back-fire as Downing Street officials, taken by surprise, could not say to which authorities Mr Brown was referring. A spokesman said simply: “Whichever authorities are appropriate.”

Meanwhile the Independent asks What possessed Osborne to pick a fight with Mandelson?

while reporters use their leetle grey cells to piece together the chronology and work out who has lied to whom about what – a Herculean task given the plethora of claims and counterclaims – the one thing in no doubt is the identity of the political corpse

The Telegraph says

In a sign that the dispute involving the two old friends is far from over, Mr Rothschild's allies also indicated that Oleg Deripaska, the Russian billionaire at the centre of the donations row, would consider signing an affidavit backing Mr Rothschild's version of events.
Gordon Brown also increased the pressure on Mr Osborne by calling for an investigation into the shadow chancellor's dealings with the oligarch.

Children aged five to get sex education is its lead

Pupils will get basic classes in identifying body parts in the first few years of primary school.
In later years, they will be required to have more structured lessons about reproduction and relationships, a major review will recommend.
At secondary level, schools should improve the way issues such as civil partnerships and the importance of marriage are covered.

There is more scandal in the Mail which leads with

Harrods boss Al Fayed questioned by police about 'sexual assault' of 15-year-old schoolgirl

Mohamed Al Fayed was questioned by police today over claims he sexually assaulted a girl of 15.
The Harrods owner, 75, went voluntarily with his lawyer to a West London police station where he was interviewed under caution for nearly half an hour.
The schoolgirl is thought to be claiming she was fondled and forcibly 'French kissed' last May at his Knightsbridge store

The Independent says that

The 75-year-old, who also owns Fulham Football Club voluntarily attended Twickenham police station with his solicitor yesterday and was questioned under caution. The Metropolitan Police said inquiries were continuing but stressed that no arrests were made. Mr Al Fayed's spokeswoman said he "vehemently denies" the claims.

Coroner attacks systemic failures that led to 10 deaths on Hercules downed in Iraq

A "serious systemic failure" meant that an RAF Hercules plane shot down in Iraq with the loss of 10 servicemen was not fitted with safety equipment that might have saved their lives, a coroner ruled yesterday.
David Masters said it was difficult to see the logic in a decision to ignore recommendations from air tactics experts to fit the Hercules fleet with foam designed to stop fuel tanks igniting. Delivering his verdict, he demanded that all RAF combat aircraft be fitted with safety systems to minimise the risk of this kind of explosion.

reports the Guardian

The Telegraph reports that

Bob Ainsworth said the Ministry of Defence was doing a "tremendously challenging job" amid complex threats but accepted procedures had been inadequate.

The Independent says that workers at Selfridges were exposed to asbestos

Two workers at the London department store Selfridges were exposed to asbestos during a refurbishment, The Independent can reveal.
Asbestos fibres – released when the material is disturbed, through breaking or drilling for instance – can be lethal. Significant exposure can lead to the development of the incurable and fatal cancer mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases later in life.

Many of the papers report that

New drug raises hope of reversing multiple sclerosis in early stages

A step change in the treatment of multiple sclerosis is heralded today by the first study to suggest that a drug can stop the disease in its tracks and even reverse its progress.
A trial of the medicine, known as alemtuzumab, has found that it offers benefits that are “better by a country mile” than other treatments for MS, and that it is effective for a much wider cross-section of patients.

says the Times

The Express also has news on a new drug

A WEIGHT loss drug that helps users shed two stones in six months will give new hope to the obese.
It is twice as effective as current treatments and can see overweight patients lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight quickly.

Pakistan stares into the abyss is the lead in the Independent,the paper reports that

Pakistan Was locked in crisis last night, with the government pressed by Washington to deepen its conflict with Islamic militants in the lawless regions on the Afghan border, and obliged to call in the International Monetary Fund to stave off financial catastrophe.
In the rugged north of the country, a major military offensive to root out Taliban militants has created a flood of up to 200,000 refugees and pitched Pakistani against Pakistani, Muslim against Muslim, in a conflict some are beginning to regard as a civil war.

Nine Afghan soldiers die in 'friendly fire' attack by US warplanes reports the Times

American aircraft have killed nine Afghan soldiers in an accidental attack on an army post – the latest in a string of deadly mistakes involving Western forces in Afghanistan.
Afghan officials said that the attack happened overnight on Tuesday in the eastern province of Khost. “Nine have been martyred, three wounded, one critically, in the attack by international forces,” said General Zaher Azimi, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry

Confident Obama takes presidential tone in talk of post-election plans

Barack Obama began to speak openly and in detail about the post-election transition period from George Bush's presidency for the first time yesterday, opening himself up to charges of complacency.
As most polls showed the Democratic candidate's lead over his Republican rival John McCain still growing, Obama held a meeting in Richmond, Virginia, to discuss with senior national security advisers the foreign policy challenges he would face as president. Bucking the trend, one poll, conducted by Associated Press, showed McCain cutting back Obama's 7% lead three weeks ago to 1%, on 44% to 43%.

Meanwhile many of the papers report that Republicans spent more than $150,000 on Sarah Palin's clothes

Questions over the legality of Mrs Palin's wardrobe bill – paid for out of campaign donations – prompted her spokesman yesterday to say that the clothes would not be kept but donated to charity.
According to financial records obtained by Politico.com, a US politics website, the fashion spending spree started in early September.

The Mirror leads with

Heartbroken friends and relatives paid tribute last night to the “wonderful” family of six who died in a motorway pile-up.
They told how church-going David and Michelle Statham doted on their four children – Reece, 13, Jay, nine, Mason, 20 months, and Ellouise, just 10 weeks.
Scores of poignant messages were posted on memorial websites, including one from Michelle’s long-time friend Kelly Pugh.
She wrote: “May you and your babies be free from pain.”

The Mail adds that

They had just taken Ellouise to visit her maternal grandparents in Birmingham for the first time and were returning to their home in North Wales.
Last night it emerged that they had decided to drive home on Monday evening after scrapping plans to stay for the whole week.

The Times reports that

Police forces lost more than one million days to long-term sick leave last year at a record cost of nearly £90 million, an investigation by The Times has found.
The cost has soared by more than 20 per cent in the past five years despite a drive within the police to reduce prolonged sick absences.

The Guardian reports on the the 1,000mph car

British engineers have unveiled plans for the world's first 1,000mph car, a muscular streak of gunmetal and orange designed not to break the world land speed record but to shatter it.
Bloodhound SSC, named after the British cold war supersonic air defence missiles, will attempt to beat the existing record by more than 250mph.

Fans want me dead is the headline in the Sun

SOCCER thug Joey Barton admitted yesterday that many fans would like to see him DEAD.
In an incredibly frank interview, the Newcastle United star, who did time for assault and was banned for hitting a team-mate, said: “My reputation will precede me until the day I die. For some people, that probably can’t be quick enough.”
But the shamed yob believes he can become a role-model like David Beckham for kids — if he can stay off the booze.

Staying with football and the Independent asks Is the American Dream over for Beckham?

When David Beckham announced he was quitting the Galácticos of Real Madrid to sign for the provincial Los Angeles Galaxy team, the transfer was lambasted – despite the player's protestations – as a move from the football pitch to the showbusiness premier league. He and Victoria would mix with the likes of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Will Smith, Eva Longoria and Governor Schwarzenegger. It seemed to be the ultimate realisation of celebrity dreams. The couple's children were looking forward to playing on Malibu beach, Mrs Beckham told this newspaper at the time

the Sun reports that

A BOY of 16 has been given the brush off by a cleaning firm because he hasn’t had health and safety clearance to use a HOOVER.
Student Karl Walker was also told he is not old enough to use hot water, washing up liquid and furniture polish or to empty bins

Finally the Mail reports on

The Purr-muda triangle: Mystery after FORTY-FIVE pet cats disappear from same town

First to go was Tabatha, then Blackie, Lucky and Norman. Felix vanished, Star never came home and YumYum was never seen again.
In all, at least 45 cats have gone missing in eight years from the quiet, tree-lined Meriden Avenue and its surrounding streets.
Nobody knows what is behind the disappearances, and the only clues have been a few discarded collars - no bodies have ever been found.