Detective writer Smith makes history. Publishes book in Scottish daily newspaper. What is it that Bruce sees in the microwave of the apartment he is sent to survey? Why did Anna vacate the room Pat now has, leaving behind clothes, papers and a distinct feeling of unease? Domenica Macdonald, who lives across the hall from Bruce and Pat and drives a high-powered, custard-coloured Mercedes, seems to know more about Bruce than she's letting on. Welcome to 44 Scotland Street, the latest work by Alexander McCall Smith, one of detective fiction's hottest authors, and a new serial in The Scotsman. The Scottish daily newspaper has begun serializing the story about a group of Edinburgh roommates, and readers are invited to express opinions..........................................................................................................................................................................................................134

 Spying: Britain Spied on UN Chief. Blix had mobile tapped by allied spies. Hans Blix, the United Nation's chief weapons inspector, had his mobile phone tapped, according to fresh allegations to emerge the day after former Cabinet minister Clare Short claimed that British agents spied on UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in the run-up to war in Iraq. Australian radio has reported that Mr. Blix's mobile phone was tapped whenever he was in Iraq and the information shared between the United States, Britain and their allies. The report follows Ms. Short's claim that she had seen transcripts of Mr. Annan's private telephone conversations, obtained by the bugging of his offices. According to the new reports, a source at the Australian intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments................................................................................................................................................135

Blair dodges spying questions. Tony Blair has tried to divert attention away from claims that Britain spied on the United Nations by mounting a savage attack on Tory spending plans.........................................................................................135

British MP expelled for racist joke. British member of Parliament Ann Winterton yesterday defiantly refused to apologise for a racist joke about the Morecambe Bay cockling tragedy, and was expelled from the Conservative Party. She insisted she would carry on as MP for Congleton despite increasing calls to stand down. Winterton, 62, sparked a fresh Conservative race dispute and earned the wrath of the party's leader, Michael Howard, after joking about the tragedy just weeks after 20 Chinese cocklers were killed by the tide at Bolton-le-Sands. She told a Whitehall dinner about a shark that was sick of eating tuna, and said: "Let's go to Morecambe for a Chinese." Howard condemned her, saying, "I very much deplore what Ann Winterton said. What she said was unacceptable.....................................................................................................................................................................135

Political and Diplomatic Embarrassment: Did we bug Kofi Annan? The UN expressed outrage yesterday after an extraordinary claim by the former cabinet minister Clare Short that British intelligence services were involved in bugging the private office of its secretary general, Kofi Annan. Mr. Annan's team, after speaking to the British ambassador at the UN, launched an inquiry into the legal implications of the alleged bugging. "We want this action to stop, if indeed it has been carried out," said Mr. Annan's spokesman, Fred Eckhard. "It is not good for the United Nations' work and it is illegal." It is believed to be unprecedented for covert action to have been taken against the UN secretary general...................................................................136

Saudis accused British diplomats of terror. Compensation claim by tortured Britons exposes allegations of MI6 plot against kingdom's royal family. Saudi Arabia accused two senior British diplomats of orchestrating an MI6 bombing campaign to undermine the Saudi royal family, it emerged yesterday. The allegations were revealed as seven British men tortured and falsely accused of carrying out the bombings launched legal action against Saudi officials, including the interior minister, Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz. They are seeking compensation for more than two years' imprisonment and torture. Five of the men appeared in televised confessions claiming responsibility for a wave of anti-western explosions that killed one Briton and injured several others. The Saudis said the bombings were the result of a turf war between western bootleggers, although they were widely acknowledged to be the work of dissident Islamist groups...............................................................................................................................................................................................136

Mel Gibson: Mel Gibson defends film on Leno............................................................................................................188

Hannity, Feldman, Crowley: Sean Hannity, the co-host of the well-respected American television debate show "Hannity and Holmes" on the FoxNews Channel released his second book "Deliver Us From Evil". The book is quite informative and to a certain degree explosive...A survey conducted by World Art Celebrities journal in 65 countries revealed that Ms. Monica Crowley, a political commentator in the United States was chosen was one of the most admired and trusted media personalites in America. Furthermore, the international polls indicated that the radio show "The Monica Crowley Show" along with Marianne Partland's "Jazz Piano"...Worth mentioning "After Jihad" a most remarkable book written by Dr. Noah Feldman of the School of Law of New York University. A great emphasis was placed on the possibility and reality of democracy in the Arab and Muslim world Among the most interesting topics discussed in the book were the issues of Islamic democracy, the diversity..............................................................................................................................................188

Blair: Blair says Short 'irresponsible'. Tony Blair appeared to cast doubt on Clare Short's future as a Labour MP after she accused the UK of bugging the UN Secretary General's office. Asked to confirm if British spies were instructed to carry out operations within the UN on people like Mr. Annan, she said: "Yes, absolutely." Quizzed about Ms. Short's comments during his monthly meeting with reporters at Downing Street, Mr. Blair said he did not have any plans to talk to his ex-minister. "I also haven't had an opportunity to consider any questions and issues to do with discipline," he said. But pressed further about Ms Short's future as an MP, Mr. Blair said: "These are issues that I will have to reflect upon. This has happened this morning. There will obviously be issues that arise." He said "to be fair", Ms Short had done a good job during her time as international development secretary - a post she quit after the UK went to war with Iraq. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................190

British Intelligence: The UK has three main intelligence agencies with a combined budget of just under £900m a year. Between them they run agents, combat internal subversion and identify threats to the UK from abroad....................................................................................191

Tony Blair looked just as relaxed, confident and certain of himself as he did when he last appeared before this Commons committee six months ago.He adopted his now traditional, shirt-sleeves, first-names, we're all jolly good chaps together attitude to the liaison committee. He even somehow managed to arrange for the delivery of a personal tea tray part way through the proceedings to add to his laid back, commanding image. And, just as in July of last year, he showed no sign whatsoever that he ever entertained a scintilla of doubt over his decision to take Britain to war on Iraq. This time, however, he had to make concessions...................................192

London Gossips...........................................................................................................................................................................................193

London Gossips2: .......................................................................................................................................................................................194

London Gossips3:....................................................................................................................................................................................... 195

London Gossips4: Blair's life on the streets. BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair slept rough on a park bench when he first arrived in London as a teenager, his Downing Street office said today. The previously unknown episode in the life of the prime minister was confirmed by his spokesman in response to a newspaper story which said the young and impoverished Blair was forced to sleep outside when he arrived in the capital to chase his dream of becoming a rock star. "After he left school the prime minister came down to London. He spent a night on a park bench before he sorted out somewhere to stay," the Downing Street spokesman said. The episode was revealed by Blair's wife Cherie to guests at a Downing Street reception for homeless charity Centrepoint this week, according to the Sunday Mirror. One guest told the tabloid that Cherie was describing the work of the charity when she appeared to break away from her prepared text to tell them about her husband's experience when he came to London ........................................196

London Gossips5: .......................................................................................................................................................................................197

London Gossips6: Bush's baby goes dirty dancing. A RAVENOUS appetite for the latest dirt on First Daughter Barbara Bush is rumbling through America's gossip columns this week. A week after George W. Bush's 21-year-old twin daughter was photographed at a New York fashion week shindig, accessorising a plunging neckline with handsome young bachelor Fabian Basabe, the media has been fighting for the inside story. Barbara cavorted wildly on the dance floor at the Viscaya club with the 25-year-old man-about-town after a Jennifer Nicholson show, a routine that has reportedly resulted in a ban for Basabe ................198

London Gossips7: KYLIE Minogue declared last year she was going to cover up more in photo shoots - but her new lingerie pictures appeared to have put an end to that pledge. Minogue has completed a sexy range of photos promoting her Love Kylie lingerie range, which is now in its eight season. Designed by herself and style guru and friend William Baker, the lingerie, despite being tiny and low cut, has proved to be very popular in the department stores. It's almost a year ago since the elder...............199

London Gossips8: Kylie Body slapped. Australia's golden girl passes. AUSTRALIA'S greatest Olympic track athlete Shirley Strickland has died aged 78. Strickland - who married and became Shirley de la Hunty - passed away suddenly at her Perth home on Monday. She won more Olympic athletics medals than any other Australian and became our first Golden Girl of the track - later to be joined by Betty Cuthbert and Marjorie Jackson. Her tally of seven Olympic medals - three of them gold - was recognised by the International Olympic Committee with its highest honour, the Olympic Order, in 2002. She also was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 1957 and an Order of Australia in 2001...............................................200

Alex Polier: Alex Polier,  the twenty-four year old journalist who could end Senator John Kerry's hopes of becoming the next president of the United States is alleged to have had a two-year affair with the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Last night the rumours were in danger of becoming a full-blown scandal. Alex Polier, 24, is alleged to have had an affair with John Kerry. This is not going to go away," one American friend of Miss Polier said yesterday. "What actually happened is much nastier than is being reported." The allegations come at a crucial time..........................................................................201

Fury: Jewish fury as Labour Party Chairman calls Letwin 'Fagin'. One in five Britons would not elect a Jewish prime minister, one in seven thought that the Holocaust had been exaggerated. And one in five said that Jews had too much influence..........................................................................202

France/Gibson: French cinema chains are refusing to distribute or screen Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ because of fears that it will spark a new outbreak of anti-Semitism. France is the only European country where there is still no distribution deal for the film, which depicts the last days of Jesus Christ in graphic detail and is accused by critics of stoking anti-Jewish sentiment. The film was released in America last week but French distributors are wary of its impact on audiences and want to......................................................................................................203

Haiti:  Mr. Aristide was said to be on his way to neighbouring Dominican Republic from where he will seek asylum. His departure came as rebels who control much of the country neared the capital, Port-au-Prince. The US and France had called on him to step down for the good of the Haitian people. An unmarked white jet took off from Port-au-Prince's airport early Sunday morning, the Associated Press reported. Shortly afterwards, the White House and the French foreign minsitry confirmed that Mr. Aristide had left power. On Saturday, Haitian rebel leader Guy Philippe ............................................204

New Zealand: Prime Minister John Howard today indicated he would not put the newly pre-selected businessman Malcolm Turnbull on the frontbench should he win the Sydney seat of Wentworth. Though not wanting to put "the kiss of death" on the new Liberal candidate, Mr. Howard did say Mr. Turnbull was "very able" ..............................................................................................................................................................................................205

Putin: Vladimir Putin has surprised Russia once again. Less than a week after he sacked the entire cabinet, the Russian President has nominated a little-known technocrat to take over as the new Prime Minister............................................................................................................................205

Winners:  Tim Robbins and Zellweger won awards. won the supporting-actor Academy Award on Sunday for his performance as an emotionally crippled murder suspect in Mystic River, and Renee Zellweger took supporting actress as a hardy Confederate survivor in Cold Mountain. Best-picture favourite The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which led the field with 11 nominations, was two-for-two with its first two categories of the night, winning for art direction and costume design. Robbins won with his first-ever acting nomination, though he had been nominated as best director for 1995's Dead Man Walking. "In this movie, I play a victim of abuse and violence," ............................................206

Nemo: Denise Robert spoke to CTV's Ben Mulroney on the red carpet before the festivities got under way. The pair were looking calm and cool under the glare of the bright lights. In fact, one of Mulroney's questions to the unflappable Arcand was "What can we do to excite you?" "A round of golf with Tiger Williams," Arcand replied with a broad smile. The Barbarian Invasions was nominated for best foreign language film -- Arcand's third nomination in the category after The Decline of the American Empire in 1986 and Jesus of Montreal in 1989. The Barbarian Invasions also earned Arcand a nomination for best screenplay. A best-picture win for The Lord of the Rings...............................207

Host: As host of the Oscars, Billy Crystal will spend more than three hours Sunday trying to keep an audience of millions on their toes. But first he had to get comfortable on his. The comedian emerged from his dressing room Friday taking baby steps down the corridor leading to the Kodak Theatre stage, his glistening black formal footwear shining up from the cuffs of his blue jeans. "Just breaking in my new shoes," he said as a caravan of joke writers, stagehands and assistants followed his slow progress. A small detail, but an important one..................................................................................208

Glamour: Glamour. Glamour. More Glamour. The red carpet fashions at Sunday's Academy Awards were a throwback to Oscars past as stars wore sophisticated and classy gowns, such as Naomi Watts's stunning nude-coloured Versace dress. The gown was adorned with huge teardrop-shaped crystals. "It's the Oscars and there's so much tradition, I wanted to go old-school glamour," said Watts, who wore her hair in an updo and simple, dewy makeup. Her accessories? Dainty drop earrings and boyfriend Heath Ledger, who wore a Gucci tuxedo and oversized sunglasses. Charlize Theron went with a sentimental favourite.............................................................................................................................................................................209

Glitz: It's 1 p.m. and Bobb'e J. Thompson is scampering up a stepladder, massive necklace bouncing in the sunlight, as he prepares for his debut as a red carpet correspondent. This can't be happening. How did I, a veteran Associated Press reporter, get stuck next to the 7-year-old co-star of NBC's "The Tracy Morgan Show?" I have to compete for celebrity interviews with a pint-sized kid working for Ellen DeGeneres' talk show whose typical line of questioning is: "How do you like my bling-bling?" Just another afternoon on what Hollywood calls The Carpet .............................................................................210

Designers: Designers practically three dresses at attendees and guests. When it comes to the Oscars, it's not about who wins or loses, it's about who looks good doing it. Jim Sheridan and his daughters, 27-year-old Kirsten and 31-year-old Naomi, all screenwriting nominees for the Irish immigrant tale In America, were well aware of the red carpet as they prepared for Sunday's 76th annual Academy Awards. "I'd like to look like Grace Kelly in the '60s," Naomi said as the Sheridans began "shopping" for their free Oscar dresses, which were practically thrown at them by publicity-hungry designers. "Maybe we'll put my dad in a red dress -- that'll get us noticed," joked Kirsten.........................................................................................................211 -212

Party: Party of the stars album..........................................................................................................................................................................213

Party2: Party of the stars album........................................................................................................................................................................214

Photos: Photos of the stars..............................................................................................................................................................................215

Photos2: Photos of the stars...........................................................................................................................................................................216

Carpet: The Red Carpet photos....................................................................................................................................................................... 217

Good and Bad: Here's a list of some of the most memorable Oscar fashion moments................................................................................218

Talks: Who said what at the OSCARS.  A selection of what the winners' said at the 76th Academy Awards - both at the ceremony and backstage afterwards........................................................................................................................................................................................................219

Winners List:  220  Cont'd:  221  Cont'd: 222  Cont'd: 223

British View: The OSCARS ceremony from a British point of view. The opening video sequence for the Oscars featured Michael Moore being squashed by the foot of a giant Olephant from The Return Of The King.This year's Oscars ceremony promised a return to the glitz missing from last year, as well as a return to much-loved host Billy Crystal. But what was it like?It was a declaration from the outset of how the emphasis on the 76th Academy Awards would be firmly about ditching the politics and, perhaps, the unease of last year. Sean Connery kicked off the show with a portentous - and slightly ridiculous - speech about movies being the common link between all humanity. But from then on, the emphasis was on fun all the way......................224

Charlize: Profile of Charlize Theron. She 28-year-old gained 30lb and donned heavy make-up in order to play the notorious murderess - looking almost unrecognisable as a result. It's all a far cry from her more mainstream roles in the likes of The Devil's Advocate, Mighty Joe Young and the 2003 remake of The Italian Job . But it has established her as an actress who is not afraid to mix commercial movies with something a little more challenging...................................................225

 Sean Penn: Profile of Sean Penn. In his youth, Penn was once known as a Hollywood hell-raiser who also acted now and again. But as his two latest films Mystic River and 21 Grams prove, he is more than capable of stealing the limelight. In Mystic River, directed by Clint Eastwood, he plays a father who sets out to avenge the murder of his daughter. The New York Times said it was "one of the definitive pieces of screen acting in the last half-century", likening him to Marlon Brando, Al Pacino..............................226

Penn. Cont'd..................................................................................................................................................227-229