In split vote, probe says Scottish leader misled lawmakers
A Scottish parliamentary investigation says Sturgeon misled lawmakers about sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor. Lawmakers have been investigating the Scottish governments handling of sexual harassment allegations against former First Minister Alex Salmond. A report published Tuesday says Sturgeon gave lawmakers an inaccurate account of what happened at a key meeting with Salmond in 2018 and "misled the committee on this matter. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)LONDON โ A Scottish parliamentary investigation concluded in a split decision Tuesday that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon misled lawmakers about sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor. โฆ But I am clear in my mind that I acted appropriately and that I made the right judgements overall," Sturgeon told lawmakers.
Lawyer clears Scotland's leader of misleading lawmakers
FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks during a 'Scotland's European Future after Brexit' event at the European Policy Center in Brussels. Sturgeon did not mislead lawmakers or act improperly over sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor, a senior lawyer said Monday, March 22, 2021 in his report into a scandal that is roiling Scottish politics. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool, File)LONDON โ Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon didn't mislead lawmakers or act improperly over sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor, a senior lawyer said Monday in his report into a scandal that has roiled Scottish politics. Hamiltonโs probe centers on the Scottish governmentโs handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond, who served as Scotlandโs first minister before Sturgeon took office in 2014. The political and personal feud has pitted Sturgeon against her former friend and mentor Salmond, and is wracking Scotlandโs governing Scottish National Party.
Justice Department charges bombmaker in 1988 Pan Am explosion
WASHINGTON โ The Justice Department announced new charges Monday against a Libyan bombmaker in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, an attack that killed 259 people in the air and 11 on the ground. But it nonetheless represents one of the more consequential counterterrorism announcements from the Trump administration Justice Department. โAt long last, this man responsible for killing Americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes," Barr said. The New York-bound Pan Am flight exploded over Lockerbie less than an hour after takeoff from London on Dec. 21, 1988. Besides Barr, another key figure in the Lockerbie investigation was Robert Mueller, who was the Justice Departmentโs criminal chief at the time the first set of charges was announced.
Douglas Stuart hopes Booker win helps working-class writers
FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 file photo, Douglas Stuart speaks at The 2020 Booker Prize Awards Ceremony, at the Roundhouse in London. The Scottish writer was at home on Manhattans Lower East Side when he was announced as the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize last week. The Scottish writer was at home in Manhattan when he was announced as the winner of the 2020 Booker Prize last week. Glasgow-born Stuart is only the second Scottish Booker winner in the 51-year history of the prize, open to English-language novels from around the world. Stuart thinks itโs important โ and overdue โ that a working-class writer has won the Booker Prize.
UK's Johnson allegedly brands powers for Scotland a disaster
But it said he was not criticizing devolution, only its use โby separatists and nationalists to break up the U.K.โโThe PM has always supported devolution,โ Downing St. said in a statement. Brexit was championed by Johnson and supported by a narrow majority of U.K. voters in a 2016 referendum, but strongly opposed in Scotland. Scotland voted to remain in the U.K. by a margin of 55%-45% in a 2014 independence referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation event. If Sturgeonโs SNP wins the anticipated majority, she is likely to demand a new independence referendum. U.K. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick defended Johnson, saying he did not oppose Scotland exercising its own powers.
Sean Connery, the 'original' James Bond, dies at 90
FILE - In this Jan. 23, 1987 file photo, actor Sean Connery holds a rose in his hand as he talks about his new movie "The Name of the Rose" at a news conference in London. Scottish actor Sean Connery, considered by many to have been the best James Bond, has died aged 90, according to an announcement from his family. โHe was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words โ โThe nameโs Bond... James Bond,โโ they said in a statement. By then he was at peace with James Bond, and when he arrived onstage at the Oscars ceremony he declared, โThe nameโs Connery. Thomas Sean Connery was born Aug. 25, 1930, in Edinburgh, Scotland, the first of two sons of a long-distance truck driver and a domestic worker.
Sean Connery, actor who played James Bond dies at 90
Published: October 31, 2020, 8:54 am Updated: October 31, 2020, 9:23 amDETROIT โ Sean Connery, the legendary actor who played James Bond has died, according to The Independent. The Scottish actor played the British Spy from 1962 until 1983. Detailed Update: Scottish actor Sean Connery has died at the age of 90
The Latest: Scottish Open decides not to have limited fans
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The European Tour has decided against having a limited number of fans for the Scottish Open next week. The tour says because of a recent update on the Scottish government's guidelines for COVID-19, the tournament at the Renaissance Club with not have spectators. It would have been the second golf tournament to have fans, after the Sanford International two weeks ago in South Dakota on the PGA Tour Champions. Another postponed game, Virginia-Virginia Tech, had previously been moved to that date as well. The positive tests at Notre Dame also caused South Florida to pause on-field football activities Wednesday.
The Latest: Scottish Cup final to be played in December
The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___This seasons Scottish Cup final will be played midway through next season. The Scottish soccer federation says the pandemic-delayed competition will be completed on Dec. 20. That is more than seven months after the original date for the final on May 9. The 2020-21 season in the Scottish league will start on Aug. 1. The 2019-20 league season did not resume after the lockdown and Celtic was declared champion based on average points per game.
Sleepy Kitten Nearly Falls Asleep into Its Mug of Coffee
Taro, an Instagram-famous Scottish kilt, came close to falling into its coffee-filled mug as it fought to keep its eyes open. The 12-week-old kitten living in the San Francisco Bay Area had recently gotten its vaccinations, which caused side effects like wheezing and sniffling and, apparently looking tired while perched on a mug. Vet told us not to worry but weve been monitoring him closely and he is puurfectly healthy now and still loves perching on everything, its owner told Reuters. Taro and its Maine coon sibling Zippo are featured on the Instagram page @taroandzippo, and are often seen cuddling, playing or snoozing. RELATED STORIESKitten Miraculously Survives 30-Minute Cycle in Family Washing MachineOil-Soaked Kitten Rescued After Taking Shelter in Charred Truck During California WildfiresCouple Ditches Cocktail Hour for 'Kitten Hour' at Their Wedding
Boris Johnson says he didn't lie to the Queen
LONDON - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has rejected accusations that he lied to the Queen over his controversial suspension of Parliament in the run-up to the Brexit deadline. Johnson was asked on Thursday if he had lied to the monarch, after a Scottish court ruled the day before that his government's advice to the Queen, which led to the five-week prorogation, was "unlawful." "Absolutely not," Johnson replied, according to the UK Press Association. "We need a Queen's Speech, we need to get on and do all sorts of things at a national level," Johnson added. The Scottish judges disagreed with the government, saying Wednesday that the suspension was motivated by the "improper purpose of stymying Parliament."
Mom Posts Hysterical Before-and-After Pics of 5-Year-Old Daughter's 1st Day of School
Little Lucie looked a whole lot different after her first day at school. The 5-year-old Scottish lass ventured out neat as a pin for her inaugural class, with her knee socks pulled up tight, her hair brushed and pulled back with a bow, and her school tie tucked neatly into her black skirt. When she emerged at the end of the day, she looked much worse for wear. "Her dad had messaged me from work, asking how her first day went," Falconer added. RELATED STORIESKindergarten Teacher Says Yes to Letting Students Draw on Her DressMaking the Grade: Kindergarten Students Get a Surprise Classroom MakeoverStudent Reenacts Photo From First Day Of Kindergarten at High School Graduation
Obi-Wan Kenobi and 'The Mandalorian' bring the Force to Disney+
(CNN) - Obi-Wan Kenobi will bring the Force to Disney+, which -- along with the first trailer for "The Mandalorian" -- capped the studio's presentation for its new streaming service at the D23 Expo. That includes "The Mandalorian," the first live-action "Star Wars" series, which will make its debut when the service launches. Kennedy noted that the service would have access to all the movies, including the upcoming "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," putting "over 40 years of 'Star Wars' storytelling in one place." Another series is in the works starring Diego Luna as the character he played in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." That brings to eight the total number of shows that the comic-book powerhouse is producing for Disney+, including several previously announced titles featuring Avengers characters.
Scotland beach airport's runway disappears at high tide
(CNN) - Wild and windswept, the Scottish island of Barra lies in the Outer Hebrides, a far outpost of Britain in the North Atlantic. But it's this scenic 140-mile flight, and the airport it connects to, which draws tourists and aviation enthusiasts from all over. Barra Airport is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach. At just a notch below seven on the Beaufort scale, which means high winds, it sounds breezy enough. The aircraft pulls up in front of a small building where the beach meets the shore and the engines stop.
Boy gets word his letter to father in heaven was delivered
A 7-year-old Scottish boy addressed a letter to his father in heaven, left it for his postman and received a heartwarming reply. Just weeks after Jase Hyndman dropped the letter in the mail, he received confirmation from postman Sean Milligan with Royal Mail that his letter had made a safe delivery. "This was a difficult challenge avoiding stars and other galactic objects on the route to heaven ... " Milligan wrote. โHowever please be assured that this particular important item of mail has been delivered.โJase's mother, Teri Copland, took to Facebook to show her gratitude for the postman's response, thanking him for his effort and saying that he "just restored my faith in humanity." A few weeks ago my 7 year old son posted this card to his dad in heaven and today he got a lovely reply from the postman... Posted by Copland Teri on Wednesday, November 28, 2018The BBC reported that Jase was overwhelmed after receiving Milligan's letter, telling his mother, "Dad really got my letter, Mum.โ