Evening Standard - London

Key London Share Index Tops 5000 On Frenzy of Bid Talks

THE FTSE 100 index today broke above 5000 for the first time since May 2002, rising 4.7 points to 5000.2, writes Mickey Clark. A Pounds 1 billion takeover bid for Somerfield drove London sentiment while the shock firing of Carly Fiorina as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard pushed global equity markets sharply higher as the computer group's stock rocketed.

Shock As Hewlett Boss Goes in Boardroom Row

CARLY Fiorina, one of the most powerful and high-profile women in the business world, has been ousted as chairman and chief executive of American technology giant Hewlett-Packard. The shock departure of 50-yearold Fiorina sent shares in HP, a component of New York's Dow Jones Average, surging 9% to $21.96, taking the rest of the market higher with the ripple effect spreading to European markets.

Pounds 3million Towaway Car Gang Smashed

LONDON'S most prolific car theft gang has been smashed. Police estimate they stole 1,000 cars valued at about Pounds 3.5 million in only six months.

Wills Can Win the Games for London

Blair to Say Sorry to Guildford Four

TONY BLAIR is set to make an unprecedented apology in the Commons today to the Guildford Four. The Prime Minister hopes to draw a line under one of Britain's worst miscarriages of justice by saying sorry to the innocent victims.

Challenge to Mid-East Truce

THE FRAGILE hope offered by the Middle East ceasefire faced its first test today as the two main militant Palestinian groups refused to be bound by it. As Israeli and Palestinian leaders returned home from their summit in Egypt, Hamas said Israel had failed to fulfil Palestinian demands to release prisoners and halt aggression.

'More Speed Cameras' Plea

THOUSANDS more speed cameras could be installed in a government review of the roads where they can be sited. Police chiefs say they have "run out of sites" and are demanding more.

Siren Call to the Oscars ; Roland Mouret's New Collection Looks Like an Academy Award Winner

ROLAND MOURET has long been a fashion favourite among stylish London women who love to look subversively sexy. But now he has gone up a notch. From being an insider's designer, the French-born Londoner is poised on the cusp of world recognition, thanks to the growing legion of leading ladies falling for his charms.

Kylie Is Sexiest Thirtysomething

KYLIE MINOGUE has been named the world's sexiest thirtysomething female. The 36-year-old beat Kate Beckinsale and Catherine Zeta-Jones to the title.

We Have Proof That Mobiles Can Cause Problems to Our Health, Say Doctors

WARNING SIGNS HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND MOOD SWINGS AFFLICT ONE IN 20 USERS DOCTORS today claim to have found the first proof of health problems caused by mobile phones. They say up to five per cent of the population could be suffering headaches, mood swings and hearing problems caused by radiation from handsets.

'Retreat' Over Terror Laws

MINISTERS are preparing a major retreat over plans to put British and foreign terrorist suspects under house arrest, it was reported today. Home Secretary Charles Clarke is expected to redraft the proposals so that only judges can impose control orders.

Car Crash Victim Gives 20 People Chance of New Life

Clare, 23, had donor card and parents agreed to transplants A 23- YEAR-OLD woman who was killed in a car crash has given more than 20 people the chance of a new life. Clare Ekins carried a donor card and after her death, her parents Graham and Evie agreed doctors could use tissue from her body to help others.

Women Do Pack Too Much Luggage

MEN have always suspected it was the case. Now a survey confirms that women going on holiday really do take twice as many clothes as they need. In contrast, men going away tend to pack too little - yet are constantly puzzled by the tendency of wives and girlfriends to cram cases full of clothes and accessories.

New Move to Unveil Royal Cash Secrets

SECRETS of the royal family's finances could be revealed in a government shake-up of disclosure laws, it emerged today. Ministers are preparing to widen the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to cover bodies which have so far been excluded.

William Is Capital's 'Weapon' to Clinch Olympics

PRINCE WILLIAM could be London's trump card to clinch the 2012 Olympics. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today told the Evening Standard it would be "wonderful" if the sportsmad Prince took part in crucial talks with Olympics chiefs when they gather in Singapore this July to announce the winning city.

Great City Will Start to Look Even Better

LONDON is being urged to use the Olympics to give its public spaces and landmark buildings a major facelift. Many schemes are under way, from the Wembley and Arsenal football stadiums to regeneration of King's Cross, which will include hundreds of new homes, businesses and open spaces.

Endowment Crisis May Affect 6m

AS MANY as six million people with endowment mortgages may be facing a shortfall that will leave them in financial difficulty, it is claimed today. And more than one in three endowment policy holders still do not know how to find out if they are eligible for compensation, a study found.

Supermarkets Killing Off Two Garages a Day

FIGURES REVEAL RISING CASUALTIES OF PRICE WAR ON FORECOURT PETROL stations are being forced to close at the rate of two a day by "unfair" competition from the supermarkets. The total number of forecourts in Britain dropped by more than 600 last year to fall below 10,000 for the first time since the Forties.

Stay Away From the Brits, Pete

ORGANISERS of tonight's Brit Awards are hoping troubled singer Pete Doherty will stay away from the glittering ceremony and instead choose to go into rehab in a bid to rebuild his life for girlfriend Kate Moss. Doherty is on the guest list for the awards. He is due to attend a drug rehabilitation centre today and other bail conditions require him to observe a 10pm-7am curfew. But Doherty's erratic behaviour in recent months has made him hard to predict.

Ex-Tattoo Artist Gets Eton Job

A SHAVEN-HEADED former London tattoo artist has been chosen as this year's writer-in-residence at Eton College. Patience Agbabi, who has worked at Camden's Flamin' Eight Tattoo Studio and as a performance poet, will follow in the footsteps of literary stalwarts including Susan Hill when she takes up her post next week.