Toyoda faces vicious lawmakers over reserve flaws

Nobuhiro Kubo and John Crawley WASHINGTON Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:34pm EST Factboxes Factbox: Japanese carmaker in American political theaterWed, Feb 24 2010Factbox: What has Toyota pledged to change?Tue, Feb 23 2010 Related Video Toyota president apologizes Wed, Feb 24 2010 Toyota safety hearings

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Alta Badia in Italys South Tyrol serves up a ambience for skiing

I am about to eat Michelin-starred food in a humble mountain hut 2,000 metres above sea level. Im still in my ski boots and salopettes but the smiling Alpine waitress doesnt seem to care as she brings over locally sourced suckling pig with potato foam, truffles and sour cream.

The Mesoles Hut, which looks down on the picturesque Italian village of Colfosco, is known for the good quality of its meat, but it has never offered the discerning skier anything like this before.

The ski resort of AltaBadia is made up of a chain of six pretty villages in this region ofnorthern Italy"s Dolomites. South Tyrol can boast 16 Michelin stars impressive considering its area is about the size of Devon but with apopulation half the size.

Open season: Alta Badia has an extensive array of un-crowded runs for novice and advanced skiers

But for the first time, incrediblytasty and sophisticated dishes created by the areas Michelin-ratedchefs are being served up in Alta Badias huts.

They have teamed up with 12 restaurants this seasonto offer cuisine far beyond the usual limp schnitzel and French fryfare offered at your average ski eatery.

The concept is called "a taste for skiing" but it could work the other way round just as well - skiing for taste. But by gosh does it work well.

I like to ski and I like to eat, but Ive never quite found the resort that offers the perfect balance. Yes, you can get high-class cuisine in the mountains in St Moritz and Val dIsere too, but theres something a little flashy and well-trodden about what they have to offer. In Alta Badia something fresh and inspiring is afoot.

From The Mesoles Hut I take a red run under beautiful blue skies to Jimmys Hut at the foot of the Sas Ciampic mountain for some pudding. Chef Anna Matscher from Restaurant Zum Lowen has devised the most delectable of desserts for this homely refuge which Im quick to request.

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Taking a seat on the panoramic terrace I am served Schupfnudel (long potato dumpling) with caramelised apples, vanilla foam, chocolate whirls and apple distillate.

It is utterly delicious. Friendly owner Jimmi (who enjoys a linguistic elasticity to the spelling of his name) Schrott bounds over to see if I liked it. Its a resounding yes from me. Jimmi tells me more about the food to be found in Alta Badia.

Jimmi Schrott, owner of the Jimmy"s Hut and the exquisite schupfnudel dessert

Its a combination of Austrian and Italian cuisine, with local Ladin influences to boot. Ladin people are indigenous to Alta Badia and, although only 8,000 define themselves as such, the influence on the food is strong.

The huts and restaurants offer panicia - a tasty barley soup - and turtres, traditional pancakes filled with spinach and ricotta. It gives the local cuisine a real individuality.

Jimmi, who has a Germanic heritage which is common to this area, says: ;We are proud and passionate about our food. We love that talented chefs are helping us to produce really great dishes for our customers."

Alta Badia ski resort has over 130km of ski runs

Over the course of four days I managed to navigate most of the 130km of ski runs that Alta Badia offers, visiting huts offering an incredibly high standard of cooking. The immediate area around the Santa Croce mountain still in Alta Badia is a gourmet ski tour in itself.

Here eight ski huts two of which are on the Michelin tour serve up local delicacies to die for, including the not-to-be-missed Kaiserschmarren, which is a sweet and fluffy pancake served with cranberry jam and powdered sugar.

In skiing terms Alta Badia suits beginner and intermediate skiers down to the ground with its equal spread of blue and red runs, with just a couple of really challenging black runs thrown in to the bargain.

The beautiful Santa Croce church, built in 1484, is set next to the La Crusc Hut

Queues for the smart and modern system of ski and chair-lifts are almost non-existent meaning you can whip around the slopes covering lots of ground and visiting as many mountain huts as your heart or stomach desires.

Of the six villages in Alta Badia, Colfosco offers the best in accommodation with a decent array of three and four-starred hotels, while Corvara is the apr�s ski heartbeat of the resort dont miss out on the cocktails at the LMurin Bar.

I barely heard a British accent in my time in Alta Badia - its dominated by Italians and Germans - but us Brits really should wake up to what this resort has to offer, which is more than just skiing.

This is a place that offers an unforgettable experience for all those who love winter sports - and fine food, of course.

Travel Facts

The cost of a 7-night stay at Hotel Capella, for a standard room at half board, is priced per person as follows: Shoulder season (until 6 February 2010): €155 p/w; high season (7-13 February 2010): €191 p/p; Carneval period (14-20 February 2010): €195 p/p.

Car hire costs around €60 per day (€420 for the week). A 7-day adult ski pass during the high season costs €239.

The same pass for the shoulder season costs €210. For a full list of prices visit www.dolomitisuperski.com

When shall we 3 encounter again? Mandelson Whelan and Purnell

Home Staff & , : {}

Charlie Whelan Tribal, assertive and foul-mouthed, Charlie has been receiving off a animation knave for dual decades. From lecture the preference to stay out of the euro from a Westminster pub, to environment up a snatched journal sketch of Gordon Browns regretful dates, the montage of Mr Whelans exploits have a clear strip. A former open schoolboy, he drifted in to the kinship transformation where his coach was the late Jimmy Airlie, a Clydeside shipyard fitter and kinship chief. It was from Airlie, a cunning media manipulator, that Whelan learnt his trade. By 1992 he was so well regarded that John Smith, the Labour leader, asked for him by name to assistance a shy, ungainly but rising star: Mr Brown.

Mr Whelan was ostensible to outlay 3 months assisting Mr Brown to whet his media display but has been a part of of his kitchen Cabinet ever since. Hardworking, mischievous, creative, he did whatever he could to foster Mr Brown mostly at the responsibility of his rivals.

Tony Blair did his most appropriate to convince Mr Brown not to take him in to Government in 1997 but was defeated. Mr Blair got him sacked dual years after when he was blamed for leaking the sum of Peter Mandelsons home loan from Geoffrey Robinson.

Although not in a grave role, Mr Whelan one after another to turn for Mr Brown. When, at last, Mr Brown became Prime Minister in 2007 he sounded out his old turn alloy about a return. Mr Whelans friends contend that it was Mr Brown who asked him to work for Unite, whose querulous inner governing body indispensable close supervision.

Related LinksPowerbrokers quarrel for Labour"s heart and essence

Not for the initial time Mr Whelan is in risk of descending plant of his talents as a practitioner of dim humanities and his slant for braggadocio about them.

Peter Mandelson His mutual animosity with Charlie Whelan came to a head in 1998. Mr Whelan was believed to be at the back of the story that Mr Mandelson had borrowed 373,000 from Geoffrey Robinson, the Paymaster General, to buy a home. All 3 lost their jobs in the ensuing storm.

James Purnell Tried to force Gordon Brown from bureau last Jun by resigning from the Cabinet. He told the Prime Minister that your one after another care creates a Conservative feat more, not less, likely. A flurry of ensuing ministerial resignations approaching by a little did not materialise.

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Assisted self-murder - greeting to new guidelines

Ruth Gledhill and Frances Gibb & , : {}

Debbie Purdy, mixed sclerosis case and right-to-die campaigner: I am still impressed and gay by this victory. It was the right preference by the Law Lords and people I encounter each day in the travel discuss it me how blissful they are that we won. Omar and I can right away get on with the lives.

Because I will know the expected consequences of any decisions I select to have about my death, I wouldnt have to have those decisions early. I will go on to debate for assisted failing to be authorised in the UK.

Sir Terry Pratchett, author: "They dont heed to my faraway idea of what I wish but I think it represents probably the most appropriate that we can get but a shift in the law. It doesnt see similar to such a parasite box use as it used to. There are a little really essential things that equivocate controversy.

"Originally if someone who helped someone to die had any monetary great in so doing, that would be involuntary Mr Plod knocking on the door. It has been realised that if a well-meaning mother helps a father who is comparatively dynamic to see his hold up finished she competence well great but, as I assimilate it, if she has acted compassionately she will be protected (from prosecution). I think we should cruise seeking to the healing contention to do with caring and courtesy and with bargain and with full reason of the circumstances, to concede us to die at a time of the choosing,"

Related LinksAssisted suicide: the new CPS discipline Mercy murdering is not the same as assisted suicidePratchett and Purdy behind new self-murder manners

Jayne Spink, Director of Policy Research at the MS Society: While we acquire the superintendence and the distinctness it provides we sojourn endangered that the law on assisted self-murder continues to place a weight on people to find finish of hold up caring and await themselves, rather than on multitude to yield it.

"There is still a prolonged approach to go prior to the palliative and finish of hold up caring offering to people with MS is the most appropriate it can be. The DPP superintendence does not lead astray from the emptied avocation of caring from the government.

Richard Hawkes, arch senior manager of incapacity gift Scope: We do not await any weakening of the insurance offering underneath the law on assisted suicide, that is just what these new discipline do.

Many infirm people are fearful by the consequences of these new discipline and with great reason. There is a genuine risk these changes will outcome in infirm people being pressured to finish their lives.

Lord Carlile QC, authority of Care Not Killing: Our main regard was that the halt discipline singled out as a organisation those who were infirm or ill, thereby affording them less insurance than alternative people underneath the law.

We are really blissful this has been removed. There are still a little flaws and problems that will need attention, such as how a merciful suspects motives are to be dynamic in practice.

Sarah Wootton, arch senior manager of Dignity in Dying: The discipline are a feat for usual clarity and compassion. The superintendence represents a poignant new thing for preference and carry out at the finish of hold up for those who feel they are pang unbearably.

Critically, the discipline recognize the disproportion in between aiding someone to die out of compassion, at their request, and a antagonistic or self-indulgent action that formula in the genocide of another.

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Injury ends Michael Owens deteriorate and World Cup hopes Manchester United

James Ducker, Northern Football Correspondent & , : {}

Michael Owen laughed off suggestions that he was accursed on Sunday after he had limped off the Wembley territory during the Carling Cup final. The striker had means to reassess his outcome yesterday when it emerged that a ruptured injure leg tendon has ruled him out for the rest of the deteriorate and the World Cup.

The prolonged and demoniac discuss about either Fabio Capello, the England manager, should take a fool around by together with the Manchester United brazen in his 23-man patrol for this summers finals in South Africa finished yesterday, five days after the 30-year-old pulled up towards the finish of the initial half of Uniteds 2-1 feat opposite Aston Villa. The damage has valid majority some-more critical than initial expected.

The Times understands that Owen has suffered a finish detonation of his left hamstring, that will need the string-like tendons to be reattached when the player undergoes surgery on Monday morning.

Sir Alex Ferguson blamed the Wembley pitch, that he likened yesterday to a ploughed field, and his underuse of Owen for the injury, but the United physical education instructor offering the brazen a little soundness by insisting that Owen would be at Old Trafford subsequent season, notwithstanding conjecture that he could be rejected in the summer.

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Its a distressing blow for the kid and unsatisfactory for us, too, Ferguson said. Hes never longed for a precision event all season. I think the complicated representation at Wembley done a little grant to it, but the unequivocally usually bad luck, so hes out for the season.

I dont think Ive played him as majority as I should have, but thats had a lot to do with [Wayne] Rooneys form and us selecting to fool around with one striker a lot of the time.

Asked if Owen, who sealed a two-year stipulate last summer with the choice of a third year, would still be at the bar subsequent season, Ferguson said: Yeah, ruin be here subsequent season, absolutely.

Owen is assured he will be fit for the begin of the 2010-11 campaign. Unfortunately, the dilettante says I will miss the finish of the season, he said. I have desired each notation of my initial debate with United and have already enjoyed a little noted moments. I am dynamic to come behind at the begin of subsequent deteriorate in rise condition.

Capello claimed in Oct that he was worried about either to take Owen, the top England goalscorer still personification with 40 goals in 89 internationals, to the World Cup finals, nonetheless there was an acceptance that the brazen was roughly sure not to be aboard the moody to South Africa unless he got some-more personification time with United.

Owen has played usually 214 mins of football given the spin of the year and done usually 3 starts for the Barclays Premier League champions given scoring a hat-trick afar to Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Dec 8.

His idea opposite Villa on Sunday was his ninth in 31 appearances for United this season, twenty of that have come from the substitutes bench. Owens damage will all but pledge Jermain Defoe, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, a place in Capellos squad.

Ferguson praised Owens grant given fasten on a free send from Newcastle United, majority particularly opposite Wolfsburg and for scoring a stoppage-time leader in the 4-3 joining feat opposite Manchester City at Old Trafford in September.

His precision performances have been terrific, hes been great in the sauce room and each diversion he came on for us he done a chance, the United physical education instructor said. He might have longed for a little chances, that will have unhappy himself, but in the main he was regularly a hazard in conditions of transformation in the last third of the field, formulating chances and in a little cases you do really well for us.

There was improved headlines for United and England yesterday on Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves.

Ferdinand is approaching to be fit for Uniteds diversion opposite Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux currently after recuperating from a regularity of a behind complaint that has limited the executive defender to 3 appearances given Oct 25. Rio is behind for us, that is great news, Ferguson said.

Hargreaves has been tentatively pencilled in for Uniteds reserve-team compare opposite Manchester City at Altrincham FC on Thursday. The England midfield player has not featured competitively for United given Sep 2008 after undergoing operations on both knees to heal a ongoing tendinitis problem.

Owen Hargreaves has shown this week that hes roughly ready to fool around again, Ferguson said. Ive got him pencilled in for a haven diversion on Thursday. Hes been precision with the initial team, that is great to see.

Man elderly twenty-one arrested over attempted murder of lady and baby UK headlines

Wendy Marsh, mom of Anthony Marsh, who called for her son to palm himself in. Police have not name the arrested man, but endorse they have called off the poke for Bellinger"s former partner. Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA

A 21-year-old man has been arrested on guess of attempted murder over the deaths of a lady and her baby daughter in Hampshire.

The man was arrested in Fareham this morning, and is being questioned by detectives questioning the stand in killing.

The bodies of Stephanie Bellinger, elderly 24, and her daughter Lily, elderly eight months, were found at their home in Totton, Hampshire, on Saturday.

The man has not nonetheless been rigourously named.

A track was launched for her former partner, 21-year-old Anthony Marsh, after the bodies were found. Marsh"s mom pennyless down in tears yesterday, whilst creation an interest to her son to palm himself in.

A orator for Hampshire military pronounced they had called off the poke for Marsh, and added: "Officers are not right away seeking for any one else in tie with the Operation Coachman investigation."

A postmortem found that Bellinger died of gash wounds, and a serve postmortem is due on Lily"s physique today.

Their bodies were found at their home early on Saturday sunrise by Bellinger"s parents, endangered that they hadn"t listened from her.

Her family pronounced the deaths had left "a outrageous hole" in their lives, describing her as "a fun-loving free suggestion who was regularly happy and smiling. Stephanie was a smashing daughter, sister, aunt and mother. Lily was a bouncing, happy small baby who was a pleasure to be with, a small blabbermouth who brought happiness to the lives. There are no difference to report how we, as a family, are all feeling. We right away have a outrageous hole in the lives that we have to try and come to conditions with."

The integrate additionally had a two-year-old son, Charlie, who was unharmed.

Bank assured acceleration will be kept in check

Ian King, Deputy Business Editor & , : {}

Paul Tucker, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, gave some-more sum currently of because the Bank is assumingly so loose about inflation.

Mr Tucker emphasised that the Banks rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee was not gentle about the new spike in acceleration and steady it was due especially to proxy factors such as the enlarge in motor fuel prices, the replacement of VAT to 17.5 per cent, and lagged goods of sterlings decrease on unfamiliar sell markets.

However, in a debate to the Institute of Directors, Mr Tucker pronounced that, overall, the cabinet remained assured that gangling genius in the economy would bear down on inflation.

Mr Tucker added: There is a good understanding of tardy in the economy. Around three-quarters of a million jobs have been lost. And majority surveys have firms operative well inside of capacity. The cabinet believes that that will lend towards to bear down on salary and consumer-price acceleration over the subsequent couple of years, warranting the estimable financial stimulus.

Related LinksDeputy Governor says inaction might suppress growthPaul TuckerInsiders sloping for BoE Deputy Governor pursuit

He pronounced there were a series of reasons for meditative that the "effective supply" genius of the economy had been burned out usually at the moment due to the shock to credit supply and confidence. But he said: How much, and how temporary, are vital uncertainties.

His comments will serve set the Bank at contingency with those economists who are endangered that a poignant suit of genius in the economy has been henceforth wiped out potentially exposing the UK to a faster liberation in acceleration than had been thought.

Mr Tucker concurred that the Bank could not sequence out that there had been a larger drop of genius in the economy than referred to by consult evidence. He pronounced this was one of 4 possibilities that could outcome in the Bank being valid wrong on inflation.

He pronounced others enclosed the probability that the Bank had misjudged the border to that sterlings debility had fed by to inflation. He pronounced it was additionally the box that Britain was exposed to serve ceiling shocks to commodity prices if Asias mercantile expansion one after another to be strong.

He added: And fourth, it is probable that, since still-tight credit conditions and an capricious opinion for demand, a little firms will take opportunities to lift prices in sequence to strut money flows, in spite of their handling inside of their intensity capacity.

Mr Tucker additionally pronounced that it was probable that Bank Rate could finish up being revoke from 2007-2017, on average, than it had been during the MPCs initial decade from 1997-2007.

He added: Some businesses have suspended, but not nonetheless scrapped, capacity. In aggressively sensitive direct in sequence to catch slack, we aim to keep acceleration in line with the aim over the middle tenure and additionally to revoke the border to that the economys prolific genius is wasted.

That is going to call for a little formidable judgments in the buliding forward about the expansion of tardy in the economy and about pricing pressures.