August 2005 in Britain and Ireland - 2 August 2005 (Tuesday)

2 August 2005 (Tuesday)

• An investigation into the way the army trains recruits has begun. The investigation is in response to video footage of bullying shot by a soldier at the School of Infantry in Catterick and obtained by the BBC (BBC)
• A Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey of retailers reveals 47% of respondents reporting a drop in sales. The survey leads CBI head Sir Digby Jones to call for a reduction in interest rates when the Bank of England meets later this week to discuss interest rate levels. (BBC)
• Iraq: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw states that the UK has played a part in creating the current security problems Iraq faces. Straw also indicates that a deal on a new Iraq constitution to replace the transitional constitution of 2004 would allow the Government to review troop numbers deployed in Iraq. (BBC)
• A small explosion occurs in Tehran, near offices of British Airways and British Petroleum. No casualties are reported. (BBC)
• Jeremy Bamber is to launch a third appeal against his convictions for the murder of five members of his family. The appeal centres on previously unseen photographs. (BBC)
• John Burton, Tony Blair's agent in his Sedgefield constituency, claims the Prime Minister will step down from the House of Commons at the next general election. (BBC)
• Transport: Staff at Lothian buses in Edinburgh are to begin an indefinite strike next Wednesday, unless a deal on pay is reached. Transport and General Workers Union members have rejected the latest pay offer from the council run service. Staff are currently operating a Saturday service on weekdays. (BBC)
• Northern Ireland: In response to last weeks statement from the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) that their armed struggle is to cease, the Army begins dismantling the observation post on the top of Divis Tower. The post took up the top two floors of the eighteen story tower block of flats in west Belfast. (BBC)
• Labour MP Ann Cryer calls for the police to respond more sensibly when responding to security threats. Her call came in light of the news that the police had sent armed officers to investigate a sighting of four Asian men carrying rucksacks in the village of Haworth, Yorkshire. (BBC)
• Football
  • UEFA Champions League:
    • Celtic are knocked out of the European Champions League despite beating FC Artmedia Bratislava 4-0. The result is not enough to overturn last weeks 5-0 defeat.(BBC)
    • Liverpool win their way through to the next qualifying round with a 2-0 win over FBK Kaunas. The Merseyside club won 5-1 on aggregate.(BBC)
  • English Premier League: Anthony Le Tallec joins Sunderland on a year long loan from Liverpool.(BBC)
  • Championship: Andy Johnson signs a new five-year contract with Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan criticises the conduct of Johnson's agent after announcing news of the deal. (BBC)
• Cricket:
  • Michael Vaughan injures his elbow whilst practising. The injury creates a doubt as to his availability for the second Test in the Ashes series this Thursday. (BBC)
  • Leicestershire announce plans for a Champions League-style Twenty20 competition, with six teams, to take place at Grace Road in September 2005. (Cricinfo)
  • National League, Division One: Northamptonshire Steelbacks (275 for 4, Afzaal 117, Love 76) beat Warwickshire Bears (237 for 9, Shafayat 4/33) by 38 runs