European prosecutor could prosecute Britons without Governments permission

By Christopher Hope, Whitehall Editor Published: 8:00AM GMT 06 March 2010

The Spanish EU Presidency, corroborated by France and Germany, voiced that it is going to introduce the origination of an EU European Public Prosecutor subsequent month utilizing powers underneath the Lisbon treaty.

The move is regarded as "extremely worrying" and is seen as a serve try to send powers from London to Brussels.

EU to approach companies inform gender compensate opening EU plans the own motor fuel taxation Tesco hails the great hold up by renting out allotments Barack Obama pounded on all sides over recover of apprehension memos Dignitas owner indicted of profiting from assisted suicides Why the British are observant au revoir to hold up in France.

It would meant that British people could face charge by a probity complement the UK Government has done no grant to environment up.

The British Government has consistently opposite the plans but is unable to stop them going by as they can be upheld as prolonged as they have the subsidy of 9 part of states underneath supposed "enhanced co-operation".

Britain has "opted out" of the system, that equates to that whilst the European prosecutor will not be means to move cases in this country, he will still be means to issue European detain warrants to force UK adults to face charge in an additional part of state but asking the accede of the Government or the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer.

The headlines comes after The Dailydisclosed how the European Union is sketch up plans for the primary approach taxation with a "green" levy on petrol, spark and healthy gas that could cost British consumers up to �3 billion.

The prosecutors primary powers will be cramped to cross-border monetary exchange privately to "investigate rascal and conjecture opposite the euro".

Conde Pumpido, Spains Inspector-General of Finances, said: "The singular banking needs a specific establishment that protects the focus of rapist law opposite rascal and speculation."

However, there are concerns that once allocated the new European prosecutor will find to make use of his powers to take to court a range of opposite and non-financial crimes.

The Spanish Presidencys website raises the awaiting of permitting the prosecutor additionally to "investigate and beginner rapist record opposite cross-border crimes such as people trafficking, drug trafficking or terrorism".

Sarah Gaskell, from debate organisation Open Europe, said: "This is an intensely worrying move for UK citizens, who could face charge by a European Public Prosecutor that the UK Government had no palm in environment up.

"The deeply undemocratic Lisbon Treaty is being used to outsource controls over the probity complement to EU institutions, in what is the begin of a really worrying direction of authorised climb that could see such a prosecutors powers stretched in to all demeanour of areas.

"This only goes to show that the Governments supposed "opt-outs from the Lisbon Treaty in probity and home affairs are a all unsound guarantee for the UKs rapist and probity system.

"A destiny supervision needs to essentially remodel Britains appearance in EU rapist and probity manners and retrieve most larger carry out over the authorised rights of the citizens."

Mark Francois, the shade Europe minister, said: "The Lisbon Treaty allows alternative countries to settle a European prosecutor for themselves if they wish, but we are not thankful to follow suit.

"In fact, it would be positively unsuitable for Britain to experience in any such project.

"It would discredit the firmness and burden of the authorised system. A Conservative supervision would not concede a European Public Prosecutor to have any management in Britain. Labour and the Lib Dems should right away compare the position."

A orator for the EU Commission said: "The Commission is seeking at the options but no decisions have been made."

Video: England 5 Pakistan 2

Published: 3:26PM GMT 05 March 2010

Reading v Aston Villa: match preview

Published: 3:45PM GMT 05 Mar 2010

Previous of Images Next Reading physical education instructor Brian McDermott Photo: GETTY IMAGES Aston Villa physical education instructor Martin O"Neill Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Sunday Mar 7

Reading v Aston VillaMadjeski Stadium, Reading Kick-off: 13.45 GMT TV: ITV1 13.20 GMT, ITV HD 1.20pm

Premier League list Premier League fixtures O"Neill eyes initial Villa win in Mar Cuellar rises Villa fans with Wembley guarantee Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 2 Sport on radio

Reading physical education instructor Brian McDermott will be increased by the lapse of striker Shane Long for the strife with Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland general has longed for the last 4 games by cessation after he was sent off in the fifth turn pull with West Brom but he might have to have do with a place on the dais due to Reading"s new great form.

Winger Jobi McAnuff is suspended, however, whilst on-loan Blackburn defender Zurab Khizanishvili is cup-tied and will miss out.

Midfielders Jem Karacan (hand) and Kalifa Cisse (dead leg) sojourn sidelined as McDermott"s side see to means an additional crater dissapoint after already knocking out Liverpool and Burnley.

O"Neill will await the lapse of his general fortuitous with an component of regard but a purify check of health is expected to outcome in a identical starting XI to the one that lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the Carling Cup last last weekend.

Aston Villa executive defender Richard Dunne is set to be fit. The Republic Of Ireland general longed for his country"s mid-week confront with Brazil after pang a leg damage in the Carling Cup last reversal opposite Manchester United.

Villa physical education instructor Martin O"Neill has no uninformed vital damage worries as his side target to stop Reading adding a third Premier League scalp after their wins over Liverpool and Burnley in the competition.

Skipper Stiliyan Petrov and defender James Collins did not sight currently but came by mid-week games for Bulgaria and Wales unscathed.

Romance rating

Reading are usually 4 points outward the Championship"s relegation zone, nonetheless using point to their unsatisfactory joining deteriorate has been a conspicuous FA Cup run.

The red blood of Liverpool, Burnley, and West Bromwich Albion is already on their hands, 3 big scalps that have brought the club"s initial FA Cup quarter-final given 1927.

As if that were not enough, the reconstruction is being masterminded by Brian McDermott, who has been at the bar given 200, when he assimilated as arch scout. He has given coached the girl group and pot prior to being done caretaker physical education instructor last December, receiving over henceforth in January.

Touchline duel

Brian McDermott v Martin O"Neill: McDermott"s appointment at Reading was primarily seen as small some-more than a income saver, but his formula only one better in the last eight games in all competitions verbalise for themselves.

The one-time Arsenal midfielder has brought a little singular ideas to the precision ground, generally his disinterest in video analysis. He has not shown his players a singular video of the antithesis given his arrival. Such an proceed would dazzle O"Neill, who is a self-confessed advocate of video analysis, mostly personification behind tapes of the compare his side have only accomplished late in to the night. The span have come up opposite each alternative before. McDermott was partner physical education instructor at Conference side Yeovil Town when they played O"Neill"s Wycombe Wanderers in the Nineties. The diversion finished 2-2.

Keep your eye on...

Jimmy Kebe. One of McDermott"s vital successes has been bringing the most appropriate out of Jimmy Kebe. The drifting winger has scored five goals in his last five games. One of them, opposite West Bromwich Albion in the fifth turn last month, is believed to be the fastest idea in FA Cup history, scored after only 9 seconds.

Key stat

Reading fans can find goal between the statistical tea-leaves: given Martin O"Neill arrived at Aston Villa in Aug 2006, the bar have unsuccessful to win a singular compare in the month of March, notwithstanding twelve attempts.

Probable teams

Reading (4-4-2): Federici; Mills, Griffin, Ingimarsson, Bertrand; Tabb, Howard, Kebe, Sigurdsson; Rasiak, Church.Aston Villa (4-4-2): Guzan; L Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock; A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing; Heskey, Agbonlahor.

Christian Dior autumn/winter 2010/11 collection

By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director at Paris Fashion Week Published: 4:10PM GMT 05 March 2010

Link to this video

The lusty, 17th century libertine, the 2nd Earl of Rochester, and some-more than a handful of his semi-clad courtesans, desirous the swashbuckling and regretful pick up John Galliano showed for Christian Dior at the Paris prêt-à- porter season.

The British-born Galliano was in his element, rapine the habit of the orgiastic nobleman and ribald poet, once the toast of Englands "Restoration Court", as interpreted by Johnny Depp, in the 2004 movie, "The Libertine".

Paris Haute Couture: Christian Dior a/w 2009/10 Paris Fashion Week: Christian Dior Galliano gallops in to initial place with pick up for Christian Dior More on Paris Fashion Week Christian Dior autumn/winter 2010/11 pick up Paris Fashion Week: Christian Dior

The hats, incidentally, written by Londons Stephen Jones, appeared to owe some-more to Depps some-more new purpose as the Mad-Hatter, in Alice in Wonderland.

The collection, for subsequent autumn/winter 2010/11, developed from Gallianos Haute Couture show for Dior, shown in January, but, with the fast boy-references, played fast and lax with that collections sport and "dressage" theme.

This was some-more "un-dressage", as licentious met slip in a fantastical march of intrigue and retro. The majority covetable frock-coats given Beau Brummell, in tanned hide and suede, embellished with fur, surfaced negligee-dresses in delicate colour silk-chiffon, packed over with edging and flounces, and accessorised with over-the-knee cavalier-boots.

Cavalry, hacking and dressage jackets came with frozen jodhpurs, and flounced, silk "poet" shirts. The pick up incited the simple cardigan in to an "Affair to Remember", as knits appeared in thickk cream cashmere interwoven with lace, smooth ribbons, bows and flourishes of fur.

The French Minister of Finance, Christine Lagarde, and the actress, Charlize Thereon, were between the front-row choice applauding as Gallianos "little libertines" done the last catwalk parade.

Galliano took his bow, ready to go similar to Rochester himself, in a sheer poets shirt, and suede jodhpurs tucked in to roving boots, versed with china spurts.

"I got them in London," pronounced Galliano. "Theyre mine!," insisted Charlize Thereon, seeking a delicate compare for the engineer in smooth lace, jodhpurs and boots.

For some-more character impulse from Christian Dior revisit Fashion Shop

Telemark trek will test modern Marines

By Tarquin Cooper Published: 10:00AM GMT 05 March 2010

Over the top: Bernie Shrosbree trains Tarquin Cooper for the Heroes of Telemark plea Photo: PHILIP HOLLIS

"We"ll be skiing 1,000km, that"s 50km a day for twenty days. You up to that?" The man asking me is Bernie Shrosbree, Special Boat Service maestro and chosen opening coach.

I have an opinion I might live to bewail my certain answer.

Pen Hadow: Snow Patrol Top twenty great British adventurers Manned air travel: reliving all the Wright moves Top 10 websites to assistance you get fit Sir Ranulph Fiennes: unprepared commercial operation on Everest

Next week I am to stick on a 12-man group of Royal Marines on an epic 700-mile cross-country ski speed opposite Norway. The plan is to retrace the track taken by Norwegian commandos prior to their raid on a Nazi atomic weapons factory, a story immortalised in the Kirk Douglas movie The Heroes of Telemark, and some-more not long ago by Ray Mears on television.

"It"s a poignant challenge," says speed personality Lt Col Gary Green.

To hit me in to shape, I"m put in the hands of a associate part of of the team, 51-year-old Bernie, who trains the likes of Formula One drivers Jenson Button and Mark Webber, and Olympic cycling and rowing medallist Rebecca Romero.

We encounter at his precision centre at Sandbanks, Poole, the disdainful enclave dear by footballers and millionaires. Unfortunately, no luxuries await usually an out-of-date Royal Marine cold-weather initiation.

"So the plan is for you to go for a float in the sea and afterwards put your bike together. Are you OK with that?" Bernie asks.

It"s cold and an onshore breeze is gusting at 30mph. The wind-chill heat is 23F (-5C). I don"t need to be a alloy to know that station around exposed after a float is not recommended.

The thought is to replicate the kind of unfolding I"ll encounter in Norway, when the cold reduces elementary tasks similar to putting up a tent to a severe mental ordeal.

"You have to be means to think and perform in an impassioned sourroundings when the elements are opposite you. Anyone can be cold and miserable," Bernie says.

First, I run up and down the beach to get warm. Then I frame down to my undies and in the excellent British tradition, run in to the sea similar to a madman. In an instant, the cold grips me similar to a vice. I try to recollect Bernie"s difference to pull on by the pain. After 10 metres I listen to him pursuit me to spin around. Back on the beach, the genuine plea starts perplexing to container my back circle in to place and put the sequence on whilst a trenchant breeze literally chills me to my core. It"s a competition opposite time as my fingers lose their dexterity, my feet go dull and my brain slows to a snail"s pace. I onslaught to spin the circle nuts tight. The stop cables exclude to go in to place. Sand is everywhere. My fingers stop working.

Bernie calls time and dispatches me to the hotel"s prohibited cylinder to comfortable up. "You did a great job. You weren"t the mummy"s child I was expecting."

A crater of tea after and we"re on the sequence packet to the Isle of Purbeck for the subsequent proviso of my conditioning programme a run in the silt dunes and afterwards a towering bike around the island. To my pleasing surprise, Bernie doesn"t scream in to my ear similar to a cavalcade sergeant.

"In the special forces we don"t shout. It"s not about beasting you. That will not get you by this. We have to sight intelligently."

Retracing The Heroes of Telemark track is usually one component of speed Tusen Takk, that translates as "a thousand thanks" in loyalty to the Norwegian hosts.

For the speed personality Lt Col Green, 47, and most of the alternative members of the team, it is a personal journey. Five months ago Green lost his mother to cancer. In 2008, Col Jim Hutton lost his son, additionally a Marine, in a precision accident. His mother was additionally not long ago diagnosed with cancer. The disease is additionally close to home for Major Willie Ferguson, whose 18-year-old son was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006.

The speed is anticipating to lift multiform thousand pounds for Service and cancer charities.

Another target is to pass on the skills and experience of the comparison members of the team, who in between them have 160 years of use history, to the younger members, who are elderly nineteen to 22.

"It"s going to be an engaging contrariety with 6 immature fit Royal Marines who will be raring to go, opposite the old ensure who haven"t been to Norway for a small time," Lt Col Green says.

During the speed we will design temperatures as low as -20F (-29C) and have a stand homogeneous to the tallness of Mount Everest.

"It will be tough," Lt Col Green concedes. "But you can overcome tired by fitness, nourishment and a small thing in that we specialise in the Corps called determination."

Back at his opening centre, Bernie tells me he feels celebrated to have been invited onto the team.

He"s not the usually one. Although I"m additionally a small scared.

The speed is raising supports for The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, Macmillan and Clic Sargent. To have a concession or review some-more about the journey, go to tusentakk.co.uk

Sony working on gadgets to rival Apple

By Claudine Beaumont, Technology Editor Published: 2:36PM GMT 05 March 2010

Sony is believed to be operative on a range of mobile inclination that could contest without delay with Apple, together with a mobile phone able of downloading PlayStation games Photo: BLOOMBERG

The product range includes a smartphone able of downloading and personification video games, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Sony is pronounced to be flourishing increasingly heedful of Apple"s attempts to browbeat the mobile inclination market. The stirring recover of the iPad is a sold concern, as there are fears it competence lure consumers afar from netbooks and laptop computers.

Navy trains with PlayStations Sony PSP Go to stand in as ebook Could Sony be operative on a PSP phone? Apples inscription to opposition Amazons Kindle Amazon to launch new ebook reader to follow Kindle Orange watch phone goes on sale Aug twenty-seven

The Japanese wiring hulk is building a prototype, unstable device that combines the most appropriate elements of netbooks, e-book readers and unstable games consoles, sources close to the association told the WSJ.

Rumours of a supposed "PlayStation Portable" phone have swirled for years, with Sony at large approaching to have make use of of the Sony Ericsson handset multiplication to rise a mobile phone able of downloading and personification PlayStation games.

It is believed the inclination competence go on sale this year, nonetheless accurate specifications and pricing sum are nonetheless to be finalised, contend sources. Sony is additionally readying the own version of Apple"s iTunes store. The platform, tentatively declared Sony Online Service, will capacitate users to download music, movies and radio programmes, as well as comparison games expelled for the strange PlayStation console.

"That"s the vision, but it"s still not utterly transparent what specific stairs Sony will take to grasp that, generally when iPad and alternative rarely able mobile inclination are crowding the market," Nobuo Kurahashi, an researcher at Mizuho Investors Securities, told the Journal.

Anger as Northamptonshire rebranded North Londonshire

By Stephen Adams Published: 11:53AM GMT 05 March 2010

The North Northamptonshire Development Corporation is about to enter upon on a �1.28 million promotion debate to capture people and businesses from the collateral area.

The thought has worked before. After all, airports do it all the time: theres London Stansted, London Luton and right away theres even London Oxford.

Lets enthuse the subsequent era of scientists Small steps: how Edwyn Collins learnt to pull again The Great Purge has proposed in the Conservative Party Fifty good days out in the UK US ubiquitous says Pakistan could be only dual weeks from fall

The last is 60 miles from the collateral so what could an additional thirty matter?

After decades perplexing to reconstruct the cracked economy of Corby and the surrounding area, that has never indeed recovered given the towns steelworks was sealed in 1980, rebranding the locale might have seemed a good idea.

But the suits charged with revamping the area have maybe not factored in to their equation something that majority locals cruise to be similarly as critical as commercial operation investment: pride.

"North Londonshire does the place down," pronounced former steelworker Ivan Robb, settling down to a lunchtime pint in the Viking Club, situated in a lifeless 1970s housing estate on the hinterland of Corby.

Despite the actuality he lost his pursuit when the plant shut, Mr Robb, who was lived in Corby majority of his life, thought it could do some-more than see south for inspiration.

"We should have some-more honour in the place than that. There are no similarities in between here and London. None at all," he stressed.

"When I worked there I hated it completely. It is a soulless and antipathetic place."

Barman Craig ODonnell, at twenty-four as well immature to have seen firsthand the obliteration of towns industrial might, agreed.

He was so angry at the debate that he has sealed up to a Facebook group, called Northamptonshire is NOT North Londonshire.

It had 1,100 members by Thursday afternoon and flourishing fast.

"Its a bit of an insult," he said. "Why should you have to rename somewhere to get someone to live there?"

Even if he concluded with the concept, he doubted it would work.

"Its a rubbish of money. Its pointless," he said.

Not everybody in the club, or the county, share their point of view.

Ray Alderton a 77-year-old Cockney who changed up in 1965 for a shift of pace, thought the aphorism was "a good thought … even if theres a bit of amusement about it".

"If you get even a medium-sized association come to Northamptonshire, they will beget some-more than �1.3 million in months," he argued.

Simon Evans, arch senior manager of NNDC, certified that the familiar aphorism was predominantly directed at gaining broadside for the area.

"The North Londonshire tagline is obviously going to kindle recognition of the area and prominence how well-located and continuous the business, housing and camp offers are," he said.

The area is pulling tough to reinvent itself. Corby has a code new hire that not often resembles an airfield depot charity hourly trains in to St Pancras that take 1hr 10 mins.

The calendar indicates that past is still battling present, however, with no newcomer sight at 10.15am since a burden sight passes through.

"Thats being sorted out though," pronounced Marion Pickering, a South African who runs the stations solitary coffee shop.

"I think this rebranding is a shining idea. Corby used to be the riffraff of the Midlands," she announced. "Anything to do with London is positive."

But those in the desirable nation locale of Oundle, nestled in a flattering stream hollow 10 miles to the east, thought Northamptonshire should not sell itself short.

Sandy Miles, 45, changed out of London with her father Mike a decade ago.

"We gathering by one day and fell in love with it," pronounced Mrs Miles, who runs MileStones Florist in the locale centre.

"I wouldnt hit London, the good for people of a sure age with the theatres and nightlife.

"But Northamptonshire is utterly different. Its the nation hold up here, the dream."

Martin Trendall, 63, who runs the towns butchers, added: "Every county has got the own identity. This place is a dark gem.

"Calling Northamptonshire North Londonshire does it down tremendously."

His 28-year-old co-worker Ryan Francis, put it some-more succinctly.

"London can keep the high residence prices and cost of living," he said.

Pentagon attacker killed and police officers wounded in shoot-out

Published: 1:44PM GMT 05 March 2010

John Patrick Bedell, 36, non-stop glow outward the Pentagon"s metro opening during the swarming dusk rush-hour outward the station, that is only outward the large counterclaim dialect building, triggering a proxy security lockdown at the US troops headquarters.

The think "appeared to be flattering calm" as he approached the entrance, Chief Richard Keevill of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency said.

Man shoots passed 3 policemen in California Britain?s gunboat tact still angers Iceland Bushs security chief: I faced vigour to lift apprehension rapt prior to choosing 9/11 indicted interrupt troops probity conference Successful broker jumps to his genocide after exploration at work

"As the officers proposed to ask him for his pass... he drew a arms from his slot and proposed shooting," Mr Keevill said.

Bedell was armed with dual 9 millimeter semiautomatic weapons and carried "many magazines" of ammunition. There was some-more ammunition in Bedell"s car, that authorities after found in a circuitously car park, Mr Keevill said.

Police returned glow and the shooter was critically wounded.

The injuries to the dual troops officers appeared to be extending wounds and were not hold up threatening, he said.

On Friday, justification began to arise that Bedell harboured entrenched rancour of the US troops and doubts about the militant attacks of Sept 11, 2001 in New York and Washington.

In an internet posting, a chairman underneath the name JPatrickBedell wrote that he was operative toward "establishing the law of events such as the Sep eleven demolitions".

That same posting railed opposite the government"s coercion of pot laws and enclosed links to the author"s 2006 probity box in Orange County, California, for cultivating pot and facing a troops officer.

The blogger additionally wrote "I am dynamic to see that probity is served in the genocide of Colonel James Sabow," a US sea who died in his backyard in 1991.

Some supporters of the closley-monitored box demand Sabow was murdered since he was on the verge of exposing endless arms and drug shipments to and from Latin America on US troops flights.

Lewis Moody to join Bath in summer on three-year deal

By Gavin Mairs, Rugby News Correspondent Published: 1:05PM GMT 05 March 2010

Fresh challenge: Lewis Moody will leave Leicester for Bath in the summer Photo: REUTERS

Moody, 31, who assimilated Leicester true from Oakham School, has sealed a three-year understanding with Bath.

The energetic forward, a World Cup leader with England in 2003 who additionally toured with the British Lions to New Zealand in 2005, has been Martin Johnsons majority unchanging player this deteriorate and his signing is a vital manoeuvre for Bath.

Stade hazard over Haskell Tait open to France move Attoub loses gouging interest Haskell misses precision RFU v France row escalates Why do we direct style?

"I am unequivocally seeking brazen to an sparkling new plea at this theatre of my career," pronounced Moody, who finished the initial of 216 appearances for the Tigers in Aug 1996.

"Baths values ideally fit my own, it is a great city and club, with a genuine family feel and a close weave and considerable squad.

"I have regularly well known that if I was ever going to leave Leicester, the usually bar I would cruise in the UK would be Bath. They fool around an sparkling code of rugby and, carrying outlayed time with both Steve Meehan and Nick Blofeld, I am certain that there are sparkling years ahead."

Meehan, the Bath coach, pronounced Moody, who has 59 England caps, would be a vital item to his patrol subsequent season.

"Lewis is a proven leader and he brings immeasurable experience, a extreme integrity and great perspective with him.

"Adapting to the character of fool around shouldnt be a complaint and we design him to assistance emanate some-more opportunities and movement up front."

Lote Tuqiri is dynamic to safeguard his short army with Leicester ends on a high with a feat over London Irish on Saturday.

The former Australia wing earnings to Sydney on Sunday to take up a stipulate with rugby joining side Wests Tigers. Although Leicester have changed to the tip of the Guinness Premiership during his four-month spell at Welford Road, last weekends 19-3 better by Northampton Saints was described by Tuqiri as an "embarrassment" and he is fervent to have amends.

"This is going to be a large game," Tuqiri said. "London Irish have got a lot of unequivocally great players and they are in the tip 4 now.

"We got a bit broke last week and this is the place to redress a little of those wrongs that we might have finished down at Northampton. It has been a really beguiling stay at Leicester, a all certain experience.

"Hopefully I have got one some-more great mental recall in me and I can leave the bar in a great way."

Former Bath captain Alex Crockett will have his initial coming given completing a nine-month anathema for unwell to take a drug exam when he lines up for Bristol in their British and Irish Cup compare at Nottingham tomorrow.

The 28-year-old England Saxons general quiescent from Bath, along with England flanker Michael Lipman and centre Andrew Higgins, after refusing to crop up at an inner disciplinary conference to residence their disaster to take a drug exam after the clubs end-of-season celebration in London.

Meanwhile, England winger Paul Sackey insists his enterprise for a "fresh start" was the pushing force at the back of his preference to leave Wasps for Toulon subsequent season.

He will couple up with former England team-mates Jonny Wilkinson and Tom May carrying sealed a two-year understanding with the French bar after five years at Wasps.

"I longed for to shift my sourroundings and lifestyle. I could have left to Paris, but that was as well identical to London," Sackey said.

"I longed for to experience a genuine change, by signing for a bar that offers me something opposite and has a lot of ambition."

Gloucester harlot Darren Dawidiuk has concluded a new two-year understanding with the Premiership club.

Arthur Ryan: the man who has changed retailing forever

By Richard Fletcher, City Editor Published: 10:44AM GMT 05 March 2010

Arthur Ryan - Primark arch breaks twenty years of privacy to accept endowment

The low cost, high volume commercial operation indication has altered retailing (and the High Street) forever. Sales from 196 Primark and Penneys stores opposite Ireland, the UK and Spain right away tip �2bn.

Yet notwithstanding operative in the ego driven universe of retailing, Ryan has remained resolutely in the credentials tirelessly construction in the difference of Sir Philip Green one of the UK"s good businesses.

Primark owner Arthur Ryan to leave Quiet man who altered the face of sell Primark should set sights abroad Primark forges forward as shoppers love event continues Marthas Vineyard will be altered by Barack Obamas revisit

Ryan had never been photographed, never spoken a word in open until last night when he stepped onto the theatre of the Grosvenor House Hotel.

He eventually stepped out of the shadows to pick up a lifetime feat endowment at the annual Retail Week awards. Rarely has a drum been so richly deserved.

Costa Coffee gives Whitbread a lift

By Amy Wilson Published: 6:30AM GMT 05 March 2010

Whitbread

Whitbread"s like-for-like sales rose 3pc in the fourth quarter, with Premier Inn returning to expansion with a 1.7pc rise, and Costa jumping 9.5pc. Costa sales climbed 21pc over the year to Feb 18, together with new openings.

Whitbread has already lifted the gain forecasts for the year, and analysts are right away forecasting pre-tax increase of around �235m, compared with �198m last year.

Whitbreads recession-hit commercial operation exclude to give up every day cappuccino The week forward in commercial operation Whitbread strikes a certain note notwithstanding bad open Whitbread sees pointy dump in Premier Inn direct Whitbread sales tumble as Premier Inn feels the suffering

Alan Parker, arch executive, put Costa"s clever sales down to the selling pull at the back of the "flat white," the new coffee accumulation brought in at the finish of January, and to one after another spending on the interior of stores so they sojourn tasteful places to outlay time.

Mr Parker pronounced on Wednesday he would retire in November, and be transposed by EasyJet arch senior manager Andy Harrison. The association plans to concentration on boosting the general commercial operation underneath Mr Harrison, and aims to stand in the series of Costa stores to 3,000 over the subsequent 4 years.

Premier Inn"s sales softened after Whitbread offering poor deals on week end breaks, targeting expansion from camp travellers since commercial operation sales are not expected to collect up in the nearby future. The association has been "aggressive" on pricing, Mr Parker said. Whitbread outlayed about �100m less on opening new hotels in 2009, adding 1,700 bedrooms compared with 4,500 in 2008. The association will open 10,000 new road house bedrooms in the UK over the subsequent 3 years.

Switzerland to vote on appointing lawyers for abused pets

Published: 7:00AM GMT 05 March 2010

The lawyers-for-animals check is an e.g. of Switzerland"s approach democracy where any adult who collects 100,000 signatures from authorised electorate can force a national referendum Photo: JULIAN ANDREWS

Legal illustration in cases involving mistreated animals has been mandatory given 1992 in the Zurich canton. But house house pet governing body could be taken to a new turn if electorate magnify the right to the alternative twenty-five mini-states.

"It is not about Paris Hilton"s dog right away wanting a counsel to paint the interests," pronounced Antoine Goetschel, Switzerland"s customarily counsel mandated by his canton in Zurich to hoop animal gratification cases.

Goldfish survives being burning down shower and is discovered from sewage plant Tuesdays TV & air wave choices Wogans World: Are YOU a obliged house house pet owner? Fish tank toilet will cut H2O make use of Cherie Blair: Its good being a witness again, rather than a witness competition

It is about safeguarding animals who are spoiled by the really people who are meant to take caring of them, pronounced Mr Goetschel who is "very happy" about the referendum debate.

The quirky lawyers-for-animals check is a new e.g. of Switzerland"s "direct democracy" in that any adult who collects 100,000 signatures from authorised electorate can force a national referendum on their selected cause.

Among the 50 cases Mr Goetschel is traffic with at the impulse is one of a equine that was stabbed thirty times prior to it died.

Past cases of zoophilia embody a chairman who kept 150 cats but could not take caring of them.

"The animal gratification profession is such a idealist and correct instrument since the animal has a voice in rapist procedures opposite the chairman who customarily has the shortcoming for it," he noted.

The complaint is that the animal has "no rights", distinct humans who can take to court the chairman who has caused harm, pronounced Mr Goetschel.

Environment groups, the Green and Socialist parties are ancillary the initiative. But the government, council and the country"s greatest party, the far-right Swiss People"s Party, are against.

The strongest antithesis is in the countryside. "It will beget as well most bureaucracy," complained Urs Schneider, orator for the Swiss Farmers" Union. "Switzerland already has existent laws to strengthen animals," he said.

Ships stranded for hours in Baltic Sea ice freed

Published: 9:57AM GMT 05 March 2010

Damage is seen to the Amorella ferry, a newcomer packet with 753 passengers and 190 organisation members, as it earnings to pier in Stockholm Photo: AP

A newcomer packet with scarcely 1,000 people on house returned safely to the Stockholm gulf early on Friday after carrying damaged free, officials said.

Dozens of alternative ships and boats had additionally been stuck as gale-force winds built up large ice rank and file along the Swedish coastline.

Sweden warns of Baltic bandit risk in arise of Arctic Sea steal Eight pirates arrested over boat steal but questions sojourn Secrets of 37,000 year old baby huge suggested Rescue of US freighter captain: Somali pirates vouch punish British tourists trapped as journey boat runs aground in Antarctica

Ice breakers helped recover the packet Amorella at the corner of an archipelago north of Stockholm. Rescue helicopters and troops hovercraft had been placed on standby to leave passengers if needed. No one was injured.

The Swedish Maritime Administration pronounced the Amorella had 753 passengers and 190 organisation on board. The 10-deck boat belongs to Viking Line, that operates Baltic Sea cruises in between Sweden and Finland.

The Regal Star, a load boat with 56 people on board, was set free early on Friday. Three alternative ferries that got stuck in the ice in the archipelago were means to mangle free on Thursday.

Both Sweden and Finland deployed icebreakers in the area to assistance the stuck vessels.

Heavy ice cover is not odd serve north, but the ice frequency gets thick sufficient in the Stockholm archipelago to trap absolute newcomer ferries similar to the Amorella.

The nautical administration department pronounced the ships had abandoned warnings about the icy conditions.

World Indoor Athletics 2010: USA select well-balanced team for Doha

Published: 9:43AM GMT 05 Mar 2010

In the running: Lolo Jones will spearhead USA patrol in Doha Photo: AP

The eventuality will be hold in Doha, the Qatari capital, on Mar 12-14 with Cantwell competing in the shot put, Clay the heptathlon and Jones in the women"s 60 metres hurdles.

"I don"t wish to get held up in award counts, that"s not the approach I do things," Andrew Valmon, USA"s head coach, said.

World Indoors: calendar Liu Xiang to urge 60m climax Watch full video highlights Aikines-Aryeetey scholastic in sprinting World Indoors: 10 to watch in Doha Britain"s 10 to follow in Doha

"But I will contend we have a really plain team, a well-balanced team, a good organisation of determined veterans and immature talents."

World outside champions Trey Hardee (decathlon) and Brittney Reese (women"s prolonged jump) are additionally on the organisation along with former indoor winners Terrence Trammell (60 metres hurdles), Bernard Lagat (3,000 metres) and Walter Davis (triple jump).

Cantwell, Trammell, Reese and organisation friends Ivory Williams (60 metres) and Debbie Dunn (women"s 400 metres) have the year"s most appropriate outlines in their events.

One to watch

Carmelita Jeter, 60 metres A late developer, Jeter dramatically softened her speed over 100metres in 2009, to the point where usually Florence Griffith-Joyner has run faster. Her new 60-metre time of 7.06 at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham was a personal best, and most hold that Irina Privalovas 17-year-old universe jot down of 6.92 could come underneath hazard in Doha.

US organisation in full

Men

60m: Ivory Williams (Liberty, Mo.), Michael Rodgers (Round Rock, Texas)

400m: Bershawn Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.), Jamaal Torrance (Raleigh, N.C.)

800m: Nick Symmonds (Eugene, Ore.), Duane Solomon (Los Angeles, Calif.)

1500m: Will Leer (Eugene, Ore.), Garrett Heath (Palo Alto, Calif.)

3000m: Bernard Lagat (Tucson, Ariz.), Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.)

60mH: Terrence Trammell (Atlanta, Ga.), David Oliver (Kissimmee, Fla.)

Long jump: Jeff Henderson (North Little Rock, Ark.), Randall Flimmons (Atlanta, Ga.)

Triple jump: Brandon Roulhac (Tallahassee, Fla.), Walter Davis (Baton Rouge, La.)

High jump: Jesse Williams (Eugene, Ore.), Dusty Jonas (Lincoln, Neb.)

Pole vault: Tim Mack (Cleveland, Ohio), Derek Miles (Tea, S.D.)

Shot put: Christian Cantwell (Columbia, Mo.), Cory Martin (Bloomington, Ind.)

Heptathlon: Trey Hardee (Austin, Texas), Bryan Clay (Glendora, Calif.)

4x400m relay: Greg Nixon (Lubbock, Texas), Tavaris Tate (Starkville, Miss.), Kerron Clement (Los Angeles, Calif.), LeJerald Betters (Waco, Texas)

Women

60m: Carmelita Jeter (Los Angeles, Calif.), Miki Barber (Los Angeles, Calif.)

400m: Debbie Dunn (Raleigh, N.C.), DeeDee Trotter (Knoxville, Tenn.)

800m: Anna Pierce (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Alysia Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.)

1500m: Erin Donohue (Haddon Heights, N.J.), Sarah Bowman (Knoxville, Tenn.)

3000m: Sara Hall (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.)

60mH: Ginnie Powell (Los Angeles, Calif.), Lolo Jones (Baton Rouge, La.)

Long jump: Brittney Reese (Gulfport, Miss.), Brianna Glenn (Chula Vista, Calif.)

Triple jump: Erica McLain (Menlo Park, Calif.)

High jump: Chaunte Howard Lowe (Decatur, Ga.)

Pole vault: Lacy Janson (Sarasota, Fla.), Chelsea Johnson (Altascadero, Calif.)

Shot put: Jillian Camarena (Tucson, Ariz.), Michelle Carter (Ovilla, Texas)

Heptathlon: Hyleas Fountain (Kettering, Ohio)

4x400m relay: Allyson Felix (Los Angeles, Calif.), Natasha Hastings (Columbia, S.C.), Shareese Woods (Charlotte, N.C.), Jessica Cousins (Seneca, S.C.)

Watch entertainment live online to one side at telegraph.co.uk/athleticslive, with movement from the IAAF indoor assembly in Lievin on Mar 5, prior to full live coverage of the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Mar 12, thirteen and 14, in organisation with Aviva.

Over 1000 trapped as ships stuck in Baltic ice

Published: 9:44PM GMT 04 March 2010

Two newcomer ferries and dual load ships are stranded in ice in the Baltic Sea Photo: REUTERS

The ships got in to difficulties off Sweden"s easterly coast, and rescuers were on standby to leave them if needed, officials said.

It is reportedly the misfortune Baltic freeze for fifteen years.

Cross-Channel packet continually left doors open at sea Russian army arrests eight pirates who seized the load boat Arctic Sea Indonesian packet disaster: 250 passengers feared passed At slightest twenty-three passed as Philippines packet sinks Somali piracy: Cruise boat to leave passengers to strengthen them from conflict

The Swedish Maritime Administration pronounced that ice breakers in the area were perplexing to free the ships, but gale-force winds were hampering the effort.

"As shortly as they mangle the ice it freezes over again," sea rescue orator Peter Lindquist said.

He pronounced no one was harm and there were no evident plans to move people off the ships, but helicopters and troops hovercraft were on standby in box evacuations would turn necessary.

The group pronounced 4 ships were stuck, together with the Amorella, a newcomer packet with 943 people on board.

Two alternative ferries that got stranded in the ice were means to mangle free.

One of those ships, the Finnfellow, collided easily with the Amorella when the ice pulpy the dual ships together, but there was no vital repairs to possibly ship, Lindquist said.

"Just a little paint that was scratched off," he said.

Scottish and Southern cuts gas bills

By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Editor Published: 5:17PM GMT 04 Mar 2010

Comments 3 |

However, it rught away came underneath conflict for the "token gesture" with appetite experts observant the association should have cut by far more.

A patron with a twin fuel comment with Scottish and Southern receiving both gas and physical phenomenon will see their bills tumble by �30, or 4 per cent, to �1,193.

Bills "must fall" after British Gas"s "dangerous" enlarge British Gas will be cheered by cold spell Scottish and Southern plans to set up Shetland Isles breeze plantation Scottish Power cuts bills, but experts contend it is insignificant Gas bills scarcely doubled in 3 years, notwithstanding indiscriminate prices being reduce E. ON drops prices for 4.1 million physical phenomenon customers, but not gas

Those that have usually gas will see their check tumble by �56, or 7 per cent, to �715.

However, bills are still at slightest a third higher than dual years ago and experts claimed Scottish and Southern had unsuccessful to pass on sufficient of the unemployment in the cost of indiscriminate appetite to customers. They additionally forked out that the cut usually comes in to outcome at the finish of March, when business are approaching to have incited down their heating.

David Hunter, appetite researcher from McKinnon & Clarke said: "This 4 per cent on gas alone is well short of a satisfactory understanding for customers.

"We are really disappointed, but not somewhat surprised, that the cut comes in from the finish of Mar once the rise heating deteriorate is over demonstrating once again the priority of shareholder dividends over business struggling to compensate heating bills."

The cut by Scottish and Southern follows a 7 per cent cut by British Gas at the begin of February, that took force with evident effect.

Mark Todd, executive of the cost some-more aged website energyhelpline.com, said: "Although any cut in domicile appetite prices is welcome, this is prolonged owing and usually a dump in the ocean.

"There should be copiousness some-more gas in the tank at SSE for serve falls and we would urge them to have some-more suggestive cost cuts."

The pointy tumble in indiscriminate gas and physical phenomenon prices usually a small piece of that have been upheld on to business has let suppliers enlarge their enlarge substantially. Ofgem, the industry regulator, calculates that on normal companies are creation �105 in distinction from each patron on an annual basis, up from usually �35 last year.

British Gas last week voiced jot down profits.

Scottish and Southern argued it could not cut prices any serve since the supposed brazen cost the cost for gas in 2011 was higher than it was for 2010. Alistair Phillips-Davies, appetite supply executive of the company, said: "Energy supply is still a severe business, with poignant ceiling cost pressures that run opposite to reductions in indiscriminate costs, but we hold this is a obliged package of measures."

Splinter Cell: Conviction video game preview

By Tom Hoggins Published: 5:52PM GMT 04 March 2010

Previous of Images Next There had improved be no some-more delays: A new Splinter Cell journey is set for recover this Apr Low-tech: Sam Fisher"s gadgets are left and he right away has to have do with bland apparatus in his environments Over you go: Sam can still secrecy kill opponents if he"s unresolved from a edge at the behind of them Shhhhh, we"re being stealthy: Conviction looks set to be a some-more movement focused diversion than the predecessors Take a closer look: Sam FIsher is presented as some-more battle-scarred and heartless than prior to Seamless: The mission objectives crop up on surfaces around Sam and don"t miscarry the upsurge of fool around

Format: Xbox 360, PCDeveloper: Ubisoft MontrealPublisher: MontrealReleased: sixteen Apr 2010

Its mocking that with nonetheless an additional check pulling Sam Fishers long-awaited lapse to Apr the ultimate Splinter Cell is receiving the time to climb out of the shadows; Conviction is stealth-action at a hundred miles an hour.

Most expected video games of 2010 Splinter Cell Conviction preview Top 10 video diversion low-pitched scores E3 2009: Top 10 video games Top 10 Xbox 360 exclusives E3 2009: Microsofts Xbox 360 lecture research

As Fisher, you attempt to keep out of steer as majority as possible, but watchful around is not in the remit. Sweeping in in in between cover with the press of a symbol Fisher scrambles towards his targets with stoic, fit determination. When he attacks, hes surgical. Disposing of his foes with steadfast pointing and speed prior to declining again. The rest of the passed mans celebration are terrified, banishment blindly where they thought they last saw the spook thats picking them off.

Your methods of dispatching Fishers enemies are pleasingly varied. OK, it often comes down to a bullet in the brain or an up close and personal neck-snap but the the follow -that ruthless diversion of cat-and-mouse- that gives the greatest thrill. Controlling Fisher has a outstanding heft, complimented by minute and organic animation. He scurries in in in between cover, scrambles up and conflicting pipes and rooftops, prior to crashing down on his foes with weight and power, heartless as Bourne.

Shorn of his heading gadgets, Fisher improvises with a snapped car mirror, slipping it underneath doorways to range out the forthcoming. A daub of RB on an gullible rivalry outlines them for execution -a stylish, one shot-kill- Fisher bursts by the door, the thup thup of his silenced pistol receiving out twin guards prior to they could even blink. Slip in to shadow, cool as you similar to and very, really satisfied.

Execution outlines are limited. To accumulate marks, Fisher contingency take down an rivalry in hand-to-hand combat. Along with customary gunplay, the trifecta of dispatch methods allows a breathless, energetic accumulation to play. How you proceed each target binds the own risk prerogative considerations, however. Picking off goons from a area is maybe safest, but a longed for could rapt the patrol to your whereabouts. Hand-to-hand is the stealthiest choice and adds to your execution stockpile, but covering any open belligerent could lead to you being spotted. Execution is the majority arguable form of attack, but youll need to cruise the most appropriate times to make make use of of them, lest they be wasted.

In an attack on a palace -searching for the man who could lead Fisher to his daughters killers- I make make use of of each arms at my disposal. I pound lights to expel shadows; lift goons from window ledges; scuttle around to the conflicting side and govern his squadmates; dump from suspended pipes; fire down chandeliers, slicing the bad guys underneath to ribbons. Each move is delicately thought out though, a inapplicable designation and youre in trouble. Fishers health club cant take some-more than a couple of hits, so a untimely pour out on an opponents on all sides is expected to lead to death.

When I fix up my target, the inquire time. This is arguably an interactive cutscene, but Fishers heartless doubt technique allows you to pull towards your whimpering rivalry to opposite tools of the environment, outstanding them by tables and lavatories, porcelain pinch on the tiled floor. The elementary action of a symbol press is brutally pleasing as Fisher grills his enemies. Hes a really indignant man, and you feel each damaged bone he administers. Flashes of his murdered daughter are expel on the wall in a tidy visible flourish, reminding you usually because youre enormous skulls.

Its a stirring territory of fool around from the campaign, a well-judged key display off Convictions target for the singleplayer draw. Its moulding up to be a grim, peppery story of revenge. Multiplayer looks to be lonesome too, with new commune mode Deniable Ops putting you in the boots of a tooled-up Third Echelon agent, tasking you and a crony with clearing out assorted rivalry encampments.

Paired up with a rather doubtful seeking French journalist, Im pitched in to what looks similar to a sprawling embassy. The area is filthy with terrorists, and a opposite pops in to the top-left of the HUD. There are ten terrorists in this sector, the pursuit simple: take them out. With twin agents, some-more rendezvous options turn available, flanking, distraction, even twin executions. One player can symbol a span of goons for execution, opening up the choice for his partner to place some-more outlines in one seamless tag-team firestorm, utilizing usually one mark.

Working by a Deniable Ops mission is deliciously tense, methodically dispatching enemies but being seen. Should a ensure mark you or your partner, reinforcements will be called in. That rivalry opposite in the tip dilemma will parasite upwards, definition you have even some-more targets to eliminate, all at a heightened state of awareness.

The missions crop up considerably extensive too. When one zone is clear, you will have the possibility to reload and barter apparatus prior to relocating on to the next. The embassy we were pitched in was something of a labyrinth. We worked the approach by the gardens, in to good halls travelling twin floors prior to entrance behind on ourselves. Signposting did turn an issue in such a stretch however, conjunction of us sure where to go subsequent with the diversion awaiting us to double-back. It was a slight mood-killer for a multiplayer mode formed on satirical sweeps, as we unfit in to sealed doors and dull corridors, admittedly not aided by the denunciation separator in in in between my partner and I. When on lane and on method, however, Deniable Ops had a superb change of tragedy and excitement, quite during a well-choreographed takedown.

Question outlines sojourn over usually because Conviction is receiving so long. Ubisoft have pronounced the ultimate pushback is for bug-fixing and polishing. Indeed, a little of the Ubisoft reps belied a tangible angst as we approached sure points of the demo code, fearing a crash. These additional months should concede Ubisoft to iron out any technical creases. If we get the diversion that Conviction has the intensity to be, it should be well value the wait.

Lemon recipe: Crystallised lemon peel

By Xanthe Clay Published: 4:37PM GMT 04 March 2010

Crystallised lemon flay Photo: CHRISTOPHER JONES

This is tasty to drop in chocolate and eat with after-dinner coffee. It can be a bit of a bitch to make, so save it for a stormy afternoon. The same process functions well with orange and grapefruit peel.

Lemons: Discover a new liking for in progress Xanthe Clay: Iced cinnamon rolls, canapes and cheese bisquits Recipes: Paul Gaylers salsas Barbecued salt mire lamb with uninformed mint, immature chilli sauce, served with homemade pittas and a herb salad Summer salad recipe: singular grilled rib eye with roasted peppers and capers Summer salad recipe: cooking spelt with beetroot and watercress

The flay from 3 insensitive lemons (squeeze out the extract and save it for an additional recipe)

8oz/225g sugarine

Cut the flay in to in/5mm strips. Put it in a large vessel of water, move to the bring to bring to boil and cook for five minutes. Drain and repeat twice more. (Check that a throw of the lemon flay is right afar so soft that it will disintegrate afar to roughly zero when burnished in between finger and thumb. If it isnt, bring to bring to boil again until unequivocally soft.) Drain the flay and leave until the cool sufficient to handle. With a teaspoon, scratch and lift afar any surface still sticking to the inside of the peel. Try not to scratch afar the white pith.Put the sugarine in a small vessel with 8floz/225ml water. Heat gently, stirring until the sugarine is dissolved. Add the lemon peel, lift the feverishness and cook gently, basting and branch the ripened offspring often, until the liquid has marked down to 4 tbsp or so and the flay is translucent. Top up the H2O and keep simmering if the liquid reduces prior to the flay is ready. It will take a great hour and a half. Lay the flay on racks and dry overnight in a comfortable place, until the flay is only tacky. Dust the strips with caster sugarine and have use of in baking, or have petit fours by dipping one finish in melted dim chocolate. Leave to set and offer with coffee.

Oscars 2010 predictions: will the Academy follow the money?

By Tim Robey Published: 11:17AM GMT 04 March 2010

Comments 10 |

Link to this video

Telegraph critics" predictions: David Gritten | Sukhdev Sandhu | Tim Robey

For all thats altered in the 2010 Oscar foe - a startling amount, starting with ten Best Picture contenders - a lot of things have stayed the same. It wouldnt be awards deteriorate but the cosy faith of a Best Actress assignment for Meryl Streep. Heads would hurl at Pixar if they didnt dip Best Animated Feature nonetheless again. And there are slight citations all over the behaving races - Morgan Freeman, Penlope Cruz, Helen Mirren - that appear utterly there to remind us theyve won before.

Ready for the Oscars Oscar predictions 2010: Sukhdev Sandhu Oscar predictions 2010: Tim Robey Oscar predictions 2010: David Gritten Up v Up In The Air Precious v The Blind Side

What has altered is the maths. Voters not usually have ten Best Pictures to select from, but contingency arrange them in order. This is the "preferential" choosing by cast of characters votes system, introduced specifically to forestall anything winning with a small 11% of the vote. Hypothetically, if it came down to a parsimonious call between, say, A Serious Man and The Blind Side - it unequivocally wouldnt - their second, or third, or fourth placings competence confirm the issue.

In practice, this might equate opposite the favoured front-runner Avatar, utterly if certain Academy factions confirm theyre fed up of the blue people, and opinion opposite Cameron by ranking his movie last. The Hurt Locker might not utterly be a exile favourite, but it stands a utilitarian possibility of being a lot of peoples second choice.

Weve been speedy to pleasantness this title quarrel as the classic David-vs-Goliath contest, that equates to uneasily cast of characters The Hurt Locker as the heroic eccentric loser and Avatar as simply the big, foolish college of music behemoth. This is only wrong, and entirely dubious in conditions of the drive-in theatre overlapping genres and technical virtuosity - both, if were profitable attention, have receptive to advice modifying to kill for. It additionally neglects the point that Cameron and Bigelow were once assimilated at the hip professionally as well as matrimonially. Without doubt, theyre filmmakers of a closely associated stripe.

Whats loyal is that the campaigns the dual drive-in theatre waged to get here could frequency have been some-more divergent. Way behind in June, The Hurt Locker non-stop in the US to glorious reviews and crushingly small box office. Its takings mount at a insignificant $12m, that by majority calculations would have it the lowest-grossing movie ever to win Best Picture. Avatar, of course, would be the highest, violence even Camerons Titanic record. It non-stop in late December, to a far some-more eager accepting than any one had predicted, and stratospheric business, the multiple of that now propelled it to the front of the race. Meanwhile, The Hurt Locker has had to cling to in there, buoyed mostly by word of mouth, whilst alternative ostensible standing heavyweights such as Nine, Invictus and The Lovely Bones have crashed and burned, withdrawal an ever wider berth for it to take up as Camerons brainy competition. In the process, it has gained lots of new fans. But will they outnumber Avatars fans?

In one sense, the Academy will be foresaking all the common follow-the-money impulses if electorate plump for a unanimously acclaimed melodramatic wave over a megabudget epic thats been successful over the studios wildest dreams.

Then again, a scholarship novella goods blockbuster has never taken Best Picture either, so yes or no wins, theyre creation news.

Odd to think that Up in the Air and Precious, that arguably appearance as well early, were ostensible to be heading the assign a couple of months ago - at this stage, they might have to console themselves with only an Adapted Screenplay drum and a sure-fire win for MoNique. The canniest personification of the Oscar diversion was pleasantness of Fox Searchlight, that plucked Crazy Heart probably from the balderdash store on noticing a cavity in the Best Actor race, handing Jeff Bridges his esteem probably on a plate, and concealment Maggie Gyllenhaal her initial assignment in to the bargain. Meanwhile, Tarantinos Inglorious Basterds has hovered in the wings all season, as well divisive a tender to get out in front, but great for eight tasty nominations and a certain esteem for Christoph Waltz. In the face of these certain things, weve longed for a small disharmony and novelty, that were delivered the second The Blind Side was review out as a Best Picture nominee, securing Sandra Bullocks from-nowhere standing as the heading woman to beat. Academy Award leader Sandra Bullock? Its a somewhat uncertain prospect, but a fun one.

Tree exorcist arrested for attacking trees by Eiffel tower

Peter Allen, in Paris Published: 11:36AM GMT 04 March 2010

The man was speckled baying at the tip of a large reddish-brown tree on the Champs de Mars Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The 38-year-old beaten nails in to branches and trunks, and embellished wall scrawl on them.

Gardeners, in Paris, called military on Monday after the man was speckled baying at the tip of a large reddish-brown tree on the Champs de Mars.

Nigerian magician doctor? claims to have killed 110 young kids hexed by immorality spirits? Prince of Wales visits Japanese timberland charge plan Britain at War: marriage, hymn and abroad use Hollins: One of Britains last very old holly forests is saved Ancient trees in risk of failing out says National Trust

The unnamed man told officers that he was "trying to absolved the trees of devil forces" prior to being taken in to custody, tentative psychiatric reports.