Up to 150 military tanker drivers are to be trained and readied for deployment to ease the UK's fuel distribution problems. The government has also authorised an automatic extension of licences that allow drivers to transport dangerous goods, such as petrol, to 31 January 2022, without a requirement for refresher training or exams. Specialised training can take up to five days.
Ministers acted after another day of queues and pump closures at forecourts, prompted by fears the lorry driver shortage would hit supplies of fuel - which remains plentiful at refineries. It's an "admission of failure", says Labour, which describes asking the Army to step up as "a sticking plaster". Unions are calling for key workers, such as health and social care staff, to be given priority access to fuel. However, leading suppliers, including BP and Shell, say pressures are expected to ease . "As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days," they say. And Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says panic buying is starting to "moderate".

R Kelly, a three-time Grammy winner with multiple platinum-selling albums under his belt, is "nothing but a convicted felon". That was how a lawyer described the singer after he was found guilty of exploiting his superstar status to run a scheme to sexually abuse women and children over two decades. He could now face a lifetime behind bars. During a six-week trial, nine women and two men had taken the stand to describe sexual humiliation and violence at his hands. One woman who testified that Kelly imprisoned, drugged and raped her, said after the verdict: "I'm ready to start living my life free from fear and to start the healing process." Here's the testimony that convicted the singer.

Scientists are warning politicians immersed in climate change policy not to forget that the world is also in the midst of a plastic waste crisis. With a little over a month until the UN's next climate change conference, a paper from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Bangor University says the problems of plastic pollution and a heating planet are intertwined. Manufacturing plastic items adds to greenhouse gas emissions, while extreme weather associated with climate change will disperse and worsen plastic pollution of the sea. “The compounding impact of both crises just exacerbates the problem," says ZSL's Prof Heather Koldewey.

The UK's fuel supply problems continue to dominate front pages. There is outrage that some petrol stations appear to have inflated pump prices, says the Daily Express. "How dare they make money out of misery," reads its headline. The Financial Times reports warnings of health services being put at risk by the current "fuel-buying frenzy", while emergency government measures could give key workers exclusive access to certain forecourts, according to the Daily Telegraph. Commuter paper the Metro has a different take, saying the situation has prompted a surge in passenger numbers on public transport. "So who needs a car?" it says.

With the latest Bond film, No Time To Die, finally ready for release this week, we have the story of Billie Eilish's theme song - as told by the singer, her producer brother Finneas and featured guitarist Johnny Marr. Or, if active pursuits are more your thing, you might enjoy our video about a 75-year-old who plans to skip over the London Marathon finishing line this weekend.

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