News in English

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      News in English

      Damage warnings as 100mph gales hit

      Gusts of more than 100mph (160km/h) have begun to hit Scotland as forecasters warn gales could cause travel disruption and damage.

      Source: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Paul McManus jailed for brutal murder of Isabelle Sanders during robbery

      A man has been jailed for life for brutally murdering a woman during a robbery at her home in Glasgow.

      Paul McManus stabbed 51-year-old Isabelle Sanders 37 times at her house in Crookston on 9 April last year.

      He was also convicted of attempting to murder her partner, Norman Busby, 86, and two robbery-related stabbings.

      At the High Court in Livingston, McManus, 20, was told he must serve a minimum of 26 years in prison before he can apply for parole.

      McManus was jailed for a minimum of 21 years for murder and 14 years for the attempted murder and two other robbery-related stabbings.

      He was told he would serve five of the 14 year sentence consecutively with the 21-year sentence for murder.

      Jailing McManus, judge Lord Armstrong told him that Ms Sanders and Mr Busby had been living their lives as normal before he robbed their home.

      He said: "Their lives and yours had never crossed, but randomly you went to their home armed with two knives, forced your way in and inflicted violence on them."

      Criminal record

      The judge highlighted the accused's "significant" criminal record, which included convictions for theft, assault and robbery and the use of weapons.

      Despite McManus' young age, Lord Armstrong pointed out that he had already served seven sentences of detention and he had committed the murder a matter of weeks after his release from custody.

      The judge told him: "There are no reasons, whether to do with the consumption of drugs and alcohol or your lifestyle otherwise, which could possible justify the taking of another's life as you did.

      "I have no doubt that those who knew Isabelle Sanders and her relatives have been deeply affected by all this. No sentence would be regarded as sufficient in their eyes."

      Ms Sander's sister, Lindsay Dougall, said McManus should spend the remainder of his life in prison.

      'Whole life sentence'

      "We would like to acknowledge Lord Armstrong, who given current judicial protocol, has imposed as severe a sentence as likely in this case," she said.

      "However, we strongly believe that for violent re-offenders, who flagrantly disregard the rehabilitation offered and the opportunity given to them through early release, who then go on to commit a violent murder, that the Scottish judiciary should be given the option and the guidance to impose a whole of life sentence.

      "We will be petitioning the Scottish government to urge parliament to consider this opinion."

      Procurator fiscal Jennifer Harrower said McManus had been found guilty of "horrific crimes".

      "Paul McManus embarked on an escalating series of assaults and robberies on members of the public, which culminated in the murder of Isabelle Sanders in her own home and the near-murder of her partner," she said.

      "There were horrific crimes and McManus has left devastation and sadness in his wake. He now faces spending the rest of his life behind bars."

      McManus had denied murdering Ms Sanders and had lodged a defence of incrimination, blaming his former friends Ross Arthurs and Christopher O'Reilly.

      Both men denied being at Ms Sanders' home at 77 Raeswood Drive on the night of the murder.

      'Covered in blood'

      The jury heard how McManus was armed with a knife in each hand when he barged his way into Ms Sanders' home after the door had been answered by Mr Busby.

      The 86-year-old man described staggering back and being stabbed "several times" in the chest before Ms Sanders, who had been upstairs in bed, came to the top of the stairs.

      Mr Busby said: "Isabelle screamed and ran down the stairs and she saw him standing there. I was lying on the floor covered in blood.

      "She saw him stealing stuff and she tried to push him out the front door and he had his knives and he stabbed her several times.

      "She fell to the ground covered in blood. I reached out but she was dead."

      The court heard that after seizing car keys from the house, McManus left, taking £300 in cash, a decanter filled with whisky and a laptop. He could not start the car and fled.

      Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner told jurors that Ms Sanders had 61 separate injuries to her body and suffered 37 stab wounds, two of which were fatal.

      Mr Busby suffered two punctured lungs in the attack, which could have proved fatal without treatment.

      The court was also told by Mr Arthurs that McManus had confessed to him that he carried out the murder.

      DNA link

      He said McManus told him he "couldn't stop" after attacking Ms Sanders, adding: "He said he stabbed her repeatedly on the head and shoulders. It was horrible."

      The jury also heard that a pair of jogging trousers and a tracksuit top belonging to McManus had the DNA of Ms Sanders on them.

      The trainers he wore were never recovered. McManus threw them away in a bin in Glasgow city centre after buying a new pair with cash he had stolen from Mr Busby.

      In evidence, McManus admitted the jogging trousers and tracksuit top were his, but claimed that on the night of the murder they were worn by Mr Arthurs.

      McManus also told the jury that he had stabbed Mr Busby in a panic and was upstairs when Ms Sanders was stabbed by one of his friends.

      The jury of nine women and six men took less than two hours to find McManus guilty of all charges.

      Source: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Eight planned new Tesco stores in Scotland shelved

      Tesco has confirmed it has cancelled plans to build eight new supermarkets in Scotland.

      New stores at Aviemore, Banff, Cowdenbeath, Crieff, East Kilbride, Fort William, Glasgow and an extension to Cupar's store have been cancelled.

      The projects were among 49 proposed new store developments across the UK shelved by the supermarket chain.

      Tesco has said it will also close 43 unprofitable stores across the UK - many of them local convenience shops.

      Dave Lewis, Tesco's chief executive officer, said: "It is with a heavy heart that I am today announcing that we are unable to proceed with eight planned new store developments across Scotland.

      "Our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be and my absolute imperative has to be to protect the future of our business for the 300,000 colleagues we employ in communities all over the UK."

      Source: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      New species of marine reptile identified from Skye fossils



      A new species of marine reptile that lived about 170 million years ago has been identified from fossils found on the Isle of Skye.

      Measuring 14ft (4.2m) from snout to tail, it hunted fish and other reptiles in warm shallow seas around Scotland during the Jurassic Period.

      Palaeontologists said they had given it a Gaelic name, Dearcmhara, to reflect its connection with the Hebrides.

      Work to identify it was led by the University of Edinburgh and museums.

      A team of palaeontologists studied fossil fragments of skulls, teeth, vertebrae and an upper arm bone unearthed on Skye over the past 50 years.

      They identified several examples of extinct aquatic animals - known as ichthyosaurs - which lived during the Early to Middle Jurassic, including the entirely new species.

      'Uniquely Scottish'

      Dr Steve Brusatte, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, who led the study, said: "During the time of dinosaurs, the waters of Scotland were prowled by big reptiles the size of motor boats.

      "Their fossils are very rare, and only now, for the first time we've found a new species that was uniquely Scottish."

      He added: "Without the generosity of the collector who donated the bones to a museum instead of keeping them or selling them, we would have never known that this amazing animal existed."

      The work was carried out by a consortium involving the University of Edinburgh, National Museums Scotland, the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum, Scottish National Heritage and Skye's Staffin Museum.

      Dr Nick Fraser, of National Museums Scotland, said: "Not only is this a very special discovery, but it also marks the beginning of a major new collaboration involving some of the most eminent palaeontologists in Scotland.

      "It has brought together key organisations, local collectors on Skye and specialists from further afield. We are excited by the programme of work and are already working on additional new finds."

      The study is published in the Scottish Journal of Geology.

      The hand-beast

      During the Jurassic Period, much of Skye was under water and today is one of the few places in the world where fossils from the Middle Jurassic Period can be found.

      Other important fossil finds have been made on the Misty Isle.

      In 2008, scientists revealed that the earliest turtles known to live in water had been discovered on the island.

      The 164 million-year-old reptile fossils were found on a beach at Cladach a'Ghlinne, on the Strathaird peninsula in southern Skye.

      The new species formed a missing link between ancient terrestrial turtles and their modern, aquatic descendants.

      The fossils include more than 100 marks left by a lizard called Isochirotherium - also known as the hand-beast - 270 million years ago.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Power supplies restored to most homes in north of Scotland

      Power supplies have been restored to most homes in the north of Scotland following the storms which have swept the area, according to Scottish Hydro.

      Its power distribution division, SHEPD, said it had restored electricity to more than 100,000 customers since gale force winds hit power lines on Friday.

      About 8,900 customers were still without power by 16:30 on Sunday.

      SHEPD is hoping to resume all supplies by midnight but said progress depended on the weather.

      On top of 1,000 technical and support staff, SHEPD has drafted in 200 more engineers from elsewhere in the UK.

      Areas where power supplies have yet to be fully restored include Inverness-shire, the Western Isles, Skye and rural parts of Wick and Dingwall.

      Poor weather over the weekend hampered efforts to re-connect homes with engineers working in "treacherous and worsening conditions".

      Trains between Inverness and Perth have been replaced by buses.

      A Virgin Trains spokesman also said there were reports of flooding affecting trains at Lockerbie.

      Several ferry services have also been cancelled with the disruption expected to last until late on Sunday.

      Scottish Power, which operates further south in Scotland, has now reconnected all homes under its network.

      A Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice is in force for most of Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland and the north of England, Yorkshire and Humberside and the East Midlands.

      The Met Office has a yellow warning in place for rain for Grampian, Strathclyde, Central, Tayside, Fife, Highlands & Eilean Siar from 21:00 on Sunday to 07:00 on Monday.

      Yellow warnings are also in place for wind for much of Monday for all areas. The winds will be strongest in the far north and west, particularly in Shetland.

      A number of flood alerts and warnings remain in place for much of Scotland.

      Warnings and alerts are also in place in England and Wales.

      ScotRail said a number of lines would be inspected for weather-related damage before allowing passenger trains to travel on the routes.

      They include services between Perth and Inverness and Inverness to Kyle, Thurso and Wick.

      Full updates are available on the ScotRail website.

      Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne still has about two dozen services facing weather-related disruption or cancellation.

      Engineers from Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) worked through the night on Saturday to restore power supplies.

      Alan Broadbent, SHEPD director of engineering, said: "Wherever it was safe to do so, our engineers worked through the night to carry out repairs.

      Snow and ice have also been causing problems on the roads
      "This really has become a fight with the weather - we have the people, the resources, the commitment, but what we really need is a bit of luck for the weather to let us do our job and bring comfort to our customers who had to endure such appalling disruption.

      "I would again like to apologise to them for this."

      Teams have been working to make sure vulnerable people without power are catered for:

      Customer call centre staff have spoken to about 800 customers considered a priority
      Hot food and drinks have been provided and batteries for emergency alarms charged
      Oil has been delivered to those with electrical generators
      Accommodation has been given to medically-dependent and disabled customers and blankets provided
      A total of 10,000 meals and 15,000 hot and cold drinks have been served by food businesses
      More than 70 Red Cross volunteers throughout northern Scotland and the Western Isles worked around-the-clock at the weekend to help vulnerable people hit by storm power cuts.

      They carried out welfare checks on scores of SHEPD customers identified as vulnerable by the power company.

      Deputy First Minister John Swinney chaired a further meeting of the Scottish government's resilience team on Sunday.

      He said: "There has been a tremendous effort by staff over the last number of days, in very challenging weather conditions, to restore services to all the remaining households."

      Speaking about the forecast for Monday he added: "The weather fronts will bring particularly strong winds and heavy rain across the north and west of Scotland, the islands and across the central belt overnight and when people are making their way to work in the morning.

      "There is a need for vigilance in connection with surface water and flooding risks."

      Snow and ice
      Snow and ice have also been causing problems across the country.

      Two walkers have been rescued after becoming stranded in the Cairngorms.

      The man and woman raised the alarm on Sunday morning after becoming stuck in snow in the Loch Etchachan area.

      They had sought shelter in a bothy.

      The walkers, who were said to be "very cold" were taken to safety by members of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.

      The rescue follows an operation on Saturday when Cairngorm Mountain Rescue team was called out to a fallen climber who was caught up in blizzard conditions.

      And a 17-year-old is in a critical condition after a crash involving a car and a gritter in South Ayrshire.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      MSPs consider assisted suicide laws

      The Scottish Parliament is to begin scrutinising plans to give terminally ill people the legal right to assisted suicide.

      MSPs will hear the views of police, prosecutors, doctors and others on the proposed legislation.

      Parliament rejected similar proposals in 2010 and the government said it did not support a change in the law.

      Supporters of assisted suicide said public understanding of the issue had since increased.

      They have argued that people whose lives have become intolerable through a progressive degenerative condition or terminal illness should have the right to seek the help of a doctor to help end their lives.

      The bill contains a series of safeguards which aim to prevent abuse of the legislation.

      But those opposed to legal assisted suicide, including the campaign group Care Not Killing, have described it as "unnecessary, unethical and uncontrollable".

      Assisted suicide - the legal position


      It is not illegal to attempt suicide in Scotland, but helping someone take their own life could lead to prosecution.

      In England and Wales, the Suicide Act 1961 makes it an offence to encourage or assist a suicide or a suicide attempt, which is almost identical to the situation in Northern Ireland.

      The Director of Public Prosecutions has to approve any assisted suicide court action in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

      In 2010, Keir Starmer, then the DPP, issued guidance that made it clear that family or friends who travelled with a loved one to the Swiss suicide group Dignitas would not risk prosecution.

      The guidelines were the result of a case brought by Debbie Purdy, a terminally ill woman, who in 2009 won a legal ruling requiring the DPP to set out whether her husband would be committing an offence if he accompanied her to Dignitas to end her life.

      Scotland's prosecution service, the Crown Office, has issued no such guidance.

      Assisted suicide is legal in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Switzerland.

      The Assisted Suicide Bill was brought forward by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who suffered from Parkinson's disease.

      Following Ms MacDonald's death last year, it is now being championed by Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who said there was "substantial public support" for the principle behind the legislation.

      Mr Harvie said there were strong views on both sides of the debate, but added: "I believe this bill represents the continuation of a long term trend toward respect for the right of people to make choices about their own lives, in an informed and supported way, and to decide what kind of assistance they need.

      "We know that most of the public backs this basic principle, and I have little doubt that in time the law in this area will be changed."

      On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament's cross-party health committee is to begin questioning witnesses as the bill begins the first of three stages of parliamentary scrutiny.

      During its first session, MSPs will hear from the Faculty of Advocates, the Law Society of Scotland, Police Scotland and the Crown Office.

      Members of the committee are also to question representatives the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in Scotland.

      Health committee convener and Labour MSP Duncan McNeil, said: "MSPs have a duty to scrutinise the detail behind any proposed piece of legislation, but given that this bill adjudicates on life and death, it is imperative that we robustly and transparently scrutinise what is being proposed."

      The Assisted Suicide Bill states:

      Only those who are terminally ill or who are suffering from deteriorating progressive conditions which make life intolerable can seek assisted suicide.
      An "early warning" aspect, whereby anyone over the age of 16 can inform their GP of their support in principle for assisted suicide.
      The indication can be noted in the person's medical records, but must be stated at least seven days before they can formally request help to end their life.
      Any requests to GPs must be backed up by a second professional opinion, and followed by a 14-day "cooling off" period.
      The process is then repeated again with a second request, after which one of the doctors concerned supplies a licensed facilitator with a prescription to enable assisted suicide to take place.
      The facilitator, or "friend at the end", has no relationship with the patient and is given the task of collecting the prescription and agreeing the process of assisted suicide.
      If the prescription is not used within 14 days, it must be returned to the chemist.
      The health committee, which will also hear from faith groups and campaigners on both sides of the debate, will spend the next few months taking evidence before reporting to parliament in the spring.

      MSPs will then get the opportunity to pass or reject the bill.

      In 2010, the legislation was defeated by 85 votes to 16, with two abstentions, by MSPs who were allowed a free vote on the legislation, rather than on party lines.

      Quelle: BBC News


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Snow due to cause further disruption



      A second spell of persistent snow is expected to cause further disruption for commuters across parts of Scotland during rush hour later.

      Snow and ice affected many roads on Tuesday.

      As the bad weather moved south the Met Office issued an amber "be prepared" warning for central Scotland.

      No train services will run on four west coast routes from 12:00 on Wednesday until 18:00 on Thursday, due to the high winds which are also forecast.

      The amber warning for snow remains in place until 10:00, with yellow warnings for most other parts of the country until Thursday.

      The Met Office has issued an early warning of high winds across the central belt and the south on Wednesday afternoon, through until 15:00 on Thursday.

      This prompted ScotRail to cancel services on the Helensburgh - Dumbarton Central, Kilwinning - Largs/Ardrossan, Kyle - Dingwall and Glasgow - Fort William/Mallaig/Oban routes from midday.

      A spokesman said: "Where conditions permit, we will run buses to replace trains on these routes. However, road authorities warn driving will be difficult, so please consider whether your journey is necessary.

      "Please bear in mind that, while you may be able to travel normally in the morning, increasing wind speeds may affect your homeward journey."

      Network Rail said it had hundreds of engineers "working around the clock" to keep tracks clear of snow and debris and repair any damage.

      David Dickson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: "Where conditions are predicted to be most severe, we have agreed to withdraw a limited number of services until the worst of the storms have passed.

      "During periods of snow and extreme cold we use a number of measures to keep the network open including insulated points heaters to prevent freezing, snow ploughs to remove drifts and our snow train which uses hot air blowers and steam to thaw frozen parts of the network."

      Scotland's Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "We have patrols out across the day and night and motorists can see details of where and when gritters will be in operation through the interactive winter treatments map on the Traffic Scotland website.

      "There is plenty of salt in stock and our winter control rooms are monitoring conditions 24/7 to make sure that the winter fleet is treating and patrolling where required."

      On Tuesday, snow affected many roads in the Highlands and about 30 schools were closed across the region because of the weather.

      A car crashed into a house following a six-vehicle collision in Dundee and a lorry jack-knifed on the A9 near Carrbridge.

      There were also number of minor accidents in the Scottish borders due to "treacherous" conditions.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Sir David Murray companies wound up amid financial problems

      A number of companies run by former Rangers owner Sir David Murray are being wound up.

      The metals and property entrepreneur has petitioned the Court of Session to appoint Deloitte as liquidators for Murray Group Holdings.

      The action is also being taken for subsidiaries Murray Group Management, Premier Property Group and Murray Outsourcing.

      Notice was given on 5 January but only published on Tuesday 13 January.

      The documents state that a meeting was held in Edinburgh at which Sir David Murray conceded that company liabilities have forced the action.

      His business empire has run into conflict with its pensioners over a lack of funds to fulfil their expected pensions. It has been reported that there is a £22m shortfall in the pension fund, and pensioners will have to take reduced pay-outs as a result.

      Liquidation follows moves, under pressure from the Bank of Scotland, to sell off various assets which Sir David Murray had owned.

      Rangers sale

      The highest profile sale was of Rangers. With control of 85% of shares, Sir David sold them to Craig Whyte for £1 in 2011, while it carried debts of £18m

      Its assets were subsequently liquidated. Under new ownership, the football club remains the subject of intense controversy and speculation about its future.

      Following the finance crisis in 2008, the Bank of Scotland required Sir David to sell property, metal suppliers and Response outsourcing and call centres, some of which his family had bought through its different companies.

      In the case of Murray Group Management Limited, formerly Murray International Holdings (the parent company), the general meeting passed the resolution:

      "That it has been proved to the satisfaction of this meeting that the company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business and that it is advisable to wind up the same".

      The move puts the companies into the control of John Charles Reid and Christopher McKay of Deloitte, as joint liquidators.

      The notices published on 13 January in the Edinburgh Gazette state that creditors have eight days to respond.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Scottish climber among three dead in 2,000ft Canada fall

      A man from Scotland has been killed with two others in a fall of almost 2,000ft down a mountain in Canada.

      The bodies of Neil Mackenzie, 31, Elena Cernicka, 35 and Stephanie Grothe, 30, were found below Joffre Peak, in the Pemberton area of British Columbia.

      According to the British Columbia Coroners Service, they were ice-climbing on 11 January when they are thought to have fallen down a couloir.

      The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was providing "assistance".

      Staff Sgt Steve Leclair, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the climbers were part of a group of five but the others were not with them.

      The husband of one of the climbers searched for his wife when they did not return and found her body before raising the alarm.

      Members of Pemberton Search and Rescue then began searching at first light on 12 January.

      The Coroners Service statement said the victims had "apparently fallen more than 600 metres down a couloir".

      Sgt Leclair said the dead "were all found deceased within 40 metres of each other".

      "From what it appears, they had climbed up the main Joffre Peak and got very near the top - and then had a very tragic fall," he said.

      The Coroners Service said Mr Mackenzie, originally from Scotland, and Ms Grothe, from Germany, had been living in Vancouver.

      The FCO spokeswoman said: "We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      BP to announce North Sea job cuts

      Staff in BP's North Sea operation are expected to be briefed later about plans for significant job cuts.

      BP employs nearly 4,000 people in the North Sea, with a further 11,000 elsewhere in the UK.

      The oil giant announced a major restructuring in December in response to the fall in the world oil price, which has halved in recent months.

      It is also expected that, in line with other companies, BP will reduce pay for contractors.

      The briefing will be held at its North Sea headquarters in Aberdeen.

      Last month, BP announced that plans to cut hundreds of jobs within its back-office departments - many of them based in the UK and US - would be accelerated. The restructuring is expected to cost £640m in the coming years.

      BP, which has been downsizing since the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, said it had long planned the cuts, but was speeding up the process due to falling oil prices.

      At the time, a BP spokesman said: "The fall in oil prices has added to the importance of making the organisation more efficient and the right size for the smaller portfolio we now have."

      The price of a barrel of oil has dropped to about $46 from a peak of about $115 last summer.

      BP will be the latest in a string of North Sea operators to have announce job losses, with Shell cutting 250 jobs last August, and Chevron losing 225 in July.

      Some, including the Wood Group and Chevron, have announced salary freezes for staff and pay cuts for contractors.

      The industry said even before oil prices started to fall that it had to address high costs, which included the number of contractors on large, often six-figure salaries.

      On Wednesday, the Scottish first minister said the falling price of oil posed a risk to jobs in the North Sea as she announced a task force was being set up to help the sector.

      Nicola Sturgeon also made the offer of a funded guarantee to support apprenticeships in the industry.
      The Scottish government has previously called for the supplementary charge on the oil and gas industry introduced by the UK government in 2011 to be scrapped.

      That position is backed by industry body Oil and Gas UK, which has argued that further tax cuts would help the sector deal with falling oil prices.

      Also on Wednesday, Bank of England governor Mark Carney told a House of Commons committee that plunging oil prices represented a "negative shock" to the Scottish economy, which is heavily reliant on North Sea reserves.

      But Mr Carney said he believed the fall - which has fed through to ultra-low inflation which it is hoped will boost consumer spending - was an overall positive development for the UK.

      Energy analysts Wood Mackenzie have warned that if the oil price slipped below the $40 mark operators could consider closing down wells.

      Wood Mackenzie told Scottish Energy News that with prices at $50 a barrel, oil production would cost more than its value in 17 countries, including both the UK and the US.

      The UK government has insisted it is supporting the North Sea industry through a package of allowances and tax reliefs as part of the Autumn Statement and the on-going implementation of the Wood Review.

      Ed Davey, the UK energy secretary, will be in Aberdeen later to meet oil and gas executives.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Celtic Connections opens with homage to Martyn Bennett

      The opening concert of the 22nd Celtic Connections music festival will pay tribute to visionary Scottish musician who died of cancer a decade ago.

      Martyn Bennett died in 2005, at the age of 33, but his blending of traditional tunes with dance beats revolutionised the musical landscape.

      The festival runs for 18 days until 1 February at venues across Glasgow.

      It will feature more than 300 events and about 2,000 musicians from all over the world.

      Highlights of the festival programme include a tribute to singer, songwriter, author, poet and activist Ewan MacColl, who established Scotland's first folk club.

      There will also be a celebration of the life and music of Rory Gallagher, the Irish-born blues-rock guitarist who died in 1995.

      The line-up for the festival also includes big names such as Fairport Convention, appearing for the first time since 2006, Tweedy, Shooglenifty, Lambchop, King Creosote, Eddi Reader and Karine Polwart.

      Glaswegian film score composer Craig Armstrong, whose lengthy list of credits include Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge! as well as Love Actually, Fever Pitch, The Incredible Hulk and The Great Gatsby, will revisit some of his best-loved cinematic work and perform tracks from his new album.

      While Crossing The Minch pays homage to Pipe Major Donald MacLeod who survived World War Two to become one of the world's greatest pipers.

      Celtic Connections musical director Donald Shaw said one of the unique features of Celtic Connections was the one-off collaborations between artists from different traditions around the world.

      He also said that artists such as Carlos Nunez, Le Vent du Nord and Angelique Kidjo had been asked to "think outside the box and do something really special for Glasgow".

      The opening concert on Thursday night is dedicated to Bennett, an iconoclastic virtuoso who blended traditional voices with hard-core electronic dance beats.

      The concert will feature a full orchestration of his final album, Grit, which has been credited with starting the musical evolution of Celtic fusion.

      Donald Shaw said Bennett had constantly tried to find a way to present Scottish music in a different light.

      He said: "Like all great innovators he was not copying, he was not trying to recreate what had gone before.

      "He felt that traditional songs should live and breathe in whatever form could be exciting musically. He saw that as being liberating for the music and the songs."

      For the opening concert, violinist and composer Greg Lawson has reconstructed the studio-created album for a custom-designed orchestra of folk, jazz and classical players.

      Lawson's reimagined version features a cast of about 80 musicians and singers.

      "When you enter the landscape of Martyn Bennett's mind," he said.

      "It's amazing how many people you need to accomplish what he did by himself."

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Ebola tests in Edinburgh for patient who recently returned from west Africa

      A woman who recently returned from west Africa is being tested for Ebola at a hospital in Edinburgh.

      She was admitted to the Western General Hospital on Thursday after developing a fever.

      However, there has been no confirmation that she is suffering from the deadly virus.

      She was taken by secure ambulance to the hospital's infectious diseases unit and was being kept in an isolation unit.

      Melanie Johnson, Director of Unscheduled Care at NHS Lothian, said: "A patient who recently returned to Scotland from west Africa has been admitted to our Regional Infectious Diseases Unit (RIDU) at the Western General Hospital after they reported a raised temperature.

      "As a precautionary measure, and in line with agreed procedures, the patient will be screened for possible infections and will be kept in isolation.

      "We have robust systems in place to manage patients with suspected infectious diseases and follow agreed and tested national guidelines."

      False alarm
      The suspected Ebola case in Edinburgh comes around 24 hours after Northampton General Hospital said it was treating a possible case.

      The hospital has since confirmed that the female patient, who has a history of travel to west Africa, tested negative for the virus.

      A Scottish government spokesperson said: "We are aware that, as a precautionary measure, NHS Lothian has admitted a patient who has returned from West Africa.

      "In line with agreed procedures, the patient will be screened for possible infections including Ebola and will be kept in isolation, again as a precaution.

      "Scotland has a robust health protection surveillance system which monitors global disease outbreaks and ensures that we are fully prepared to respond to such situations."

      Last month a Scottish nurse, Pauline Cafferkey, from South Lanarkshire, became the first confirmed UK case of Ebola after she returned from Sierra Leone where she had been working with the charity Save the Children.

      She is being treated at London's Royal Free Hospital and was in a critical condition although she has since improved.

      Ms Cafferkey, 39, had travelled home to Scotland via Casablanca, Morocco, and Heathrow Airport in London.

      She was later placed in an isolation unit at Glasgow's Gartnavel Hospital after becoming feverish, before being transferred by RAF Hercules plane to London on 30 December, and taken to the Royal Free's specialist treatment centre.

      Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood, vomit or faeces.

      The virus has killed more than 8,400 people, almost all in West Africa, since it broke out a year ago.

      The World Health Organization says the number of people infected by the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea has now passed 20,000.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Record numbers use Scottish food banks

      A record number of adults and children relied upon food banks in Scotland in December, according to new figures obtained by the BBC.

      Nearly 10,500 people visited the Trussell Trust's 48 food banks for the first time in the charity's history.

      The data also reveals a third of users cited low income - and not welfare benefit delays - for their predicament.

      The figure is a 13% increase from the 9,263 people who used a Trussell Trust food bank in December 2013.

      BBC Scotland wants your help in compiling a definitive list of all the food banks in Scotland. Please take just one minute to fill out this short form with details of your local food bank(s).
      In December 2014, 10,489 people visiting Scottish food banks were given a three day supply of nutritionally balanced food by the charity - a third of them children.

      The charity underlined that the final figure for December visits is likely to be even higher as food bank staff continue to input data into their system.

      'Harrowing accounts'
      Ewan Gurr, the charity's network manager for Scotland, said he was concerned that many low income families were forced to face hunger in the run-up to Christmas due to financial difficulties.

      Continue reading the main story

      Start Quote

      We hear from the families choosing whether to prioritise heating their homes or feeding their families ”

      Ewan Gurr
      The Trussell Trust
      He said: "Every day we are hearing working people describe the devastating reality of sustaining their families with static incomes and unstable employment against consistently rising costs of essentials like food and rent.

      "In the most harrowing accounts, we hear from the families choosing whether to prioritise heating their homes or feeding their families and parents losing weight because they overlook their own health and wellbeing to feed their children."

      The Trust, which partners with churches and communities, currently operates more than 1,200 food distribution centres across the UK.

      The number of people using their Scotland-based food banks increased by 398% between 2012/13 and 2013/14.

      However, Northern Ireland and the North East of England have seen even larger increases during the same timeframe (489% and 463% respectively).

      The Trust's figures also reveal Dundee had the highest number of adults (3,750) using food banks in the last year, while south east Glasgow had the highest number of children (1,975).

      A scoping study funded by the Scottish government in 2013 to provide insight into the extent of food aid provision in Scotland, reported that Trussell Trust's data is a good indicator of general provision and demand trends and reasons for demand experienced by other providers of food parcels.

      The study recognised that there are many non-Trust food banks - they account for only 20% of all food centres in Glasgow - but that there is no definitive list of Scottish food banks.

      Mr Gurr said: "We must accept that the rising need for emergency food in Scotland is unacceptable and the long-term reduction of food poverty must be a priority for policy makers across the spectrum."

      The Scottish government blamed welfare changes and other policies introduced by the UK government.

      Alex Neil, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights, said many people in work rely on benefits.

      He added: "The massive increase in food banks is primarily due to the low wage economy we are living in and the benefits changes that have been introduced by Westminster.

      "What we need is a living wage across the country, and a benefits system that keeps people out of poverty instead of putting people into poverty."

      But the UK government insisted it was working to reduce poverty.

      A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "The UK Government spends £94bn a year on working age benefits to provide a safety net to support millions of people who are unemployed or on low incomes so they can meet their basic needs.

      "Reforms to welfare are designed to bring fairness back to the system and help people into work - 52,000 more people are now in jobs in Scotland compared to this time last year, giving more people the peace of mind and security that comes with a steady income."

      Falling incomes

      For the first time in 2014, 3,005 people (28%) said they used a Scottish food bank due to low income in December, closely followed by 2,527 (24%) because of a benefit delay, and 1,555 (15%) due to a benefit change.

      The Clyde, Avon and Nethan food bank reported that 77% of people given a food package in December cited low income as the main contributing factor.

      Many users visiting the food banks at Airdrie and Lochaber also blamed low incomes (50% and 48% respectively).

      However, this compared to 5% at the Alness and Invergordon food bank, where 74% attributed the need for food parcels to changes in their benefits.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Unions holding oil and gas talks in Aberdeen

      Unions leaders and the offshore body Oil and Gas UK are to hold talks about the future of the industry.

      The RMT union said the "ongoing threat to jobs and the long-term security of the UK's energy supplies" would be discussed in Aberdeen on Friday.

      The RMT said it would be pushing for a halt to job cuts.

      It comes the day after energy giant BP announced 200 jobs and 100 contractor roles would go following a review of its North Sea operations.

      The price of a barrel of oil dropped to a low of about $46 earlier this week from a peak of about $115 last summer.

      RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "RMT believes that these big, wealthy companies are forcing offshore workers to bear the brunt of what we see as a complete failure to plan for a downturn like the one we have been plunged into due to the slump in oil prices.

      "Instead they have gone for a short-term slash and burn approach that will have long-term implications for the future of the entire industry and the security of the UK's energy supplies.

      "RMT, along with our sister unions, is meeting with Oil and Gas UK where we will be pushing for a halt to the job cuts programme and an emergency package of measures to stave off the destruction of both jobs and infrastructure."

      'Real challenge'

      He added: "The union is also continuing to lobby politicians for incentives to allow exploration, maintenance, safety and engineering development works to take place during this emergency period for the industry."

      UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey - who met industry leaders in Aberdeen on Thursday following BP's announcement - hinted that some tax breaks for the sector could be included in George Osborne's Budget.

      A new task force, led by the first chief executive of the new oil and gas regulator, Andy Samuels, has been asked to report next month.

      Mr Osborne later told the BBC that falling oil prices had "helped families" and "cut prices at the petrol pumps".

      He added: "Of course that's all very welcome. But there is one part of our country where it's a real challenge and that's the North Sea oil and gas industry which is a really important industry for us.

      "That's why this month we have cut taxes in the North Sea and of course, with the budget approaching we're going to look at what more we can do to support investment there."

      On Wednesday, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the falling price of oil posed a risk to jobs in the North Sea as she also announced the Scottish government was setting up its own task force to help the sector.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Heavy snowfall causes transport woes




      Heavy snowfall across parts of Scotland on Friday evening has caused travel disruption on many routes.

      Central and south western areas were badly affected with numerous breakdowns leading to long queues.

      Glasgow Airport warned of delays and the Rangers v Hearts match at Ibrox was abandoned..

      Transerv Scotland, which deals with highways in south west Scotland, said it had 26 gritters working around the clock to keep 22 major routes open.

      The A76 near Cumnock and New Cumnock was closed for a time because of snowy conditions as was the A751 at Stranraer.

      Long queues developed on the M80 after three buses became stuck on the A806 towards Kirkintilloch.

      The Erskine Bridge was closed southbound because of the conditions but traffic was later allowed to cross.

      Police Scotland warned motorists they faced a high risk of disruption if attempting to travel in the Strathclyde or Dumfries and Galloway areas.

      A police statement said: "If you do travel, you are likely to experience significant delays.

      "Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict emergency, recovery or winter maintenance vehicles from providing essential assistance or from clearing roads."



      A travel bulletin issued by Glasgow City Council said: "Roads users should be aware that heavy snow is affecting most routes throughout Glasgow City. Breakdowns and stranded vehicles are blocking numerous routes. Only travel if necessary."

      Bear Scotland, which deals with routes in the north of the country, said the north east was largely unaffected.

      The north west was facing sporadic snow showers, especially around Glencoe, but there were no significant issues with the main trunk routes.

      Winter patrols were out monitoring the situation, a spokeswoman said.

      Quelle: BBS News


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."

      Rangers: Fans protest against board at Ibrox Stadium

      About 600 Rangers fans gathered outside Ibrox before and after the abandoned Championship game against Hearts in a protest against the club's board.
      In the snow, they chanted against shareholder Mike Ashley, who wants the stadium as security for a £10m loan, and the club's directors.
      Rangers require emergency funding, with the club unable to pay January's wages.
      Police Scotland say officers dealt with a disturbance outside the ground but there were no details of arrests.
      The protest came after news that Newcastle United and Sports Direct owner Ashley had offered a £10m loan, but wanted Ibrox Stadium and the Murray Park training ground as security for it.

      Rangers had previously said they would never allow Ibrox to be used as security against a loan.
      Ashley owns 8.92% of the shares but his attempt to increase that stake to almost 30% was rejected by the Scottish Football Association.
      The consortium comprising Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor, which owns 20% of Rangers, has said it will increase its offer of £5m in funding to avoid the board opting for Ashley's cash.
      "Rangers fans, including ourselves, do not want Ibrox given over as security to anyone," said a spokesman for the consortium, which wants two board positions in exchange for the cash.

      "There is absolutely no need when there are people ready and committed to offer more-than-adequate funding, while at the same time protecting the stadium."
      Prior to kick-off on Friday, news emerged that Dave King, who owns 15% of the shares, had lodged paperwork calling for a general meeting to remove all four directors from the Rangers board.
      The South Africa-based businessman, who owns 15% of the club, wants a board comprising fellow ex-director Paul Murray and John Gilligan, an ex-vice-chair of the Rangers Supporters Trust.
      King is seeking the removal of David Somers, James Easdale, Derek Llambias and Barry Leach.

      Quelle: BBC


      “For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary. It is all. It is undying. And it is enough.”



      "I wanted ye from the first moment I saw ye. But I loved ye when ye wept in my arms that first night at Leoch. But now...I wake up every day, and I find that I love you more than I did the day before."