PA Morning Bulletin: Wednesday, March 5

London, March 5 --

COMING UP

Tony Blair is today holding talks at Downing Street with Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov in the hope of persuading Moscow not to block a United Nations Security Council resolution authorising war in Iraq.

Prime Minister's Questions at 1200.

Members of the Church of England today observe a day of fasting and prayer for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis.

Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly have been delayed for a month in an attempt to secure IRA disarmament and end the crisis in the peace process.

A police officer is today continuing to be questioned after being arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Local authority leaders today draw up a final pay offer to firefighters amid signs that the union has shifted its position in a bid to clinch a deal.

Prosecution lawyers today open their case against Major Charles Ingram charged with deception and conspiracy involving the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? quiz show. 1030, Court 4, Southwark Crown Court.

Culture minister Baroness Blackstone is today due to meet representatives of children's charities, police and child protection organisations to discuss plans to allow unaccompanied youngsters into pubs.

The Church of England today reveals its official decision on the case of a priest who appealed his sacking over allegations of sexual harassment from parishioners. But Reverend Harry Brown pre-empted the Church by announcing yesterday that he had lost his appeal and his career in the church was over.

A 34-year-old Maxine Robinson is in court today charged with the murder of her nine-month-old daughter Victoria Cope more than 13 years ago. The baby was found dead at the then family home in White Hill Crescent, Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, Co Durham.

A murder inquiry is under way today after a man was found dead in the front garden of a house in Windmill Avenue, Raunds, Northampton, shortly after 5.30pm yesterday.

The line-up of major party candidates for the London mayoral election in 2004 is completed today with the announcement of the Liberal Democrat contender. 1700 Press conference.

Staffordshire and Hertfordshire are the worst places to live in England, according to a survey released tomorrow.

The Duke of Edinburgh today receives the first honorary doctorate to be conferred by the London Metropolitan University.

Two anti-cruelty charities, the NSPCC and RSPCA, today join forces to combat family violence against both children and animals.

An early edition of JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is today being auctioned. 1100, Bonhams, George Street, Edinburgh.

An exhibition of relics from the Titanic - including artefacts never seen before in the UK - is being previewed today. 1000 Press preview at the Science Museum, Exhibition Road, London.

South East England Regional Assembly announces its recommendation to the Government on Orbit, a study on orbital travel around London, including the future of the M25. 1100, HG Wells Suite, Church Street East. A proposal to introduce road user charges for a huge swathe of southern England is likely to be shelved.

Press briefing on the psychology of war, with experts on post traumatic stress disorder. 1100, The Science Media Centre, 21 Albemarle Street, London.

The Prince of Wales visits Ashbourne to launch the town's traditional no holes barred Shrovetide football game. 1130 Green Man Hotel, St John Street, Ashbourne.

NUS leads lobby of MPs about students' increasing hardship and levels of debt. 1245 Abingdon Green, opposite St Stephen's Gate, off Great College Street, London.

Kate Moss live online at http://www.showstudio.com/ for the first interview since the birth of her baby. 1700.

PARLIAMENT

Commons:

Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister.
1200: Questions to the Prime Minister.
Local Government Bill, report.
Short debate on coal industry social welfare organisation.

Westminster Hall:

Backbench debates on:

International Aids crisis
Operation of Coroner's Courts
Rwanda and the Great Lakes 
Horse racing
Government policy on Iran.

Lords:

Debates on:

Green Paper on saving for retirement and the situation in Zimbabwe.
Maximum Number of Judges Order.
Harbours Bill, second reading.

HIGH COURT

Hearings continue in:

Appeal by Home Secretary David Blunkett against a ruling by High Court judge Mr Justice Collins which undermined the Government's asylum reforms.

Damages claim by teacher Liza Jones, whose husband drowned on the second day of their honeymoon on an idyllic island in the Maldives, against a package holiday company.

Action by Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas against Hello! magazine over publication of unauthorised photographs of their wedding.

Claim by hairdresser Dominic Dalton, serving six years in prison for strangling his gay lover Bernard Murphy, that he is still entitled to inherit the dead man's £250,000 estate.

NEWS ALREADY IN

Council tax bills to soar - NHS Trusts fiddled waiting list figures - Blair in talks to stop Russian veto - Saddam accuses US of trying to enslave Arabs - Kofi Annan appeals to Security Council to find "common ground" - US considers sending fighter escorts with reconnaissance planes near North Korea - Stone Roses album 'greatest of all time'.

(visit http://www.pa.press.net/ for breaking news and details of all PA's products and services)

CITY ROUND-UP

This year's Budget looks set to be held back into April for the second year running.

Office juniors won bigger pay rises than secretaries and managers over the past year, new figures showed today.

The wealth of the average Briton has risen to £70,000 during the past two years, boosted by soaring property prices, research revealed today.

Companies reporting today include:

Finals: Balfour Beatty, Communisis, Financial Objects, Flying Brands, Friends Provident, Gallaher, Glanbia, Gyrus, Irish Life & Permanent, Kidde, Millennium & Copthorne, Pharmagene, Orange, George Wimpey.

Interims: A J Mucklow, Profile Therapeutics, Freeport, LogicaCMG.

FINANCE

FTSE 100 Index DOWN 30.1 points at 3595.2 by 0815.
Pound buys 1.5903 US dollars and 1.4479 euros.

(Contact: Citydesk@pa.press.net or +44 (0)207 963 7237).

SPORT

SOCCER

Walkers Stadium, Leicester: England to announce plans to face Serbia at
Leicester on June 3.
Stamford Bridge, London: Unite Against Racism conference (0930)

Barclaycard Premiership: Man Utd v Leeds (2000). Middlesbrough v Newcastle (1945).
Nationwide Division One (1945): Derby v Crystal Palace. Norwich v Reading. 
Sheff Wed v Coventry. Stoke v Brighton. Wolves v Ipswich.
Division Two: Swindon v Cheltenham.
Scottish Premier League (1945): Dundee v Livingston.

RUGBY UNION

Pennyhill Park Hotel, Bagshot: England press conference with coach Clive Woodward and players (1030.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Richmond, London: Varsity Match.

GENERAL SPORT

Copenhagen: World conference on doping in sport (end).

BOXING

York Hall, Bethnal Green: 8rds middleweight, Howard Eastman v Gary Beardsley.

TENNIS

Queen's Club, London: LTA press conference to announce performance director (1100).
Scottsdale: Franklin Templeton Classic. Florida: Delray Beach International.
Indian Wells: Pacific Life WTA Open.

ICE HOCKEY

Superleague play-offs (one match).

BOWLS

Basingstoke: Women's National Championships.

RACING

Bangor. Catterick. Lingfield.

(Any queries contact +44 (0)870 1240808 or sport@pa.press.net)

PRESS DIGEST (For a full review of this morning's newspapers visit our dedicated site for journalists and media professionals http://www.mediapoint.press.net/)

TIMES:

UN LEADERS DRAW UP SECRET BLUEPRINT FOR POSTWAR IRAQ

The United Nations has drawn up a confidential plan to establish a post-Saddam government in Iraq in a move that suggests its leaders now consider war all but inevitable.

TELEGRAPH:

BROWN FACES BLACK HOLE IN FINANCES

The pound fell to a four-year low yesterday as Sir Edward George, the governor of the Bank of England, added to growing concerns that Gordon Brown's Budget arithmetic has gone seriously wrong, opening up a black hole in public finances.

INDEPENDENT:

A WORLD DIVIDED OVER SADDAM

Divisions over war on Iraq were fully exposed last night when Russia dashed American and British hopes of pushing a second resolution through the United Nations to provide international legitimacy for the conflict.

FINANCIAL TIMES:

MILBURN AND BROWN AT ODDS OVER NHS

Alan Milburn, health secretary, appears to be heading for a fresh clash with Gordon Brown after saying yesterday he wanted all NHS Trusts to achieve foundation hospital status over the next five years.

GUARDIAN:

RECORD RISE IN COUNCIL TAX BILLS

Average council tax bills in Britain will rise by four times the rate of inflation from next month, pushing the standard property through the £1,000 mark for the first time, according to figures published today.

EXPRESS:

PRICED OUT OF HOMES

Millions of people cannot afford to buy their own homes after a crippling 25% hike in house prices over the last year.

MAIL:

BACKLASH

The first signs of a middle-class backlash against the Government's social engineering policy in education emerged today.

MIRROR:

GET STUFFEDSKI

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was dealt a humiliating snub yesterday as Russia - one of the UN's big five nations - said a "political solution" was the only answer on Iraq.

SUN:

MOMENT JUDE LAW FELL FOR NICOLE

Hollywood beauty Nicole Kidman gently strokes Jude Law's knee beneath the table at a party - showing the closeness between them.

STAR:

SOCCER 'LOVER' NAMED

A star footballer at the centre of a kiss 'n' tell scandal has been outed on a BBC website.

MEDIA NEWS

Ministers' pledge on press watchdog freedom - Indie Editor calls for PCC shake-up - 'Pornography' attack in Zeta Jones case - al-Qaida operative 'may be linked to journalist's murder' - Media mogul was car bomb target

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