World outrage as almost one Israeli a day dies in Gaza conflict...

* The Times produces photographic evidence that the Israelis have been causing horrific injuries by raining white phosporous shells on civilians in Gaza - in breach of international laws, HEREand HERE...

* The United Nations suspends humanitarian operations in Gaza after two of their aid workers were killed in an Israeli rocket attack...

* The New York Times reports that the normally conservative International Red Cross issues a scathing condemnation of Israel for failing its obligations under international law to care for the wounded in a war-zone. Here's how the main ABC network in the United States reports the story, hopefully waking up the American public to the horror resulting in pressure on Condi Rice and George W. Bush to push Israel to make peace, rather than continue to give them the nod to bomb Gaza. (Israel has still not agreed to a ceasefire, but I expect they want at least another day of bombarding Gaza and in the face of mounting condemnation will agree to a ceasefire round late tomorrow or Saturday).

* The Canadian Government has the balls to blame Israel for the deaths of 40 - including many children - when they shelled a school being used by Gaza families trying to shelter from the Israeli attacks.

* UN figures reveal that 257 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli acrtion in the past fortnight and more than 1,000 children injured. Newsnight reports that 750 people have died in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive compared to just 11 Israelis.

Just another day of carnage in the war of the children in Gaza.

Exposed: Sleazy deals by Cameron 'sleazebuster'...

The man David Cameron appointed as his top 'sleaze-buster' in Europe has been caught funnelling more than £400,000 of public money into his own private company.

Following recent expenses scandals, the Tory Leader gave Giles Chichester the job of making sure none of his MEPs was caught breaking the rules on expenses.

Chichester devised a new Code of Conduct on expenses for the Tory team of MEPs he leads in the European Parliament.

But The Times reveals today that Chichester has channelled £445,000 for 'office services' to a company founded by his late father - round the world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester.

That's more than TEN times the £40,000 of public money that Tory MP Derek Conway was caught handing his son while he was a student.

And that scandal cost Con-way his seat.

A senior MP tells The Times: '...watch Cameron move to sort this out...'

We're watching.

Mr Sleazebuster has admitted breaching the rules over a five year period.

What does he have to say about his transgression...?

'whoops a daisy...OK, hands up, mea culpa...'

Same old Tories eh?

Best ham and bacon is on our doorstep...

Good to see our home-grown Grasmere Farm here in Deeping St James featured in The Times guide to the best ham and bacon this Christmas.

Here's the full listing, the only entry for Lincolnshire:

Stuart Stables of in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, is one of a committed bunch of producers who cling to the traditional method of dry-curing ham and bacon. (Industrial fast-curing methods in which the hams are injected with brine means that when you cook the whole hams they shrink dramatically, or in the case of bacon, leach out the excess liquid into a white puddle in the pan).

Stables’ family also rear all their own pigs, which are fed on meal milled in their own water mill.

As well as the hams and bacon, you can order sausages (including the famous Rutland sausage), fruity stuffings and every cut of pork.

A whole, unsmoked, uncooked bone-in ham (minimum weight 8.6kg) is £45.95, online, or check the website for details of farmers' markets (01778 342344; www.grasmere-farm.co.uk).

More good news for Gordon

More evidence that Labour is enjoying a double-digit lead over David Cameron's Tories.

A Populus survey for The Times published today confirms what we all knew: Gordon Brown blows David Cameron away when it comes to leadership ability. The Prime Minister rates almost twice as highly on the percentage of people who has what it takes to be a good PM:

Brown 59. Cameron 30.

Populus also asked who cares most about the problems faced by ordinary people?

Brown 60. Cameron 45.

Three months into Gordon Brown's Premiership, it is clear that people now realise he has the strength and vision needed to lead Britain.

As The Times says today, as Tories gather in Blackpool, their Conference is make or break.