Birmingham Post

Audit Commission Blasts City Council

High-risk business project... ...lack of realism

Civic Society U-Turn On Colmore Row Plan

The chances of a 35-storey skyscraper being built at the heart of Birmingham's business district in Colmore Row took a knock yesterday after the city's Civic Society announced a change of heart and said it was now opposed to the "over-ambitious" pounds 160 million plan, writes Paul Dale. In a statement the society said its opinion of the British Land Tower had shifted from one of 90 per cent support to outright opposition after looking in detail at the proposal.

Chase Midland Will Axe a Further 18 Employees

Further jobs have been lost following the collapse of Midland building group Chase Midland. Administrator Ernst & Young yesterday said it had been forced to make another 18 people redundant from the holding company Chase Midland, in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire.

Mod Laptop Blunders ; Security

The Ministry of Defence was facing fresh security questions after admitting 658 laptops had been stolen over four years - nearly double the figure previously claimed. The department said 26 portable memory sticks containing classified information had been either stolen or misplaced since January.

Derby Day Clashes ; Football

Three people were arrested after a violent clash at a football match in Burton-upon-Trent, police said yesterday. Supporters were told to leave the town's Pirelli Stadium during the pre-season friendly between Burton Albion and Derby County on Wednesday.

12-Year-Old Victim ; Crash

Walters Suicide Role ; Film

Gunman Stand-Off ; Firearms

Disgraced Chambers Loses Race for Team Gb Selection

Dwain Chambers was considering his future yesterday after losing his High Court bid to be allowed to compete at next month's Olympic Games in Beijing. Mr Justice Mackay refused to grant an injunction temporarily suspending a lifetime Olympic ban imposed on the self-confessed drugs cheat by the British Olympic Association under a bylaw.

Small Heath Man Says His Alleged Al Qaida Bombs Were Fireworks

A man accused of trying to construct bombs at his home in Birmingham told police he was attempting to make fireworks, a jury heard yesterday. Hussan Tabbakh said he was carrying out experiments for "fun" and that what he was doing was not connected to terrorism.

Defeat Ends Dwain's Beijing Saga

Athlete Dwain Chambers' ban from the Beijing Olympics is the final chapter in a five-year saga since he first tested positive for steroids. His fight to represent Britain at the Games drew a strong reaction.

Banned Driver Lied After Fatalling Reversing Into Girlfriend's Toddler Son On Drive

A banned driver who lied to emergency services after killing his girlfriend's son while reversing his van off her drive was jailed for nine months yesterday. Andrew McGregor and former partner, Victoria Dobson, told police and hospital staff 21-month-old Sean Dobson Purchase had been killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Back-From-Dead Canoeist Wrote Daily to Wife On Remand

Back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin wrote to his wife daily while they were in prison on remand following their pounds 250,000 fraud charges, a court heard yesterday. Anne Darwin, 56, was accused of making a "last-ditch" attempt at clearing her name by telling lies under cross-examination at Teesside Crown Court.

Fake Beard Hoax Bomber Gets Seven Years to Work On His Arabic

A follower of Islamic militancy who wanted to be a terrorist was yesterday jailed for seven years after he left a hoax bomb on a bus and collected materials for explosive devices. Nicholas Roddis, 23, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was given consecutive jail sentences at Leeds Crown Court of five years for engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism, and two years for placing the hoax bomb on the bus with intent.

Birmingham the Launchpad for Drive to Promote Science

An attempt to make Britain more sciencefriendly was launched in Birmingham yesterday. The drive aims to "increase public engagement" in science to help the nation remain competitive when innovation is an economic driver.

Brown's 'Billy Bunter' Treasury

The Government was accused yesterday of having as much credibility as "Billy Bunter's postal order" amid reports the Treasury is rewriting Gordon Brown's fiscal rules. The Prime Minister was attacked in the Lords over claims officials are drafting a looser framework so the Treasury would not have to break the rule limiting public sector debt to 40 per cent of national income.

Euro-Sceptic's Lisbon Bid Is Foiled Again

Tycoon Stuart Wheeler failed yesterday in a renewed court bid to force a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. A Court of Appeal judge held Mr Wheeler's attempt to challenge the High Court's rejection of his case had "no prospect of success".

Muslim Panel Will Look at Wearing Veil in British Society

The wearing of the Islamic veil will be one of the issues examined by a new panel of Muslim experts set up by the Government, it was announced yesterday. Cambridge University has been commissioned to create an independent board of academic and theological experts.

Smith Would Be Unseated Based On Latest Results in Redditch

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith faces the possibility of becoming the most high profile General Election loser after Tories gained two council seats in herWorcestershire base. Their candidate Juliet Brunner won in the county's Arrow Valley East division which has more than a quarter of the constituency's electorate.

Must Do Better - Sat Results Delay

More than a quarter of 14-year-olds will not be getting their English national curriculum test results before the end of the school term, it was announced yesterday. The results were published for the first time yesterday following the administrative fiasco that delayed publication by more than a week.