Today's News: 1 June 2016

Murdered toddler Liam Fee.

Women convicted of murder and assault of two-year-old Liam Fee in their home in Glenrothes. The couple, Nyomi Fee, 29 and her civil partner Rachael Trelfa, 31, were also found guilty of inflicting a catalogue of horrific abuse on two older boys in their care over a two year period.

Call to move or postpone Rio Olympics ‘in the name of public health’ due to the Zika outbreak was rejected. A letter to WHO signed by 150 leading scientists and medical experts said that it would be ‘unethical’ for the Games to go ahead and warned that it would spread Brazil’s Zika pandemic around the world. WHO responded that the games would ‘not significantly alter’ the spread of the mosquito-borne virus linked to serious birth defects.

Average speed cameras cut A9 death toll. Scottish Government figures show the death toll between Dunblane and Inverness has fallen by 30% in the first 15 months since the controversial £2.5m system was put in place. Quoting statistics that demonstrate less road deaths and injuries, A9 Safety Group Chairman, Stewart Leggett said: ‘the A9 has become a safer place’. He added: “One in 10 vehicles now travel above the speed limit. Before the speed cameras went live it was one in three."

Sam Clemmett, centre, with Jamie Parker as Harry Potter
 and Poppy Miller who plays Ginny Potter.

Spellbinding West End play of Harry Potter & the Cursed Child opens at the Palace Theatre in London in July 2016, with previews in June. Newcomer Sam Clemmett,22, has been cast as Harry Potter’s child ‘Albus’ in the story co-written by J K Rowling. On her official website ‘Pottermore’ she said of the actor: “we couldn’t have cast better’.

Early bird tickets for Dundee’s annual Flower and Food Festival go on sale this Friday. The event will be spiced up by Tony Singh and Cyrus Todiwala, The Incredible Spice Boys. They will be joined by French culinary star Jean Christophe Novelli and Glasgow-based chef Jacqueline O’Donnell. Organiser, Peter Sandwell, said: “We try to have something different for the public, which is why we try to have different chefs.” Joining the line-up will be Scottish fighting stunt team The Clann – who will be re-enacting battles from Scottish History. The festival takes place at Camperdown Park from September 2 to 4.

Wolf cub born at Camperdown Wildlife Centre ventured outside for the first time today. The centre unexpectedly witnessed the arrival of two rare European Grey Wolf cubs after their parents successfully mated just two months after arriving at the zoo. Staff were surprised how quickly the wolves settled in and then bred.

The Cateran Yomp adventure challenge
supports ABF The Soldiers Charity.

Over 1000 people have now signed up to this year’s Cateran Yomp. The challenging 54-mile circular route runs through Perthshire and Angus and is still open for entry. Dad of three, Shaun Gash, will be the first person in an adaptive wheelchair to take on the challenge. He was involved in a car accident when he was age 20 which left him paralysed from the chest down. “I’ve never let the misfortune of being paraplegic hold me back,” he said.

Does life get better as we get older? Actress Jane Fonda feels comfortable at the age of 78. She was quoted to say “If you had told me when I was 20 or 30 that I would have been happier at 70, I would have thought you are out of your mind.”