Monday 30 November

Today is St Andrew's Day, dedicated to the patron saint of Scotland. First Minister Alex Salmond will initiate proceedings today to have a referendum on independence for Scotland. It will not quite go the way he wants; Mr Salmond's Scottish National Party run a minority administration, and most of the other parties in the Scottish Parliament are opposed to full independence.

It is a cold day, and tonight will see a widespread frost, with the mercury down to -5C / 23F. I expect to hear even lower values from some of the notorious cold spots across the Highlands. At least the sun is out, in amongst the infrequent light showers. The birds are quite happy gobbling up the old bread that lies scattered under the trees for their benefit.

Reports from Washington State suggest that the man, suspected of carrying out the shooting of four police officers yesterday, may have died of gunshot wounds, sustained in an exchange of gunfire with one of his victims. Maurice Clemmons, aged 37, is a convicted criminal who had been sentenced to 95 years in jail for aggravated robbery. His sentence was reduced by the former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

A boy aged 4 was killed by a dog last night in Liverpool. A woman aged 63 was injured as she tried to separate the dog from the boy. When police arrived, they destroyed the dog which was in an 'agitated state'. Investigations are on-going.