In a blow to the Government's 24-hour licensing law, separate figures show a fifth of all violence now occurs in or around pubs and clubs. The grim statistics leave grave questions over Labour's promise to make the streets safer and to tackle alcohol-fuelled disorder.

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "It is indicative of how appalling habitual violence is on our streets that so many women are involved. The number of women, often teenage girls, resorting to violence is proof of a worrying binge-drinking ladette culture." Women and girls were responsible for 13 per cent of all violent attacks in 2007/08, according to the British Crime Survey, which was the equivalent of 281,320 assaults, robberies and muggings, compared with 11 per cent in the previous year.

A further 11 per cent of incidents - or 238,040 crimes - involved both male and female offenders, the figures from the Home Office show. Females were also either directly responsible for or involved in 21 per cent of all woundings, the equivalent of 98,070 offences, and 28 per cent of all assaults involving a minor injury. Chris Grayling, the shadow home secretary, said: "I think we really do now need to review the Government's new licensing regime. Far from creating the promised continental café culture, it just seems to have created a problem of binge drinking and violence outside pubs and clubs."

Out will go kebabs, greenhouse tomatoes and alcohol. Instead, diners will be encouraged to consume more potatoes and seasonal vegetables, as well as pork and chicken, which generate fewer carbon emissions. "CHANGING OUR LIFESTYLES, INCLUDING OUR DIETS, IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE CRUCIAL ELEMENTS IN CUTTING CARBON EMISSIONS," said David Kennedy, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change. Kennedy has stopped eating his favourite doner kebabs because they contain lamb.

A government-sponsored study into greenhouse gases found that producing 2.2lb of lamb released the equivalent of 37lb of carbon dioxide. The problem is because sheep burp so much methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Cows are only slightly better behaved. The production of 2.2lb of beef releases methane equivalent to 35lb of CO2. Tomatoes, most of which are grown in heated glasshouses, are the most "carbon-intensive" vegetable, each 2.2lb generating more than 20lb of CO2. Potatoes, in contrast, release only about 1lb of CO2 for each 2.2lb of food. The figures are similar for most other native fruit and vegetables.

"We are not saying that everyone should become vegetarian or give up drinking but moving towards less carbon intensive foods will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health," said Kennedy.

The 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George rejected an argument by gay rights activists that the ban revised the California Constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval. The court said the Californians have a right, through the ballot box, to change their constitution.

"In a sense, petitioners' and the attorney general's complaint is that it is just too easy to amend the California Constitution through the initiative process. But it is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it," the ruling said.

The justices said the 136-page majority ruling does not speak to whether they agree with Proposition 8 or "believe it should be a part of the California Constitution." They said they were "limited to interpreting and applying the principles and rules embodied in the California Constitution, setting aside our own personal beliefs and values." Gay rights activists immediately promised to resume their fight, saying they would go back to voters as early as next year in a bid to repeal Proposition 8.

Her comments come a day after the UN unanimously condemned North Korea for conducting an underground nuclear test. North Korea responded by firing two more missiles hours later. Ms Rice told CBS news channel in the US that Pyongyang's actions were "CLEARLY PROVOCATIVE AND DESTABILISING ACTIONS WHICH THREATEN INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY. North Korea needs to understand that its actions have consequences," she said.

"The pressure will increase on North Korea, economically and otherwise, and North Korea will realise that its actions have only left it further isolated and further debilitated." Ms Rice said the international community would not "throw up our hands and let them pursue this path" and that North Korea would "pay a price for their action".

The strong words from the US come as UN diplomats begin work on a resolution to punish North Korea for its underground nuclear test on Monday, which were accompanied by at least three missile tests.

That is why the Home Front Command is conducting A FIVE-DAY DRILL next week, dubbed Turning Point 3, which will send Israelis running for their bomb shelters on June 2. "THIS ISN'T AN IMAGINARY SITUATION. This isn't detached from reality and if there is a war, it's very likely that this is what will happen," Vilnai said, during the committee hearing.

On the third day of the drill, at 11am, a siren will go off throughout the entire country, and everyone is expected to immediately head to the nearest shelter or protected space. The time suggested for reaching the protected space differs depending upon location. Those living in the GOLAN HEIGHTS AND SOME OTHER NORTHERN CITIES HAVE LESS THAN 30 SECONDS TO FIND SHELTER WHILE THOSE IN TEL AVIV HAVE TWO MINUTES AND IN JERUSALEM, THREE MINUTES. "If someone attacks us, we will be ready," said Vilnai, in an interview after the Knesset session. "The concept is as protected as possible."

Turning Point 3 has been called the largest drill in Israel's history. Schools across the country will interrupt studies to get students into shelters on time. Security personnel at Jerusalem's Malha Mall will try to bring all its customers to the mall's shelters and secured areas. Only hospitals will not disrupt activities for the drill, as per Health Ministry instructions.

In recent months, senior Chinese officials, including Premier Wen Jiabao, have repeatedly signalled their concern that US policies could lead to a collapse in the dollar and global inflation. But Chinese and western officials in Beijing say China is caught in a "dollar trap" and has little choice but to keep pouring the bulk of its growing reserves into the US Treasury, which remains the only market big enough and liquid enough to support its huge purchases.

In March alone, China's direct holdings of US Treasury securities rose by $23.7bn (£14.9bn) to reach a new record high of $768bn, according to preliminary US data, allowing China to retain its title as the biggest creditor of the US government. "Because of the sheer size of its reserves SAFE [China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange] will immediately disrupt any other market it tries to shift into in a big way and could also collapse the value of its existing reserves if it sold too many dollars," said a western official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The composition of China's reserves is a state secret but dollar assets are estimated to comprise as much as 70 per cent of the $1,953bn total. CHINA OWNS NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE US DEBT HELD BY FOREIGNERS, according to US Treasury data.

But SAFE has not fundamentally changed its strategy of allocating the bulk of its burgeoning foreign exchange reserves to US Treasury securities, a western adviser familiar with Safe thinking told the Financial Times. He said Safe traders were "very negative" on sterling because of expectations of renewed weakness of the UK currency, but SAFE was neutral on the euro and bullish on the Australian dollar.

North Korea presents a classic example of the dilemmas involved in dealing with a STATE WHOSE BEHAVIOUR IS PREDICTABLY UNPREDICTABLE. The basic rule for dealing with such states is that there is no rule. But a major consideration is how powerful they are. In 2002 Libya could be pressured into admitting and giving up a secret nuclear programme because it was weak and exposed.

NORTH KOREA HAS A MILLION-STRONG ARMY, WITH MORE THAN 4,000 TANKS AND ABOUT 18,000 ARTILLERY PIECES, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Its forces are encamped only a short distance from the South Korean capital, Seoul. AN IRAQ-STYLE INVASION IS NOT POSSIBLE. So options are limited.

The long-term hope in these situations is that the regime itself will collapse. This became the solution to the Cold War. THE DANGER WITH NORTH KOREA IS THAT COLLAPSE, OR FEAR OF IT, COULD LEAD TO WAR, GIVEN THE MILITARISTIC NATURE OF ITS GOVERNMENT.

The move came as UN diplomats began work on a resolution to punish North Korea for its underground nuclear test. Diplomats said they were seeking "tough measures", including further sanctions. Mondays's nuclear test was accompanied by at least three missile tests.

The latest tests on Tuesday involved one surface-to-air missile and one ground-to-air missile, Yonhap said. They came amid widespread international concern over Pyongyang's activities. Late on Monday US President Barack Obama spoke to the leaders of both Japan and South Korea to assure them of America's commitment to security in North-East Asia.

Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, quoted by the ISNA news agency, made the announcement five days after Iran said it test-fired a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), putting Israel and U.S. bases in the area within reach.

Iran said on May 14 it had sent two warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect oil tankers from the world's fifth-largest crude exporter against attacks by pirates but ISNA did not make clear whether they were among the six Sayyari talked about.

Iranian waters stretch along the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. IRAN HAS THREATENED TO BLOCK THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, through which about 40 percent of the world's traded oil is shipped, if it were attacked over its nuclear programme.

Tory Nadine Dorries described the media revelations as 'resembling A MCCARTHYITE WITCH HUNT', her colleague Sir Anthony Steen said they were tantamount to a 'KANGAROO COURT' and Labour's Tom Levitt - who by the way tried to claim back £16.50 for a poppy wreath he laid at his Derbyshire town's war memorial on Remembrance Sunday - called them an exercise in 'GUTTER JOURNALISM'.

Now, as if all this disingenuous bleating from inside Westminster were not bad enough, recalcitrant MPS HAVE FOUND A SPIRITUAL SUPPORTER IN THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. Instead of reminding 'Honourable' Members that theft is in clear breach of the eighth Commandment, Dr Williams sympathises with them and demands an end to the 'SYSTEMATIC HUMILIATION' of mainstream politicians, which he fears could undermine democracy and play into the hands of unpleasant fringe parties like the BNP.

This intervention is completely out of kilter with the public mood and shows once again how woefully out of touch the Archbishop is with his flock. The electorate will not be satisfied until all MPs who have fleeced the taxpayer have been exposed and purged. And that, Archbishop, can only be achieved with full disclosure - however painful in the short term.

They received £1.9million in petrol money alone in 2007-08, as well as £2.2million on train tickets and nearly £900,000 on air fares. On top of this they claimed nearly £500,000 of public money for spouses and children's travel. In total, the taxpayer stumped up an 'astronomical' £6.2million last year for MPs' travel. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE 'NO QUESTIONS ASKED' CULTURE SURROUNDING PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES. MPs are taken at their word and required to provide little or no proof of the mileage covered.

In another development, it emerged last night that Chancellor Alistair Darling was one of nine cabinet members to claim on expenses the cost of accountants' advice in completing their personal tax returns. In one of the most startling cases, Labour MP Rudi Vis received £5,292 for driving about 15,000 miles even though his Finchley and Golders Green constituency is just nine miles north of Westminster.

The revelations come with MPs already facing the rage of voters after details of their housing and office allowances were exposed. Douglas Hogg billed the taxpayer to clean the moat at his country mansion, while Sir Peter Viggers claimed £2,000 for an ornamental duck house. Others claimed for the upkeep of swimming pools and tennis courts.

MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS HAVE KNOWN SINCE AT LEAST 2005 THAT MANY HOMES WERE IN THE WRONG TAX BANDS. But instead of solving the problem, they tried to keep it secret because coming clean would have embarrassed the Government and reduced its tax take from homeowners.

The cover-up was exposed after ministers were forced to reveal the minutes of a Whitehall meeting in 2005. The papers were handed to the House of Commons library with some sections blacked out. But a blunder by officials left the text still legible beneath the blacking. Whitehall's council tax inspectors have already been forced to correct the council tax bands of a quarter of a million homes across England and Wales following appeals by householders since the last general election. But hundreds of thousands of others still have no idea that they are being ripped off.

Tory spokesman Caroline Spelman said: 'The Government has been caught red-handed fiddling council tax to make families pay more. THE WHOLE MORAL BASIS OF OUR TAX SYSTEM IS UNDERMINED IF THE STATE CONSPIRES TO OVERCHARGE THE PUBLIC.' Local Government minister John Healey has admitted that ministers were aware of the cover-up as part of 'ongoing feedback from staff'.

Matthew Elliott, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, called for the Government to pay back the money - with interest. He said: 'With the Government's fiscal position looking so dire, they are trying to grab every last penny from taxpayers to stop the UK's debt rising even higher. But this is no excuse for them to effectively allow council tax to be overcharged on households who are already suffering financial pain. The Government's actions are completely underhand.'

But they said it would be "tragic" if people chose not to vote, or to register a protest vote, at the European Parliamentary and local elections on June 4. Dr Williams and Dr Sentamu said the forthcoming elections were taking place "at a time of extraordinary turbulence in our democratic system". They added: "The temptation to stay away or register a protest vote in order to send a negative signal to the parties represented at Westminster will be strong."

"In our view, however, it would be tragic if the understandable sense of anger and disillusionment with some MPs over recent revelations led voters to shun the ballot box." The Archbishops said some parties would exploit the current political situation if elected and said the BNP fostered "fear and division within communities, especially between people of different faiths or racial background".

They went on: "This is not a moment for voting in favour of any political party whose core ideology is about sowing division in our communities and hostility on grounds of race, creed or colour. It is an opportunity for renewing the vision of a community united by mutual respect, high ethical standards and the pursuit of justice and peace."

He was dismissed after a disciplinary hearing. The Christian Legal Centre said it is considering legal action. Mr Rao said that in the training exercise the woman had been playing the part of a patient with a life-threatening heart condition. He said he told her she should go to church to alleviate stress.

Christian Legal Centre (CLC) director Andrea Minichiello Williams said the centre was now representing Mr Rao and was considering legal action against his former employer. She said: "How is it possible that a nurse who has served the public for 40 years should find himself dismissed because in a training exercise he advised someone to go to church?"

"TO SEEK TO CENSOR AND SUPPRESS THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE AND BELIEF IS THE FRUITS OF A CLOSED SOCIETY."

Just hours later, North Korea appeared to have test-fired a short-range missile, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Pyongyang has so far not commented on Yonhap's report. Following the announcement of North Korea's latest nuclear test on Monday, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama said Tokyo would respond "in a responsible fashion" at the UN, without giving further details.

Russia's UN ambassador said an emergency meeting of the Security Council would be held later on Monday. The military in South Korea formed a crisis team and went into emergency talks. In Washington, a state department spokesman said officials were checking the report, "but we're not able to confirm at this time". The European Union said that the development was "very worrying".

On Monday, KCNA said North Korea's test had been "aimed at strengthening its self-defence nuclear deterrent in every way. The current nuclear test was safely conducted on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control." It said the results resolved "scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology".

South Korean officials said earlier that a seismic tremor was detected in the north-eastern part around the town of Kilju - the site of North Korea's first nuclear test. Both South Korea's and the US geological agencies said the tremor on Monday (25th May) morning indicated a nuclear explosion. The US Geological Survey said the 4.7-magnitude quake was detected at 0054 GMT.

Last month, Pyongyang pulled out of six-party talks on its nuclear programme, in protest against international condemnation of its test-firing of a rocket on 5 April.
The UN Security Council adopted a statement calling on North Korea to comply with a 2006 resolution banning missile tests. Pyongyang says its rocket carried a satellite, but several nations viewed it as cover for a missile test.