World News

A 19-year-old man is arrested after a serious assault in North Lanarkshire in which a man was attacked with a power drill.

Hundreds of sharks have been spotted off the Queensland coast.

BP says the cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill has risen to $8bn - a rise of more than $2bn in the last month alone.

Alcohol consumption has fallen faster than ever, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association suggest.

England coach Fabio Capello says he hopes the pressure of expectation over the team's Euro 2012 qualifier with Bulgaria will bring out the best in him.

Team news ahead of Wales' 2012 European Championship Group G opener in Montenegro on Friday.

• Fugitive tycoon returns to UK after 17 years
• Q&A: Asil Nadir trial
• Profile: Asil Nadir

Fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir will appear in court today for the first time since fleeing Britain 17 years ago, during which a provisional trial date may be fixed and his bail renewed during a brief hearing at the Old Bailey.

Nadir was given bail in his absence on 30 July on condition he returns to the UK and attends court today.

Old Bailey judge Mr Justice Bean said he hoped it would end the "legal limbo" which existed since Nadir fled Britain for Northern Cyprus.

He also quashed an arrest warrant for him and imposed 10 conditions on bail, including Nadir, 69, being electronically tagged.

Nadir was facing 66 counts of theft involving £34m fraud allegations in May 1993 when he flew from Britain to the Mediterranean island, which has no extradition treaty with the UK.

The Conservative Party donor was secretly flown out in a private plane after his Polly Peck business empire collapsed.

He had appeared in court the previous year but had not technically surrendered to his bail.

So, the judge said, a subsequent arrest warrant issued on the basis that he had breached his bail, was not valid.

Nadir's legal team told the court he was willing to return to face trial if he was granted bail.

The Serious Fraud Office had agreed not to oppose bail if the stringent conditions were imposed.

The conditions include depositing £250,000 with the court as a security and surrendering travel documents.

Defence barrister William Clegg, QC, said Nadir had a "determined intention" to stand trial.

Nadir, who now has new business interests in Northern Cyprus, arrived at Luton airport a week ago with his 26-year-old wife, Nur.

The couple are renting a £20,000-a-month town house in Mayfair, central London, as Nadir's legal team prepare his defence.

• Asil Nadir
• Serious Fraud Office

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