London, Apr 23 : An independent inquiry is likely to be held into the anti-terrorist operation that led to the resignation of a senior British policeman, armed raids, arrest and release of 11 Pakistani citizens without any charges being levied on them.

Lord Carlile of Berriew, the reviewer of terrorism legislation, said that he would carry out "a snapshot review" of the detention of 12 men picked up a fortnight ago in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, amid claims of an Easter bomb plot.

London, Apr 23 : British Sergeant Alan Dennis, who has been dubbed "indestructable Den", is the man the Taliban just can't kill, and he is proud to point this out after being blown up for a second time.

Two years ago, this career soldier (35) escaped from the wreckage of his Land Rover following a roadside bomb attack that killed a comrade sitting alongside.

Now, he's cheated death again in Afghanistan following a rocket-propelled grenade attack that buried him under rubble, the Daily Express reported.

Last night as he recovered at the Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, the father of two from Melbourne, Derbys, played down his heroics, but admitted he was a lucky guy.

London, Apr 23 : British troops tortured, killed and then mutilated 20 Iraqi captives held after a gun battle, the High Court was told.

They also mistreated seven other Iraqis who survived their ordeal. Although all seven were released, their lawyer Rabinder Singh said the following day 20 civilians were returned dead to their families, including a teenage schoolboy.

They say there is medical evidence to support the torture allegations.

London, Apr 23 : The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has compared the challenge of tackling climate change to her own fight to lose weight.

Speaking to State Department staff on Earth Day, Hillary said more must be done to reduce the department''s environmental footprint, reports The Telegraph.

"Often times when you face such an overwhelming challenge as global climate change, it can be somewhat daunting - it''s kind of like trying to lose weight, which I know something about," she said to laughter.

London - Manchester United returned to the top of the English Premier League table on Wednesday thanks to a 2-0 win over Portsmouth.

Goals from Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick secured victory for the champions at Old Trafford and took them back above Liverpool at the top.

With six games to go to Liverpool's five, United are three points clear at the top.

United were ahead within nine minutes at Old Trafford when Ryan Giggs was sent clear down the left and he squared the ball to give Rooney the simplest of finishes.

London - The British economy is expected to shrink by 3.5 per cent this year as public debt levels rise to a record 175 billion pounds (255 billion dollars), the government forecast Wednesday.

Presenting the annual budget for 2009/10, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, acknowledged in parliament that Britain was facing the "deepest recession since the Second World War."