The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will release figures showing that more than 200,000 Britons emigrated during 2006. That will take the total number who left the country between 1997 and 2006 to 1.97 million. Another 1.58 million foreign nationals resident in Britain left during the same period. However, 3.9 million foreigners arrived over the decade, including more than 500,000 in 2006.

It was there, after much pomp and circumstance, that BUSH MADE HIS REQUEST. AND IT WAS THERE THAT THE KING STILL SAID NO. That was the sum result, anyway, of Bush's efforts to ease your gas bills on his visit to Saudi Arabia. In fact, Bush didn't do much better on the rest of his five-day trip to the region. Oil prices aren't the only issue America faces in the Middle East; they may not even be the most important.

THE IRANIAN REGIME IS BUSY GAINING THE ABILITY TO BUILD A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Bush made no progress convincing allies to pressure it to change course. Iran is also arming and training anti-Israeli forces in Gaza and Lebanon. Instead of backing down, those groups stepped up attacks on America's allies before and during Bush's trip. Even the nominal purpose of the trip, bolstering Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, produced no progress, unless progress includes the inauguration of a general election battle between Bush and Barack Obama over national security.

BUSH IS A LAME DUCK, AND FOREIGNERS KNOW IT. But his successor, Republican or Democrat, will find that America's influence in the world is at its lowest point since the end of the Cold War. THE QUESTION THESE DAYS ISN'T "HOW WEAK IS BUSH?" it's "HOW WEAK IS AMERICA?"

Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials. The information would be held for at least 12 months and the police and security services would be able to access it if given permission from the courts.

The proposal will raise further alarm about A "BIG BROTHER" SOCIETY, as it follows plans for vast databases for the ID cards scheme and NHS patients. There will also be concern about the ability of the Government to manage a system holding billions of records. ABOUT 57 BILLION TEXT MESSAGES WERE SENT IN BRITAIN LAST YEAR, WHILE AN ESTIMATED 3 BILLION E-MAILS ARE SENT EVERY DAY.

THE PROPOSAL HAS EMERGED AS PART OF PLANS TO IMPLEMENT AN EU DIRECTIVE developed after the July 7 bombings to bring uniformity of record-keeping. Since last October telecoms companies have been required to keep records of phone calls and text messages for 12 months. That requirement is to be extended to internet, e-mail and voice-over-internet use and included in a Communications Data Bill. Home Office officials have discussed the option of the national database with telecommunications companies and ISPs as part of preparations for a data communications Bill to be in November's Queen's Speech.

At least 13 Middle Eastern countries either announced new plans to explore atomic energy or revived pre-existing nuclear programs between February 2006 and January 2007, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, or IISS, said in a report. While the flurry of interest in nuclear power is still tentative, the report said countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria or Egypt could soon feel the need to match Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"If Teheran's nuclear program is unchecked, there is reason for concern that it could in time prompt a regional cascade of proliferation among Iran's neighbors," it said.

Charities know this as "DONOR FATIGUE," but it might be more accurately described as DISASTER FATIGUE - the sense that these events are never-ending, uncontrollable and overwhelming. Experts say it is one reason Americans have contributed relatively little so far to victims of the Myanmar cyclone and China's earthquake. Ironically, THE MORE BAD NEWS THERE IS, THE LESS LIKELY PEOPLE MAY BE TO GIVE.

"Hearing about too many disasters makes some people not give at all, when they would have if it had been just one disaster," says Michal Ann Strahilevitz, who teaches marketing at Golden Gate University and specializes in the factors at play in charitable giving. Compared with disasters like the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, those in China and Myanmar have generated just a trickle of aid. As of Friday, Americans had given about $12.1 million to charities for Myanmar.

A number of factors may be at play in the slow American response, including A LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR THE REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS INVOLVED, DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER AID WILL GET THROUGH, AND AN INCLINATION TO SAVE PENNIES BECAUSE OF SHAKY ECONOMIC TIMES AT HOME. But Americans may have also been influenced by the quick succession of monumental catastrophes in two distant lands. At least 130,000 people are dead or missing in the Myanmar cyclone, and more than 70,000 in China's earthquake.

The official claimed that a senior member of the president's entourage, which concluded a trip to Israel last week, said during a closed meeting that BUSH AND VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY WERE OF THE OPINION THAT MILITARY ACTION WAS CALLED FOR.

The report stated that according to assessments in Israel, recent turmoil in Lebanon, where Hizbullah de facto established control of the country, was advancing an American attack. Bush, the officials said, opined that Hizbullah's show of strength was evidence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's growing influence. They said that according to Bush, "THE DISEASE MUST BE TREATED - NOT ITS SYMPTOMS."

In an address to the Knesset during his visit here last week, Bush said that "the president of Iran dreams of returning the Middle East to the Middle Ages. America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions," Bush said. "Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, THE WORLD MUST NOT ALLOW IRAN TO HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON."

Ma Ying-jeou, 57, the Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate and a former Taipei mayor, took over from Chen Shui-bian of the rival Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), beginning a four-year term after his landslide win in March. Chen and Ma shook hands and then walked to the presidential office for the official handover, with a portrait of Sun Yat-sen, founder of modern China, and Taiwan's flag in the background.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's KMT forces fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its control, by force if necessary, if it declares independence. The two sides have not talked since the 1990s.

"The normalization of economic and cultural relations is the first step to a win-win solution," Ma said in his inaugural speech at a packed arena, with 540 foreign dignitaries attending. "Accordingly, we are ready to resume consultations." But in his speech, unseen on Chinese state-run TV, Ma pledged neither to seek independence nor unify with China. "Taiwan doesn't just want security and prosperity," he said. "It wants dignity. Only when Taiwan is no longer being isolated in the international arena can cross-Strait relations move forward with confidence."

The nuclear-armed rivals' foreign secretaries' meeting will be followed on Wednesday by talks between Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. It is the first contact India has had with leaders of a new Pakistani civilian government and analysts in both Pakistan and India said Mukherjee will be sounding out Pakistan's new leaders.

Mukherjee said upon arrival that Pakistan's new democratic environment held great promise and he hoped progress the two countries had made would be consolidated, though that depended on an atmosphere free from militant violence. "The present environment, I'm sure, will help us in addressing various issues related to peace, stability and economic development," he said.

The officials discussed a so-called composite dialogue which covers eight areas including the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, border disputes, terrorism and economic cooperation. No major breakthroughs are expected on their main dispute over Kashmir, but Pakistani analysts hope the talks might set the stage for a visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

An amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill that would have outlawed the creation of - human admixed embryos - for medical research was defeated in a free vote by a majority of 160, preserving what Gordon Brown regarded as a central element of the legislation.

The Government is braced for defeat today, however, on a separate clause that would scrap the requirement that fertility clinics consider a child's need for a father before treating patients. MPs will also consider amendments tonight that would cut the legal limit for abortion from 24 weeks to 22 or 20 weeks.

A second amendment, which would have banned the creation of "true hybrids" made by fertilising an animal egg with human sperm, or vice-versa, was also defeated yesterday by a majority of 63. Another free vote last night was expected to approve the use of embryo-screening to create "saviour siblings" suitable to donate umbilical cord blood to sick children.

Mark Simmonds, a Shadow Health Minister, who moved the amendment to ban "true hybrids", said that there was no compelling evidence of their research usefulness.

He told BBC business editor Robert Peston that the "acute phase" of the credit crunch may be over but EFFECTS ON THE REAL ECONOMY ARE YET TO BE FELT. He warned the "financial bubble" of the last 25 years could be drawing to an end and the post World War II "super-boom" era could also be over. HE PREDICTED A "MORE SEVERE AND LONGER" US SLOWDOWN THAN MOST PEOPLE EXPECT.

And he said that THE UK WAS WORSE-PLACED THAN AMERICA TO WEATHER THE COMING ECONOMIC STORM, because it had such a large financial sector and has had the biggest increase in house prices. Mr Soros said that the current mandate of most of the world's leading central banks - where their main focus was fighting inflation - meant there was limited scope for cutting interest rates to help economies recover.

As for the Bank of the England, he said, "it was like a Greek tragedy", because they "couldn't do a U-turn" until there was a full-blown recession, which would finally take away the price pressures. The head of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, recently told the BBC that the "MARKET CORRECTION WAS STILL ON-GOING". Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, warned in the Bank's inflation report that UK INFLATION WOULD RISE ABOVE ITS TARGET WHILE THE ECONOMY WOULD SLOW SHARPLY.

"This is a blessed event," said MK Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party) when he heard of the rabbis' action. "THE POLICE FINALLY REALIZED THAT KEEPING JEWS OUT OF ONE OF THEIR HOLIEST PLACES IS ABSURD, AND MUST CHANGE. This week, when we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem, we must remember WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THE JEWISH PEOPLE RECLAIM THIS HOLY PLACE."

"This is a positive step," he added, "but it can't be a one-time thing." Rosen said he didn't think Israel's chief rabbinate would join the Zionist rabbis' call. "The Orthodox community is divided mainly by the political beliefs of its leaders," said Rosen, "and as long as that is the situation, there is very little chance they'll join us."

Meanwhile, the haredi newspaper affiliated with the Lithuanian stream, Yated Ne'eman harshly criticized the rabbis' visit, "WHICH GOES AGAINST THE HALACHA," SAYING THAT THE RABBIS HAD VIOLATED A PROHIBITION PUNISHABLE WITH KARET, DEATH BY HEAVENLY DECREE. Orthodox and religious Zionist Jews are divided over the issue, with haredim espousing a strict approach that prohibits any Jew from entering the compound, for fear he might defile the place.

The fact that Senator Obama - the son of a Muslim father - insists he was never a Muslim before becoming Christian is irrelevant to bin Laden. IN BIN LADEN'S EYES, OBAMA IS A MURTAD FITRI, THE WORST TYPE OF APOSTATE, BECAUSE HE WAS BLESSED BY ALLAH TO BE BORN INTO THE TRUE FAITH OF ISLAM.

There are two types of apostates according to sharia (Islamic law) and the Hadith (sayings of the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). The first type is murtad milli, one who converted to Islam and later renounced the faith. The second, and most egregious, type is murtad fitri. It refers to a person born of a Muslim father who renounces his birthright. Two recent examples of the latter are Magdi Allam (a male Egyptian who converted to Catholicism in Italy) and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (Somali-born woman who's now an atheist). Both now face death threats.

ACCORDING TO ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE, CHILDREN OF A MUSLIM FATHER - EVEN AN APPARENTLY NONPRACTICING ONE, SUCH AS OBAMA'S FATHER, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF THE MOTHER'S FAITH - ARE AUTOMATICALLY MUSLIMS. Most Muslims around the world agree: A CHILD OF A MUSLIM FATHER IS A MUSLIM. That's why Obama is bin Laden's dream candidate. Once branded as an apostate, President Obama would face enormous difficulties in the foreign policy realm, especially in the fight against terrorism.

His administration would struggle to positively engage the Muslim world, where Islam isn't just a religion, it's the way of life. Conservative Muslim populations that are riddled with poverty and low literacy rates can be more readily swayed to join the cause against the "Great Satan" (the US) if their imams and mullahs shout that it is led by an apostate.

Citing PA sources, the article said that prior to his departure from Sharm e-Sheikh Abbas was informed that the United States intended to backtrack on efforts to achieve progress in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. According to the paper, the report was given to Abbas from a European source, who claimed that the Americans were not interested in exerting pressure or confronting Israel, and that the US was "allowing Israel full freedom to take a stance which would serve its policies, its security, and its interests alone."

Another diplomatic source told the paper that the PA president received reports that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shas chairman Eli Yishai had come to an understanding in which the former has promised the latter that plans to build thousands of apartment units around Jerusalem and in the West Bank would be approved - this in an attempt to reinforce the premier's foundering coalition.

Given these reports, the source told the paper that Abbas planned to give a speech in Ramallah, during which he would announce that negotiations had failed and blame Israel for the failure. The source added that the PA president would also blame the US for its lack of commitment to the peace process.

The richness and diversity of England's natural environment is under threat. Our population continues to grow. The impacts of changing climate exacerbate the problems. For too long the natural world has been treated as a luxury, a nice-to-have, optional extra. The vital public services that it provides for everyone in this country have been taken for granted. Not only does it give us the basic necessities of life - clean air, clean water and productive soils - but it provides the raw materials for sustainable energy production and construction. It is our natural health service, with the potential to make a major contribution to the health and wellbeing of the nation, free for everyone to use.

And our natural environment provides the foundations of our cultural identity, brings pleasure to millions and underpins our tourism and recreation industries. And as climate change begins to bite, it becomes even more important in its capacity to store carbon, soak up excess water and channel run-off naturally away from our towns and cities.

Natural England's State of the Natural Environment 2008 report, published today, shows that wildlife inside protected areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest is, for the time being, on sound footing. But outside nature's gated communities the diversity and local distinctiveness of our wildlife and landscapes is in long-term decline.

HARRIET HARMAN, who has been accused of contributing to family breakdown by DRAWING UP POLICIES THAT BENEFITED UNMARRIED COUPLES, claims in a new book that promoting marriage is not part of ministers' jobs, and they may as well just say they want everyone to be happy. She also says there is no ideal type of household in which to bring up children - despite research showing that having two parents is best - and that couples should not stay together if they feel their relationship has broken down.

The book, by Anastasia de Waal, claims Labour is trapping people in poverty by ignoring the effect of marriage on a household's wealth, in its attempt not to be judgmental about single-parent families. THE BOOK ALSO SAID LABOUR SHOULD STOP TREATING FATHERS LIKE "OPTIONAL EXTRAS". Its non-judgmental approach to families let fathers escape without facing up to their share of the responsibility, it said. Maria Miller, the shadow minister for families, said: "LABOUR SEEMS RELUCTANT TO HELP FAMILIES STAY TOGETHER: THE BENEFITS SYSTEM PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE FOR COUPLES TO LIVE APART."

MISS HARMAN, WHO IS ALSO LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, was interviewed for Second Thoughts on the Family, which is published Monday by Civitas, the think-tank. The book, which paraphrases her interview at her request, states: "HARMAN BELIEVES HIGHER RATES OF SEPARATION ARE DOWN TO A POSITIVE: GREATER CHOICE.