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The letter announcing his retirement of Sir David Nicholson suggests he planned his departure more than a month-and-a-half ago.

Although it is dated May 21, one paragraph says: "In getting ourselves ready for the 1 April 2013 we should..." which implies that the letter was drafted before April 1 - the day that the controversial NHS reforms were implemented.

Sir David goes on to say that he has stayed in the role to oversee NHS reforms come into place.

He thanks NHS England's chair Professor Sir Malcolm Grant for support and understanding "with regard to the complexity of my role".

Professor Grant replied: "Thank you for your letter conveying your intention to retire as CEO of NHS England. I was sorry but not surprised to have it.

"Your career within the NHS over 35 years has been exceptional, and your leadership through the radical changes of the past two years has been fundamental to their success."

• Health
• NHS
• Sir David Nicholson

Residents of Moore, Oklahoma, continue to salvage belongings from damaged properties in the town.

• World
• USA
• Tornado

Latest information from the Oklahoma medical examiner's office indicates that 24 people, including nine children, have so far been confirmed dead after yesterday's tornado in Oklahoma.

These are the 10 deadliest tornadoes in US recorded history:

• (1) March 18, 1925 - Missouri/Illinois/Indiana - 695 dead
• (2) May 6, 1840 - Natchez, Mississippi - 317 dead
• (3) May 27, 1896 - St. Louis - 255 dead
• (4) April 5, 1936 - Tupelo, Mississippi - 216 dead
• (5) April 6, 1936 - Gainesville, Georgia - 203 dead

• (6) April 9, 1947 - Woodward, Oklahoma - 181 dead
• (7) May 22, 2011 - Joplin, Missouri - 158 dead
  
• (8) April 24, 1908 - Amite, Louisiana/Purvis, Mississippi - 143 dead
  
• (9) June 12, 1899 - New Richmond, Wisconsin - 117 dead
• (10) June 3, 1953 - Flint, Michigan - 115 dead

These figures do not include a series of tornadoes in the southeastern United States in April 2011 that killed at least 346 people in seven states.

Data from Storm Prediction Center: The 25 Deadliest Tornadoes

• World
• USA
• Tornado

A man who is understood to have committed suicide by shooting himself at the altar of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris has been named by a police source as a well-known former far-right activist.

Dominique Venner, 78, was a historian known in France for his far-right political essays. He carried a letter on him but made no declaration before shooting himself dead, the source said.The cathedral has been evacuated.

Samaritans is available for anyone in any type of distress on 08457 90 90 90 in the UK or visit their website www.samaritans.org

• World
• France
• Paris

Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry has warned that an amendment to the controversial Marriage Bill could pave the way for pagan, masonic and even jedi wedding ceremonies.

Sir Tony Baldry, who represents the Church of England in the House of Commons, warned that voters would think the Conservatives had "lost the plot" if they allowed the amendment to go through.

I can't speak for other MPs, but I have had enough problems in my constituency with same-sex marriage.

If I go back to the shires of Oxfordshire and tell them that Parliament's now about to endorse in England pagan marriage they'll think that we'll have lost the plot completely.

Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Williams proposed an amendment which would allow humanists to conduct marriages during the second day of debate over the Same Sex Couple Bill.

He insisted it would not pave the way for other minority groups to conduct marriages.

• Politics
• Same-sex marriage
• Conservatives

Labour leader Ed Miliband has condemned internet giant Google for their efforts to avoid paying tax in the UK. In a blog on The Huffington Post UK he wrote of the responsibility of new online companies to stand up for the values they appear to espouse:

At the same time as the internet breaks down old hierarchies, it can also create new vested interests. And, even as the internet connects people across the world, footloose companies can use the global market to avoid facing up to their responsibilities.

Google is said to have paid only £10million in corporation tax in the UK between 2006 and 2011, despite revenues of £11.9billion.

Again, it is not just the right thing to do, it is essential for a prosperous country.

Google shouldn’t be going to extraordinary lengths to avoid paying its taxes. It has an obligation to do more than simply comply with the letter of the law.

Google has done much to open up markets and opportunities for entrepreneurs. It has done some great things for the world.

But it also has an obligation to wider society and to live up to its own foundingprinciples.

Read: Google 'devious, calculating and unethical over tax bill'

• Technology
• Google

Commenting on the announcement by NHS boss Sir David Nicholson that he will retire next year, Chief executive of the NHS Confederation Mike Farrar said:

"Despite the difficulties of recent months, today's announcement provides an opportunity to focus on Sir David's contribution to the NHS over the past three decades, the significant achievements over the lifetime of his career and during his time as the chief executive of the NHS.

"Sir David came into office as NHS chief executive in 2006 and immediately led a major recovery from the deficit that the health service faced at that time.

"Over subsequent years he led the delivery of a remarkable reduction in waiting times for urgent and elective care, with access to treatment improving faster than almost any comparable health system.

"There have been significant improvements in patient outcomes and a huge reduction in healthcare acquired infections. In recent years, he presided over the largest structural reform in the history of the NHS."

• Health
• NHS
• Sir David Nicholson

The defence has called its first witness - forensic anthropologist Professor Susan Black.

She tells the court she couldn't age the fragments recovered from the fireplace and sink traps, and couldn't confirm whether they are human or non-human.

• UK

Asked for David Cameron's response to Sir David Nicholson's retirement and assessment of his record, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "He agrees with the Secretary of State for Health."

Mr Cameron's view of Sir David was "unchanged" since the PM responded to the Francis report on Mid-Staffordshire, said the spokesman.

He said he was not aware of ministers discussing the NHS chief's departure with Sir David in advance, adding: "It is his decision to retire."

• Health
• NHS
• Sir David Nicholson