The Herald

Cancer Patients Pay Out Hundreds of Poundscost of Accessing Care Leaps

CANCER patients in Scotland are bearing a huge financial burden because of changes in NHS treatment, according to a report published today by a leading charity. Research by Macmillan Cancer Relief has found sufferers are paying an average of pounds-380, and some much more, to travel to and from hospital because doctors are no longer keeping them in overnight.

Us Marshals' Whisky Tasting Turns Sour

THREE US federal air marshals had "sensitive documents" relating to airline security and travel plans for high-level American diplomatic staff stolen during a whisky-tasting trip to a distillery at the start of the G8 summit. The marshals' hire car was broken into. Personal identification was also taken while the three were at the Glengoyne Distillery, Strathblane, 15 miles north of Glasgow.

Parties Unite to Fast Track New Laws On Terror

NEW anti-terror measures are expected to become law by Christmas following an unprecedented outbreak of crossparty co-operation in the wake of the London suicide bombings. Charles Clarke, home secretary, David Davies, shadow home secretary, and Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrats' home affairs spokesman, reached a consensus at an hour-long meeting in the Home Office yesterday.

Mod Lifts Ban On Windfarm Beside Test Sitemove May Double Capacity

MORE than one gigawatt of wind-generated electricity could be unleashed in Scotland after the relaxation of a blanket exclusion zone around Ministry of Defence installations. The decision has the potential to double the capacity of Britain's windfarms.

The Open Gives a Silver Lining to Teenage Scot's Golfing Dreamswalker Cup in America Is Top Amateur's Next Big Challenge

THE half-set he excitedly unwrapped as a little boy one Christmas morning may lie collecting dust in an attic. But those junior golf clubs played their part in bringing about a remarkable Scottish success at the 134th Open.

Council Curbs Young Hopefuls at a Stroke

IT is a move that will do little to encourage youngsters to follow in their top golfers' footsteps. A council has stopped hiring out equipment at putting greens in public parks, meaning aspiring professionals will need to buy their own clubs if they wish to play.

9 Million Muggles Rush to Buy New Potter Book

THE phenomenal literary success of JK Rowling's Harry Potter books continued yesterday when it was announced that the latest novel in the series sold more than two million copies in the UK on its first day of release. Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince broke the record for books sold in 24 hours, selling 2,009,574 copies through British bookshops, supermarkets, internet sites and newspapers on Saturday.

Plans to Reform Youth Justice Attacked As 'Unworkable'

MINISTERS' plans to reform youth justice and the powers of children's panels have been condemned as unworkable by directors of social work. The Scottish Executive has called for the decisions of the panels, including referrals to secure accommodation, to be always followed through.

Teenager Arrested Over Czech's Death

A TEENAGER was arrested yesterday in connection with the death of a man in Arbroath. The dead man, who came from the Czech Republic, was a seasonal worker in the Angus area.

Tycoon's Bursary for Law Students Pounds-20,000 Pilot in Deprived Areas

A JERSEY-BASED property tycoon with close links to Glasgow is to sponsor secondary pupils in some of the city's most deprived areas to allow them to study law at university. If successful, the pilot project for the "socially excluded" will be rolled out across Scotland.

Amnesty Move On Bus Strike Parking Council May Waive Penalty Fees

TRANSPORT problems caused by a strike of 1400 bus workers yesterday were exacerbated by confusion over a temporary parking amnesty. The 24-hour strike by Lothian Buses led to all the company's routes in and around Edinburgh being cancelled, forcing many to cycle, walk, get taxis or use other bus firms' services.

U-Turn On Brent Oil Deaths Inquiry Lord Advocate Overturns Ruling

SCOTLAND'S senior law officer has overturned a decision not to hold a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of two men on an oil platform. Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue died when they were exposed to hydrocarbon gases on the Brent Bravo platform on September 11, 2003.

Polanski: I Had Some Honour. I Still Do Director Sues Over Claims He Used Wife's Name in Seduction

ROMAN Polanski told a libel jury yesterday that it was an abominable lie to suggest he exploited his murdered wife's name to seduce a girl. The film director is suing Conde Naste, publisher of Vanity Fair, over a July 2002 article about the events of August 1969, when 26- year-old Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four friends were murdered at her Californian home by Charles Manson's followers.

Arrest Over Body in Warehouse

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of Alexander Docherty, 38, whose body was found at the Antiques Warehouse on Glasgow's Yorkhill Quay more than a month ago. A Strathclyde police spokeswoman said: "A 42-year-old man has been arrested and is presently detained in police custody in connection with his death.

Knife Epidemic Grips the West

The west of Scotland is in the grip of a knife epidemic, police chiefs warned as shocking new violent crime figures were released. The number of murders involving a blade in the Strathclyde area was threeand-a-half times higher than anywhere else in the UK.

Highlands Crash Victim Named

A man killed in a crash in the Highlands was last night named by police as Kevin Matheson, 35, from Nairn. He was a passenger in a one-vehicle accident on the A87 near Shiel Bridge on Sunday night. The car's female driver and another passenger received minor injuries.

Poet in Running for Top Prize

A leading Scottish poet has been shortlisted for the most valuable poetry award in Britain, the Forward Prize. John Burnside is in the running for the pounds-10,000 prize for best collection of poetry for his book, The Good Neighbour.

Gift Scheme for Tidy Children

Schoolchildren are to be encouraged to put their litter in bins as part of a new campaign. The Bin It N Win It scheme, by Grampian Police and Fraserburgh Future Partnership, will see children spotted disposing of their rubbish properly rewarded with a gift voucher.

Was Pakistan Visit for Terror Training?Bombers May Have Taken Classes at Al Qaeda Site

THREE of the four London suicide bombers flew to Pakistan last year, raising suspicions they used their visits to receive terrorist training by al Qaeda commanders in preparation for the July 7 atrocities. The revelation by Pakistani security officials yesterday came as Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president, condemned as "un- Islamic" the London bombings.

Sectarian Laws Could Be Used Against Extremists

LAWS introduced to tackle sectarianism in Scotland could be used to prosecute extremist Muslim clerics following the London bombings. Tony Blair is planning to introduce legislation to crack down on "acts preparatory to terrorism", but officials say Scotland already has the ability to deal with those inciting religious hatred against nonMuslims.