New 'Two and a Half Men'

CBS has released the public's first glimpse of the re-tooled (Ha! That never gets old) version of "Two and a Half Men," which now stars Ashton Kutcher instead of Charlie Sheen. "All will be revealed 9/19/11, " it jokes/promises, and Jon Cryer's character doesn't seem too happy about what's going to be revealed:

Apparently, the plan is to use the sign these men (and half-man) are holding as a template for future messages, something bloggers are already having fun with. What can we learn about the new version of the show, in which Kutcher's character is rumored to buy Charlie Harper's house after Charlie's death? Pretty much only that the show will continue to be sexually suggestive in a way that's creepy and gross to TV critics and delightfully hilarious to Americans with Nielsen boxes.
By Lindsay Robertson

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Phone-hacking: Dangers lurk for David Cameron

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When bloodless coups come about in dictatorships, often it's when the head of government is away on a foreign visit.

But democracies bring their own dangers for absent political leaders.

If David Cameron had not trekked to Africa, he may as well have hired the vast illuminated advertising space in Piccadilly Circus and adorned it with the legend "government in crisis -official".

But no sooner had he departed than some of his own leading backbenchers were whispering that it looked like he was running away.

Chancellor George Osborne was meant to address the restless membership of the influential 1922 committee of backbench MPs on Monday, but the meeting was scrapped - with members settling for nothing less than an encounter with the prime minister himself on Wednesday.

Labour has been on the front foot, but for that very reason restlessness might not turn to revolt as the Conservatives see the logic in closing ranks.
Febrile atmosphere

But a previous Conservative prime minister, Harold Macmillan, was right to warn of the hazards of "events, dear boy".

It might not take much for some backbenchers to change their view that, grudgingly, David Cameron is an asset - to seeing him as a potential liability.

The outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has already taken a pop at the prime minister and may do so again at the Home Affairs Select Committee later.

When the Murdochs and Rebekah Brooks go before the culture, media and sport committee, some members will be intent on asking questions about Andy Coulson, David Cameron's former communications director, in an attempt to bring the crisis closer to the door of number 10.

Now the febrile atmosphere may dissipate.

But as David Cameron touches down on Tuesday evening, he will find that the bookies are taking bets that he will be gone -permanently - by the weekend.

Far fetched nonsense of course - but a few weeks ago the loss of the country's senior police officer, the resignation of the chief executive of a major newspaper group, the closure of the bestselling Sunday tabloid, and the death of a whistleblower in the hacking scandal would have seemed unthinkable.

So those disgruntled Tory backbenchers will be hoping the prime minister can swiftly get off the back foot.

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Sean Hoare death: Whistle-blower post-mortem to be held

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A post-mortem examination will be held later into the death of a man police believe to be former News of the World (NoW) journalist Sean Hoare.

Police say his death is unexplained but is not being treated as suspicious, and his next of kin have been informed.

Mr Hoare, 47, who had claimed phone hacking was rife at the NoW, was found dead at his home in Watford on Monday.

He had also told the BBC's Panorama programme that phone hacking was "endemic" at the Sunday tabloid.

When he first spoke out, Mr Hoare told Panorama the then NoW editor Andy Coulson had asked him to hack phones - something Mr Coulson has denied.

The former journalist was also interviewed by the New York Times last year in which he said hacking was far more extensive than the NoW acknowledged when police first investigated hacking claims in 2006.

Hertfordshire Police said in a statement: "Police investigations continue into the unexplained death of a man who, whilst formal identification is yet to take place, police believe to be Sean Hoare.

"The post-mortem is set to take place today. The man's next of kin have been informed and the family are being supported by police at this sad time."

Mr Hoare's body was discovered after police were called to his home in Langley Road, Watford at 1040 BST on Monday.

The showbiz journalist had worked on the Sun before being recruited by former NoW editor Andy Coulson to News International's Sunday title.

He was dismissed from the NoW for drink and drug problems

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Israel troops board Gaza protest boat Dignite-al Karama

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Israeli commandos have boarded a boat trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, the military says.

The Dignite-al Karama, the sole representative of an initial 10-vessel flotilla, had earlier been surrounded by warships and warned to change course.

A military spokeswoman told AFP news agency the boat was being towed towards the Israeli port of Ashdod.

She said the operation to board it had been conducted peacefully.

The Dignite-al Karama is part of Freedom Flotilla II, which has been trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza since the end of June. Flotilla organisers say despite the opening of Gaza's Egyptian border, the territory remains under "unlawful blockade" by the Israelis.

In an earlier statement, the Israeli military said the aid could be delivered without breaching the blockade.

"The Israel navy notified the Al Karama that it is on a route leading to an area under a maritime security blockade off the coast of Gaza, and reminded them any supplies they may have on board may be transferred, legally, through the existing land crossings and the Ashdod port," the statement said.
'No contact'

Protest organiser Julien Rivoire said at least three warships had surrounded the boat and communications had been jammed.

Speaking to AFP from Paris on Tuesday morning, Mr Rivoire said the French-flagged Dignite-al Karama had been stopped about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

"We can't get in touch with them by phone or by Internet," he said.

The activists' Twitter account said the navy asked for their location and they gave it to them. They said four navy ships were following the boat - three flanking their vessel on the left and one on the right.

One activist tweeted that the military had threatened to board the boat if it did not head away from the blockade.
Greek ban

On Monday, Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, a French activist on board the Dignite-al Karam told AFP the boat was only carrying a "symbolic message of peace and hope and love" and Israel had no reason to intercept it.

"We hope that they will not, we don't have a plan but we have a peaceful humanitarian mission. We are a peaceful boat flying a French flag."

Freedom Flotilla II said a ban on flotilla boats leaving Greek ports had stopped many of its vessels sailing. The Greek government said the ban was intended to protect activists.

Earlier this month, the captain of flotilla vessel The Audacity of Hope was arrested in the Greek port of Perama and charged with trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of passengers.

In 2010, nine Turkish activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the lead ship of the first Freedom Flotilla, causing an international outcry.

As a result, Israel eased its blockade on Gaza, which it says is necessary to stop weapons smuggling and put pressure on Hamas.

It increased sanctions on the impoverished Palestinian territory in 2006 after militants captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel tightened them further still a year later when Hamas ousted rival Palestinian organisation Fatah from the territory.

Although the Islamist group won Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, it refuses to recognise Israel or to renounce violence and is designated in the West as a terror organisation.

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Man City manager Mancini expects Aguero developments

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Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, BBC Sport understands.

The move comes despite the deadlock in Carlos Tevez's proposed move to Brazilian outfit Corinthians.

The Tevez transfer is on hold after the Brazilian side contradicted City boss Roberto Mancini's claim that a deal had been agreed.

But City are confident they can beat Juventus and Real Madrid to sign his Argentina team-mate Aguero.

Mancini's original plan was to wait until the Tevez deal was concluded before moving for Aguero and Corinthians need to move quickly to complete the transfer before the Brazilian window closes on 20 July.

Corinthians said in a statement that City "have asked for changes in the form of payment and on the value of the transfer" that would finally see Tevez leave after a protracted transfer saga.

City officials are privately frustrated by the delay - but BBC Sport understands they are satisfied they are making good progress in negotiations with Atletico that would see Aguero, 23, arrive as an instant and ready-made replacement for his fellow countryman.

It is believed the only change requested to the offer accepted by City for Tevez, which was £38.6m - 40m Euros plus 4m Euros in add-ons - was a minor detail in the first instalment of payment and did not relate to the value of the deal.

City are also not requesting any sell-on clause in the deal, despite reducing their original asking price to give Tevez his wish to be reunited with his family in South America.

Aguero has made it clear he expects to leave Atletico in the coming weeks and City are confident they can beat off competition from Europe's leading clubs to sign one of Europe's most coveted young talents.

He scored 20 goals in La Liga for Atletico last season, and has scored 13 international goals for Argentina in his 30 appearances.

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