l FORMER head of the Scottish Association of Social Work Ruth Stark has been elected president of the global International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

Meanwhile the former president of the Association of Directors of Social Work, Peter Macleod, has been appointed chair of the board of the Glasgow-based Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services.

l More than 250 equality campaigners will gather in Glasgow today for an event aiming to shine a light on gay rights in the Commonwealth. Conference organisers at Scottish charity The Equality Network say much of the Commonwealth has a poor record on LGBT rights, with state-backed punishments for same-sex relations ranging from imprisonment to the death penalty.

l Most people who lose their jobs will soon have to wait five weeks before they can get any cash help, according to the TUC, which says payments in arrears under Universal Credit will leave many reliant on food banks or payday loans. It has launched a new campaign Saving Our Safety Net to oppose the welfare reforms. To find out more see www.savingoursafetynet.org