
Philippines' Marcos asks cabinet secretaries to resign to enable reset
MANILA, May 22 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has requested all cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations, a move his office described on Thursday as a "bold reset" to give him room to evaluate the performance of each department.
"This is not about personalities — it's about performance, alignment, and urgency," Marcos said in a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office.
"Those who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognised. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over."
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The National
14 minutes ago
- The National
UK Government must 'urgently engage' with Scotland over migration
On Thursday, the Scottish Government led a debate on migration calling for the needs of Scotland's public services, businesses and communities to be 'supported, rather than harmed' by the incoming reforms. MSPs voted 67 in favour of the Scottish Government's motion, moved by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and 42 against. A Scottish Tory amendment calling for a 'balance' to be struck on migration and 'reducing the numbers of illegal migrants who place added pressures on the welfare system and public services', did not pass. READ MORE: Mairi McAllan: I'm back and I want quick progress on housing emergency Scottish Labour's amendment in support of the UK Government's immigration plans also fell. In May, the Labour Government published an immigration white paper that contained sweeping changes to the system. The plans include ending automatic resettlement for those living in the UK for five years, moving to a decade, that migrants are required to display a higher standard of English, and an end to visa routes for care workers. Opening the debate, Forbes told MSPs: 'Migration is predicted to be the sole driver of population growth for decades to come. 'Right now, we need people to come here to live and work, to bolster our working age population.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) The Deputy FM reiterated calls for a bespoke approach to be taken towards Scotland's migration. She said: 'When I was first elected, I was often struck by the fact that there was a cross party support for the post graduate visa from both the Conservatives and Labour, a tailored nuanced approach with cross party support, and that's what we want to see again. UK ministers could choose to support us on this.' Forbes added: 'Migration enriches our society. It makes a net contribution to our economy, our public services and our public finances, it's the fertilizer that helps us to thrive, innovate and grow. 'In the face of these demographic challenges, we can't push them away. READ MORE: John Swinney and Anas Sarwar clash over reports of SNP secret meeting 'There are some things that we can do within devolved powers, but what we can't do is expand the workforce completely without control over that. And so I invite members from across the chamber to join us in making this call today.' MSP Liz Smith, Tory spokesperson for social security, said that debates around migration are generally based on 'increasingly unhelpful and damaging rhetoric which can border on racism and which clearly helps absolutely no one at all'. 'I agree that the current system of immigration controls is not working,' she added. 'In particular, I think the very high level of illegal immigration is a major concern, as is the fiscal cost associated with that, both in terms of accommodation and public service provision.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) Smith said she 'quite strongly' opposes a Scottish immigration system because of 'inherent complications', she did note the 'demographic challenges' of an aging population. Later in the debate, she claimed the debate on migration should not be framed as one of 'Scotland against the rest of the UK'. 'I think this debate is much more about different sectors across the UK,' Smith added. 'I don't like the idea that we often get into constitutional debate about this. I think it's much more to do with the sectors.' (Image: Scottish Parliament) Scottish Labour's Michael Marra said that any immigration system has to be 'safe, legal and well managed'. 'It's absolutely essential,' he added. 'Eleven months ago, the UK Labour Government inherited a chaotic broken system. 'Fixing that system will take time. 'Without any doubt, it's right that the UK Government has taken those steps necessary to ensure that immigration is safe, it's fair and also crucially that it meets the needs of our economy. READ MORE: SNP leadership challenge would not be a good idea, says John Swinney 'Because meeting those needs of the economy that's actually part of the basis of make sure that enjoys public support, which is absolutely crucial.' Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman, joining the debate remotely, told the chamber that she wanted to 'challenge the toxic narratives that define UK immigration policy'. 'We must be absolutely clear immigration is a societal good, not a problem to be managed,' she said. 'We should celebrate it.'


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
UK Government ‘putting its money where its mouth is' with Acorn £200m
The scheme, which proposes storing emissions from across Scotland under the North Sea, had previously been overlooked for support despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government and others for it to be backed. With the UK Government also pledging to support the Viking carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Humber, Mr Miliband insisted the two schemes will 'support industrial renewal' with 'thousands of highly skilled jobs'. According to the sector, Acorn could support about 15,000 jobs at its peak, with up to 20,000 jobs at the Viking project. As it develops, it is planned the Acorn site will link up with the former oil refinery at Grangemouth via more than 200 miles of pipelines. An existing 175 miles of gas pipes will be repurposed for this, with 35 miles of new pipeline also being built, allowing CO2 from the Grangemouth site to be transported to Acorn's storage facilities under the North Sea. The move is seen by many as being key in securing a future for the facility, where some 400 workers were recently made redundant. Speaking as he visited the site near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Mr Miliband said: 'This Government is putting its money where its mouth is and backing the trailblazing Acorn and Viking CCS projects. 'This will support industrial renewal in Scotland and the Humber with thousands of highly-skilled jobs at good wages to build Britain's clean energy future. Read More 'Carbon capture will make working people in Britain's hard-working communities better off, breathing new life into their towns and cities and reindustrialising the country through our Plan for Change.' Mr Miliband visited the site the day after Rachel Reeves promised funding for Acorn in her spending review – although the Chancellor did not put a figure on how much support would be given in her statement to MPs. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said afterwards: 'The £200 million funding confirmed for the Acorn carbon capture project will help to support the design and preparation as it continues to progress. 'This is about revitalising our industrial communities and creating long-term economic opportunities for Scottish workers.' Tim Stedman, chief executive of Storegga, the lead developer of Acorn, said: 'We warmly welcome the UK Government's support for the Acorn project and the commitment to development funding that will enable the critical work needed to reach final investment decision.' He added the 'milestone' is 'key not only for Acorn but for establishing Scotland's essential CCS infrastructure needed to grow and scale the UK's wider carbon capture and storage industry'. Mr Stedman continued: 'We look forward to working with Government in the months ahead to understand the details of today's commitment, and to ensure the policy, regulatory and funding frameworks are in place to build and grow a world-leading UK CCS sector.' Graeme Davies, executive vice-president at Harbour Energy, which is leading the Viking project, said the commitment in the spending review 'sends a strong signal' that the project is 'an infrastructure-led economic growth priority' for the Parliament. He added: 'We will work with Government on the critical steps needed to progress Viking CCS towards a final investment decision.' However climate campaigners at Friends of the Earth said the money should instead be invested in public transport, energy efficiency and measures to support oil workers to transition to jobs in the renewables sector. Caroline Rance, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: 'This is an enormous handout of supposedly scarce public money that will only directly benefit greedy oil and gas companies. 'Politicians are paying hundreds of millions to keep us locked into an unaffordable energy system which is reliant on fossil fuels and is destroying the climate. 'Carbon capture technology has 50 years of failure behind it, so businesses, workers and the public are being sold a lie about its role in their future. 'Building new fossil fuel infrastructure will undermine the energy transition and embolden oil firms to keep on drilling in the North Sea. 'Both the UK and Scottish governments should instead be backing climate solutions that can improve people's lives such as upgrading public transport, ensuring people live in warm homes and creating green jobs for the long-term.'

Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Government ‘putting its money where its mouth is' with £200m for Acorn scheme
Ministers confirmed they are meeting in full the request for development funding for the Acorn project in Aberdeenshire – the first time a government has provided funding of this scale for such a project to proceed. The scheme, which proposes storing emissions from across Scotland under the North Sea, had previously been overlooked for support despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government and others for it to be backed. With the UK Government also pledging to support the Viking carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Humber, Mr Miliband insisted the two schemes will 'support industrial renewal' with 'thousands of highly skilled jobs'. According to the sector, Acorn could support about 15,000 jobs at its peak, with up to 20,000 jobs at the Viking project. As it develops, it is planned the Acorn site will link up with the former oil refinery at Grangemouth via more than 200 miles of pipelines. An existing 175 miles of gas pipes will be repurposed for this, with 35 miles of new pipeline also being built, allowing CO2 from the Grangemouth site to be transported to Acorn's storage facilities under the North Sea. The move is seen by many as being key in securing a future for the facility, where some 400 workers were recently made redundant. Speaking as he visited the site near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Mr Miliband said: 'This Government is putting its money where its mouth is and backing the trailblazing Acorn and Viking CCS projects. 'This will support industrial renewal in Scotland and the Humber with thousands of highly-skilled jobs at good wages to build Britain's clean energy future. 'Carbon capture will make working people in Britain's hard-working communities better off, breathing new life into their towns and cities and reindustrialising the country through our Plan for Change.' Mr Miliband visited the site the day after Rachel Reeves promised funding for Acorn in her spending review – although the Chancellor did not put a figure on how much support would be given in her statement to MPs. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said afterwards: 'The £200 million funding confirmed for the Acorn carbon capture project will help to support the design and preparation as it continues to progress. 'This is about revitalising our industrial communities and creating long-term economic opportunities for Scottish workers.' Tim Stedman, chief executive of Storegga, the lead developer of Acorn, said: 'We warmly welcome the UK Government's support for the Acorn project and the commitment to development funding that will enable the critical work needed to reach final investment decision.' He added the 'milestone' is 'key not only for Acorn but for establishing Scotland's essential CCS infrastructure needed to grow and scale the UK's wider carbon capture and storage industry'. Mr Stedman continued: 'We look forward to working with Government in the months ahead to understand the details of today's commitment, and to ensure the policy, regulatory and funding frameworks are in place to build and grow a world-leading UK CCS sector.' Graeme Davies, executive vice-president at Harbour Energy, which is leading the Viking project, said the commitment in the spending review 'sends a strong signal' that the project is 'an infrastructure-led economic growth priority' for the Parliament. He added: 'We will work with Government on the critical steps needed to progress Viking CCS towards a final investment decision.' However climate campaigners at Friends of the Earth said the money should instead be invested in public transport, energy efficiency and measures to support oil workers to transition to jobs in the renewables sector. Caroline Rance, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: 'This is an enormous handout of supposedly scarce public money that will only directly benefit greedy oil and gas companies. 'Politicians are paying hundreds of millions to keep us locked into an unaffordable energy system which is reliant on fossil fuels and is destroying the climate. 'Carbon capture technology has 50 years of failure behind it, so businesses, workers and the public are being sold a lie about its role in their future. 'Building new fossil fuel infrastructure will undermine the energy transition and embolden oil firms to keep on drilling in the North Sea. 'Both the UK and Scottish governments should instead be backing climate solutions that can improve people's lives such as upgrading public transport, ensuring people live in warm homes and creating green jobs for the long-term.'