OP's News

Sinn Féin leader: it’s ‘decision time’ for Stormont talks

ard fhéis — Image captionMary Lou McDonald will be in Belfast with deputy leader Michelle O’Neill on Monday

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald believes a deal can be done to restore power sharing at Stormont.

The new party leader says Sinn Féin wants to see “genuine power sharing that delivers for everybody”.

Speaking to BBC News NI she said talks are at “decision time” and that the coming week “will be decisive”.

The Sinn Féin president will be in Belfast on Monday with deputy leader Michelle O’Neill.

Ms McDonald said for power sharing to happen it “must be on the basis of mutual respect”.

She said: “We need to stop seeing politics in polarised views. I will not be getting into a dialogue that is as crude as a win for me is a loss for you”

“We need to start to demonstrate leadership on rights and legacy issues”.

Media captionMary Lou McDonald succeeds Gerry Adams as Sinn Féin leader

Ms McDonald was formally elected as leader of Sinn Féin on Saturday.

She replaced Gerry Adams who led the party for almost 35 years.

Mr Adams, 69, announced his intention to quit the role in November in a move that signalled a generational shift in the Sinn Féin leadership.

Michelle O’Neill, 41, has been installed as Sinn Féin vice president.

Media captionGerry Adams: In his own words

Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since Martin McGuiness quit as deputy first minister in January 2017, in a move which caused the assembly to collapse.

He pulled Sinn Féin out of its power-sharing coalition with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), objecting to their handling of a scandal over green energy scheme.

Several rounds of talks aimed at restoring devolution have failed, but there is now growing speculation that a deal could be unveiled as early as next week.

Riyadh Ritz-Carlton corruption purge Saudi hotel reopens

The Ritz Carlton in Riyadh on 11 Feb — Image captionMore than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen were held in the purge

A luxury Saudi hotel that served as a detention centre for dozens of princes and top officials held in a corruption drive since November has reopened.

Reception staff at the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh told the OP’S NEWS the hotel was admitting guests.

More than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen had been held there and in other hotels.

At the end of January the Saudi prosecutor general’s office said more than $100bn (£72bn) had been recovered.

It followed financial settlements agreed with those being held.

The prosecutor general’s office said 56 people were still being held at the time, although some reports said the remaining detainees had been moved from the Ritz-Carlton to a prison.

Media captionSaudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal gives tour of luxury ‘jail’

The detentions came following the formation of a new anti-graft body headed by the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Among those to have been freed were influential princes such as billionaire investor Alwaleed bin Talal, MBC TV network chief Waleed al-Ibrahim and former royal court chief Khalid al-Tuwaijiri.

Media reports suggested that Mr al-Ibrahim’s deal may have included his controlling share in MBC – the largest media company in the Middle East.

National Guard chief Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a contender to the throne, was freed in November after agreeing an “acceptable settlement” with authorities of more than $1bn (£720m).

The 65-year-old son of the late King Abdullah was the most politically influential royal to be detained.

Media captionThe Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh held about 200 members of the Saudi elite

Jasmine Forrester’s uncle charged with murder

The uncle of an 11-year-old girl has been charged with her murder.

Delroy Forrester, 51, was arrested after Jasmine Forrester was found seriously injured at a house in Wolverhampton on Friday.

She was discovered at the address in Kent Road just before 01:00 GMT after a neighbour heard a disturbance.

Mr Forrester, of Lower Villiers Street, Blakenhall, has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Walsall Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place later, West Midlands Police said.

The house on Kent Road where Jasmine was found — Image captionThe 11-year-old was found at a house in Kent Road just before 01:00 GMT on Friday

Jasmine was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died on Friday afternoon with her family by her side.

Det Insp Ian Wilkins, from the West Midlands Police Homicide Team, said, “We are continuing to support Jasmine’s family at this truly tragic time.”

Murder inquiry as woman’s body found in Camden flat

Bray Tower, Fellows Road in Camden — Image captionOfficers were called to Bray Tower in Camden on Friday morning

A murder investigation has begun after the body of a 55-year-old woman was found in a flat in north London.

Officers were called to Bray Tower in Camden on Friday morning after paramedics reported a woman had been found with stab injuries.

Detectives said they were keeping an “open mind” about the motive.

No arrests have yet been made and the woman’s next of kin have been informed, the Metropolitan Police said. Post-mortem tests are due on Monday.

Rich Westminster residents back council’s voluntary donation scheme

Council bill — Image captionThe voluntary charge would apply to high value homes in the borough

Some of the richest residents in a wealthy London borough would be willing to pay more council tax.

A survey of people living in properties worth £10m or more found they would support the Westminster Community Contribution scheme.

They would be asked to donate up to twice the £833 they currently pay as Band H residents.

The cash will go towards youth clubs, helping the homeless and tackling loneliness.

Image captionCouncillor Nickie Aiken, leader of Westminster City Council says wealthy residents want to contribute more

Of the 904 people that replied:

55% of those with properties worth more than £10m backed the proposal
52% of those whose homes were valued between £5m and £10m were in favour
48% of those with homes worth less than £5m said they would be willing to pay more

Based on the responses, the proposals could raised an additional £350,000 a council spokesman said.

There are about 2,000 owners of £10m-plus properties within band H.

Image captionMargaret Mountford, who lives in Westminster, welcomed the idea “in principle”

The central London council said it intends to freeze the amount people have to pay in council tax for 2018/19, with the exception of the rise in the adult social care element, “to help protect families whose finances are under pressure”.

Councillor Nickie Aiken, leader of Westminster City Council, said: “Back in October 2017, I decided to act on a growing number of requests from some residents who live in the highest valued homes that they wanted to voluntarily contribute more than their existing council tax.

“I am delighted that so many people want to support the initiative in its first year.”

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, said he fully endorsed the “imaginative initiative”.

Dr Sentamu, who is known to take an interest in local politics, said: “May all of us who are willing to do this be given the facility to do so. Thank you, thank you! You are fantabulous!”

Well-known residents of the borough also weighed in on the scheme.

Among them was former Apprentice star Margaret Mountford.

“In principle this is a very good idea, but obviously we need to see the detail,” she said.

“There are clearly areas of need in the borough where money raised could be spent.”

The council’s cabinet will make a decision on the proposals on 19 February and a recommendation will then be brought to full council on 7 March for a final decision.

Leeds axe-man on run after crash

Leeds Beckett University — Image captionStaff and students at the Headingley campus were told to remain inside for several hours

A man armed with an axe has gone on the run after fleeing from the scene of a four-vehicle crash.

He is thought to have been driving a van which was involved in the smash in Sheepscar, Leeds, at 17:30 GMT on Saturday.

A search has been launched for the man, who is described as white, in his 30s or 40s, with a black beard and a flat cap.

He was last seen running into woods in the Headingley area of the city.

Leeds Beckett students said they were on “lockdown” and had been told not to leave their accommodation.

‘Do not approach’

The university confirmed that staff and students at its Headingley campus had been “asked to remain inside for several hours”.

The search prompted dozens of comments on social media.

It is believed the man used the axe to remove a locked bicycle close to St Chad’s Rise before going into the woods.

Supt Lisa Atkins said: “We would urge anyone who sees this male not to approach him and to contact police on 999 so we can locate him and detain him.”

Driver crashes new car ‘after not reading handbook’

volvo in crash — Image captionThe brand-new Volvo left the showroom four hours before the crash at Cheriton Bishop, Devon

A driver crashed their brand-new car four hours after picking up the keys because they did not read the handbook, police said.

The Volvo hit a slow-moving articulated lorry on the A30 at Cheriton Bishop, Devon, on Saturday afternoon.

The driver tried to “figure out cruise control” by looking down at the wheel buttons while driving, officers said.

Devon and Cornwall Police added on Twitter:“The moral of the story is read your handbook.” No-one was hurt.

Police said the car had been travelling at the national speed limit on the dual carriageway of 70mph and the Volvo’s support system – designed to help the driver avoid low-speed collisions when driving in slow-moving traffic – only works at up to 35mph.

PC in ‘Hot Fuzz’ swan chase near Reading

PC Payne with swan — Image captionRoads policing officer Jamie Payne caught Sam the swan after a pursuit on foot

A policeman found himself in a real-life Hot Fuzz situation when he was called in to help catch a swan.

PC Jamie Payne swooped in when the bird was spotted on the A33 near Reading.

After winging his way to the busy A-road, the roads unit officer pursued the “elusive swan” on foot – in scenes reminiscent of the 2007 comedy starring Simon Pegg.

The Thames Valley Police unit said the feathered fugitive, which they named Sam, was handed over to a charity.

It was PC Payne’s first job since he completed a Traffic Pursuit and Containment Course (TPAC), it added.

Though it seems the officer was already something of a swan pursuit specialist, as it later emerged he had rescued another one last April.

In Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost play two mismatched police officers in a sleepy rural village.

Throughout the film, the pair are seen haplessly pursuing a swan which repeatedly escapes their grasp.

In a follow-up tweet, PC Payne’s unit mentioned a meeting with Pegg, during which the actor said he was tagged in “many” swan posts since starring in the film.

PC Payne with swan in 2017 — Image captionPC Payne rescued another swan in April 2017

(From left) Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost — Image captionEdgar Wright (left) directed the 2007 buddy comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (right)

Driver who hit house in Bradford police chase dies

The scene of the crash — Image captionWitnesses are being asked to contact police

A man whose car crashed into a house during a police chase has died.

The unnamed 22-year-old was driving a Toyota Auris when it hit the home in Smith Fold, Queensbury, Bradford, before striking a garden wall, at about 11:55 GMT on Friday.

West Yorkshire Police said the car had earlier failed to stop for officers and was being pursued.

Officers said the man died of his injuries in hospital on Saturday evening.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the crash. Witnesses have been urged to come forward.

New alliance will back ‘authentic’ Scottish whisky

“Authentic” Scottish whiskies are to be protected by a new trade alliance.

Scotland Food and Drink and the Scottish Craft Distillers Association (SCDA) have been brought together.

SCDA members will now become members of the government-backed body automatically. It has an objective of increasing the value of the food and drink industry by £30bn by 2030.

Craft distillers own and operate a still as well as manufacturing and bottling in Scotland.

They say the rules are in place to “protect Scottish craft distillers” from those who “use Scotland’s provenance and heritage” to sell their products but are manufacturing elsewhere.

As well as whisky, Scottish-produced gin is said to be enjoying a revival.

Maximising opportunities

SCDA chairman Prof Alan Wolstenholme said: “On behalf of the SCDA’s committee, I am delighted to have joined forces with Scotland Food and Drink.

“This alliance will allow us to continue the work that the SCDA has started on protecting the Scottish brand for distillers across the country.

“Ultimately, we are run by our members for our members and with the support of the Scotland Food and Drink team, we are working on a plan to maximise opportunities for the sector.”

Rachel Athey, the director of Scotland Food and Drink, said: “The Scottish food and drink sector is thriving and due to this success, more and more businesses are capitalising on Scotland’s brand.

“The public show no signs of growing tired of spirits, in particular gin, so it is important that we protect the producers who work hard to produce an authentic product.

“Our new alliance with the SCDA means that members now automatically become members of Scotland Food & Drink.

“This gives distillers access to Scotland Food and Drink’s experts with the additional benefit of specific sector insight, activity and priorities.”