1. OBAMA WELCOMES SYRIA AGREEMENT
US president Barack Obama has welcomed an agreement between the US and Russia under which Syria's chemical weapons must be destroyed or removed by mid-2014. The framework document stipulates that Syria must provide details of its stockpile within a week. A White House statement warned that the US expects Syria "to live up to its public commitments".
2. CABINET FACES CUTS ARMY REVOLT
Ministers are facing a revolt by Conservative MPs over plans to cut the size of the regular Army by 20,000 while boosting the numbers of part-time soldiers. The rebels have told the government it needs to make a choice on its financial priorities —“ensuring the defence of the realm or funding white elephants such as HS2”.
3. DOCTORS CLAIM £150K OVERTIME
Senior doctors in the NHS are claiming more than £150,000 overtime a year on top of their basic salary, says the Sunday Times. The figure takes their potential annual earnings to more than £300,000. With some NHS trusts offering triple time hourly rates, one consultant at a trust in the northwest of England was paid £372.50 an hour for overtime.
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4. PERU DRUGS GIRL 'AGREES PLEA BARGAIN'
One of the two British women arrested for drug trafficking in Peru is to plead guilty after striking a deal that could see her walk free from prison in less than three years, reports the Mail On Sunday. Melissa Reid, who was caught alongside Michaella McCollum Connolly with £1.5m worth of cocaine in their suitcases last month, tells the paper she has agreed to a plea bargain.
5. VIAGRA CAPITAL OF ENGLAND NAMED
Coleshill has been named the Viagra capital of England, reports the Sunday Times. The north Warwickshire town, with a population of 6,343, has the highest rate of prescription of Viagra and other anti-impotence drugs of any region in England. A landlord of a local pub said of the news: “It’s a strange one.”
6. LEGAL DOPE 'WOULD SAVE £1.25BN A YEAR'
Legalising and taxing cannabis could be worth as much as £1.25bn a year to the government, a new study suggests. The report, by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, estimates that reduced legal enforcement costs could save £300m or more alone, with the remaining three-quarters of the net benefit come from tax revenue.
7. FOUR DEAD IN 'BIBLICAL' FLOODS
Four people have died following flooding in Colorado as walls of water 20ft high knocked down buildings, tore up roads, washed away bridges and left towns as islands. Thousands of people were evacuated by rescue workers using boats and helicopters during what the National Weather Service has described as "biblical rainfall amounts".
8. CORRIE STAR 'FORGIVES ACCUSER'
Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell says he forgives the teenage girl who falsely accused him of rape, claims the Sunday Mirror. He told his family: “I think I am strong enough to forgive.” However, the actor, who was cleared of sex abuse charges this week, says he believes that the mother of his accuser was “hell-bent on destroying me”.
9. LIBDEM ACTIVISTS WANT LABOUR DEAL
Liberal Democrat activists are demanding Nick Clegg make a deal with Labour at the next election, a poll in the Independent on Sunday has revealed. Some 40% of members polled said they want Clegg to form a coalition deal with Labour, with just 15% keen to see another coalition deal with the Conservatives.
10. GARETH BALE SCORES ON REAL DEBUT
Gareth Bale scored on his Real Madrid debut as his new side were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal. The world-record signing played 62 minutes before being replaced. In the Premier League, Arsenal went top of the table after beating Sunderland 3-1. Debutant Mesut Ozil set up the opener. Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-0.
