Libya Nato Planes Target Gaddafi's Tripoli Compound

 British jets have struck a compound where Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi sometimes lives.


RAF Typhoons and other Nato jets fired guided weapons to destroy guard towers on the perimeter of the Bab al-Aziziya complex, said the Ministry of Defence.
A spokesman said it sent a clear message that the regime's leadership was no longer "hidden away from the Libyan people behind high walls".
On Thursday the UK announced plans to send four Apache helicopters to Libya.
The Bab al-Aziziya compound was badly damaged by US planes in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan attacked the Gaddafi regime after Libya was blamed for a bombing at a nightclub in Germany that killed two US servicemen.

Council credit cards 'used for luxury junkets

Eric Pickles said councils would have to give details of their expenditure in future

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• Council in credit cards blunder
• Council warned over spending data

Council staff have used taxpayer-funded credit cards to pay for top hotels and first-class flights, a newspaper says.

The Daily Telegraph said documents showed cards had been used to spend millions of pounds on hospitality, travel, iPads and even llamas.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told it: "Some councils have been enjoying the high life paid for by you and me."
But local government groups said proper use of credit cards was "entirely appropriate" and could cut red tape.
Local Government Association (LGA) chairman Baroness Margaret Eaton said: "The use of credit cards for legitimate purposes is entirely appropriate and transparent.
"It helps reduce red tape by removing the need to invoice businesses and helps the cash-flow of regular suppliers who receive more prompt payment.

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“Start Quote

It is outrageous that the - often handsomely rewarded - people on the top floor at County Hall are lavishing vast sums on travel, hotels, home cinema systems and even £1,000 on 'pure silk ties'”

End Quote Jeremy Rowe Cornwall Council Lib Dem opposition leader

"The £100m spent on council credit cards in the last three years represents less than 0.03% of the £350bn local authority budget over that time.

"Councils are the most transparent part of the public sector, publishing details of spending in excess of £500. We would like to see that matched in all central government departments which, with one exception, currently only publish spending in excess of £25,000."
Gucci bags The Daily Telegraph said it had unearthed the information after making a number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
It comes as councils are trying to cut their spending by 28% over the next four years.
In addition to travel and hospitality, the paper said, some councils had bought luxury gifts, including Tiffany jewellery, Gucci bags and silk ties.
And it said Conservative-run Horsham Council in West Sussex had spent £1,150 on two llamas to graze on communal land.
The Telegraph said Cornwall Council's total credit card bill of £8.97m was the largest of any of the councils for which it had obtained details, and included £1,145,160 spent on hotels since 2008.

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“Start Quote

...the culture of wild overspends which became the norm under Labour, will hopefully become a thing of the past”

End Quote Eric Pickles Communities Secretary Eric Pickles

Cornwall Council officers had made trips to Goa in India, Bangkok in Thailand and Kyoto in Japan.

In a statement, Conservative-led Cornwall Council said it was one of the largest local authorities in the country and its overall budget for the same three year period was more than £3.5bn.
The council said the figures quoted in the Daily Telegraph were still being checked but at least £1.3m of the costs for overseas travel and hotels were "wrong".
"One example of this is a figure of £114,142 for hotel costs in India for an educational exchange involving teachers from Cornish schools. This amount was actually in Indian rupees and would have been £1,645 in UK currency," the statement said.
Council leader Alec Robertson added: "Cornwall Council is committed to achieving the best possible value for money for council taxpayers in Cornwall.
"However, while we are committed to being open and transparent, this incident shows the importance of analysing raw data carefully and responsibly.
"We are disappointed that, having told the journalist that the information was inaccurate, they did not give us the time to provide them with the accurate information".
Cornwall's Liberal Democrat opposition leader Jeremy Rowe told the BBC: "At a time when Cornwall's lowest paid workers are having their pay frozen it is outrageous that the - often handsomely rewarded - people on the top floor at County Hall are lavishing vast sums on travel, hotels, home cinema systems and even £1,000 on 'pure silk ties'.
"It really is time the Tories, instead of merely posturing about keeping council spending under control, decided to get a grip on this astounding level of expenses on the taxpayers' credit card."
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: "Now that we are forcing councils to release details of their expenditure, the culture of wild overspends and excess which became the norm under Labour, will hopefully become a thing of the past.

Tom Daley's father Rob loses battle with cancer

Teenage British Olympic diver Tom Daley's father Rob has died after losing his battle with cancer.

The 17-year-old's agent confirmed to BBC Radio Devon that Rob Daley, 40, had passed away on Friday evening.
Rob's health had deteriorated since February when it was confirmed that a brain tumour had returned.
A statement from British Swimming read: "Rob, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2006, passed away peacefully with his family at his side."
Rob, who gave up his electrician's business to follow Tom to events around the world, watched his then 15-year-old son become Britain's first individual diving world champion, when he won the 10m platform event in Rome in 2009.
Plymouth-born Tom followed that success with double Commonwealth gold in the 10m platform and 10m synchro event in Delhi in October 2010.
However, for the first time, Rob was not with Tom because he had been undergoing chemotherapy and doctors had advised him not to travel.
Rob, who had 80% of a fist-sized brain tumour removed in 2006 and had been in remission until a routine health check in 2010 discovered a tumour had returned, He watched events unfold on television and was phoned by Tom "within a minute" of him winning gold.
Tom, who was with his father on Friday, wrote on Twitter: "I love you so much Dad."
And on Saturday, he said: "If I could be half the dad that my dad was to me then that would be my best achievement! I love you! Xx"

Dad causes blushes for gold-winner Daley

The British Swimming statement continued: "Tom Daley's father, Rob Daley lost his battle with cancer yesterday, 27 May, at 9.35pm.
"His health has been fluctuating since February but he continued to fight until the last day, defying doctors' expectations.
"The family have asked for respect to their privacy during this very difficult period."
David Sparkes, chief executive of British Swimming added: "On behalf of everyone at British Swimming, I would like to express our condolences to the Daley family at this very sad time.
"We will be doing all we can to ensure the whole family has the right support structures in place to help them through this difficult time.
"Rob will be remembered as a dedicated father, a fan of diving and a passionate and effervescent character who will be greatly missed."
Several high-profile divers and swimmers have posted their own messages on Twitter.
Tom's 10m synchro diving partner Pete Waterfield said: "R.I.P Rob our thoughts are with you @TomDaley1994 love the Waterfield family."
And Australia's Olympic gold medal winning diver Matthew Mitcham tweeted: "@TomDaley1994 my thoughts are with you *hugs*"
Britain's doube Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington said: "My thoughts are definitely with @TomDaley1994 and his family at this horrible time! Such awful sad news. We're all here for you tom x"
Tom is one of Britain's biggest prosepcts for a medal at next year's Olympics and last October, in an interview for a BBC documentary, Rob said: "London 2012 is a massive motivation for me. Am I going to be there? Tom is the oil in my lamp and he's going to keep me burning."
Last month Rob defied his illness to watch Tom and his new synchro partner Waterfield win a World Series event in Sheffield.
Rob wore a t-shirt to the meeting which read "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning" with Tom saying after the event: "I am his oil."
Rob leaves his wife Debbie and three sons, Tom, William and Ben.
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Champions League: Rooney Will Relish Final - Ferguson

Ferguson said United are well prepared and "have a great chance" of reversing their loss in the 2009 final, when Rooney was subdued.
"We have players who will all like this stage," added the Scot."In terms of Rooney's progress in Europe, he is much more mature than he was in 2009. And others too."Rooney played wide on the left in the 2009 Champions League final when United lost 2-0 to the Catalan side, but he is expected to start in a more central role on Saturday.Although he suffered a poor start to the season, the 25-year-old has struck up a formidable partnership with strike partner Javier Hernandez and the pair could begin the match at Wembley if Ferguson decides to name an attacking line-up.United defender Rio Ferdinand is also sure that Rooney can have an impact, and cited Rooney's overhead kick against Manchester City earlier in the season as evidence he could deliver on the big stage.

Champions League Police Ops In Manchester And London

Major policing operations are taking place in London and Manchester as thousands of fans prepare for the Champions League final at Wembley.
Extra patrols are being carried out in Manchester city centre as supporters fill pubs and bars to watch the match.
In London, officers from Manchester and Spain are working with the Metropolitan Police to spot trouble and anyone trying to take flares to the stadium.
The Manchester United v Barcelona game is due to kick off at 1945 BST.
Each club has 25,000 supporters with match tickets, although an estimated 110,000 football fans will be travelling to London for the final.
Pubs in the area will be closed an hour before kick off and no alcohol is being permitted inside the stadium.
The Metropolitan Police has revealed that officers from the Spanish force will be on duty in London during the game.

Flares warning

"A Catalan speaking officer from the Met will be liaising with the Spanish police during the event and will be on hand to assist with fans if required," a spokesman said.
"Police spotters from Greater Manchester Police and Spanish police will be working alongside uniformed Met spotters.