Alex Salmond is at loggerheads with Scotland’s most senior judge over claims that the Lord Advocate’s handling of the World’s End case had threatened the independence of the judiciary.
In an astonishing public attack, Lord Hamilton, the Lord Justice General, accused Elish Angiolini of undermining Scotland’s judges by claiming that the murder trial should not have been thrown out. for more click here
A BUS travelling from Samsun to Istanbul on September 2nd stopped at a mosque when passengers insisted on saying their daily prayers. Similar demands are heard all over Turkey, says Milliyet, a daily that was bombarded with hate mail from religious hotheads for reporting the Samsun case. In another incident, Gulcan Kose, a 28-year-old divorcee who was wearing a knee-length tunic and leggings, was detained by Istanbul police for “indecent exposure” as she stood with a fellow fisherman on the Galata bridge; she faces charges of resisting the authorities. Many restaurants that once served customers during the Ramadan fast no longer do so. for more click here
EDINBURGH is falling behind in the world rankings of business tourism destinations.
The city is hosting fewer major international conferences than it was five years ago, although the value of business tourism to the Edinburgh economy is now greater than ever. for more click here
Australians would likely cop another interest rate rise before the end of the year if not for the ongoing ructions in financial markets, TD Securities senior strategist Joshua Williamson says.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last raised rates in August, but left them on hold at 6.50 per cent when the bank’s board met in September. for more click here
China: Civil Society Key to Defeating AIDS International Groups, Global Leaders Press UNAIDS to Convene NGO Meeting
(New York/Toronto, September 27, 2007) – The United Nations AIDS Program should support Chinese AIDS activists, who face increased government surveillance and intimidation, in their efforts to openly meet and discuss AIDS, human rights and access to legal services, 27 human
rights organizations, foundations and AIDS organizations from around the globe said today.
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Hillary Clinton and 75 other senators apparently feel that George W. Bush hasn’t been belligerent enough toward Iran. They want him to hurry up and label a large part of Iran’s army an international “terrorist” entity for allegedly supplying Iraqi insurgents with bombs that have killed American troops. Despite a warning from Sen. Jim Webb that the Senate vote could be read as another war resolution, Democratic presidential hopeful Clinton jumped onboard the bandwagon, again. for more click here
A highly critical report into child protection services in Edinburgh claims some youngsters are being left in high risk situations without the support they need.
Inspectors said they were “not confident” that all children who are referred are being properly assessed and protected. for more click here
Working people from both sides of the border will gather Saturday at the Peace Arch border crossing to send a strong message to both our governments — it’s time to bring our troops home.
It should come as no surprise that organizations representing more than 800,000 workers have come to the same conclusion. It is not because we are afraid to fight that we are opposed. Working people are fighters. Our movement and our countries have been built by the struggle and sacrifices of ordinary citizens acting with extraordinary courage. for more click here
When Jeffrey Mezger took the helm as KB Home’s chief executive 10 months ago, he knew the nation’s housing market was facing new challenges. After five years of an astonishing run-up in home prices and sales, the building industry was suddenly in the throes of a nationwide slowdown.
But even he didn’t anticipate how quickly demand for his company’s products would shrivel because of deep problems in the mortgage market. for more click here
When Jon Hunt, founder of Foxtons, sold the UK arm of the business for £390m earlier this year, it looked like the canny property entrepreneur had sold at just the right time.
With most commentators a good deal more downbeat on the prospects for British property this year, it seemed that Hunt had made the right move in getting out of the UK.
Only trouble is, he decided to focus on building his business in the US instead.
Whoops…
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