Rob England
BBC News Online

Senator Ian Gorst and Senator-elect John Le Fondre are both "in discussions" with the Channel Islands' only political party, Reform Jersey, in a bid to win support in the run up to the election of Jersey's next chief minister.

The party increased its presence in the States Assembly in the general election earlier this month from three seats to five.

Party chairman Senator-elect Sam Mezec said Reform Jersey had not made a decision on which candidate to support for the top job, but an announcement would be made tomorrow.

Image source, Vote.je

BBC Radio Jersey

The head of the Channel Islands' biggest retailer has warned removing GST from food could lead to price rises elsewhere.

It comes after retailer Alliance, which sells Tesco products, promised to bring the prices of many of its items down to match the UK.

Andrew Bagot, Managing Director of Alliance, said he hoped the move would prompt a debate on pricing and whether GST should be applied to food.

Tony O'Neill from Sandpiper CI, which has franchise partnerships with multiple UK retail chains, says his company continues to oppose the tax being added to food.

However, he said if food was exempt from GST this would leave "a rather large hole to fill" in revenue.

Image source, Getty Images

More on this story:

• Consumer group hopes food price drop is 'genuine offer'

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey's Vale Earth Fair 2018 will be headlined by reggae artist Horace Andy.

The festival raises money for charity, with this year's profits being split between humanitarian organisations such as the Burma Campaign UK, Free Tibet and Bridge2.

It is run by the Vale Earth Fair Collective, a voluntary organisation that looks to raise money for charity whilst supporting live music in Guernsey.

Jamaican singer-songwriter Andy has long been associated with chart topping group, Massive Attack.

The festival is due to take place at the Vale Castle on 25 and 26 August.

Image source, Vale Earth Fair Collective

British number two Heather Watson loses to 16th seed Elise Mertens in the second round of the French Open.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Politicians in Alderney will continue to fight for improved mental health services, despite admitting a permanently based community psychiatric nurse is unlikely.

The island's mental health treatment has not improved in the last eight years, according to one service user.

But Alderney representative, Graham McKinley, says a permanent nurse was "not financially viable" as they would only be seeing between 12-15 patients.

However, he said the island did need "more regular visits" from the specialists to give Alderney patients "more face to face contact".

Guernsey's Committee for Health and Social Care said it provides mental health services in Alderney through video conferencing, a monthly visit from a community psychiatric nurse, a social worker, and a duty team on the phone.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Parents with a history of substance misuse, violence and mental health issues are still the most common factor for children being on the child protection register in Guernsey it's been revealed.

The 2017 annual report from Guernsey Safeguarding Children Partnership, external found fewer children were being looked after in the island, and the number registered for child protection "remained low and stable" across the year.

Independent Chair of the Islands Child Protection Committee, Simon Westwood, said the progress should be celebrated but more work was needed to "meet the emotional welfare needs of children in the islands".

The total child population of Guernsey and Alderney in 2017 was 11,547. Out of these, 80 were "looked after children", eight fewer than the previous year.

Watson v Elise Mertens live on @5liveSport, external Extra and online.

Chris Rayner
BBC Radio Jersey Political Reporter

A blind woman who is hoping to complete her first triathlon is encouraging other people with disabilities to take up sport.

Jenny Stafford, who was diagnosed with Retinitis pigmentosa, external in 1996, will swim, bike and run in the Try-a-Tri event at St Catherine's, Jersey, on Sunday.

She has been training with swimming and running guides and will ride a tandem during the event which is expected to see more than 100 people take part.

It is thought she is the first disabled athlete to sign up.

Twitter

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey bee experts are using two recently captured Asian hornet nests to find the most attractive food they can use as bait.

The invasive species is a threat to Jersey's native bees, and local beekeeper Bob Hogge says while it would be impossible to eradicate the hornets completely, they do want to keep them "under control".

Asian hornets are thought to have established themselves for the first time in the Channel Islands last year.

Volunteers from the Jersey Beekeepers' Association have been using bait to track Asian hornets to their nests, allowing pest controllers to destroy them.

Anyone who sees an Asian hornet nest is asked to call the Environment Department, external.

More on this story:

• Further Asian hornet sighting in Guernsey
• Asian hornet queen captured in Jersey
• Queen Asian hornet found in Guernsey

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses after several burglaries in the island over the last month.

Police believe the incidents, which occurred at the Rockmount Pub, the Cobo Tea Rooms and the Kiln restaurant, are linked.

Crime reduction adviser, Andy Goodall, said although this level of crime is "rare", business and property owners should make sure all their doors and windows are secure.

Rob England
BBC News Online

"Essential works" by Guernsey Electricity on La Vrangue, St Peter Port will mean the road will close over the weekend, the States has said.

Traffic will be redirected from midday on Friday until early Monday morning.

A spokesman said: "The closure will be between Millbrook Estate and Rue Thomas at the junction of Guelles Road. There will be no exit into La Vrangue from Guelles Road."

Jersey Evening Post

One of the Island’s classic summer snacks – the crab sandwich – could be in short supply this year as catches of the popular crustacean are failing to meet demand, external.

Rob England
BBC News Online

Making Guernsey and Jersey into a "block" by having closer political links is "a no-brainer" according to a Guernsey business leader, who does not believe the islands have a good image across the world.

Martyn Dorey, the President of Guernsey's Chamber of Commerce thinks the two Crown Dependencies are seen as small and "not important" to the UK's post-Brexit business model.

It follows pressure from UK MPs, aimed at getting Jersey and Guernsey to publish lists showing who owns companies registered there.

Mr Dorey says collaboration between the two islands could help them form a "significant block" that "can't be ignored".

"There are massive opportunities to boost GDP growth in both islands by working closer together," he said.

"Sharing resources, reducing risks, it's a no-brainer."

Guernsey Press

Drug-related crimes account for a third of imprisonments at Les Nicolles, external.

BBC Radio Jersey

A planning expert due to look at the latest application for Jersey's new hospital could be asked to look at alternative sites for it, despite politicians voting not to consider them.

St Helier Deputy, Russell Labey, says the public are unhappy about how the plans for the £466m hospital have been handled, and has put forward proposals, external to be debated by the new States Assembly.

The States will be asked to widen the scope of the planning inspection, due later this year.

The original design on the current hospital site was rejected following concerns about the size of the proposed development.

Image source, States of Jersey

More on this story:

• Jobs working on new hospital advertised by States

• New hospital plans: Take a look...
• Hospital plans submitted for planning review

Freddie Miller
Broadcast Journalist BBC Radio Jersey

It's unclear whether an 18-year-old man who was shot in the face with a pellet gun will suffer permanent eyesight damage, police have said.

The man has had the pellet removed from his right eye after he was injured near Les Landes, in Jersey, on Monday evening.

Officers continue to appeal for help in tracing two teenagers who ran off towards the Batterie Moltke car park after the attack.

Det Sgt Tommy Hayden said the man has now been discharged from hospital and officers have a few leads.

"It's a very serious incident", he said: "It could have resulted in permanent eyesight loss, at the moment we don't know what the permanent damage will be."

Stephanie Gabbatt
BBC Radio Guernsey

Alderney's mental health treatment hasn't improved in the last eight years, according to one service user in the island.

Claire Cotton has a complex mental illness which goes beyond the expertise of a GP - she says Alderney needs a community psychiatric nurse.

The BBC approached Guernsey Mind, external - a local affiliate of Mind UK - but the charity didn't want to comment.

Guernsey's Committee for Health and Social Care - which has responsibility for patients in Alderney - didn't want to be interviewed on the subject.

In a statement, they said the committee provides mental health services in Alderney through video conferencing, a monthly visit from a community psychiatric nurse, a social worker, and a duty team on the phone.

They said there is not the demand to warrant a full-time psychiatric nurse.

BBC Weather

Largely dry this morning with some sunny spells.

This afternoon, it will remain bright. However, a shower moving out of France cannot be ruled out.

Maximum temperature: 16 to 19C (61 to 66F)

Jersey:

Guernsey: