The Wardman Wire

Here is today’s roundup of stories.

I’m starting to get there with the production quality and process. We’re not as smooth as David Cameron’s Public Relations yet, but give it another fortnight and we will see.

Comment

Tom Fawthrop (Comment is Free) - General havoc - Suharto
Suharto death is an occasion to reflect on how western complicity meant this staggeringly corrupt mass-murderer was never brought to justice

Marcel Berlins (Guardian) - All equal under the law
Rarely can a senior judge have castigated a government department in such vividly critical language.

Owen Gibson (Guardian) - Music industry finds the solution to its pirate troubles - give everything away
25m tracks will be available to download Big-name advertising to fund new services

Frank Melling (Telegraph) - The motorcycling year
The 2008 biking season is about to get busy. Frank Melling offers a guide to the best event of the year

News

BBC (BBC) - Campbell: Lib Dems not fit for 24hr news
Sir Menzies Campbell says the Lib Dems have too many alternative power sources for the era of 24-hour news.

Economist (Economist) - The week ahead
A big week in American politics, and other news

Clare Dyer (Guardian) - First 10 high court judges under new diversity rules
Although the new rules were designed to promote more women and ethnic minority candidates, all the judges appointed since they were introduced have been white male barristers and most were educated at independent schools.

Gareth McLean (Guardian) - Scots love a good deal, but Lidl £25 kilt is a bargain too far
In Scotland this month, Lidl is selling kilts for £24.99. To accompany the kilt, which is available in Mackenzie, Douglas and Black Watch tartans, the German food retailer that goes where Waitrose fears to tread is also offering a Jacobite shirt and a sporran, at £12.99 each. Underwear, for obvious reasons, is not included.

Sky (Sky) - Men Cut Shark Head Off To Save Friend
Fishermen had to cut the head off a shark after it bit one of their colleagues and refused to let go.

Francis Elliott (Times Online) - Proxy donation drags Health Secretary into Labour funding row
Alan Johnson accepted money from a foreigner, declared another donation late and took a cheque from a proxy, The Times has learnt.

Nick Meo (Times Online) - Lord Ashdown pulls out of UN post
The last-minute failure of the plan to install him as super-envoy was greeted with dismay and surprise by diplomats and aid officials in Kabul.

Obituary

Laurie Goodstein (NYT)

- Gordon B. Hinckley Is Dead at 97; Led Mormon Church in Global Expansion
Gordon B. Hinckley, the president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who led Mormonism through a period of global expansion, died Sunday at his apartment in Salt Lake City. He was 97.

Scotland

BBC (BBC) - Government warns budget critics
The Scottish Government has warned MSPs that failing to pass the budget would put public services in jeopardy.

BBC (BBC) - Planning concern move in order
The Scottish Government has denied accusations of inappropriate conduct over the approval of an £80m Highland holiday resort development.

Wales

BBC (BBC)

- Quango makes appalling failings
Liberal Democrat Peter Black said the findings by the National Audit Office highlighting shortcomings at Elwa, the organisation responsible for post-16 education in Wales, were some of the most appalling he had seen.

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