Jurats at Jersey's Royal Court found Alfredo Rebelo not guilty of murder his wife Ana.

BBC Radio Guernsey

A Guernsey deputy says there are problems with Guernsey's relationship with Alderney.

Deputy Lyndon Trott made the comments during a States debate this morning on resurfacing Alderney's runway.

He said Alderney politicians have worsened the relationship.

BBC Radio Jersey

Alfredo Da Costa Rebelo, 60, has been found not guilty of murdering his wife Ana Rebelo in April 2017.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Plans to improve Alderney's runway at a cost of about £12m have been approved by the States of Guernsey.

The proposals were supported unopposed after an amendment from the Policy and Resources Committee to consider wider issues was defeated heavily - with only the five committee members supporting it.

BBC Radio Jersey

The jurats have retired to consider their verdict in the case of a man accused of killing his wife in Jersey.

Sixty-year-old Alfredo Da Costa Rebelo denies murdering Ana Rebelo in April 2017.

Earlier in his closing statement for the prosecution, Howard Sharp QC told jurats Mr Rebelo had lost his temper because of his wife's affair, hitting her then tying leggings around her neck to kill her.

In the defence's closing statement Advocate Julian Gollop told the court the case was based on speculation.

He said there were no defensive wounds on Mrs Rebelo, no injuries on Mr Rebelo, no evidence of a struggle and no damage to the wall or shelving in the room to suggest a murder had taken place.

Jersey Met is warning gale force winds are expected to hit the islands on Thursday afternoon or evening.

The vessel that will hunt for the missing footballer's plane was paid for after £324,000 was raised.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's attorney general won't be making sentences harsher for people who deal in child abuse images.

Robert Macrae says Jersey's sentences are already more severe than they are in the UK.

The island broadly follows the UK guidelines on sentencing offenders.

A petition sent to the States of Jersey said islanders were "sick and tired of seeing paedophiles either found guilty of abusing, or attempting to abuse children", and being given "lenient" prison sentences by the court system.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Blue Islands has confirmed one of its flights yesterday from Guernsey to Jersey was struck by lightning.

The BE6412 continued to Jersey, where it landed safely.

The airline added that lightning strikes are not unusual, and their planes are designed to deal with them.

An inspection of the plane was carried out by engineers and the aircraft has now returned to service.

A doctor tells a court Ana Rebelo's death showed "features inconsistent with homicide".

BBC Radio Guernsey

Flybe and Channel Islands airline Blue Islands will no longer use Avios points to reward customers from 13 April.

The points can be collected in a variety of ways at UK supermarkets, hotels, through car hire and flying on certain airlines.

Flybe, which is a franchise partner of Blue Islands, says it is working on an alternative loyalty programme which Blue Islands has confirmed it will also be part of.

Flybe was bought by a consortium including Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Air a few weeks ago after announcing a profit warning in October.

A 10-year-old gymnast with a cochlear implant has been accepted into the British Tumbling squad.

Simon Fairclough
Guernsey Political Reporter

Guernsey's States members will begin debate on proposals to renovate Alderney's runway when they reconvene at 09:30 on Thursday morning.

The States Trading Supervisory Board is recommending that work begins to resurface the main runway as well as improve its lighting and drainage.

The project - which has already been delayed several times - is expected to cost about £12m.

But the Policy and Resources Committee has placed an amendment to the proposals; it wants further consideration of the relationship between the islands before pressing ahead, as well as a closer look at the possibility of replacing the airfield with a year-round ferry service.

Other items still to be considered include a Scrutiny Management Committee Review on in-work poverty and a proposal to extend the Bailiwick's territorial waters to 12 nautical miles.

Listen live on 1116MW or online.

Penny Elderfield
BBC Channel Islands News

A family whose newborn daughter was left fighting for her life after contracting a bacterial infection is urging the States of Guernsey to re-introduce screening for it.

Routine testing of all pregnant women for Group B Strep was stopped last year after a review and brought the island in line with UK guidelines.

It is a common bacteria; around one in four pregnant women will test positive for it and the majority go on to have healthy babies.

In rare cases though it can being passed on to the baby during labour.

Image source, Getty Images

UK screening guidelines say the current tests can't accurately distinguish which babies will be at risk and can lead to the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

But Tony and Steph Corbin - whose daughter nearly died because of it - say if there's a chance screening could prevent families going through what they did it's worth it.

They're urging parents to get tested privately.

Health and Social Care says the decision to stop screening hasn't resulted in an increase in cases of Strep B in newborns locally - but it will monitor the situation.

BBC Radio Jersey

More than 100 Jersey hospital workers have joined together to challenge the States after it withdrew pay rises awarded in error.

Health workers - including physiotherapists, radiographers and social workers - are among the 126 staff that were mistakenly given salary increases.

The roles of the health workers were re-evaluated - leading to the 126 being re-banded and given pay increases - some as much as £10,000-a-year more, leading to an extra £746k being paid out by the health department.

The health workers were told their uplifted grade and pay would go back to the original status from 1 April. They would not have to pay the money back as it wasn't their fault, but the BBC understands some had mortgages approved on their higher salaries and others had made other choices based on their new pay.

Now most of them are disputing with the States over the way they have been treated.

A spokesman for the States says it will contact affected staff that have launched a complaint to advise what happens next.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Guernsey will have fewer cruise ships visiting the island this coming season, compared to last year's.

In 2018, Guernsey had 105 cruise ships booked to visit the island, but that number has dropped this year to 94 between March and September.

It represents a year-on-year decrease since 2017, when the numbers peaked at 126.

The other islands have also seen a drop in 2019 with just one ship visiting Herm, two going to Sark and none visiting Alderney.

May will see the most cruise ships coming to Guernsey, with 20 anchoring in the Little Russel.

The first cruise ship booked to come to the island this year is the Bellisima which arrives on Sunday 3 March from Southampton.

BBC Weather

No snow I'm afraid - and it won't be sunny either.

Any brightness will be short lived as the cloud will thicken bringing rain from the south west later on Thursday morning. The rain may be locally heavy into Thursday afternoon with a chance of sleet.

Thursday night, clear spells and showers. Some of the showers may be locally heavy with a risk of hail and thunder. Brisk winds.

Jersey

Guernsey