9am Briefing: Royal Bank of Scotland reports £3.6bn loss

The figure is lower than the 5bn which experts had forecast.

The bank, which is 84 per cent owned by the taxpayer, said it compared with a record 24.3bn shortfall in 2008.

Bank bosses are facing criticism over plans to go ahead with the payment of bonuses totalling 1.3bn to its investment bankers.

Brown 'shouted at Tony Blair'

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown faced claims today that he repeatedly shouted at Tony Blair that he had "ruined his life".

The angry outburst came on the eve of Mr Blair's announcement in 2006 that he would stand down as Prime Minister within the year, according to the political journalist Andrew Rawnsley.

A new excerpt from his book, detailed in The Guardian today, asserts that Mr Brown demanded that Mr Blair ensure he faced no rival for the Labour leadership succession.

Space footage to be shown at Usher Hall reopening

BREATHTAKING footage from space will be used in the official reopening of the Usher Hall following its 40million refurbishment.

The images, sent via the Hubble telescope, will accompany a performance of Gustav Holst's suite, The Planets, on 10 October.

A giant 24ft-wide screen will be hoisted above the stage to show the footage while the Houston Symphony Orchestra is playing – visiting Edinburgh as part of its first international tour in ten years.

Residents hit by power cut

FAMILIES were left without electricity after a cable burned out triggering an overnight repair operation.

ScottishPower said 127 homes were affected by the fault on The Loan, in Loanhead, which was found at around 4pm yesterday.

Engineers worked through the night to dig out and replace a section of the cable, managing to reconnect a supply to 100 properties by 6am today.

Fresh crackdown on using mobiles while driving

POLICE today launched a new campaign to crack down on people using their mobile phones while driving.

Forces across Scotland united for the annual day of action and warned that drivers risked their own lives as well as other people's.

The campaign was co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) and used increased patrols to catch motorists breaking the law.

During last year's day of action, 171 motorists were caught.