The Herald

Hoon: My Duty Is to Today's Soldiers; I Am Not Dismissive of Tradition, Says Minister

GEOFF Hoon yesterday put the needs of serving soldiers ahead of sentimental attachment to regiments as the top priority for the army in its deliberations to reduce the number of regular battalions. In an interview with The Herald, hours before he answered defence questions in the Commons, the defence secretary insisted he would be failing in his duty if he failed to support the army's radical restructuring plans, cutting the battalions from 40 to 36.

Anger at Plan for 50% Cut in Deep Sea Catches

CUTS of up to 50% in catches of vulnerable deep sea fish were proposed by the European Commission yesterday as Scots signalled a challenge to the plans. The proposal adds to the woes of a beleaguered fishing sector already struggling to cope with drastically reduced cod fishing and strictly limited days at sea.

Vitamin D Bread Urged for Elderly

Bread fortified with extra vitamin D is one option experts are studying to improve the health of Europe's increasingly elderly population, it was revealed yesterday. Nutritionists and health specialists gathering in Brussels warned that a steadily ageing society needs a diet better adapted to fending off diseases such as Alzheimer's and osteoporosis. Otherwise health services will be unable to cope with the burden.

Deepcut Faces New Gang Rape Claims; 100 Allegations in Report

NEW allegations of gang rape, systematic bullying, and sexual harassment at the Deepcut barracks were revealed yesterday in a leaked police report. The report contained more than 100 allegations of serious abuse at the Surrey training camp, where four young recruits died from gunshot wounds between 1995 and 2002.

The Iceman Cometh

Aldi Planning 30 New Stores Across Scotland

ALDI plans to open 30 new stores in Scotland, creating about 200 jobs, as part of a (pounds) 500m UK expansion. The discount food retailer already has 278 outlets in the UK, and wants to expand to 450 shops within five years. It would then be employing an extra 1300 people, taking its UK workforce to 4300. In Scotland, staffing will rise from 170 to nearly 400 over the five years.

Genetically Modified Crops 'Are Not Harmful to Soil'

A study of genetically modified crops in the UK found yesterday that there was no evidence they are harmful to the environment. The Bright project focused on GM sugar beet and winter oilseed rape which is tolerant to some herbicides compared with non-GM cereals grown in rotation over a four-year period. It found the GM crops, used in rotation, did not deplete the soil of weed seeds needed by many birds and other wildlife.

American Claims Friend Shot Constable

A US bodybuilder yesterday denied shooting a policeman at point blank range, claiming a mystery friend had shot the officer dead. David Bieber, 38, refused to identify the man, referred to in court as "Mr X", claiming he could not "grass" on him or "stab him in the back". He said he also feared reprisals for his own family if he named him.

Friend Tells Jodi Murder Trial of Warning About Using Path

A FORMER schoolfriend of Jodi Jones told her murder trial yesterday that they discussed Jodi's relationship with her boyfriend, Luke Mitchell. Rachel Quinn, 16, told the High Court in Edinburgh that she and Jodi would chat about Mr Mitchell on the school bus home.

Sky Viewers Protest Over Digibox Price Differences; New Satellite Subscribers Pay (Pounds) 160 Less

BSKYB has received a flood of complaints from subscribers being charged two-and-a-half times more than new customers for the latest generation of advanced satellite receivers. The Sky+ digibox, which the company boasts will "change the way you watch TV forever", has been offered to new customers at (pounds) 99 plus free installation since September.

Road Toll Vote May Be Denied to 36,000; Row Over List for Referendum

CONCERNS have been raised over who will be eligible to vote in a controversial referendum on congestion charging after it emerged that as many as 36,000 people may not be registered. A Tory councillor in Edinburgh raised fears that many of the city's 360,000 voters will not be automatically placed on the referendum roll because they opted out of appearing on the edited register, used for commercial mailshots, when they filled out their general voters' roll form.

Harry Potter and the Purple Prose; Fans of the Innocent Boy Wizard Are in for a Shock If They Stumble Upon Fan-Fiction Websites. By Beth Pearson

'I hope you're thirsty," Harry Potter yelled. He then gathered speed and wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist from behind, causing them to topple to the ground. When their rolling bodies slowed to a stop, Hermione was laying belly up on top of Harry. Harry loosened his grip around her waist, letting her roll over and face him. He inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of both her hair and the natural, soothing smell that never left her. "I've never been so happy in my life," Harry said truth...

Best of Luck Mr Blunkett, You'll Need It

The Tories used to be good at soundbites. Churchill, whose speeches were long-winded and orotund by today's standards, was paradoxically also the master of the pithy, beautifully expressed sentence which said an enormous amount in a small number of words. Macmillan, Powell, Macleod and even Thatcher were good at catchy phrases (though, in Thatcher's case, they were usually written for her by Sir Ronald Millar). But since her demise, there has not been a single memorable bite from the toothles...

Why the Glue Comes Unstuck On Those Idyllic Buts and Bens

Even the Broons, you will remember, had their very own but and ben. Every so often they'd leave the tenement in Glebe Street and head for the hills, Ma Broon minus the apron, Pa Broon with his deerstalker on. While Hen fixed the roof, Daphne would fetch water from the burn and the Bairn would run wild in the heather. It was an idyll of escape shared by anyone who has ever packed a car in a city on a Friday night and headed for the countryside. Happily, in their timeless innocence, the Broons ...

Blunkett Prepares to Fight for His Career and Parental Rights

THE stakes in the David Blunkett saga were raised last night after parliamentary colleagues made clear the home secretary would "fight to the death" to clear his name, and also to establish his full parental rights, should his ex-lover's two children turn out to be his. Kimberly Quinn's husband, Stephen, 60, was also adamant he would challenge Mr Blunkett, 57, "every step of the way" to secure custody of both children, saying: "I love my wife, I love my family. I'd do anything to look after t...

Id Cards: Keep Up to Date or Face Fine of (Pounds) 1000

FINES of up to (pounds) 1000 will be issued to people who fail to tell the government when they move house or change their name after marriage, under new identity card plans. The details emerged as the controversial (pounds) 3.1bn national ID card system was formally unveiled yesterday.

Jobs at Risk in (Pounds) 1.7bn Drive for Efficiency

THOUSANDS of jobs across the public sector are in doubt after the Scottish Executive unveiled ambitious plans to cut waste, inefficiency and absenteeism. Tom McCabe, the finance minister, promised to redirect (pounds) 1.7bn from backroom bureaucracy to frontline services within four years as he announced a government efficiency review yesterday. In addition, he will make a further (pounds) 300m savings through more efficient use of staff hours, and this could be as high as (pounds) 600m by 2008.

Mystery Over Motive for Murder On the Doorstep; Police Hunt Killer After Bank Manager Is Shot As He Puts Children to Bed

POLICE remained baffled last night by a gunman's motive for killing a bank manager on his own doorstep as he put his two young children to bed. In the huge hunt for the murderer of Alistair Wilson, 30, there were around 40 officers at the scene in Nairn. There was also growing police concern about an armed killer being on the loose.

Smith to Be Next Scotland Manager

Crusade Launched for Saint Andrew's Holiday; Msp Claims Day Would Help End Scotland's Religious Division

THE creation of St Andrew's Day as a national holiday could make a powerful contribution to ending Scotland's religious divisions and welcoming immigrants, it was claimed yesterday. Dennis Canavan, the independent MSP, was speaking at the launch of his bill to make St Andrew's Day a bank holiday.