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A senior Liberal Democrat peer has used his position in the House of Lords to intervene in a business dispute in which he is personally involved.

Several medieval churches in one of the most beautiful corners of Britain are under threat of closure due to a lack of funding for repairs.

The Anglican Communion is like a "slow moving train wreck", according to a senior Church of England bishop who has given an extraordinary insight into the crisis that is engulfing the Church.

The final request of Britain's most famous Roman Catholic convert, Cardinal Newman, is to be overriden as the Vatican prepares to make him a saint.

Commubnity leaders in a quiet country town where a lap-dancing club burnt down last week have spoken of their "relief" at the venue's destruction.

A police officer who was cleared of wrongdoing over the violent arrest of a black woman has died after being found injured on a mountainside.

To the dismay of the hawks who long ruled Washington - and the relief of their foes - the Bush administration sat down with another member of the once-reviled "axis of evil" this weekend.

There's a perverse logic to this supposed bull-and-bare relationship of fashion and finance.

Who in Britain deserves to be called a National Treasure?

Schoolgirl uniforms are being extended to adult dress size 18 because of obesity among Britain's children.

If only the City boys had taken one eye off the stock markets and cast it over the catwalk, they might have seen what was coming.

As British troops in Helmand province run out of cups and fresh food, they could be forgiven for thinking their heroic efforts are not appreciated. But thanks to Barack Obama's visit this weekend, Afghanistan is headline news again. Sean Rayment in Musa Qala sees the fighting at first hand.

They say addicts are all the same. But that doesn't mean they're all equal. Rose Garnett, who managed a Notting Hill theatre while she was hooked on hard drugs, explores the difference that wealth and connections make - even on the way to self-destruction

In a whitewashed mansion of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Prince Thomico Sisowath gestured wistfully towards a table covered with black and white photos of his parents from the happy time before they were arrested by the Khmer Rouge.

A 91-year-old war veteran who collected a PhD from Cambridge University said today: "I don't know what all the fuss is about.?

The exodus to the sun starts this weekend - but since the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, parents are feeling paranoid about the safety of their offspring. Foreigners think we are mad, reports Lucy Cavendish from Mallorca

The relationship between Sebastian Flyte and Charles Ryder has been the subject of intense speculation ever since the fateful day they met at Oxford University.

The latest Batman movie, starring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, took a record-breaking $65 million at the box office in America on its opening Friday, according to initial estimates.

Barack Obama Obama feels like he is carrying the hopes and dreams of people around the world on his shoulders -a burden his aides believe has created unrealistic expectations of what he can achieve if he becomes the first black president.

A dog may be a man's best friend but it can also be a woman's favourite companion - and for a growing number of divorcing couples, that is a problem.

Denied any compensation, Mr Zhang is one of an estimated 10,000 people from all over China who have come to Beijing to petition the Supreme People's Court after failing to find justice in their hometowns.

Denied any compensation, Mr Zhang is one of an estimated 10,000 people from all over China who have come to Beijing to petition the Supreme People's Court after failing to find justice in their hometowns.

Car boot sales have seen an unexpected boost in popularity from people choosing to reign in their spending during the credit crunch.

On a remote Californian mountain road winding through thick forests of Douglas firs, the vintner, carpenter and two ranchers scrambled out of their green fire engine for their latest encounter with the huge Sugarloaf blaze.

Swiss residents living near Lake Constance fear they are drinking the ashes of dead Germans, whose relatives have flocked to scatter cremated bodies on the lake's serene waters.

Angelina Jolie, the proud mother of newborn twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, has left a French hospital a week after giving birth.

Sudan's repressive military regime has placed its capital, Khartoum, on a near siege footing to prevent the war crimes indictment of President Omar al-Bashir leading to a palace coup.

A pilot was hailed for his bravery after he left his controls to rescue a parachutist caught in the plane's undercarriage at 3,000ft.

UK house prices will continue to fall, the chairman of one of the world's most powerful banks has warned.

Top Iranian and US diplomats will sit down today for their first direct talks on a six-year nuclear dispute that has raised the threat of a new Middle East war.

Barack Obama is visiting American troops in Afghanistan on the second stop in a world-wide tour to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

A student who dreamed of becoming a nurse has been expelled from her training course because of a spent conviction dating back to when she was a teenager.

The managing director of an energy company has advised customers who struggle to pay their fuel bills to wear "two jumpers instead of one" this winter.

A family pet saved an elderly Australian woman from a rogue kangaroo that attacked her on a farm in New South Wales.

A football team on board a US airliner helped to subdue a fellow passenger after he stripped naked and tried to open an exit door.

Gordon Brown raised the prospect of a British withdrawal from Iraq today when he set out a four point plan paving the way for a handover of power next year.

Enough Semtex to make 56 bombs the size of the one used in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has been stolen from a French castle.

The Pope issued a powerful apology to victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, damning paedophile priests for their "evil" acts and insisting that they be brought to justice.

Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders.

With a thunderous blast from the Albert Hall organ and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Royal College of Music Brass at full tilt, the 2008 season of BBC Proms got off to a rip-roaring start.

The makers of a Channel 4 documentary which claimed that global warming is a swindle misrepresented the views of some of the world's leading climate scientists, the media watchdog is expected to rule next week.

Belinda Harris-Reid has become the fifth housemate to be evicted from the Big Brother house, with 65 per cent of the public vote.

The parents of a young woman found dead in Argentina said they are considering legal action against the Foreign Office, over allegations that consular officials did not disclose suspicious details of the incident.

Gordon Brown has rejected Labour moves to lift the secrecy over a key conference next week where union leaders will present ministers with a shopping list of 130 demands for changes in Government policy.

Colombian drug traffickers have been caught using a small submarine to smuggle 5.8 tons of cocaine to the United States.

A family had a remarkable escape when a car smashed through the wall of their bedroom as they slept with their five-month-old son.

Beavers have been born in Britain for the first time in 400 years - on an upmarket housing development.

An endangered shark has been spotted off the western coast of Wales, just metres from the shore.

Four people were killed and at least six others were injured when a massive crane collapsed at a chemical plant in Houston, Texas.

One of the world's most remote hill tribes will learn next week whether it faces being evicted from its forest homeland to make way for an opencast bauxite mine run by one of Britain's biggest listed companies.

To the dismay of the hawks who long ruled Washington - and the relief of their foes - the Bush administration sat down with another member of the once-reviled "axis of evil" this weekend.

As British troops in Helmand province run out of cups and fresh food, they could be forgiven for thinking their heroic efforts are not appreciated. But thanks to Barack Obama's visit this weekend, Afghanistan is headline news again. Sean Rayment in Musa Qala sees the fighting at first hand.

In a whitewashed mansion of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Prince Thomico Sisowath gestured wistfully towards a table covered with black and white photos of his parents from the happy time before they were arrested by the Khmer Rouge.

The relationship between Sebastian Flyte and Charles Ryder has been the subject of intense speculation ever since the fateful day they met at Oxford University.

Barack Obama Obama feels like he is carrying the hopes and dreams of people around the world on his shoulders -a burden his aides believe has created unrealistic expectations of what he can achieve if he becomes the first black president.

A dog may be a man's best friend but it can also be a woman's favourite companion - and for a growing number of divorcing couples, that is a problem.

Denied any compensation, Mr Zhang is one of an estimated 10,000 people from all over China who have come to Beijing to petition the Supreme People's Court after failing to find justice in their hometowns.

Denied any compensation, Mr Zhang is one of an estimated 10,000 people from all over China who have come to Beijing to petition the Supreme People's Court after failing to find justice in their hometowns.

On a remote Californian mountain road winding through thick forests of Douglas firs, the vintner, carpenter and two ranchers scrambled out of their green fire engine for their latest encounter with the huge Sugarloaf blaze.

Top Iranian and US diplomats will sit down today for their first direct talks on a six-year nuclear dispute that has raised the threat of a new Middle East war.

Barack Obama is visiting American troops in Afghanistan on the second stop in a world-wide tour to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

A family pet saved an elderly Australian woman from a rogue kangaroo that attacked her on a farm in New South Wales.

A football team on board a US airliner helped to subdue a fellow passenger after he stripped naked and tried to open an exit door.

Colombian drug traffickers have been caught using a small submarine to smuggle 5.8 tons of cocaine to the United States.

Four people were killed and at least six others were injured when a massive crane collapsed at a chemical plant in Houston, Texas.

One of the world's most remote hill tribes will learn next week whether it faces being evicted from its forest homeland to make way for an opencast bauxite mine run by one of Britain's biggest listed companies.

BP has temporarily averted the expulsion of the executive heading its Russia operations after immigration authorities allowed him to remain in the country for another 10 days.

Reporters in southern China have been accidentally shot by police during a demonstration of illegal weapons, according to Chinese media reports.

Silvio Berlusconi declared he had "civilised" Naples by ending its rubbish crisis - although photographs showed that the mounds of waste had simply been moved into the suburbs.

Angry residents of St Tropez have issued an ultimatum to local authorities: restrict the summer swarms of helicopters or face a blockade.

A high-tech car windscreen that uses lasers and infrared sensors to identify hazards in the road is being developed to offset the failing eyesight of America's ageing population of motorists.

Al Gore has challenged America to make a "man on the moon" effort to produce all of the country's electricity from renewable resources such as solar and wind power within 10 years.

Hundreds of thousands of families are abandoning the Costa del Sol and other traditional holiday destinations for eastern Europe and north Africa to escape the punitive euro exchange rate.

Nelson Mandela has marked his 90th birthday by appealing for his fellow South Africans to do more for the poor who have seen few material benefits from his victory against apartheid.

Three Bali bombers have exhausted their appeals and will soon be executed by firing squad, according to Indonesia's attorney general.

Silvio Berlusconi, the controversial Italian prime minister, has complained of a lack of experience among Europe's leaders.

Iran's leaders are weighing up a crucial strategic choice over their nuclear programme as they prepare for direct talks with America on an issue which casts a shadow over the Middle East.

Police began closing down bars and restaurants around Beijing last night as the city imposed restrictions on much of its nightlife before the Olympics.

Train passengers could travel from Yorkshire to Paris in three hours with a plan for a new £30 billion high-speed rail line to be announced next week by councils opposed to Heathrow airport expansion.

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for the strands of the Christian faith to unite as it faced a "critical juncture".

The Indian woman's team participating in the World Beach Volleyball tournament have declined to wear bikinis, declaring them objectionable and against their traditions.

Dubai has banned cross-dressing in public places after complaints of dozens of "transvestite tourists" in the city's shopping centres.

A 105-storey hotel in North Korea once dubbed "the worst building in the history of mankind" by Esquire magazine, is back under construction following a 16-year break.

A card game featuring the great dictators of history including Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin has been released in Germany.

The son of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his heavilly pregnant wife has been charged over the alleged assault of two of their servants.

This parachutist made a memorable entrance to a military parade - knocking over musicians like skittles after landing on top of a brass band.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the globe as Nelson Mandela celebrates his 90th birthday.

Sir Paul McCartney is set to make pop history by playing his first gig in Israel, 43 years after the Beatles were banned from performing in the country.

An anonymous British blogger who wrote about his sexual escapades with Chinese women for two years has revealed his identity as he publishes a controversial new book.

Germany would have accepted surrender in the Second World War as early as 1943 if it were not for Adolf Hitler's fanaticism, the country's new definitive history of the conflict has suggested.

The film director Roman Polanski has asked the Los Angeles district attorney's office to consider claims made in a new documentary that a prosecutor tried illegally to influence the judge in his 1978 rape trial.

Attacks on an oil pipeline cost Nigeria another 50,000 barrels a day of production, threatening a further rise in global crude prices.

The first war crimes trial at Guantanamo Bay is due to begin on Monday after a United States federal judge ruled that civilian courts should let the military process proceed.

Jesse Jackson, the veteran civil rights activist, has been forced to issue a grovelling apology to Senator Barack Obama after it emerged he had used the word "niggers" while disparaging the Democratic presidential candidate.

Fears over France's nuclear reactors have been raised as the government orders ground water tests at its 58 power stations, after a uranium leak at one polluted local water supplies.

Police in New Mexico solved the mysterious death of a restaurant manager after discovering uncanny similarities to an episode of the popular television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

A conflict between the Trade Comissioner and French President has continued to damage the European Union's unity ahead of make or break world trade talks in Geneva next Monday.

Thailand and Cambodia have sent more troops to the scene of a tense border confrontation, as hundreds of villagers fled the area.

Cranford, the BBC costume drama, and Dame Judi Dench, its leading actress, head a list of British nominations for this year's Emmy awards in America.

A year of celebrations across South Africa for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday is culminating as he reaches the grand milestone.

As the economy crumbles, it's increasingly likely that Brown will have to break his own economic rules, writes David Litterick

I hear that civil servants at Communities and Local Government might have to work a little harder at installing their energy saving light bulbs. The department in charge of introducing the EU's whizzy new energy rating system across all commercial buildings recently had its own environmental audit. No surprise that the outcome wasn't too good.

On Tuesday we speculated whether, by the end of this week, we would be any closer to answering the looming economic question: hard or soft landing?

Collins Stewart's A-Team are happy with the direction they've taken, writes James Quinn

Aberdeen Asset Management saw assets under management rise by 6pc as the acquisition of property fund manager Goodman Property Investors amid tough economic conditions produced early rewards.

Barclays' £4.5bn placing and open offer was shunned by most of its investors, leaving key institutional shareholders and sovereign wealth funds to pick up most of the issue.

Oil giant BP has begun marshalling its defences in the battle for control of TNK-BP by retaining the services of a leading Russian law firm.

Collins Stewart is investigating a move into Hong Kong as part of its ambitious global expansion programme led by chief executive Joel Plasco.

Premium Bars and Restaurants saw its shares slump 45pc after ailing investment firm Dawnay Day was forced to offload more than a 5pc stake in the high street group.

A miserable week for job losses was made worse yesterday by the news of a further 770 cuts across Britain.

Next, the clothing and homewares retailer, saw analysts' earning forecasts trimmed yesterday after JP Morgan, the investment bank, said that trading conditions would remain tough next year and beyond.

Teva Pharmaceuticals is to buy US rival Barr Pharmaceuticals, maker of the Plan B "morning after pill", in a $7.46bn (£3.73bn) deal.

Advertising group WPP is in talks with the Takeover Panel in a bid to force the chief executive of its takeover target, market researcher Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), to agree to an information-gathering meeting.

The out-of-favour Royal Bank of Scotland jumped 18.1 to 197.6p after Morgan Stanley suggested that the shares had already troughed.

Currencies

The country's biggest mortgage lender has cut some of its rates for the second time in a week, raising hopes that the worst of the turmoil in the home loans market could be over.

Figures show that the traditionally buoyant summer market has done nothing to boost the mortgage market, with gross lending down 3pc from May to June - a slide of 32pc on the previous year.

Maverick publisher plans to reopen UK's largest colour printer, reports Emma Thelwell.

Wall Street giant reveals asset sell-off to raise $8bn as JP Morgan warns of worsening mortgage crisis.

Currencies

If the engine in your prized car keeps stalling and you keep fixing it, but it stalls again and again then eventually you will seek a new engine. Our financial services industry, from banks in the Square Mile to hedge funds in Mayfair and insurers in Scotland, and all in-between, is just such a prized vehicle for the UK economy.

More than a million people lost up to half of their life savings after the Government gave the public a "wholly misleading picture" of the safety of their investments, an official inquiry into the collapse of Equitable Life finds today.

Gordon Brown's strict fiscal rules on borrowing are likely to be ditched as a result of the credit crisis, the Treasury confirmed last night.

Google and Microsoft appear to be feeling the pinch, with both technology behemoths falling short of profit expectations amid the continuing economic gloom.

Poor old Graham Love. How's a man to cope on a pay rise of just £95,000? The chief executive of QinetiQ now rubs along on £640,000 a year, according to the defence firm's annual report. As for chairman Sir John Chisholm, his pay fell, from £388,653 to £220,765 because he moved to a non-exec role. Are the big guns losing their knack of making money?

Setting interest rates was once a political game, but the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) put paid to that, on the whole. The raising and spending of taxes, however, has always been political. And very dangerously so as Gordon Brown brilliantly leads us towards recession with the public finances in deficit despite a prolonged period of low inflationary growth. So why not learn from the MPC and create a Fiscal Policy Committee (FPC) to curb the natural profligacy of vote hungry politicians?

When the going gets tough, the tough find sneaky new ways of profiting from others' pain. "Speculators", not for the first time, are being blamed for a range of ills, from the fall of Northern Rock and the demise of Bear Stearns to the near-doubling of the oil price in the last year.

Relations between the British and Russian shareholders in TNK-BP appeared in meltdown last night as its chief executive spoke of the feuding, claiming it will tear the company apart.

Christie's has painted a glowing picture of the global art market after the sale of masterpieces including Claude Monet's Le bassin aux nymphéas (above) - which fetched £40.9m - helped the auction house's sales rise 10pc in the first half of the year, writes Jonathan Sibun.

First it was the Winnebago. Then it was Starbucks. Now it is Coca-Cola. The soft drink has become the latest iconic American brand to fall victim to the economy's continued woes.

DSG International, the electricals retailer, suffered a fresh blow yesterday after Kevin O'Byrne, its well-respected finance director, defected to take on the same role at B&Q-owner Kingfisher.

Eurotunnel said the high oil price was playing into its hands as it posted a 27pc rise in first-half trading profits to ?141m (£112m).

Businessmen convicted of fraud could be struck off professional registers, ordered to wind up their companies and even be forced to pay back their victims, under new plans.

HBOS shares failed to clamber back above the price of its £4bn rights issue yesterday, potentially leaving its underwriters - Morgan Stanley and Dresdner Kleinwort - with more than £1bn worth of the high street lender's stock

THE International Monetary Fund has signalled that Britain is likely to avoid recession, upgrading its economic forecast for both this year and the next.

Bear Stearns buyer defies analyst pessimism following writedown and buoys the Dow Jones

As more babies are born in the UK, sales of child products and services are rising

Bradford & Bingley shareholders have approved the bank's £400m rights issue at an extraordinary general meeting in Sheffield.

A plan by aircraft manufacturer Airbus to sell a UK factory to engineering company GKN has run into trouble, but the two sides continue to be in advanced negotiations.

At long last Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham's report into the regulation of Equitable Life sees the light of day. It is an enormous piece of work; four years in the making and 2,819 pages long. Its conclusions are trenchant and damning. The factual evidence on which they are based is detailed, objective and balanced.

Ryanair brushed off criticism that it had expanded too fast as it revealed it would ground 20 planes this winter, mostly at Stansted, and temporarily close seven European bases as rocketing oil prices and airport costs made services unprofitable.

UBS is to stop providing offshore banking services to American citizens as the latest development of its continuing involvement in the US government's $20bn (£10bn) tax-avoidance investigation into the bank's former operations.

Mothercare, the maternity and babywear retailer, saw a sharp rise in online sales over the 15 weeks to July 11, even though like-for-like sales at its stores rose by just 1pc.

Thousands of independent shopkeepers are to temporarily stop selling Vodafone pre-pay top-ups in protest at the mobile phone company's plan to cut their commission.

The Wall Street Journal is to cut 50 journalists' jobs as the paper acquired last year by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation scales back.

Winterflood Securities, the market-making business founded by City veteran Brian Winterflood, is to appeal a provisional £4m fine from the Financial Services Authority for alleged market abuse.

It may not be quite as dramatic as events in St Petersburg in 1917, or those of Paris in 1789, but according to J Sainsbury, it is a revolution none the less. Albeit one in the decidedly less glamorous area of milk packaging rather than global politics.

A recovery by banking stocks drove the market up from a three-year low after sentiment was buoyed by better-than-expected results from US banks JP Morgan and Wells Fargo.

Consumers are turning their backs on the high street in favour of online shops, in an effort to make savings during the economic downturn, figures have shown.

Savers are being rewarded with the best savings rates for seven years, according to new research, which shows that some winners are emerging from the credit crisis.

Ashwell Prince led South Africa's steady charge in the second Test at Headingley as his impressive unbeaten 134 helped the tourists establish a foreboding first innings lead on the second day of the second Test at Headingley.

Australian Cadel Evans retained the yellow jersey, a second ahead of Luxembourg's Frank Schleck, as Spain's Oscar Freire, riding for Rabobank, won the 14th stage of the Tour de France, a 194km ride from Nimes to Dignes Les Bains.

Lewis Hamilton earned the ninth pole position of his Formula One career ahead of tomorrow's German Grand Prix in fine style.

Ashwell Prince led South Africa's steady charge in the second Test at Headingley as his deserved 100 not out helped the tourists to a 59 run lead at the tea interval.

The closest that any of the footballers at Chelsea Football Club are ever going to get to the dole queue will be if they happen to take a look at ?Benefits Supervisor Sleeping?, the Lucian Freud painting that Roman Abramovich bought this summer for £17 million.

Anderson Silva, the UFC Middleweight Champion, steps up 20lbs to fight light heavyweight contender James Irvin in Las Vegas.

World Champions South Africa were brought back down to earth after their historic victory over New Zealand as Australia kick-started their Tri-Nations campaign with a win at Subiaco Oval.

Debutant Darren Pattinson's maiden Test wicket was the only bright spot on an occasionally gloomy day at Headingly as South Africa maintained their strong position in the second Test.

The possibility of world player of the year, Kaka, joining Chelsea this summer has been raised by comments from one of the player's advisors that a "deal will definitely happen."

Sunderland target Younes Kaboul emphatically denied that he is heading to Wearside, insisting he wouldn't go there even if there was an earthquake.

Danny Williams suffered a fifth round scare and three points deducted before defeating John McDermott by majority decision in Dagenham, writes Gareth A. Davies.

Lampard and Drogba could be key to winning Champions League

Chelsea have reacted angrily to an FA racism charge levelled against groundsman Steve Bethell.

Ferguson insists that his star turn will still be at Old Trafford next season - Tim Rich reports

Drugs cheat escapes High Court melee after judge blocks bid to wear British vest in Beijing

When Dwain Chambers talks of his drug-taking past as "a mistake", he makes it sound like the sort of error of judgment we all make from time to time.

Shock at selection is greater than debutant's mark on the game, writes Simon Briggs.

It was a day made for Matthew Hoggard. Those slate grey skies that Headingley does so well, a nip in the air and a house full of expectant Yorkshiremen. Nick Hoult repots.

Umpires decision are now just a basis for negotiations - Simon Hughes reports

Middlesex (170 and 20-0) trail Warwickshire (393) by 203 runsHigh-quality swing and seam bowling enabled Warwickshire to compensate for the loss of 54 overs on a day of stop-start frustration, Clive Ellis reports

Northamptonshire (296-7) trail Derbyshire (485-7 dec) by 189 runsJon Clare twice thrust Derbyshire into a dominant position with the ball to become only the second Derbyshire player in the championship since the Second World War to score a century and take five wickets in an innings.

This match is moving forward quickly in unpredictable ways after England were bowled out for 203. Derek Pringle reports.

Kent facing heavy defeat after losing influential captain, writes David Green.

Durham would do well to avoid defeat without the likes of Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher in their line-up, though the flat pitch gives them a chance.

Sussex did extremely well to push Hampshire into a corner on this slow, low Arundel pitch, though it took some controversy and tumbling of evening wickets to spice up three sessions of attritional cricket.

It appears he has spent the last 18 years or so since he retired from the international game honing his image as cricket's finest trencherman., writes Jim White.

England captain Michael Vaughan was accused of haranguing South Africa's AB de Villiers during lunch as relations between England and South Africa nosedived, writes Nick Hoult.

Worcestershire are scouring the world for a replacement overseas player for Steve Magoffin but they may have found the answer a little closer to home.

Englishman hopes return of the wind will shake up the field in his favour - Claire Middleton reports

Australian legend by one shot after second round at Royal Birkdale, writes Lewine Mair.

Halfway through the 2008 Open, Jim Furyk is hanging in there, staying close almost unnoticed. Art Spander reports.

Chris Wood, from Bristol, produced a sensational chip at the last reminiscent of Justin Rose on the exact same hole 10 years ago as he closed in on the Silver Medal.

He is 68 and has a new hip, but he might just be Tiger Woods' toughest opponent, writes Martin Johnson.

Danny Williams believes fellow British heavyweight David Haye has "tremendous speed and power", writes Gareth A. Davies.

Hull have named new signing James Webster in their squad for the 205th derby at the KC Stadium, even though he is still waiting for a British passport.

The Diary was merrily dispatched on celebrity watch. Former Wimbledon champion Chris Evert cannot be the only A-lister traipsing the fairways, went the call, so look for some others..

Arsenal could turn to summer recruit Aaron Ramsey to solve their central midfield quandary

Brad Friedel becomes the latest player to reveal he wants to Blackburn.

England coach adds to £5m salary by focusing on matters off the pitch

Tottenham last night launched a remarkable attack on both Manchester United and Liverpool, reporting both to the Premier League and accusing them of "arrogance" and "disgraceful" behavior for the pursuit of strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane respectively.

Australian jockey's days as Dettori's understudy may be numbered

Corrybrough, winner of four of his five starts and one of the most progressive sprinters in the country is the big attraction at Newbury today, when he makes his debut in Pattern company.

Fearless McLaren man dominates practice on hallowed ground. Kevin Garside reports.

Day one (close): South Africa (101-3) trail England (203) by 102 runsEngland clawed back three wickets as they tried to defend an inadequate 203 all out on day one of the second Test against South Africa at Headingley.

After becoming the first Briton to win three stages in a single Tour de France yesterday, Mark Cavendish went one better when he sprinted to another triumph on stage 13 in Nimes.

Day one (tea): England 203 all out v South AfricaSouth Africa hammered home the advantage as England's batsmen suffered on day one of the second Test at Headingley.

Frank Lampard's future at Chelsea is in serious doubt after Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti revealed the England international has given his "approval" to joining the Italian champions.

West Ham have issued an official statement in response to goalkeeper Robert Green's amazing outburst that he feels "completely under-valued" at Upton Park.

Day one (lunch): England 70-3 v South AfricaEngland lost their top three batsmen as South Africa took an early advantage after winning the toss on day one of the second Test at Headingley.

Disgraced sprinter Dwain Chambers has failed in his High Court appeal against an Olympic ban and will not be eligible to run for Great Britain at the Beijing Games in three weeks.