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Clegg aides: All three leaders oppose 11% MPs' pay rise
by Chris Ship - Deputy Political EditorThe Deputy Prime Minister's office has responded to Ed Miliband's call for cross party talks to block the planned pay rise for MPs.
Sources point out that there is already cross party agreement on the issue: all three party leaders have publically expressed their opposition to the reported 11 per cent hike in salary.
Nick Clegg's aides also point out that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority does not publish its recommendations until Thursday, so it would be wrong for politicians to get involved in a process - which is rightly independent of politicians - before the announcement has been made.
Appeal for help finding a missing reindeer
The search is on to find a reindeer who has been missing for three days from a forestry visitor centre in Cumbria.
Seven-year-old Borneo was one of two reindeer on show at Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick.
It's said he escaped over a six foot fence after he was 'spooked' by a dog that got into his pen.
Staff at the centre are appealing for members of the public to help track down the animal, which was on loan from Scotland.
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DWP confirm £40m write-off for Universal Credit IT
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that £40.1 million had been written off on software and computing costs during the introduction of the new Universal Credit system.
Annual accounts will show £40.1m write-off for Universal Credit IT which includes the £34m we previously announced
Re discussion of £90m IT today - we will be using this while we continue to roll out UC over the next five years. Not a write-off.
Iain Duncan Smith: Benefit reform not a debacle
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has denied claims that his welfare reform programme is a "debacle".
Speaking in front of MPs today, Mr Duncan Smith admitted the introduction of the new system was running late, but revealed the IT problems that initially disrupted the programme were now fixed.
ITV News' Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen reports:
Three men arrested over 'mistaken identity' stabbing
Police have arrested three men in connection with the death of Christopher Foster in Borough High Street.
The men aged 25, 33 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in custody in a police station.
Police believe Mr Foster's murder was a case of mistaken identity.
Read: Man stabbed to death outside a pub in case of 'mistaken identity'
Police have appealed for more witnesses to come forward. DCI Sanlin from Metropolitan police said:
Mr Foster was stabbed as he stood halfway down the alleyway with his back to the suspects.
Five of the suspects then carried on down the alley and were involved in a separate altercation with another male, who managed to get away, and this male's friend. The male friend received a hand injury but did not require hospital treatment.
I would ask anyone with information about the suspects or any witnesses to please come forward.
Allies and enemies to come together to mourn Mandela
Leaders from every corner of the world tonight are making their way to South Africa ahead of tomorrow's memorial service that will hail one of the world's greatest peacemakers and politicians.
Barack Obama will share a podium with Cuba's Raul Castro, whilst Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will also attend, according to foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela.
Israel, once an ally of the apartheid regime is sending neither its prime minister nor president, officials said.
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Cloudy and mild weather over next few days
Iran deal would be 'dead' if US imposes fresh sanctions
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the Iranian nuclear deal would be dead if the US Congress imposes new sanctions, even if they do not take effect for six months, according to Time Magazine.
In a transcript of the interview Time said it asked Zarif what happens if Congress imposes new sanctions, even if they don't go into effect for six months.
He replied: "The entire deal is dead."
The Obama administration is currently trying to stop Congress plans to introduce fresh sanctions.
Unprecedented gathering of world leaders for Mandela
by Rohit Kachroo - Africa CorrespondentThe scale of tomorrow's memorial service is unprecedented.
The fact that 91 heads of state, prime ministers and monarchs have felt it appropriate to drop everything, with five days notice, and travel to South Africa, gives you a sense of the global respect for Nelson Mandela.
I have just seen a programme of tomorrow's events, and although the size of the events is breathtaking, what might be most memorable from tomorrow's programme could be the more personal moments.
We will hear a personal tribute from four of Nelson Mandela's grandchildren and we will also hear a personal tribute from Barack Obama, the first black president of America, who says he might never have stood for office had it not been for the first black president of South Africa.
Teenager hit by Xbox scam receives free console
A teenager hit by an internet scam has finally received an Xbox One after a generous donation from his local electronics store.
Peter Clatworthy, 19, thought he had paid £450 for an Xbox One on eBay for his four-year-old son McKenzie for Christmas.
However, instead of receiving the next-generation Xbox, he was sent a picture of the console from the seller with "thank you for your purchase" inscribed on the back.
After hearing about the episode, Nottingham electronics company CeX decided to donate an Xbox One to him in time for Christmas.
Mr Clatworthy paid tribute to the generosity of the store during an interview with the Nottingham Post: “This shows there are some nice, kind people out there and it’s really overwhelming. I can’t thank them enough."
The 19-year-old said his son would be "over the moon" with the gift.
