The bigger picture

The publication of crime scene photographs of Michaela McAreavey, who was murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius, marks a new low, her family said.

The publication of crime scene photographs of murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey's body by a Mauritian newspaper marks a new low, her family said.

Head to the far south of Italy for sun-drenched days on Puglia's beaches. Long Travel (01694 722193; long-travel.co.uk) is offering free B&B at Masseria Torre Coccaro, near Fasano, for children aged up to 12 this summer. This 39-room five-star hotel is set in a 17th-century masseria that counts a chapel among its charming buildings.

A man charged with murdering the daughter of one of Ireland's best-known sporting personalities yesterday claimed that police interrogators had held his head in a bucket of water and partially suffocated him with a towel.

Welcome to Hancock's half-minute (and other utter failures)

As David Cameron hosts summit to tackle threat to trade on the Indian Ocean, Britain is accused of soft-pedalling the issue

Mining officials loyal to President Robert Mugabe are stashing profits from diamond fields amid fears the money could fund political violence ahead of proposed elections, it was claimed yesterday.

Clashes between government and opposition supporters on the Maldives have not spread to the pristine beaches and luxury spas of the Indian Ocean archipelago. So that's all right then. Except that it isn't.

Less than £200... Summer flights

Spanish airline Vueling has announced it is due to start direct flights from Southampton to its main hub at Barcelona's El Prat airport from 23 June this year, just in time for the summer season. Tickets to the Catalan capital – with its vibrant Gaudi architecture, gourmet cuisine and glorious beaches – are available to book now via the website, with return fares starting at €140 (£116). Vueling.com

An American military drone, which had been used to monitor piracy off the East African coast, has crashed at an airport on the Seychelles during a routine patrol, officials said yesterday.

A week today marks a significant anniversary as far as I'm concerned, though whether its one to be celebrated is sometimes a matter of debate.