He was a geek even then and a member of the Doctor Who society. We all thought it was quite unsettling - why would you do that?"They added: "There aren't many locks in the Big Brother house. The diary room had better watch out before Jonty manages to get in there." .

2001: UK supermarkets slash price of drugs

British consumers are already reaping the benefits of cheaper over-the-counter medicine after a court ruling today put an end to the drug industry's price-fixing policy.

The major supermarkets are cutting the price of popular brands by over a half.

Tesco supermarket chain has said it will slash up to 40% from the price of some medicines from Wednesday, including painkillers Calpol and Nurofen. Asda and Safeway have also announced similar cuts.

.

London Covers Launch Range of Custom Made Car Covers

London Covers, the UK specialist in fabric coverings for vehicles, launch their range of custom made car covers for outdoor and indoor use.

.

Teenage extroverts more likely to light up

HAVING CERTAIN personality traits could influence the chances of becoming a smoker, with outgoing people who are worriers more likely to light up.

Researchers found odds of being a smoker as an adult increased with higher personality scores at the age of 16 for extrovert behaviour, such as sociability, impulsiveness and sensation-seeking, and neurotic traits, which include anxiety, depression and anger.

1982: Dingo baby trial opens in Australia

Her husband Michael, a Seventh Day Adventist minister, is also on trial, accused of trying to cover up the truth.

Mr and Mrs Chamberlain have both pleaded not guilty.

The courtroom was packed for the first day of what has already been dubbed by one newspaper as Australia's "trial of the century".

Prosecutor Ian Barker told the court Mrs Chamberlain's story that her baby had been taken from the couple's tent by a dingo was a "fanciful lie to conceal the truth".

Neither of the accused showed any emotion as the bloodstained jumpsuit worn by Azaria at the time of her disappearance was exhibited to the courtroom.

Mr Barker told the court extensive tests by a team in London would convince the jury the baby's throat had been cut, not savaged by a dingo.

He said traces of blood had also been found in the family car more than a year after Azaria disappeared.

News in brief

For the first time ever, UK traffic levels have passed 500 billion vehicle kilometres. Government figures recently released show that, in 2006, the figure rose 1.4 per cent to 506 billion vehicle kilometres (314 billion miles), compared with 2005. Average speeds in England’s largest 18 urban areas, excluding London, were 17.8mph during peak hours TAKING YOUR Saab on holiday? Then the firm’s new convenience accessory range could help your trip go more smoothly. Two safety and sat-nav systems and a Bluetooth hands-free phone kit are available, along with a pair of lockable roofboxes. Visit www.saab.co.uk for details.

On Native Ground

We know why President Bush didn't want to specifically talk about Iraq or the "war on terror." The gap between the high-minded rhetoric and the sordid reality is just too large to overcome, even for the brazen liars that make up the Bush administration.

The President is asking for another $80 billion to pay for the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations. This amount also includes $1.5 billion to build a new embassy in Iraq, the most expensive embassy the United States has ever built anywhere.

Of course, it costs a lot to build a highly-fortified building in a war zone, which is what Iraq will continue to be as long as U.S. troops occupy that country.

If Congress approves Bush's request, the price tag for the Iraq war will approach nearly $300 billion. Remember how loudly the Bush administration shouted down the initial estimates in 2002 that the war on Iraq would cost upwards of $200 billion? The war would pay for itself, they said.