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Singing crowds gather ahead of Mandela memorial
Singing crowds have begun to gather outside Johannesburg's FNB Stadium ahead of the national memorial service for Nelson Mandela.
Background to care and adoption in the UK
According to the Government, in the British care system in the year ending March 2013:
- 3,980 looked-after children were adopted, an increase of 15% from the year 2011-12.
- Adoption is now at its highest point since 1992.
- Only 8% of children adopted were taken in by single parents.
- 3,710 children were adopted by couples.
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Cameron, Brown, Blair and Major to attend memorial
The extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela will be remembered by dignitaries from around the world today, with Prime Minister David Cameron set to be joined by his three surviving predecessors at a special commemoration service.
The presence of Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown with Mr Cameron reflects the deep respect in which Mr Mandela is held within British politics.
It is thought to be the first time for many years that all of the UK's surviving prime ministers have travelled to an event abroad.
The Prime Minister and Mr Brown were among MPs who paid tribute to Mr Mandela in a special Commons session yesterday following the Nobel peace prize winner's death last week aged 95.
Sir Bradley: 'I never imagined I would become a knight'
Sir Bradley Wiggins will receive his Knighthood for services to cycling today at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Speaking after being named in the New Year's Honours List, the cyclist said: "It's quite something really.
"I never imagined that I would ever become a knight so it's an incredible honour, but there's a slight element of disbelief, and it will take a while to sink in.
"There was never any doubt whether I'd accept it or not, it was more a case that I never saw myself as a Sir, and I probably never will.
"I don't like profiting from status so it's more for my family. It's nice for my parents and grandparents to be able to say I'm a knight, and for my kids in the future."
15% gap in siblings up for adoption and willing parents
More parents willing to adopt siblings are being urged to come forward by children's charity Barnado's, who fear some children are being overlooked because adults are only willing to take on one child.
The number of children in the care system has risen for the 7th year in a row to 90,000.This is compounded by the number of sibling groups on the Adoption Register - 50% - compared to the 35% of adults willing to consider them.
Barnardo's make this plea on the day the charity's patron the Queen and president,the Duchess of Cornwall will officially open Barnardo's new Barkingside headquarters.
Mandela's daughter thanks well-wishers for support
Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi handed candles to children gathered outside the home of her late father in thanks for the well-wishes and support the family has received since the former president's death last week.
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Wiggins to be awarded Knighthood at Palace ceremony
Sir Bradley Wiggins is to be formally awarded a Knighthood today at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
It was announced in the New Year Honours list that Britain's most decorated cyclist was to receive the honour for services to cycling following his Tour de France win and gold at London 2012.
Trial of Abu Qatada expected to begin in Jordan
The trial of radical cleric Abu Qatada is expected to begin today in Jordan. Qatada is to face terrorism charges following his deportation from the UK in July.
He is accused of involvement in a series of bombings in 1998 and a terrorist plot that was foiled in 2000.
Following a near decade-long battle against deportation, it was a treaty signed between the UK and Jordan earlier this year that finally secured Qatada's departure, giving the radical preacher the assurances he needed to leave his taxpayer-funded home behind.
The agreement, announced by the Home Secretary earlier this year, aimed to allay fears that evidence extracted through torture would not be used against the father-of-five at his trial.
Healthy lifestyle 'more effective' than any medicine
A healthy lifestyle has a "far more beneficial effect" than doctors originally thought, with new findings showing a huge drop in the risk of developing the dementia as one of the benefits, according to scientists
Cardiff University's principle investigator professor Peter Elwood said the results of a 35-year-long study into dementia showed how living healthily was more effective than "any medical treatment or preventative procedure".
– Principle Investigator Professor Peter Elwood from Cardiff University's School of MedicineWhat the research shows is that following a healthy lifestyle confers surprisingly large benefits to health - healthy behaviours have a far more beneficial effect than any medical treatment or preventative procedure.
Taking up and following a healthy lifestyle is however the responsibility of the individual him or herself. Sadly, the evidence from this study shows that very few people follow a fully healthy lifestyle.
Our findings reveal that while the number of people who smoke has gone down since the study started, the number of people leading a fully healthy lifestyle has not changed.
Background to the PIP breast implant scandal
- Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) was founded by Jean-Claude Mas in 1991
- Before the company went into liquidation in 2011, it is thought around 300,000 women were sold faulty breast implants.
- Concerns were first raised in France over PIP's high rupture rate in 2009
- In 2010, France suspended the marketing, distribution, export and use of PIP implants
- The French government said it recommended all women with the implants to have them removed in late 2011
- A review ordered by the Health Secretary found that PIP implants were more likely to rupture or leak
- Mas offered an apology on April 24, 2013, for the implants, saying: "I apologise to the plantiffs for the gel used by PIP since 1992."
Information from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
