9am Briefing: Lorry driver questioned over death of cyclist

Police believe the 43-year-old cyclist was hit by the overtaking lorry, which may have caused him to crash into a parked car.

The lorry driver was detained by police after yesterday’s rush-hour accident in Lanark Road but later released, pending further inquiries.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident which occurred around 8am near the junction with Dovecot Grove.

* ROYAL Bank of Scotland bosses were today under pressure to spell out plans for changes to its investment banking arm which could mean up to 5000 job losses.

Chief executive Stephen Hester was due to publish a strategic review ahead of the bank’s annual results next month, but is now being urged to bring forward a statement after being forced to deny reports that up to 10,000 jobs were at stake.

David Flemming, of trade union Unite, said: “This constant speculation and rumour is highly concerning for those who work for RBS.”

Most of the jobs to go are expected to be in London, Hong Kong, Australia and the United States rather than in Scotland.

*A LITTLE girl who shares her name with giant panda Tian Tian was brought face to face with the bear after offering to keep her company by speaking Chinese.

Tian Tian Brunton, seven, whose mother is from China and father is from Scotland, was so excited to hear the female panda was coming to Edinburgh Zoo that she wrote a letter describing the things they share in common.

Yesterday the schoolgirl, from Peebles in the Borders, finally got to meet the other Tian Tian in a special visit to the zoo where she was joined by Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

* DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg is expected to highlight the UK Government’s £1 billion programme to tackle youth unemployment during a visit to Edinburgh today.

Under the programme, at least 410,000 work places will be found for 18 to 24-year-olds across the UK, with wage subsidies worth £2275 handed to employers to take on 160,000 young people.

The government says the programme will see £100 million of benefit to Scotland, £18m of which will go to the Scottish Government over three years.