Other UK News In Brief

Border Bomb 'Futile'

The Stormont First Minister and DUP Leader Peter D Robinson and the Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have jointly condemned last night's bomb attack in the border city of Newry, Co Down. Mr Robinson said: "The people who carried out this attack are determined to destroy all that has been achieved in recent months. Their sole aim is to return Northern Ireland to its darkest past. They will not succeed." Mr McGuinness said: "I am determined that last night's attack will not undermine the progress we have made. The perpetrators are acting against the democratically expressed wishes of all the people of Ireland. They have nothing to offer our society, we will continue on the road we have set out upon to deliver a better future. Attacks such as this are futile and serve only to strengthen our resolve." See: Newry Car Bomb Condemned

Falklands Focus

The Latin American and Caribbean leaders have backed Argentina's claim over the Falklands, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said. At a regional summit in Cancun, Mexico, a document has reportedly been drafted giving Argentina unanimous support. The news comes a day after a British oil rig began drilling for oil off the islands, a move Argentina formally objected to, but the UK's Defence Minister said the Government would take whatever steps necessary to protect the Falklands. Argentina and Britain went to war over the South Atlantic islands in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded the archipelago.

Mice Checked Out

Supermarket giant, Tesco has been ordered to pay £74,000 in fines and costs after mice were seen between the aisles of a Suffolk store. Suffolk Coastal District Council said its food safety team found a "catalogue of problems" at Tesco Extra in Martlesham, near Ipswich. Tesco was convicted of eight hygiene-related offences from April to August 2007 following a trial on Monday. Magistrates in Ipswich fined the store £17,000 and ordered it to pay £57,000 towards the council's costs.

Edinburgh Fire

More than 40 residents were evacuated from their homes after a fire broke out in an Edinburgh block of flats in the early hours of the morning. The blaze started in a bin area of Salamander Court in Leith at 3am on Tuesday. The building was evacuated because of the danger of smoke inhalation. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes and no-one was injured.

No Royal Wedding

Prince William laughed off a question about any marriage plans he might have yesterday during a visit to a new rehabilitation centre in a former private hospital. He was asked by blinded serviceman Simon Brown if he might have an invitation to his wedding, but William, 27, whose long-term girlfriend is Kate Middleton, smiled: "You'll have to wait a while yet, I think". He was visiting St Dunstan's centre in Llandudno, Conwy, for service personnel who have lost their sight.

(BMcC/GK)