Kate Middleton to be given diplomacy lessons

LONDON - Kate Middleton will get training in diplomacy from Sir David Manning, a veteran diplomat who already advises Princes William and Harry.

Sir David Manning, who was Tony Blair’s key foreign policy adviser in the run-up to the Iraq war, is to act as Kate’s mentor on foreign affairs, reports the Daily Express.

He will prepare her for the political side of the job of being a member of the Royal Family after she ties the knot with Prince William on April 29.

Sir David, 61, is expected to accompany William and Kate on their first few overseas tours. (ANI)

|Hilditch, Nielsen could lose jobs under CA shake-up|Sports[ Sydney {Sydney, Feb.9 (ANI): Australian cricket’s chief selector Andrew Hilditch and national team coach Tim Nielsen may lose their jobs in the wake of the Ashes series defeat to England.

One of the biggest shake-ups in Australian cricket history started on Tuesday when a CA board meeting gave the green light to two major reviews - which were sparked by the abysmal Ashes flop.

A sweeping performance review will analyze every aspect of the team’s awful plunge to No. 5 in the world, while a governance review is likely to recommend major changes to Australian cricket’s outdated and archaic board structure.

As sparks flew in the Ashes post-mortem, fingers were pointed at Hilditch, who refused to take any responsibility despite making some perplexing decisions and blunders - starting with anonymous spin greenhorn Xavier Doherty getting the nod for the first Test at the Gabba.

Nielsen was also under severe pressure after, incredibly, he was appointed for another three years until the 2013 Ashes despite overseeing Australia’s worrying free-fall down the world rankings.

Patience may be running out, with Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland indicating he could not offer any job guarantee to Hilditch or Nielsen.

The fate of both men may now be out of their hands.

“If we can really closely examine some of the faults that the experts may deem to have caused this, then it won’t occur again,” Sutherland said.

Nielsen has become known as “Teflon Tim” within cricket circles because he keeps such a low profile that mud rarely seems to stick and he has at times seemed almost unaccountable for poor performances.

Since the former South Australia wicketkeeper took over from John Buchanan after the 2007 World Cup, Australia have lost two Ashes campaigns, been beaten at home by South Africa and lost two Test series in India.

Asked whether Nielsen’s job was safe, Sutherland said: “All of those things will be encompassed in the team performance review. That’s the only way I can really answer that question.” (ANI)