Recorded cases of vandalism, including fire-raising and malicious mischief, fell by 12% to 82, 020.

BBC: Kenny MacAskill MSP speaks to a policeman

The court later heard from witness Francis Fagan, 39, of Glasgow, who was charged in March 2009 with wilful fire-raising in connection with the fire at Kingspoint.

BBC: Sharkey fire deaths: 'Fire suspect' named in 999 call

Lord Archer for perjury, Lord Watson for fire-raising.

BBC: Fred Goodwin: A very British humiliation

Big tax increases are not a sure-fire way of raising revenue in a country where taxes are routinely avoided.

ECONOMIST: Greece and the euro

They say the presidential petition would underscore the White House's commitment to campaign finance reform at a time when the president and the Democratic Party are under fire for improper fund-raising activities involving soft money last year.

CNN: AllPolitics - Clinton Wrapping Up "Soft Money" Proposal

In Iraq, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened on Tuesday to end a cease-fire he imposed on his militia last August, raising the prospect of further violence.

NPR: Petraeus, Crocker Warn Iraq Progress Is Reversible

Only Mrs Bachmann and Mrs Palin have the fund-raising prowess to make a strong run, but they are probably still too fire-breathing to prevail.

ECONOMIST: The Republican nomination