Catch up on the week

SUNDAY

The commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, right, warns that total victory against the Taliban is impossible. "I don't think we should expect that when we go, there won't be roaming bands of armed men in this part of the world," he said.

MONDAY

Details emerged of a British Government bailout plan to make up to £500bn available in share purchases and loans for struggling banks.

TUESDAY

The first of a series of scheduled strikes over work rosters brought much of the Scottish rail network to a halt. A second strike on Thursday was called off.

WEDNESDAY

The Bank of England lowered the base interest rate level by half a percentage point as part of a coordinated global effort. The main banks said they will pass on the reduction to borrowers.

THURSDAY

Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched an attack on "excessive and irresponsible" City greed, saying that it would be "punished". The PM is under political pressure to intervene to prevent lucrative bonuses being paid to speculators who are accused of fuelling the banking crisis.

FRIDAY

The Nobel Peace Prize was won by peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari, the Finnish ex-president who was a United Nations mediator on Kosovo. He also helped to end the conflict in Indonesia's Aceh province and aided Namibia's progress towards independence.


What the papers said
...about the £500bn bailout of the banks

The Guardian:

Gordon Brown's attempt to rescue British banks is risky, flawed and eye-wateringly expensive. But by throwing a lifeline he has done the right thing.

The Daily Record:

Brown has taken action. To do nothing in the face of the destructive volatility in the market which is undermining our banking system would have been criminal. The restoration of confidence and stability is key to recovery.

The Times:

The Treasury's plan to shore up British banks is an intelligent and measured response to the financial crisis. It will provide much-needed capital while rightly placing the greatest burdens on those banks which have been the most irresponsible.

Financial Times:

Government rescue proposals turn a problem of liquidity and solvency in banks into risk for taxpayers.

The Scotsman:

Brown and Darling deserve our praise for this bold and comprehensive rescue plan.

GOOD WEEK

Glen Michael

The former presenter of TV's Cartoon Cavalcade has made it to Hollywood at the age of 82. Graphic novelist Mark Millar wants him to film a cameo in Kick-Ass, with Nicholas Cage. Millar says it was Michael and his show that inspired him to take up writing.

BAD WEEK

Christopher Harvie

Scotland's foot-in-mouth MSP did it again with a diatribe during a debate on Scottish broadcasting that labelled Blue Peter "evil", Hitler "imaginative" and BBC bosses "munchkins". Of his apparent praise for Hitler, Harvie later said he was simply highlighting the fact that Hitler introduced widespread use of the radio to Germany. He was unrepentant about his criticism of BBC bosses, however.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"Certainly from here on in we're joined at the hip."

Peter Mandelson on his old foil Gordon Brown

"Don't worry about the capitalist system. Capitalism is terrific. Mind you, I got the biggest fright of my life when my broker rang me to tell
me not to worry as my money was safe. The fact he felt the need to call says it all."

Michael Winner

"I can fight, but I don't like it. You scratch your nails."

Boy George

"John Sergeant's sturdy performance highlights one of life's great truths – that ugly men do remarkably well with the ladies."

Esther Rantzen on Strictly Come Dancing

"There are people out there who think I deserve to be sick and
to die, but I'd never wish this on anyone, not even Bin Laden, not that he has a womb."

Jade Goody on her cancer

"We have been living beyond our means, both as a nation and individually, and now the day of reckoning is coming."

Shadow chief secretary of the Treasury, Philip Hammond

"Some of the food looks good enough to eat."

Paul Merton in India

RIP

NORMAN HOGG

March 12, 1938 - October 8, 2008

Norman Hogg was elected to Westminster as Labour MP for East Dunbartonshire in 1979, the year Margaret Thatcher came to power. The genial and self-effacing Aberdonian earned the respect of Labour colleagues as a whip who helped hold the party together through dark times. His 15 minutes of fame came when he tried to introduce a private bill in 1980 to amend the 1701 Act of Settlement to allow the heir to the throne to marry a Catholic. In 1997, he ascended to the Upper Chamber as Baron Hogg of Cumbernauld.

TABLOID TALK

Urrrrgh! Inmates at one of Scotland's most notorious prisons are known for their toughness but they must have strong constitutions as well. Barlinnie warders discovered prisoners making hooch out of oranges, bread, sugar, water and ketchup stolen from kitchens in the Glasgow jail. They closed down the distillery and confiscated 25 litres of the home-made booze. A prison source told the newspaper said: "It's seriously powerful stuff and blows your head off – but it's all gone. Some of the cons who make it have become real experts. They think they're Steve McQueen and James Garner in The Great Escape, producing their moonshine behind closed doors."