Britain “cannot allow diplomatic paralysis to be a shield” for President Bashar Assad, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh’s salary more than doubled last year to £11.2m (€13.9m), after an 88% rise in the drinks company’s shares over the last three years boosted his rewards from long-term incentive schemes.

Republicans must make clear that the transition from violence to democracy is real and permanent if devolution in Northern Ireland is to return, a senior Ulster Unionist stressed today.