UN Find Challenges Israeli Conduct In Gaza War
A new Israeli report defending the military's conduct in the Gaza war was challenged tonight, after evidence emerged apparently contradicting one of its key findings. Israel submitted a 46-page report to the UN on Friday saying its forces abided by international law throughout the three-week war last year. It was meant to avert the threat of international prosecutions and to challenge a highly critical UN inquiry by South African judge Richard Goldstone. The UN mine action team, which handles ordnance disposal in Gaza, has told the Guardian that the remains of a 500-pound Mk82 aircraft-dropped bomb were found in the ruins of the mill last January. This evidence directly contradicts the finding of the Israeli report, which challenged allegations that the building was deliberately targeted, and specifically stated that there was no evidence of an air strike.

Guardian Reveals Climate Change Scandal Cover-up
Professor Phil Jones, the British climate scientist at the centre of the leaked emails controversy, is facing fresh claims that he sought to hide problems in key temperature data (on which some of his work was based). Today the Guardian revealed how Jones withheld the information requested under Freedom of Information laws. The revelations on the inadequacies of the 1990 paper do not undermine the case that humans are causing climate change, and other studies have produced similar findings. But they do call into question the integrity of some climate change science. The Guardian has learned that of 105 Freedom of Information requests to the university concerning the climatic research unit (CRU), which Jones headed up to the end of December, only ten had been released in full. The revelations come at a torrid time for climate science, with the IPPC suffering heavy criticism for its use of information that had not been rigorously checked; in particular a false claim that all Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2035. In addition University of East Anglia having been criticised last week by the deputy information commissioner for refusing valid requests for data under the Freedom of Information Act.

Pope Condemns Gay Equality Laws
Pope Benedict XVI has condemned British equality legislation for running contrary to "natural law" as he confirmed his first visit to the UK later this year. In a letter addressed to the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, he criticised UK legislation for creating "limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs." It is thought his comments relate to laws that came in last year preventing adoption agencies from discriminating against gay couples, and also Harriet Harman's equality bill, currently going through parliament. The pope, whose visit is expected in September, made the comments after hearing representations from English and Welsh bishops on their concerns about the place of religion in an increasingly secular society. They told him sexual orientation legislation that came into effect on January 1, 2009, had forced the closure of half the Roman Catholic adoption agencies; because the law making it illegal to discriminate against gay applicants went against their beliefs.

China Warns Obama Against Meeting Dalai Lama
China has warned the US president that it will harm ties between the two countries if he meets the Dalai Lama. Chinese Communist Party official Zhu Weiqun said there would be "corresponding action" if the meeting went ahead. The White House has indicated that Barack Obama intends to meet the head of Tibetans in exile. Mr Zhu's comments follow talks between China and the Dalai Lama's representatives in China. The talks yielded little progress, with both sides reiterating positions that were "sharply divided".