Last night Real Madrid crashed out of the Champion's League after an aggregate loss to German side Borussia Dortmund. A huge blow to its ambitions, Real Madrid will have to wait at least another year to win the elusive 10th European crown it so desperately craves. At the centre of the drama was Madrid’s manager, Jose Mourinho, the self appointed ‘Special One’ who has seen Madrid lose in the semi-finals of the competition for the third successive season.

Yesterday Alex Salmond announced the Scottish independence referendum will be held on 18th September 2014; allowing Scotland to choose its political future in just 18 months’ time. Salmond, responsible for driving this issue forward is arguably risking his political future and reputation on this one roll of the dice; so is it worth it?

Guidelines published today from The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) could overhaul fertility treatment on the NHS in England and Wales funding treatment for couples aged over 40 as well as generally fast-tracking the process. At this stage these are just recommendations and whether they are put into practice depends on the ability or desire for Primary Care Trusts to pay for it.

The news that Saga is scrapping its social networking site Saga Zone following “racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic comments” is interesting for several reasons...

The publication of the Robert Francis QC’s report tomorrow (Wednesday) will focus on the scandal which has engulfed the Mid Staffordshire Hospital Trust in recent years. Specifically, it will report on how those in charge -  both from a clinical and regulatory perspective  -  did not spot unacceptable lapses in patient care. It is the major story in healthcare this week and one which is widely predicted to have ramifications far beyond the geographical foot print of the hospitals involved.