Evening Standard - London

Natwest Boss Says Sorry for Record Loss of [Pounds]691million

THE head of Britain's second biggest bank issued a humiliating apology today after it made a [pounds]691 million loss. It is the second largest fall into the red by a high street bank and comes on the eve of the "official" anniversary of the start of the credit crunch.

Minister: Stamp Duty Break May Not Work

A STAMP duty "holiday" may fail to help the housing market recover, a senior minister admitted today. Housing minister Caroline Flint added to confusion over the Government's position amid warnings that uncertainty is hampering house sales. She confirmed a temporary suspension of the tax, which is [pounds]9,000 on average in London, is being considered by the Treasury. But she admitted there was concern it would not work as higher deposits and difficulty getting loans approved were the major ...

Londoners Join Thousands in China to Make Their 'Lucky 8' Wedding Vows

THE luckiest day in the decade was being celebrated by Chinese people around the world today. The auspicious date 8/8/08 sees a rare combination of the Chinese lucky number eight the reason it was chosen for the opening of the Beijing Games. Tens of thousands of couples in China chose today for their weddings and even in London there was a marriage boom.

Murray Will Ignore Mum for a Shot at Big Double

ANDY MURRAY today insisted he would prove his mum wrong by launching a concerted double assault on both the Olympic and US Open tennis titles. Judy Murray is concerned her younger son will be damaging his chances of winning the US Open the tournament Andy has always seen as his best bet for a Grand Slam triumph so soon after attempting to win both the singles and doubles titles here in Beijing.

Pinsent: A 'Disaster' If Our Four Fail

SIR MATTHEW PINSENT believes Britain's coxless four will view it as a "disaster" if they don't win gold in Beijing. The event has been dominated by British rowers since 2000 when Pinsent (below) and Sir Steve Redgrave were part of the crew, and their victory was followed up with gold in Athens four years ago.

Time Sport Took Our Breath Away ; (1) Organisers Hoping Today's Opening Ceremony Will See the Focus Shift From Free Speech, Smog and Drugs to the Athletes Themselves(2) Olympic Games

AN OLYMPIC GAMES to take the breath away was ignited here today amid the red glow of Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium, the stunning 21st century embodiment of the most awesome show on earth. Yet as four billion viewers around the world had their minds boggled by the spectacle of an opening ceremony designed to symbolise not just the staggering magnitude of China's Games, but also of an ancient nation's modern ambition, the uncomfortable question remained over why it should be the athletes of the...

Beijing Troops On Stand-by As Islamic Group Warns of Attacks ; Security Stepped Up After Video Terror Threat

THE tight security at the Beijing Olympics the largest seen at a sporting event was stepped up today after Islamist terrorists released a video warning of attacks on the Games. The video, which appeared on a BBC Chinese website, showed a masked terrorist with assault rifle in front of a burning Olympic symbol urging Muslims: "Do not stay on the same bus, on the same train, on the same plane, in the same buildings, or any place as the Chinese." Uniformed officers and sniffer dogs surrounded ...

Eat, Drink and Make Merry by the River ; Local London

We Found It Impossible to Sell Shared Ownership Dream Home

A COUPLE who got on the property ladder through a shared ownership scheme have dismissed the concept as a disaster. Special needs teacher Andrew Howard, 29, and his partner purchased a 40 per cent share of a new flat in Leytonstone from Newlon Housing Trust less than two years ago.

(1) China Magic(2) 2,008 Drummers Give a Thunderous Welcome ; (1) Most Ambitious Olympics in History Opens with Most Spectacular Show(2) Gilligan's View (3) Triumphant Ceremony On Luckiest Day in Millennium

WITH a heart-stopping burst of fire, what we once called the Bamboo Curtain was raised today on the most ambitious Olympics in history. Hundreds of pyrotechnic jets pierced the Beijing smog. Exactly 2,008 drummers hammered and shouted a thunderous beat of arrival. Twenty-nine colossal blazing footprints rose into the sky, charged towards the Bird's Nest stadium and fell to earth as the Olympic rings, before rising again. For China, before a TV audience of four billion, this was the luckiest m...

Pietersen Leads the Way with a Century ; (1) Skipper Shows No Mercy to South Africa's Attack As He Helps England Take Command at the Oval. By David Lloyd (2) the Fourth Test

KEVIN PIETERSEN led by glorious example at The Oval today, storming to a century as England threatened to take full command of the summer's final Test. But any hopes England's new captain had of inspiring his men still further from the crease died two balls later when he fell to a smart catch in the slips from Jacques Kallis off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini.

Double Still On for Open Champion Harrington

PADRAIG HARRINGTON was today keeping alive his hopes of ending the season as a double major winner after making a solid start to the second round of the USPGA Championship at Oakland Hills near Detroit. As the course nicknamed the "Monster" continued to claim casualties including Darren Clarke and Nick Dougherty, Harrington refused to be intimidated by the hard, fast fairways and thick rough which brought stinging criticism from Lee Westwood yesterday.

Angry Key Lays Into 'Muppet' Pitch Panel After Kent Farce

KENT skipper Robert Key today labelled the England and Wales Cricket Board pitch panel convened at Durham's Riverside ground "a bit of a muppet show" in a strongly-worded attack following his side's defeat. Key's team followed their first innings of 78 by being dismissed for 133 this morning to lose by 43 runs in just over two days and the former England batsman felt it was "an absolute disgrace" no points were deducted. "The integrity of the rest of the championship is at stake," he said. "...

Arshavin Is Hoping His Whine Will Bear Fruit

ANDREI ARSHAVIN is praying his "whining" will convince Zenit St Petersburg to sell him to Tottenham. The Russia forward agreed personal terms with Spurs but the move collapsed because their [pounds]12.5million bid fell well short of the [pounds]21m Zenit are demanding.

08.08.08

Russia Sends in Tanks ; Troops Join Fight to Stop Georgia Seizing Back Breakaway Province

UNITS of Russia's 58th Army today rolled towards the capital of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia as the Caucasus teetered on the brink of all-out war. Russia sent tanks, troops and fighter jets into the volatile region to support it against an invasion by Georgia.

Games Security Is Tightened As Video Warns of Terror Attacks

THE tight security at the Beijing Olympics was stepped up today after Islamist terrorists released a video warning of attacks on the Games. The video, which appeared on a BBC Chinese website, showed a masked terrorist with assault rifle in front of a burning Olympic symbol urging Muslims: "Do not stay on the same bus, on the same train, on the same plane, in the same buildings, or any place as the Chinese." Uniformed officers and sniffer dogs surrounded the arena for final safety checks and t...

The World Watches in Wonder

THREE billion people half the world's population were estimated to have watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games today. The TV rights were sold to broadcasters in almost every country. Even repressed nations such as North Korea let the few people with access to television watch. In Britain, big screens were set up in Trafalgar Square and town centres across the country.

Now Let's Go for It ; (1) Foster Rallies Team Gb(2) Foster Tells Team-Mates:Now Let's Go for It(3) 'It's Like Nothing Else On Earth; Walk Out There with Your Heads Held High and Enjoy It. I Know We Are Very Strong'

FLAGBEARER Mark Foster today urged his fellow athletes to seize the moment and make it a glorious Beijing Games for Team GB, writes Raoul Simons and Matthew Beard. The 38-year-old swimmer led out the 312-strong squad in today's opening ceremony at the Bird's Nest Stadium ahead of their bid to soar up the medal table.

Miners Take Pounding Thanks to Copper Drop ; Market Round-Up

FALLING commodity prices may provide a tonic to those worried about inflation, but they came as a bitter pill for mining and oil companies today. Rising global stockpiles and a rally in the dollar sent the price of copper sinking for the sixth week in a row and sparked a sell- off of the miners. Speculation abounded that some traders were also taking their profits after the recent boost provided by talk of further consolidation in the sector.