Tag: headlines

  • Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘huge sadness’ as Alex Salmond resigns

    Nicola Sturgeon with then-First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond in 2014 Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Nicola Sturgeon took over as Alex Salmond’s successor as Scottish first minister in 2014

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her “large unhappiness” following the resignation of former SNP leader Alex Salmond from the birthday party.

    Mr Salmond introduced he used to be quitting on Wednesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

    The ex-first minister mentioned he intended to use to rejoin the party as soon as he had an opportunity to transparent his name.

    Ms Sturgeon known as Mr Salmond her “family member and mentor for just about 30 years” and stated she understood his decision.

    However she mentioned: “The arduous fact remains that court cases had been gained through the Scottish govt that could now not be overlooked or swept beneath the carpet.”

    Symbol copyright PA Image caption Mr Salmond has hosted a display at the debatable RT station when you consider that remaining November

    He brought: “For my phase i’ve always idea it an excessively negative concept to suspend any celebration member at the basis of court cases and allegations. Innocent until proven to blame is relevant to our thought of justice.”

    Mr Salmond – who took the SNP toward its aim of independence than it had ever been – said he had been a member of the party for 45 years, 20 of them as leader.

    He stated: “i really love the SNP and the wider independence movement in Scotland. they’ve been the defining dedication of my life. However as of late i have written to the Nationwide Secretary of the party resigning my club.”

    ‘Upset’

    The present SNP leader Ms Sturgeon said she “felt an enormous sadness concerning the complete state of affairs”.

    In an announcement on Twitter, she said the decision was once Mr Salmond’s by myself, and he or she understood why he had selected to split “the current questions he is dealing with from the day to day business of the SNP and the continued campaign for independence”.

    “I DO KNOW birthday celebration contributors will be upset by means of this news, just as i am,” she delivered.

    “I also recognise there are many questions that can only be answered in the fullness of time. it is necessary now that any criminal approaches are allowed to take their direction.”

    Image copyright Getty Images Symbol caption Ms Sturgeon said Alex Salmond’s contribution to the independence motion “speaks for itself”

    The Day-To-Day Report newspaper broke the scoop of the sexual misconduct allegations remaining Thursday.

    The paper claims to have observed wording of 1 criticism which describes an incident alleged to have taken place at the first minister’s respectable residence in Edinburgh, Bute Space, within the first week of December 2013.

    The 2 women lodged proceedings in January this 12 months, simply weeks after the Scottish government followed a brand new lawsuits process in the light of wider concern approximately sexual harassment at Holyrood and Westminster.

    Salmond starts felony action against Scottish governmentSturgeon: Salmond complaints ‘couldn’t be overlooked’Salmond denies sexual misconduct claims

    Mr Salmond claims that the subsequent research into the allegations towards him by way of senior Scottish executive civil servants used to be “unfair and unjust”.

    He stated he were given no chance to “see and due to this fact to correctly challenge the case against me” and that he had “not been allowed to look the evidence”.

    Mr Salmond has additionally claimed that someone inside the Scottish executive has “flagrantly and time and again” breached the exclusive proceedings process by means of leaking details to the Day-To-Day Report.

    He is now in the hunt for a judicial evaluation of the new proceedings process. He launched a crowdfunding appeal to fund his criminal action.

    Alex Salmond

    Leader of Scottish Nationwide Celebration 1990-2000 and 2004-2014 First Minister of Scotland 2007 – 2014 Stood down after Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom within the September 2014 independence referendum

    The Scottish executive has insisted the proceedings process has been “solely personal all through” and has stated it’s going to defend its position vigorously within the courts.

    The proceedings against Mr Salmond were passed to Police Scotland which has mentioned it’s assessing the information.

    Mr Salmond returned to frontline politics while he was elected as the SNP MP for Gordon in 2015 and became the birthday celebration’s foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster earlier than losing the seat within the snap common election two years later.

    Since then he has faced heavy complaint for hosting the Alex Salmond Show on Russian broadcaster RT, which has been described as a propaganda channel for the Kremlin – a declare Mr Salmond has denied.

  • No takers for £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage

    Portrait of Nigel Farage Image copyright David Griffiths

    A £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage, on display as a part of the Royal Academy’s prestigious summer season exhibition, has didn’t draw in any buyers.

    The oil portray, signed through the artist David Griffiths, was one in all hundreds of works of art to be had on the market during the Academy’s 250th summer time show, which closed on Tuesday.

    The academy said the paintings could now return to the artist.

    Mr Griffiths has stated that he hoped it could “find a excellent house”.

    “These Items ebb and flow,” he mentioned. “Prices of artwork like the whole lot else, aren’t set in stone. he is a major determine, whatever you’re thinking that of him. He Is Mr Brexit, is not he?”

    The fee was steered by a mutual loved one of the artist, whose different topics have integrated Prince Charles and rugby superstar Shane Williams.

    Farage to head ‘on the road’ with Depart workforce Farage heads ‘down under’ on Brexit excursion

    A key figure within the 2016 referendum marketing campaign, Mr Farage has pledged to return to frontline British politics this fall to struggle for Brexit,

    The portrait of the MEP and former UKIP leader, in his trademark tan-coloured coat and striped tie, used to be not the one politically-themed paintings not to find a purchaser.

    A £350,000 paintings by way of the artist Banksy entitled Vote to love, featuring a center-formed balloon superimposed over a UKIP referendum poster, also remained unsold.

    But a painting of every other prominent Brexiteer, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, did fetch £450.

  • Gina Miller regulations out Lib Dem management bid

    Gina Miller Symbol copyright Getty Pictures

    Businesswoman and anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has dominated out a bid for the Lib Dem management.

    Current leader Sir Vince Cable desires to change the celebration’s rules to permit non-MPs to guide it in long run, as a part of a plan to develop its appeal.

    Ms Miller, who’s because of deal with the Lib Dem conference later this month, used to be mentioned to have had her eye on the function.

    However she advised BBC News: “It Is Very flattering, however no.”

    She delivered: “i don’t understand where that rumour’s coming from but I’ve stated it earlier than and I’m Going To say again nowadays, i’ve no intentions of going into respectable politics.”

    Image copyright PA Symbol caption Tim Farron is asking for a new ‘centre floor’ birthday celebration

    Sir Vince’s predecessor as leader, Tim Farron, said starting up the leadership to non-MPs was an “interesting” idea, but delivered: “To be honest, Vince is only simply touting it as an choice.”

    speaking to the Politico website, Mr Farron also sponsored the theory of a new “centre floor” birthday party, arguing that the SDP, Britain’s final large breakaway birthday party, was “very with reference to having made it” in the nineteen eighties.

    “Let a few of these people within the Labour Birthday Party and the Tory Celebration develop a flipping backbone and leave. And we should paintings with them.

    “let them form their own party, we can paintings with them, and we’re going to attempt to do it together. Folks will not fall into the error of thinking the SDP was a failure. It actually wasn’t.”

    Mr Farron said he may also settle for “a decent electable chief” of the Labour Celebration, if a new centre party didn’t emerge – however he insisted there has been a still a place for the Lib Dems in British politics.

    “You Notice with great frustration – and i’m positive Vince (Cable) feels the similar – the enormous chance in what i can glibly name the centre of British politics, and the determined need for us.

    “I obviously need the Liberal Democrats to recuperate, grow to be the next government of the country and resolve the entire problems.”

  • Peers question Raab on Brexit negotiations

    Reside Friends question Raab on Brexit negotiations
  • three hundred and sixty five days left for PPI reimbursement claims

    Arnie Schwarzenegger poster Symbol copyright FCA Symbol caption Arnold Schwarzenegger’s head featured in a few FCA advertisements

    Mortgage customers mis-sold cost protection insurance coverage (PPI) have exactly a year left to make a declare for compensation.

    The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) set a deadline of 29 August 2019 for the general PPI claims to be made.

    So a long way, £31.9bn has been paid out in compensation, with major banks having set aside some other £10bn or so for long run claims.

    As many as 64 million PPI insurance policies have been bought from as way back because the 1970s.

    The policies have been designed to cover mortgage repayments if debtors fell in poor health or misplaced their activity.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images

    More Information on PPI and the way you can declare is on the market on the FCA website.

    A free phone line, controlled via the FCA, may also be called on 0800 A HUNDRED AND ONE 8800.

    Various templates are also available to obtain, together with steerage on claiming, on web pages corresponding to Which?, MoneySavingExpert, and Resolver.

    Claims management companies, shopper teams and the regulator also are elevating consciousness of a Splendid Courtroom case, identified as the Plevin case, because of this 2.4 million rejected repayment claimants might now have the option to make a recent appeal.

    The ruling dealt with the case of a monetary company’s shopper now not being made aware of a commission being paid once they have been offered PPI.

    The court docket agreed that the company’s failure to inform its client that it used to be receiving a big commission for the sale was unfair. The FCA has ruled that banks will need to have declared the commission if it used to be over 50%.

    If they did not declare it, then the client is entitled to the go back of any commission over 50%, plus interest, even though the PPI was once now not mis-sold.

    This has introduced additional budget put aside by way of banks for settling claims.

    Banks sought after a earlier deadline for PPI claims and are prepared to attract a line beneath the saga.

    Click On to peer content: PPI_payments

  • UK regulator Ofcom bans Saudi Arabia TV advert

    Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to diversify Saudi Arabia’s financial system

    The UNITED KINGDOM’s broadcasting regulator has dominated that a television ad for Saudi Arabia breached its laws on political promoting.

    The advert, which ran on Sky 1, promoted the country’s Imaginative And Prescient 2030 reform agenda and featured images of girls driving and cinemas opening.

    But Ofcom stated selling the reforms and UNITED KINGDOM-Saudi links ignored “heightened public controversy” in regards to the issues.

    Ofcom has not levied an exceptional, however ruled that Sky can’t repeat the ad.

    The one-minute advertisements ran in March, sooner than a visit to the uk by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    The advertisements show a montage of images selling Saudi society, over which a narrator says: “Issues are indisputably converting in Saudi Arabia… Key international partnerships are at the heart of this shift, basically with the Uk.”

    Who’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman?

    Ofcom stated it regarded as whether there has been a “public service nature” to the adverts, equivalent to, for example, the ones used by the united kingdom executive to marketing campaign on well being or road safety.

    but the regulator concluded: “In Ofcom’s view, the primary intention of the commercial used to be to painting the kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a positive gentle.” The adverts had been paid for via an arm of the country’s ministry of tradition and information.

    Ofcom also mentioned in its ruling that it “took under consideration the debate and debate that was taking place among the wider public extra usually, as reflected in the media reports revealed within the days instantly preceding and during the consult with by means of Saudi royalty and officers”.

    The regulator mentioned a Sky Information file which stated that “the visit is not going to be without criticism and protest”.

    Earlier this 12 months Mohammed bin Salman unveiled a huge reform agenda, designed in part to open the country to extra international inward investment and create an economic system much less depending on oil revenues.

    During the crown prince’s visit, there was also roadside billboard and newspaper promoting to advertise the country.

  • Scallop war: French and British boats clash in Channel

    Image copyright EVN/France Télévision Image caption British boats are legally entitled to fish off the Normandy coast – however their French counterparts accuse them of “pillaging”

    A video published by French media appears to show a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne THREE, colliding with nearby vessels.

    The British could not fit the local armada. Numbering approximately five boats to 35 French vessels, they were in the end chased away.

    Why has all of it blown up now?

    Stress has rumbled for 15 years, however in the past 5 a deal has prevailed – higher British boats stayed out of the realm in alternate for extra fishing rights.

    British boats collected scallops year-round, but the French were restricted to between 1 October and 15 May.

    This yr, the fed-up French rejected that settlement.

    “For the Brits, it is an open bar – they fish when they need, where they would like, and as much as they would like,” Mr Rogoff complained.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Scallops are a popular shellfish on each side of the Channel

    “We Don’t want to stop them from fishing, however they could no less than wait until 1 October so that we will be able to proportion.

    “Scallops are a flagship product for Normandy, a first-rate useful resource and a extremely sensitive factor.”

    How have the Brits reacted?

    Mike Park, leader govt of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, described the clashing incident as “transparent piracy”.

    Talking in regards to the Scottish boat, he told BBC Scotland: “He’s fully entitled to be there. UK vessels can enter that French zone, it’s not illegal.

    “The Peterhead vessel is going approximately its business. The French vessels are most certainly attacking it.”

    Fears fishermen ‘will no longer survive’ Brexit no deal Fish thrown into Thames in Brexit deal protest World’s fishing fleets mapped from orbit

    Appeals for calm had been issued by means of Britain’s National Federation of Fishermen’s Enterprises, which mentioned some boats have been filmed manoeuvring dangerously.

    “we have raised the matter with the British executive and requested for cover for our vessels, which are fishing legitimately,” its leader government, Barrie Deas, mentioned.

    “The deeper issues at the back of the clashes have to be settled via talking around the desk, now not at the top seas the place other people might be harm.”

    (more…)

  • Brexit: May defends ‘sensible’ plans for future EUROPEAN family members

    Media playback is unsupported to your tool

    Media captionMay: ‘Common sense’ to prepare for Brexit no deal

    Theresa Would Possibly has insisted her way to Brexit will ship a “good” deal for the uk and allow it to make essentially the most of opportunities around the world.

    Talking in South Africa, she instructed the BBC she was once sticking through her “good” plans as they both respected the 2016 referendum vote and protected jobs.

    While hopeful of an settlement in October, she said it used to be proper to organize for leaving with no deal.

    In Advance, she introduced £4bn of additional British make stronger for African economies.

    On the first day of a 3-day consult with to the continent, the top minister insisted industry offers with nations like South Africa could be a prize for “international Britain” after it leaves the eu subsequent yr.

    however the BBC’s political correspondent Ben Wright stated that as she heads to Nigeria and Kenya this week, she is aware of an excessively tough autumn of political bargaining awaits her again home.

    PM seeks new jobs partnership with Africa

    In an interview with the BBC, Mrs May performed down warnings by way of Chancellor Philip Hammond last week in regards to the dangers of a no-deal exit – which he stated will have a £80bn poor economic impact.

    She mentioned the feedback have been according to research first released in January that had been, at the time, a “work in development”.

    Mrs Would Possibly then pointed out feedback by means of the head of the world Business Organisation, who mentioned Brexit “may not be a stroll in the park, but would possibly not be finish of the sector both”.

    Media playback is unsupported on your device

    Media captionTheresa Might was all smiles as she joined faculty kids for a dance

    “we are operating for a fair deal, we have put forward our idea for a good deal,” she said. “i believe that deal is to the ease, not only of the united kingdom, but the ecu.

    “What the federal government is doing is setting up position the arrangements to be sure we can make a hit no matter what our long run courting is with the ecu and regardless of the end result of the negotiations.”

    Through the BBC’s Ben Wright in Cape The City

    With dogged choice Theresa Might danced together with a bunch of children in a soggy Cape The Town playground – her first stop on a three-day sprint round sub-Saharan Africa.

    It Is the primary No 10-led industry delegation to Africa for the reason that 2011. the school children symbolised, she mentioned later, the dynamism and creativity of the continent’s growing and youthful inhabitants.

    And it is jobs for those youth and tens of millions like them that the uk wants to lend a hand African economies create – the usage of UK firms, capital and executive lend a hand to speculate in African countries in the hope of keeping them politically solid later on.

    At a speech within the city on Tuesday, the prime minister pledged an extra £4bn in direct UNITED KINGDOM executive investment – which she expects to be matched by the personal sector.

    Mrs may additionally stated the uk could essentially shift the way in which it spends support money – to deal with lengthy-term economic and security demanding situations rather than brief-time period poverty aid.

    For the united kingdom in fact, Brexit is a spur to expand business beyond the ecu, that is by way of far our biggest market.

    A Few Tory MPs have said they can not fortify Mrs Would Possibly’s blueprint for the uk’s long term members of the family with the ecu, pronouncing it is a betrayal of the thousands and thousands who voted to depart the european in 2016.

    But Mrs May mentioned the proposals were good as they insisted that an end to ECU freedom of motion and the jurisdiction of the european Court was “non-negotiable”, at the same time as ensuring British manufacturers had unrestricted get admission to to an european extensive loose industry zone for goods.

    “It Is right as we look to our long term relationships that we protect jobs and livelihoods,” she added.

    As part of a renewed take care of Africa, Mrs Might has said she desires the united kingdom to grow to be the continent leading’s funding spouse throughout the G7, overtaking the US.

    She told the BBC that this used to be no longer unrealistic, given that the uk was already the biggest foreign investor in South Africa, the continent’s biggest economic system.

    “one in all the benefits of leaving the eu is that we will be able to have the opportunity to negotiate our personal business deals in the long run,” she mentioned.

    “we glance to an international Britain outdoor the european making the most of these trade offers across the rest of the world.”

    (more…)

  • Brexit: First applications from ECU nationals for settled standing

    Motorist passing pro-EU campaigners in Parliament Symbol copyright Reuters

    The Primary packages from ECU nationals desirous to stay within the UK after Brexit are being submitted.

    A team of college students and NHS employees within the north-west of britain are taking part in a tribulation to check the system sooner than it opens later this yr.

    The three million or so ECU residents in the UK have until the tip of June 2021 to sign up for “settled status”.

    Ministers, who insist the method might be simple, say the pilot will allow for “important changes” to be made.

    The UNITED KINGDOM is due to depart the eu on 29 March 2019.

    The Federal Government has said it needs EUROPEAN nationals living in the u . s . to give you the option to stay, with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab announcing final week that this implemented whether or not there has been an agreement on the phrases of go out or now not.

    ‘Anyone who meets me thinks I Am British’ EU residents will not be ‘turfed out’ Brexit: What now for EU citizens within the UK?

    Ministers have stated they aim to maintain paperwork to a minimum, announcing the shape that has to be stuffed in on-line or by means of cellphone app will include just a handful of questions and take a question of minutes to complete.

    up to 4,000 other folks, including students from Liverpool University and health provider staff, can be the primary to have a go throughout the pilot. they’re being guided through the utility process by way of Home Office officers.

    Applicants have to provide proof of identity, claim any felony convictions and upload a photograph – while officers will test employment data and run security checks.

    The process – as a way to value £65 for adults and £32.50 for children beneath the age of SIXTEEN – will perform at the foundation of a presumption that applications can be accepted.

    While stopping short of making certain their long run, Mr Raab stated final week that it was “unimaginable” that non-UK electorate can be requested to go away regardless of the result of present negotiations with the ecu.

    Immigration minister Caroline Nokes said the pilot was once every other step in making it easy for EU nationals to obtain settled standing – enabling them to live and paintings in the UK on the comparable phrases as now.

    “From today, we are inviting a small crew of EU electorate to make an utility to safe their status,” she stated. “we will be able to use their feedback to make any essential changes sooner than the scheme being fully opened.”

    The scheme is because of totally open on 30 March, 2019, with settled status granted to EU nationals who have lived in the UK for five years – until they’ve severe felony convictions or for safety reasons.

    Those who are resident in the UK by way of 31 December 2020 however who have no longer lived in the UNITED KINGDOM for 5 years will get pre-settled standing which permits them to reside and paintings in the UK until they achieve the five 12 months mark and will claim settled standing.

  • ‘I vomit 30 instances a day’ – Caitlin’s dilemma

    Caitlin White Image caption Caitlin White, 19, suffers from serious gastroparesis

    a young person with a unprecedented intestine condition that causes her to vomit up to 30 occasions an afternoon has defined the tricky alternatives she faces.

    Caitlin White, 19, from Perth, suffers from severe gastroparesis.

    Her current treatment comprises day by day hospital-based infusions which can take as much as 12 hours and risk infection.

    She says every other treatment may bypass her gut, however that still consists of top dangers.

    Her condition basically approach there may be a prolong in emptying her abdomen, which causes her to vomit steadily.

    Image copyright Caitlin White Symbol caption As a kid Caitlin did not be afflicted by the condition, but first became unwell when she used to be 14

    Caitlin first fell unwell with the condition when she was once 14 and while her weight used to be 11 stone.

    She now weighs just six stone (38kg).

    Over the past 5 years, the indicators became more acute and her remedy has had an enormous impact on her life.

    She mentioned: “The docs can check out the rest as much as 18 occasions to get a drip into my arm, as a result of i’ve got such dangerous veinous access.

    “when they sooner or later get a drip in, my infusions run and then i am going home.

    Image copyright Caitlin White Image caption Caitlin used to wish to be a teacher or lawyer but now says she wants to trip or do something concerned with medication when she is healthier

    Requested how the condition has modified her outlook, Caitlin said: “When I Was younger i believed possibly (i wished to be) a teacher, or even a legal professional.

    “But now most certainly when I Am higher i might desire to do one thing involved with medication or vacationing probably.”

    She was receiving remedy at Ninewells Medical Institution in Dundee but her care there ended. She now attends Perth Royal Infirmary.

    Following an intervention by Scotland’s leader scientific officer, she recently noticed a specialist in Glasgow who suggested that general parenteral vitamins (TPN) may be a possible process remedy.

    ‘Lot of risks’

    This could involve a line which supplies vitamins instantly to the liver and bypasses the digestive machine.

    Caitlin described the quandary she now faces.

    “there may be a lot of risks associated with (TPN),” she informed listeners.

    “it’s a Capture 22: if they choose to give me feed (into her intestine) I’m at high risk of ‘re-feeding syndrome’, infections and blood clots.

    “However if they do not do it, i’m additionally in danger of infection. I’m malnourished because it is, and there’s (the chance of) organ failure in addition.”

    Image copyright Google Image caption Caitlin recently receives her remedy at Perth Royal Infirmary

    Dr Neil Jamieson, gastroenterologist at Raigmore Sanatorium in Inverness, stated gastroparesis was once an overly tricky condition to treat.

    He stated: “Fortunately most of the folks who’ve it don’t seem to be as seriously affected as Caitlin.

    “the bulk of people have diabetes and the nerves are broken within the abdomen, and the stomach doesn’t empty properly.

    “However in these serious cases it is very difficult as a result of regularly it impacts younger individuals who lose their independence. it is a very emotive house.”

    He stated: “There are studies beneath way to have a look at medications that may lend a hand toughen the emptying of the stomach.

    “However it is in truth very tough (while) the frightened machine is affected – that has a tendency to be one in every of probably the most complex of the methods to steer.

    “it’s a very difficult machine in its own means – and to duplicate that or just trigger it to paintings with drugs could be very tricky.

    “we really are seeking to give a boost to people as a lot as we will after they have gotten such severe disease.”

    ‘Last lodge’

    With no direct experience of Caitlin’s case, he stated medical doctors tended to view TPN – if it is going to be used in the lengthy-term – as probably “a last lodge”.

    He mentioned: “It’s Not one thing that is realistically achievable for many years without a few possibility of difficulty.

    “The gut actually is what we want to be feeding if in any respect imaginable as it helps to keep it wholesome, and the dangers of feeding into the intestine are so much decrease.”

    Requested what had been her hopes for the long run, Caitlin mentioned: “in general, I just hope that my health will fortify altogether.

    “i might hope that somebody can be prepared to consider TPN and provides it a try.

    “Or (I Am Hoping) there’s a professional out there who is aware of how to scale back the vomiting.

    “If the TPN used to be based, the vomiting would not be as widespread as a result of i would not be taking in as so much orally.”