9am Briefing: Romanov in bid to become Lithuanian president

Published on Thursday 12 March 2009 08:47

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov hopes to extend his influence beyond Tynecastle - by standing for election as president of Lithuania.

Romanov plans to register today for the May 17 election, but will have to collect 20,000 signatures from Lithuanians in support of his bid.

The Russian-born oligarch faces stiff competition, with EU financial planning and budgets commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite the favourite for election.

Tobin drops appeal

PETER Tobin, the man imprisoned for the murder of Vicky Hamilton, has decided not to appeal against his conviction.

Tobin, 62, is serving a minimum 30 year sentence for abducting and murdering the 15-year-old in Bathgate in 1991. The family of the murdered teen welcomed the news as an admission of his guilt.

Residents flee flats fire

SEVEN people fled to safety from a fire at a block of flats in Sighthill this morning.

One flat in Murrayburn Gardens was already well alight when firefighters arrived after receiving a call at 6.40am.

The flat's resident had already left for work, but seven people living in the flat above had to escape, and several others in the block were escorted to safety by firefighters. Two people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Junction work woes

DRIVERS crossing the Forth will face more disruption from the remodelling of the Ferrytoll junction than they will from the construction of the new Forth Bridge itself, it is reported today.

Rebuilding the interchange to allow traffic to flow onto the new bridge is likely to be the most complicated part of the entire project, according to project manager Lawrence Shackman.

Traffic will continue to use the A90 during construction, while access will also have to be maintained to the neighbouring 1000-space park and ride.