A report this week claimed that owning a cat "cuts the risk of stroke by a third". Take that or leave it – perhaps the latter – but a feline companion will make you more likely to sneeze, hate plastic trays and, apparently, vote for the Liberal Democrats.

Where have all the voices who backed the military adventure gone? Joy Lo Dico reports on the surrender of the columnists

On the social networking site, media celebrities have found themselves subjected to both loathing and adoration. Chris Green investigates to find out who comes out on top

It is three years since George Galloway's famous libel victory against The Daily Telegraph, but still the firebrand Respect MP's name lingers around the newspaper's Victoria office like a stale Aberdeen kipper.

Jackie Hunt and Mike Shelton, a married couple from Hampshire, dominated the Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix to reignite their challenge for the SuperSport World Championship here yesterday.

The Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan last night confirmed that he would be interested in appointing Graeme Souness as the club's next manager. "I have always admired Graeme," Jordan said. "I know him well and he is certainly the kind of manager that I would be interested in. I have a great deal of respect for him personally and professionally."

Armed with a new chassis rushed to the Le Mans circuit by his Camel Yamaha team, the world champion, Valentino Rossi, bounced back from his dismal start to the season to take second place in provisional qualifying for the French round of the MotoGP championship yesterday.

THERE ARE now just three calendar months to the General Election, but despite various policy launches and poster campaigns, the betting market remains stagnant. Labour is at 1-7 with William Hill to win most seats, with the Tories at 4-1 and the Liberal Democrats at 40-1. Hill's offer of 6-1 for a hung parliament still stands.