Former Cambridge News editor Murray Morse has signed up ‘Cheeky’ MP Lembit Opik as his star columnist at the Daily Sport.

Murray took over the editorship in July after leaving the Cambridge News in April.

Montgomeryshire MP Mr Opik, former boyfriend of Cheeky Girl singer Gabriela Irimia, will be penning a political column every Friday.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists is running some short courses next year.

They are: Intro to subbing on 21 and 22 January, news and feature writing on 28 and 29 January, writing for the web on 10 February and sharpening your English on 17 February.

All the courses are expected to be held in London. For more information and to book a place contact Jan Alder via e-mail [email protected] or call 01799 544 930.

The Press Association has become the UK partner for Minds International, the media technology network.

MINDS International is a platform for news agencies to share ideas and exchange knowledge on online and mobile business ideas in order to improve revenues and work cost effectively in digital markets.

Including PA, the MINDS network will consist of 17 international news agencies, covering markets in Europe, North America and Russia.

The annual World Newspaper Congress and World Editors Forum will take place in India next year.

The conference, organised by the World Association of Newspapers, will be held in Hyderabad from 22 to 25 March. Speakers will include the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The York Blind and Partially Sighted Society has benefitted from a £2,231 donation from Gannett – Newsquest’s American parent company.

The Gannett Foundation has a pot of cash to help disabled and disadvantaged people in the areas served by Newsquest newspapers – in this case York daily The Press.