David Cameron, the British prime minister, has admitted he rode a horse given by police to Rebekah Brooks, a Rupert Murdoch newspaper editor.

David Cameron confirmed today that he did ride a horse which was lent by police to former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks.

Rupert Murdoch has leapt to the defence of Rebekah Brooks, saying his former protegee is being criticised for “saving an old horse from the glue factory”.

A police horse loaned to phone-hacking suspect Rebekah Brooks by Scotland Yard chiefs was returned in a “poor” condition, the force said.

If Diana was around today, she would be a beautiful 50-year-old with 10 million followers on Twitter, still making the headlines and championing her causes, writes Tina Brown

SELFLESS volunteers dedicated to rebuilding the lives of young people caught in the aftermath of one of the world’s worst disasters have been honoured.

Richard Fitzpatrick reads a fascinating account of tumultuous events in the early 1980s when the Cold War threatened to erupt into all-out confrontation.

Vladimir Putin’s party won a crushing victory in Russia’s parliamentary elections, paving the way for the leader to remain in control even after he steps down as president.

RAISA Carolan from Belarus yesterday recalled the “mostly bad” times she experienced in the orphanage she left four years ago to live with her adopted parents in Ireland.

DENIS THATCHER, husband of Margaret Thatcher and her faithful consort throughout her premiership, died yesterday in the Lister Hospital, London. He was 88.

SUSPECTED Chechen rebel suicide bombers rammed vehicles packed with a ton of explosives into the local government headquarters in Grozny yesterday, gutting the building and killing at least 46 people.