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Bright with sunshine and showers
by Lucy Verasamy - ITV Weather PresenterSunshine today but some areas will see more cloud - meaning bright rather than full blown-brilliant blue skies.
A few showers will crop up almost anywhere - these look hit and miss but slow moving and heavy where they develop.
Central England will get away with a drier day - and here there will be the best of the temperatures with 18-19C.
Elsewhere, it'll be a touch fresher and cooler.
Russia starts military drills responding to Ukraine force
Russia has started military drills near the Ukrainian border in response to operations by Ukrainian forces against pro-Russian separatists and NATO exercises in eastern Europe.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Interfax news agency Moscow was "forced to react to such a development".
"If this military machine is not stopped, it will lead to greater numbers of dead and wounded," he said.
"Planned exercises by NATO forces in Poland and the Baltic countries do not foster normalisation of the situation surrounding Ukraine either,"
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EU considers ban on Crimea bank transactions
The European Union may ban transactions with financial institutions in Crimea as part of its response to the annexation of the peninsula by Russia last month.
EU leaders consider the takeover of Crimea by Russia as illegal and have asked the EU executive arm, the European Commission, to propose economic, trade and financial restrictions on Crimea for swift implementation.
The proposals are separate from EU talks on stepping up sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not help deeescalate tensions, and could be adopted by EU foreign ministers at their next meeting in mid May.
Scotland Yard 'helping FBI with inquiries' over teacher
Scotland Yard has confirmed it is helping the FBI with its inquiries into potential British victims of paedophile teacher William Vahey, who worked at London's Southbank International School for four years until last year.
– Scotland Yard spokesmanOfficers from the sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse investigation team are assessing and evaluating intelligence passed to the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) by US authorities, and are actively seeking any evidence whilst working with partner agencies to ensure that potential victims are supported.
Bernie Ecclestone rejects bribery claims as trial begins
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has rejected accusations of bribery as he went on trial iin Germany today.
Ecclestone told a Munich court that a German banker who received a disputed $44 million (£26 million) payment did not tell the truth.
ITV News Reporter Sasha Williams reports:
In a personal statement read out by his lawyers, Ecclestone said he was "grateful" to be able to give his side of the story, though he told judges that he would answer questions from the Munich state court through his lawyers, rather than personally.
Ecclestone, 83, is charged with bribery and incitement to breach of trust, and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Ukraine situation unravelling as US and Russia clash
by John Ray - Diplomatic CorrespondentThere are reports of up to five dead in a gun battle for control of a checkpoint to the north of Slaviansk to the East of Ukraine.
If true, then potentially this is a very serious escalation in the crisis. A week ago we were talking about a deal between America and Russia, which should have seen these armed groups disband and go home.
The situation is unravelling very quickly indeed. This morning President Obama has been speaking, and saying that the blame for the failure of the Geneva deal rests squarely with russia.
Read: Moscow repeats calls for Ukrainian military withdrawal
From President Putin this morning, a strongly worded warning, saying if these reports of Ukrinian troop movements are true, that would be "a crime against its own people" that would have serious consequences.
Russia of course has tens of thousands of troops poised on the border.
I don't think this is going to come to an invasion. We may see more sanctions from the west, but for now this remains a war of rhetoric and words.
Read: Russia says Ukraine 'must take first step' to resolve crisis
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Bernie Ecclestone denies bribery allegations
Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has denied bribery allegations at the start of his trial in Germany today.
Making his way into the Munich courtroom, he told reporters "I'm confident, the sun is shining" and the 83-year-old even joked about his marital status in court.
When asked if he was married or divorced, three-times married Ecclestone, replied "both," adding: "I like to remember the divorce part."
He is charged him with bribing now-jailed banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to smooth the sale of a stake in Formula One to private equity firm CVC eight years ago.
If convicted he could face up to 10 years in prison and the end of his decades-long dominance of the motor sport.
His lawyers said: "The alleged bribery never happened. The prosecution's claims are based on statements by Dr. Gribkowsky, which are wrong, misleading and not conclusive."
Woman put off tea after finding larvae in teabags
by Cheryl Smith, ITV News
A woman said finding maggot-like creatures in a teabag as she was making a cup of tea has put her off the beverage for a "very long time".
Read the full storySchool: FBI warning over teacher is 'shocking revelation'
Southbank International School's chair of governors is former Ofsted chief inspector Sir Chris Woodhead.
Responding to the FBI's warning that pupils at the school may have been targeted by US paedophile teacher William Vahey, he told The Guardian:
This is a completely shocking revelation.
We are co-operating with what is now an international police inquiry.
Vahey taught at the prestigious private school for four years and had a home in London, as well as in the US.
He was jailed for child sex offences in California in 1969.
FBI warns of possible UK victims of paedophile teacher
The FBI is attempting to trace up to 90 potential victims of an American paedophile who taught at London's prestigious Southbank International School from 2009 until last year.
William Vahey's crimes were uncovered last month and investigators say some victims may not even know they were abused, as the teacher drugged many of the boys he targeted.
The 64-year-old, who typically taught in international schools, was found dead from an apparent suicide in Minnesota last month, after confessing to drugging male pupils with sleeping pills before sexually abusing them on field trips.
Police who searched his computer found images of at least 90 boys aged from 12 to 14, who appeared to be drugged and unconscious. The children are thought to be Vahey's students, as the photos were catalogued with dates and locations going back to 2008 that corresponded with overnight field trips.
The FBI's Special Agent Patrick Fransen said: "I've never seen another case where an individual may have molested this many children over such a long period of time.
"I'm concerned that he may have preyed on many other students prior to 2008."
