25 April: Burmese men facing death penalty for murder have time to appeal

Horse owners in Guernsey are being advised to keep eye out for depression in their animals. It is a symptom of a highly contagious disease and a case of the condition has been confirmed recently.

Strangles is spread by direct and indirect contact. It can affect any age, sex or breed of horse. The GSPCA says clinical signs can remain unseen for two weeks after the horse has been in contact with the bacteria. 

Those signs include depression, dullness, loss of appetite and high temperature.

It is going to cost islanders more to renew their driving licence from 1 May, the first increase in a decade, according to the Constables Committee.

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It will now cost £50, rather than the previous £40 for a ten year licence and anyone whose licence needs to be renewed within the next three months can put it in for renewal before the 1 May.

Constable Len Norman said: "This is the first increase in charge for a driving licence in 10 years.The increases are in line with the change in the retail price index since 2007."

Five new "family support workers" are being employed in Jersey to help vulnerable children and their parents with everything from developing parenting skills to budgeting and attending medical appointments.

The news comes from Jersey's Education Minister, Deputy Rod Bryans, who says supporting families is a key priority for the education department.

Education will spend up to £473,000 over the next three years to pay for the family support workers who will provide parents with "very basic support and help improve children's life chances".

Jersey celebrity chef, Shaun Rankin will welcome the BBC Masterchef contestants at the London branch of his Jersey based Ormer restaurant as part of the 15th episode of the current season tomorrow.

Mr Rankin says he will be "welcoming the contestants into the Ormer Mayfair kitchen and putting them to the test for their first taste of professional cooking". 

A new event aimed at the cosplay - where people dress up as their favourite fictional characters - and gaming communities in Jersey is being planned by a group of organisers.

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On Saturday characters from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Thor and the Deadspace game franchise in town to tell people more about the event, which is going to be called CiCon.

A spokeswoman said: "This idea is in it's very early stages, therefore we cannot give any specifics about the dates of CiCon or the location."

The next building to go up at Jersey's finance centre will be a curved shape - and the head of the development company responsible hopes it will deflect criticism from the existing rectangular shape building. 

Jersey Development CompanyCopyright: Jersey Development Company

Some have criticised the first office block, known as IFC 1, for being too rectangular in shape - critics say it looks like the incinerator plant. 

Lee Henry of the states-owned development company says the next building might be more aesthetically pleasing.

Some families in Jersey are going to get help in their own homes from a team of family support workers who can help with budgeting, parenting skills and cookery.

There will be five members of the team, funded by the education department who will work with parents of vulnerable children to ensure they "get the best start in life".

They will help with:

• Budgeting
• Parenting skills
• Time management
• Nutrition and cookery
• Attending medical and dental appointments
• Dealing with States departments

The scheme is going to cost £473,000 over three years and will see education work with the NSPCC and other organisations.

A popular befriending scheme for vulnerable adults with autism and/or a learning disability has been shut down, after operators Autism Guernsey and Guernsey Mencap said it was ‘no longer possible’ to safeguard it.  

Once a month between now and November there will be a chance to watch a film in a country location, including Babe shown on a working farm around piglets. It's part of the Country Cinema season by the National Trust for Jersey.

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It follows a similar Coastal Cinema season last year which was - surprise - about the coast.

This year the event will start with the latest Jane Austen film, Love and Friendships, shown at the Pressoir at the Elms. They are on the first Thursday of every month from May to November.

Donna Le Marrec, Marketing and Events Manager for the National Trust said: “The Country Cinema and other events that we are delivering this year seek to engage with our supporters in a fun way – we want cinema goers to enjoy and discover our wonderful old buildings and by supporting the Trust, protect them for the future”.

Guernsey's prescribing adviser is defending a decision not to supply two drugs that relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, on the grounds of cost and resource impact.. 

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The MS Society in Guernsey says Lemtrada and Tysabri are prescribed to patients in the UK and should be available in Guernsey. 

Geraldine O'Riordan says both cost tens of thousands of pounds per year, per patient, and that can't be justified.

Every year at the Barclays Jersey Boat Show there is a different rubber duck. It's been a variety of colours and featured a range of outfits. This year it was designed by a 10-year-old girl in a competition.

Barclays Jersey Boat ShowCopyright: Barclays Jersey Boat Show

Tegan Clapham submitted the winning design for the 10th anniversary of the annual event and her design features a top hat and tails.

The duck can be won at a Hook a Duck game at the show with all proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust, EYECAN and NSPCC Jersey.

The 10th anniversary Barclays Jersey Boat Show starts on Saturday in St Helier.

Buildings that claim links to 1646 and King Charles II have been protected as grade two listed buildings. That's according to the States of Jersey.

The GSPCA has launched a fresh appeal to raise money for the "final fattening" of a seal pup found in Jersey so it can be released into the wild.

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Sami was found on a beach in Jersey just after Christmas. She was starving and unwell. After being cared for at the seal rescue centre in Guernsey she is now only weeks away from being released into the wild.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “What an amazing transformation with Sami from being a very weak and near death seal pup back in December to now seeing her devouring her fish and swimming around in her rehab pool.

“It costs around £5 a meal for Sami and if anyone would like to donate to her care and finally feeds or sponsor the wildlife unit monthly please call us on 257261, pop in or via the links on our website.”

Multiple sclerosis sufferers in Guernsey are not getting access to the drugs they need, according to the Guernsey branch of the MS Society.

Alex Jenner says Guernsey still doesn't have any of the "highly effective" MS drugs and is relying on the "good efficacy" drugs, which were themselves only made available after a lot of time, effort and pressure.

Geraldine O'Riordan, prescribing advisor, says there are a number of expensive drugs that are available. There are only two that aren't approved because of cost and resource implications.

A Jersey charity is hoping to build the island's first elderly and complex special needs nursing unit for islanders with learning disabilities.

Les Amis centreCopyright: Les Amis centre

If they get planning permission for the St Clement centre it could be open by the end of 2018.

Les Amis is partnering with the Jersey Homes Trust on the new facility. It will provide long-term residential accommodation to adults with learning disabilities who have nursing needs.

Shaun Findlay, Managing Director of Les Amis, said: “We know that around 1,400 people are currently living with a form of dementia in Jersey, but probably only half of them have received a diagnosis. We also know that the number of people with dementia is likely to double in the next 20 years."

A local woman who has devoted 30 years of her life to the St John Ambulance in Jersey is receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace today. 

Cynthia Rumboll has been recognised for her outstanding achievement to the community. 

She says the award is a great honour but stressed it was not just for her, but for the whole of St John Ambulance.

Rising fuel costs are having a "continued inflationary impact" on the local economy, the president of the Guernsey Motor Trades Association has warned, as he said crude oil prices could rise by a further 15% "within the year".  

A cold night will follow with a local frost possible by morning. Showers will continue overnight with hail and thunder possible. Minimum temperature: 4C (39F)

Jersey

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Guernsey

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New parents in Jersey will get a head start thanks to an NSPCC scheme called Baby Steps that has been given £400,000 of government funding.

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The money will allow the scheme to run until 2019 and will provide new parents with help on caring for their baby, reducing the stress that occurs with a newborn and to improve the lives of babies.

Home Affairs Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, said: "Research suggests that the parent-child relationship and the capacity to provide love, care and nurture are of major importance to the child's development and wellbeing."