The Herald

New Rules Will Permit Surgeons to Train On Cadavers

A MOVE to clamp down on controversial public post-mortem examinations while allowing surgeons greater freedom to practise their techniques was unveiled by the Scottish Executive yesterday. In the first overhaul of anatomy regulations in nearly 20 years, a restriction preventing surgeons from practising vital training on cadavers is likely to be lifted.

Migraines Linked to Brain Disease; Study Indicates Connection to More Serious Condition

MIGRAINES may be part of a progressive brain-damaging disease, according to a new study into the severe headaches. Researchers in Holland identified brain lesions in migraine victims that could indicate the debilitating head pain is a sign of a more serious condition.

Old Hands Saw the Dangers

LET us not mince words. Among yesterday's more unseemly aspects was the raucous noise of bloodhounds directing their relish towards the BBC's jugular. It is worth remembering that this tortuous, ugly mess began with one programme only, followed by the governors' knee-jerk defence of Andrew Gilligan's flawed reporting, without first investigating the facts.

Chairman Quits As Bbc Is Savaged; Corporation in Danger of Losing Unique Status in Broadcasting

THE post-Hutton crisis at the BBC which last night brought about the resignation of Gavyn Davies as chairman of its governors now could have far-reaching consequences for the 82-year-old corporation. The very nature of the BBC - currently under a Whitehall review ahead of its charter renewal in 2006 - could change fundamentally, with the governors being stripped of their regulatory role and the organisation coming under the remit of Ofcom, the government's media watchdog.

We Can't Be Perfect, Says Gilligan; Bbc Man: Even Untruth Can Be Right in Political Reporting

ANDREW Gilligan made a final desperate plea for understanding to Lord Hutton in a late 42-page submission ahead of the publication of the judge's findings, it emerged last night. The BBC reporter, whose future remains uncertain, argued that the law did not require "a standard of perfection" from journalists but, rather, they deserved "a margin for error" when dealing with matters of clear public interest.

Mood in No 10 Upbeat 'but Not Jubilant'; Downing Street Always Believed 'the Truth Would Out'

IF Harold Wilson believed a week was a long time in politics, Tony Blair must justifiably think this morning that 24 hours is a very long time indeed. On Tuesday night, having only narrowly scraped home to victory over the controversial issue of university top-up fees, the prime minister returned to Downing Street "glad to have won", but well aware it was not "a good thing" to have watched the government's majority plummet from 161 to five.

Kelly Family Insists Finger of Blame Points at Campbell; Late Submission Highlights Diary Entries

THE family of David Kelly made one last ditch effort to convince Lord Hutton that the government deliberately made his name public to help in its battle with the BBC. The law lord's report concluded there was no "underhand or devious" strategy to name him.

At a Glance; Your Guide to the Findings On the Death of Dr Kelly

Death of David Kelly Dr David Kelly took his own life. Principal cause of death was bleeding from wounds to the left wrist which Dr Kelly had inflicted on himself. An overdose of co- proxamol tablets and an underlying coronary artery disease "probably" contributed to his death.

The Diary

Fulton funnies RIKKI Fulton was a thoughtful friend of The Diary, and was someone willing to phone and tell a story against himself or simply to add a welcome comment to a story that took his fancy. When The Diary asked Rikki what he thought of Edinburgh councillor Paul Nolan, who declared that the west of Scotland humour of Francie and Josie was a poor choice for a show at Edinburgh's newly-opened Festival Theatre, Rikki cheerily declared: "He promised he would come to the show with an open ...

Lawman with Mission to Modernise; in an Exclusive Interview with the Herald, Colin Boyd, Lord Advocate, Tells Lucy Adams, Home Affairs Correspondent, the Crown Office Will Not Be Able to Meet at Least One of the Key Targets for Reform of the High Court - to Serve Non- Custodial Indictments Within Nine Months

WHEN the 1400-year-old position of lord chancellor was scrapped and a supreme court was announced in the government's most radical shake-up of the legal system, critics welcomed the first chink of light in a musty world of wigs and gowns. The lack of consultation was criticised but the move to modernisation was welcomed.

Charmer Who Was Truly Scotch and Wry; Holyrood Pays Homage to 'Mr Hogmanay'

THE measure of the man shone through yesterday as no less a body than the Scottish Parliament paid affectionate tribute to the comic genius of Rikki Fulton. The day after his death, Margaret Ewing, Nationalist MSP, who first became a Fulton fan in her student days when he trod the boards in the Five Past Eight shows, tabled a parliamentary motion in both his honour and his memory.

The Bold and the Beautiful; Ellsworth Kelly

Until Mar 6, Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Ingleby Gallery, 6 Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh, free, 0131 556 4441 At a grey and miserable time of year, the thought of pure, bright colour is at its most appealing. For a dose of rejuvenating primaries head to Edinburgh's Ingleby Gallery where a new show celebrates recent lithographs by Ellsworth Kelly, one of the great abstract painters of the twentieth century. Kelly, now in his eighties, was one of the beneficiaries of the GI bill.

Appeal Against Rapist's Sentence Told of Questions in Expert Report

An appeal hearing against the sentence imposed on a man who raped a 13-month-old baby was told yesterday that a psychological report "raised questions". Lord Reed, the trial judge, provoked outcry last September when he jailed James Taylor, 44, for five years for the rape of the girl who may have been as young as 13 months. The Crown is claiming that the sentence was "unduly lenient".

Airlift Baby Is Allowed Home

Nine Injured As Bus and Cars Collide

Bhoy! Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

Mccoist and Wife Reach Deal in (Pounds) 2m Divorce Case; Agreement After Four Hours of Talks

ALLY McCoist, the former Rangers and Scotland footballer, has settled his (pounds) 2m divorce settlement after a meeting with his estranged wife, Allison. The settlement comes less than a week after his high-profile divorce court appearance was postponed for a second time because he had a bacterial infection.

Fault Led to Train Splitting in Two

March Banned Over Fear of Violence

Prince Edward to Be Theatre Patron