Scotland - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Carrot harvest helped detectorist find hoard of ancient coins

Angie Brown | BBC — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 19:14:24 +0000

When Alan Baxter found a medieval ring in a farmer’s field he knew there could be more ancient artefacts nearby – but the stubble from the thick oat crop made it difficult for his metal detector to get anywhere near the ground. So he waited.

Four years later the farmer had planted and harvested carrots.

“It must have had a deep plough when the carrots got lifted and I could get my detector right to the soil,” the 44-year-old told BBC Scotland News.

“Every 3ft I was getting a signal. I couldn’t move, there was stuff everywhere.

“I didn’t want to go home.”

The highlight of his haul in 2022 was a hoard of farthings from the reign of 15th Century Scottish King James III.

“I got my first one and I knew it was really rare because I know my coins,” he said.

“After that it was just like a tap, it just kept on going, and over the course of a few weeks I pulled 52 of them.”

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-68659675

[Disclaimer]

The post Carrot harvest helped detectorist find hoard of ancient coins first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Rishi Sunak confirms UK could block Scotland’s gender recognition bill

Peter Walker, Kiran Stacey and Libby Brooks | The Guardian — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 21:10:33 +0000

Westminster looking at ‘nuclear option’ to stop bill on self-identification for people wanting to change legal gender

Rishi Sunak has waded into the row over Scotland’s gender recognition bill, insisting it was “perfectly reasonable” to assess its potential impact on women.

The prime minister confirmed on Friday that the UK government is considering blocking the new law, which makes it easier for trans people to legally change their gender.

Westminster officials now have 28 days to decide whether to deploy the “nuclear option” of prohibiting the bill from going for royal assent, after Scotland on Thursday became the first part of the UK to introduce a self-identification system.

The UK’s Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, said he could invoke section 35 of the Scotland Act, which in effect gives him a veto on laws he believes have an impact on constitutionally reserved matters – a decision that could set the stage for a bitter constitutional clash.

While gender recognition is devolved to Holyrood, equalities legislation – which the new law will interact with – is reserved to Westminster.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/dec/23/rishi-sunak-confirms-uk-could-block-scotlands-gender-recognition-bill

__________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer]

The post Rishi Sunak confirms UK could block Scotland’s gender recognition bill first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill – What it means and what comes next

Neil Pooran | PA Media — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 21:11:38 +0000

The Scottish Parliament has passed a law which reforms the gender recognition process in Scotland.

The Gender Recognition Reform Bill passed after lengthy debates at Holyrood, often amid divisive political rhetoric.

It has been discussed for years, with strong opinions for and against changing the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.

Here are some of the key points, and what comes next.

What does the Bill do?

The main element of the Bill is to make it easier for trans people to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC) by removing the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

It will also lower the minimum age for applicants from 18 to 16 and drop the time required for an applicant to live in their acquired gender from two years to three months – six for people aged 16 and 17 – though with a subsequent, three-month reflection period.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.aol.com/scotland-gender-recognition-reform-bill-151954748.html

__________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer]

The post Scotland’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill – What it means and what comes next first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Scottish independence: What is a de facto referendum?

By Philip Sim | BBC — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 22:04:51 +0000

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants the next general election to be a “de facto referendum” on independence, after the Supreme Court ruled that she does not have the power to hold an actual referendum without the UK’s government’s consent.

But what is a de facto referendum and is there any prospect of it settling the issue of independence once and for all?

Why is this happening?

The Scottish government was planning to hold an independence referendum on 19 October 2023.

But judges at the Supreme Court ruled that this can only happen if the UK government agrees, as it did in the run-up to the previous referendum in 2014.

With no realistic prospect of that happening any time soon, Ms Sturgeon was left looking for another way to put the question to the country.

She now wants to use the next UK general election – which must be held by January 2025 at the latest – as a “de facto referendum”.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63742281

____________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer]

The post Scottish independence: What is a de facto referendum? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Emergency Rent Freeze and Eviction Ban Becomes Law in Scotland

Owen Evans | Epoch Times — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:53:40 +0000

Temporary state-dictated rent controls become law until at least March 2023 in Scotland.

The Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Act gives ministers temporary power to cap rent increases for public and private rented properties, as well as for student accommodation.

The Scottish government says this is to help with the cost of living crisis. The Bill received Royal Assent on Friday, understood to be the first piece of Holyrood legislation to be given so by King Charles III.

The emergency law applies to in-tenancy rent increases, with the cap set at zero percent from 6 Sept. 2022 until at least 31 March 2023, effectively freezing rents for most tenants during this period.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com/emergency-rent-freeze-and-eviction-ban-becomes-law-in-scotland_4826764.html

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer]

The post Emergency Rent Freeze and Eviction Ban Becomes Law in Scotland first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

More snow and ice expected as cold snap continues (UK-Scotland)

Barney Davis - Evening Standard — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:03:47 +0000

A cold snap has replaced last week’s sunshine and highs of 20C, with top temperatures predicted to be around 10C heading into the weekend.

More snow, hail, and ice is expected in parts of England and Scotland in a sharp change of weather from last week.

A cold snap has replaced last week’s sunshine and highs of 20C, with top temperatures across the UK set to be around 10C heading into the weekend.

A Met Office yellow weather warning for ice covering a large swathe of eastern Scotland, north-east England and Yorkshire until 10am on Thursday states that “snow and hail showers could lead to icy surfaces, with possible travel disruption”.

A spokesperson for the Met Office warned that more weather warnings could be issued for Friday morning.

Meteorologist Matty Box said that there was currently a “cold air mass” over the UK.

“There is an ice warning out at the moment. If there’s any melt and it refreezes over night then there’s an ice risk.

“I suspect there will be a similar risk for Thursday night to Friday morning.”

He added that there will be a similar chance of snow over Thursday night and Friday morning as well.

“It will be concentrated and there will be snow showers”, he said.

“It will be eastern and northern areas of the UK that are more likely to see any showers of rain, sleet or snow.”

The weather will then improve over the weekend, with some sunny spells.

“Showers will become less frequent, but still with the chance of some wintry showers effects in the east coast and the North Sea coast in particular through Saturday”, Mr Box said.

“There should be a fair amount of sunshine as well with sunny spells in between.”

Temperatures fell below freezing on Wednesday night through to Thursday morning, with councils issuing emergency protocols to deal with the sudden change.

Councils in Newcastle City, North Tyneside and Gateshead all introduced their severe weather emergency protocols on Wednesday night – which included services to help people who are sleeping rough try to stay safe.

Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/scotland-met-office-england-terry-smith-yorkshire-b991605.html

[Disclaimer]

The post More snow and ice expected as cold snap continues (UK-Scotland) first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Covid in Scotland: Hospitals under more pressure than ever, say medics

Lisa Summers — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 14:55:18 +0000

Scotland’s hospitals are under more pressure than ever, doctors have told BBC Scotland.

While the number of COVID patients has fallen, the NHS is trying to catch up with surgeries and treatments put on hold during the first wave of the pandemic.

But more people are also being admitted with other complex, more advanced disease, having put off seeking treatment.

It’s leading to long waits in emergency departments and piling pressure on capacity in other parts of the hospital.

As the Scottish government prepares to publish a COVID recovery plan for the NHS, medics at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital spoke to BBC Scotland’s health correspondent Lisa Summers.

Dr Alan Whitelaw says the hospital is a “very difficult place to work just now”.

It’s 10am on Tuesday at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The emergency department is full. Five seriously ill patients are in resus, all 16 assessment cubicles are occupied. Some have been waiting more than 12 hours for a bed to become available elsewhere in the hospital.

Dr Alan Whitelaw, a consultant in emergency medicine who heads up the department, says: “The demand is something I have never seen before, it is busier than the Queen Elizabeth has ever been in its six years of existence.”

It is a similar picture in other emergency departments. Data published this week by Public Health Scotland shows nationally just 78.7% of patients were admitted, treated or discharged within four hours, and 182 people spent more than 12 hours in an A&E.

Dr Whitelaw says the pressures in the emergency department are a reflection of how stretched the NHS is, with very few beds available in other parts of the hospital.

“Lying on a trolley for a number of hours anywhere is unpleasant, it also turns the tension up, everyone is waiting and everyone is not as satisfied as they otherwise would be,” he says.

“It’s a very difficult place to come and work just now. It’s very tiring, very draining, stressful and you can see that on the staff on a day-by-day basis.”

The last 18 months have been the most difficult in the 20 year career of Helen Dorrance.

Other parts of the hospital are equally busy. Staff are still treating COVID patients but in far fewer numbers. Instead, they are seeing many more patients who have more complex and advanced disease.

Helen Dorrance, a senior surgeon who specializes in cancer, has more than 20 years’ experience but says the last 18 months have been the most difficult of her career.

“The waiting times for clinics and for investigations like colonoscopy and endoscopy and for day surgery in particular are huge at the moment, so I have no idea when we are going to be out of this other than it is not going to be any time quickly,” she says.

It is very hard knowing that delays in starting treatment have led to worse outcomes for some patients, she adds.

“It makes you very sad for the individual, sometimes angry. It’s very difficult knowing that had an individual come six months earlier then the discussions might have been different, the outcome for them and for their families might have been completely different.”

Senior charge nurse Lauren Johnson gets emotional talking about the toll COVID took on her patients

At the start of the pandemic, it was care-of-the-elderly wards which were the first to be turned into COVID wards.

Senior charge nurse Lauren Johnson says staff had to adapt quickly to wearing PPE and communicating with sometimes confused or hard-of-hearing patients who were scared and couldn’t see their families.

“It’s a blur, it really is,” she says. “The five months I worked on the COVID hub was so difficult, I didn’t see my family.

“I get emotional just talking about it, just seeing our wee frail patients not getting the chance for their families to say goodbye sometimes, and we were the ones saying goodbye to them, it was really, really difficult.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life.”

There are 244 care-of-the-elderly beds at the Queen Elizabeth, most of them are back to treating non-COVID patients, but all of them are occupied.

Dr Lara Mitchell says they are seeing more people presenting late with illness.

Clinical lead and consultant in medicine for the elderly, Dr Lara Mitchell, says the patients who come to them are also sicker.

“We are still full, we are still busy,” she says. “The pandemic has been hard for all of us but it has been particularly bad for the older adult.

“They’ve not been connected with as many of their family and friends, they’ve not had ways to meet, so patients are not as strong as they used to be.

“All of that impacts on their general health when they have other medical issues going on, and I think that is what we are seeing, a lot of deconditioning as well as late presentation of illness because people have held on at home.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish government said they recognized the additional pressure NHS staff were facing, and were in daily contact with boards facing the greatest challenges.

“We are delivering record funding of more than £16bn in 2021-22 to support NHS Scotland and its heroic staff through the most challenging period in history – and after careful and extensive consultation we are currently finalizing our NHS recovery plan which will set out plans to increase inpatient, day-case and outpatient activity,” they added.

Getting the health service back on track is going to be a huge challenge. Spending on healthcare already amounts to about half of the entire Scottish budget, and there have been long-standing difficulties recruiting staff.

Four ambulances parked outside the emergency department have patients onboard

Outside the emergency department, four ambulances are parked up. They are waiting with patients onboard until there is room in the department. It means four less ambulances on the road.

Social distancing rules limit numbers in the waiting room and a queue has formed outside. A nurse is patiently explaining the pressures today and helping patients work out if they would get better treatment elsewhere.

Dr Whitelaw says: “If you’ve got what you perceive to be a life-threatening condition you should absolutely come to the emergency department, whether that is by 999 ambulance or getting here yourself.

“I think if you’ve not got what you think is a life-threatening condition you should access NHS 24 on 111 rather than just coming to an emergency department, because demand currently exceeds supply and we are full today.”

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58179736

[Disclaimer]

The post Covid in Scotland: Hospitals under more pressure than ever, say medics first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Boris Johnson denies Sturgeon snub on Scotland visit

Lewis McKenzie — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 19:09:58 +0000

The Prime Minister spoke out at the start of his two-day visit to Scotland on Wednesday.

Boris Johnson visits Scotland. – STV News

Boris Johnson has denied snubbing Nicola Sturgeon during his visit to Scotland.

The First Minister had written to the Prime Minister inviting him to her Bute House residence in Edinburgh.

However, Johnson declined the invitation, with Sturgeon later describing it as a “missed opportunity”.

The Prime Minister also praised people in Scotland for the high rate of COVID vaccination in the country.

“We work together, the government of the UK, the Scottish Government, at all levels, work together on the things that matter to the people of our country,” Johnson told STV News when asked about the invite.

“Particularly, rolling out vaccinations and generally, making sure that we bounce back and build back better from the pandemic and we’re going to continue to do that”.

‘Really fantastic achievement by the people of Scotland coming forward to get vaccinated.’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

He continued: “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the Scottish Government, and will do so getting ready for COP26.

“But above all, completing our rollout of the vaccines, which has been a pan-UK effort, a fantastic effort by our National Health Service, by the armed services, by the volunteers, a wonderful tribute to the efforts of the whole country.

“And I thank the Scottish Government for what they’ve been doing. A really high rate of vaccination here in Scotland, really fantastic achievement by the people of Scotland coming forward to get vaccinated.

“Working with them to finish that, but also making sure that we have a very strong economic recovery and I think the country is well placed to do that.”

The Prime Minister was speaking in Scotland after it was announced that coronavirus vaccines will be offered to those aged 16 and 17, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI).

Asked if the vaccination programme could be extended to those under the age of 16, Johnsons said politicians should take their lead from the JCVI.

He said: “I think it’s very important that everybody in politics listens first to the clinicians and the medical experts.

“And I would just urge all families thinking about this across the country to listen to the JCVI… they are extremely expert, they’re amongst the best, if not the best, in the world.

“They know what’s safe and I think we should listen to them and take our lead from them.”

Source: https://news.stv.tv/politics/boris-johnson-denies-sturgeon-snub-on-scotland-visit?top

[Disclaimer]

The post Boris Johnson denies Sturgeon snub on Scotland visit first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Ban on new asylum seekers to Scotland ‘could last for years’

BBC — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 10:07:01 +0000

Many people-smugglers send asylum seekers across the Channel in dangerously small boats – PA Media

The temporary ban on accepting new asylum seekers into Scotland could last for years, the BBC has learned.

Glasgow City Council is the only local authority in the country to take in asylum seekers through the UK government’s dispersal scheme.

There are more than 200 asylum seekers living in hotel accommodation across the city due to insufficient housing.

Council leader Susan Aitken told the BBC the ban would continue while the scheme was run “on the cheap”.

The Home Office said the use of temporary accommodation was necessary to manage increased demand and it encouraged other local authorities to take part in the programme.

Glasgow City Council announced the temporary ban in July last year to “ease pressures” after a mass stabbing at a city centre hotel which was being used as asylum accommodation.

Badreddin Abadlla Adam was shot dead by police after attacking six people – HOME OFFICE

Suspect Badreddin Abadlla Adam was shot dead by police after six people, including an officer, were wounded during the incident at the Park Inn on West George Street.

Concerns had been repeatedly raised over living conditions in the hotels, which charities said did not meet the needs of vulnerable people – some of whom were pregnant women, children, and trafficking survivors.

A press conference held by Positive Action in Housing heard that many asylum seekers claimed to have no windows and no fresh air in their rooms.

They also said they had been in a dire mental health situation.

Cllr Aitken told the BBC’s Disclosure programme this was the point when the council realized the situation was “not manageable” and was “getting to the point of not safe”.

An agreement was then reached between the council, the Home Office and housing provider Mears Group to stop sending asylum seekers to Glasgow.

Questioned on when the ban will end, Cllr Aitken said: “I don’t think it’s this year and it’s possibly not next year – certainly while we still have asylum seekers accommodated in hotels in the city, which is something that we have always been very opposed to in Glasgow.”

Run ‘on the cheap’

The decision to place people in hotels during the pandemic was approved by the Home Office, but the idea came from Mears Group – the housing firm contracted by the government to supply accommodation to asylum seekers.

The contract, worth over £1bn, states that Mears must provide “safe, habitable, fit for purpose” shelter.

Steve Robbins, regional head of operations in Scotland for Mears, said the number of people seeking asylum support in Glasgow “grew exponentially overnight” when the lockdown began – and the firm simply “did not have enough accommodation”.

As third sector support organisations “locked down”, his staff also had to provide a food bank, medical provisions and additional welfare support in hotels.

Mr Robbins said they put people’s safety ahead of profit. “To be judged on anything over the last year, is did you keep people safe? And I can categorically say we did,” he added.

He said people would be moved out of temporary accommodation in hotels by the end of July, acknowledging the firm has missed previous deadlines over the course of the pandemic.

The Home Office said it recognised that hotel accommodation could only ever be a short-term solution and it had reduced the number of hotels in use in Glasgow from six to three.

However Cllr Aitken said the council believes Mears is running the operation “on the cheap” and there was more property available – just at a higher cost.

She said it was a “political decision” by the UK government to continue running asylum accommodation as a privatised service.

She said: “We believe that Mears should be looking for accommodation in parts of the city where they won’t go just now, I believe, because they think that the rents are too high.

“They tend to go to the parts of the city that have the lowest rents.

“We do not think [hotels] is appropriate accommodation, and we do not think it should be long-term.

“It is, and must always be thought of, as a temporary emergency response – that emergency response has now gone on far too long, for far too many asylum seekers.”

Fearing for his life, Ali fled to the UK from war-torn Yemen and is currently claiming asylum in Glasgow.

The 4,000-mile journey took him nine months to make, during which he slept in forests, on roadsides and even in prison.

He has been filming a video diary to show the inside of the UK asylum system and on good days, can be seen enjoying the city’s parks.

But at night in his small room he is often plagued by thoughts of his loved ones drowning, having watched eight of his friends die after a boat they were travelling on capsized on the Danube River in Romania.

Returning back to Yemen would be like giving his family a “death sentence”, he says.

The BBC has spoken to a number of asylum seekers who knew Badreddin Abadlla Adam, who they say was terrified of catching Covid. People said he was withdrawn, agitated and paranoid, and self isolated in his hotel room – where he had been for three months.

His story is not the only tragedy to emerge from the UK’s asylum system since the start of the pandemic.

In May last year, 30-year-old Adnan Walid Elbi – who had fled his home in Syria after being tortured – was found dead from a drugs overdose in his room at McLays Guest House.

The cause of death was marked as “unascertained”.

Adnan Walid Elbi was found dead in his room at McLays Guest House

Glasgow MPs have called for an inquiry into the deaths while campaigners want the temporary accommodation issue to be investigated independently.

Given the circumstances surrounding the stabbing at the Park Inn, Cllr Aitken believes it was “probably predictable”.

She said: “I’m deeply concerned. I think a lot of people drew conclusions very quickly, without knowing all of the facts involved.

“Nonetheless, that kind of pressured and stressful situation was created for people who are already traumatized and living with stress. I think we probably do have to assume that it’s as at least a factor, and it’s a problem.”

‘Decisive action’

Mr. Robbins said Mears takes no responsibility for the death of Mr Elbi and that both men were given support when it was asked for.

He said: “There’s a lot I can’t say because there are still legal matters in place. Supporting Adnan in the hotel provided an opportunity to give him more intense support.

“There was an ask for help, I can’t talk about what conversations happened between the NHS and Adnan but I’m satisfied that when that ask for support was made, my staff made that happen.

“We were very aware of Badreddin and his challenges. At every turn when support was required, we made sure that happened.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Throughout the pandemic, we have taken decisive action to provide accommodation for everyone claiming asylum in the UK who needs support, including those whose claims have been refused.

“Our new plan for immigration will reform the broken asylum system; allowing us to welcome people through safe and legal routes while preventing abuse and pressure of the system and the criminality associated with it.

“Temporary accommodation, which is paid for by the taxpayer, is necessary to manage the increased demand while we work with local authorities to secure more accommodation. We are grateful to Glasgow City Council for their contribution to this effort and would encourage other local authorities in Scotland to participate.”

You can watch more in Disclosure’s Desperately Seeking Asylum on BBC One Scotland on Tuesday at 21:00.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-57448267

[Disclaimer]

The post Ban on new asylum seekers to Scotland ‘could last for years’ first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

‘No-one’s going to stop me visiting Scotland!’ Boris Johnson tells SNP during heated PMQs

Sophia Sleigh — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 14:04:28 +0000

Boris Johnson today told the SNP “no-one’s going to stop me” visiting Scotland after they accused him of putting politics before public health.

The Prime Minister has come under fire for his trip to a vaccine production firm north of the border after it emerged there had been a coronavirus outbreak at the site.

Newspaper the Daily Record reported that the visit came just 24-hours after a public health probe at the site, which uncovered 14 coronavirus cases – about one in eight of the workforce.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford accused the PM of being “utterly reckless” and putting “politics before public health”.

Mr. Blackford, appearing via video link, asked the Prime Minister: “There are serious questions to answer. Did the PM and his advisers know about the Covid outbreak? When did they know and when did the PM make the irresponsible decision to go ahead with what was a PR stunt?”

Mr. Johnson dodged directly answering his question and replied: “I would just repeat that the Government remains as I said yesterday very willing to help Scotland with the rollout of vaccines across the whole of the UK.”

Mr. Blackford fumed that the visit was a “shocking error of judgment” and pressed him again, asking: “Prime Minister, why be so reckless? Is it any wonder people in Scotland have no faith in this Prime Minister?”

He then took a personal swipe at Mr. Johnson, adding: “Isn’t he the worst possible leader at the worst possible time?”

Mr. Johnson hit back, saying people in Scotland wanted to see the whole country pulling together.

He added: “Nobody, by the way, raised that issue with me before or since. It is my job to visit every part of this country. Nothing and no-one is going to stop me!”

The Prime Minister could be seen banging his fist while Mr. Blackford shook his head at the camera.

The SNP’s Ian Blackford

" width="682" height="455" />
( The SNP’s Ian Blackford / Parliament TV )

Mr. Johnson went to Valneva, in Livingston, last Thursday despite Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying his trip was not essential. The visit was widely seen as an opportunity for the Government to press the benefits of the union.

It comes after Ms. Sturgeon threatened to hold a wildcat independence referendum on Scotland breaking away from the United Kingdom.

Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-trip-scotland-snp-pmqs-b918489.html

[Disclaimer]

The post ‘No-one’s going to stop me visiting Scotland!’ Boris Johnson tells SNP during heated PMQs first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.