Latest News from The National
The National
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- The National
Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Hamas reviews proposals
The plan, put forward by the US, includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 28 Israeli hostages within the first week in exchange for the 1236 Palestinian hostages and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. The deal also includes sending humanitarian aid into Gaza, to be delivered by the UN, Red Crescent and other agencies, as well as Israel ceasing all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce takes effect. READ MORE: The National nominated for three Refugee Media Awards Israel said it has agreed to the proposal, while Hamas has said it does not satisfy the group's core demands, including guarantees that the temporary truce will lead to a permanent ceasefire. A senior official said Hamas was reviewing the plan and would be in touch with mediators in due course. It comes as Israel issued forced displacement orders for five more areas in north Gaza. The Israeli army's Arabic language spokesperson said on Twitter/X that Palestinians in the Atatra, Jabalia Al-Balad, Shujaiya, Daraj and Zeitoun areas of Gaza must leave immediately and move west. Israel has been systematically clearing out parts of the Gaza Strip with forced displacement orders, pushing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller areas of the enclave. Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time. And on Thursday, Israel said it plans to establish 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel has already built well over 100 settlements across the territory that are home to some 500,000 settlers. The settlements range from small hilltop outposts to fully developed communities with blocks of flats, shopping centres, factories, and public parks. Settlements have been widely condemned by the international community as illegal, with the UK Government announcing sanctions last week on three people and four organisations in the settler movement.
The National
an hour ago
- Sport
- The National
What Arne Slot said on Rangers contender Francesco Farioli
Slot had a wonderful first season in English football, wrestling the title back from Manchester City as the Reds lifted it for the first time in five years. He did so in style with the Anfield club runaway leaders and earning plenty of praise in the process. However, the Dutchman had one eye on what was happening back in his homeland as Ajax threw away a nine-point lead to allow PSV to win the Eredivisie, his old club Feyenoord sitting third. Read more: Francesco Farioli's Ajax exit explained amid Rangers boss talks Steven Gerrard out of Rangers manager running despite King 'obvious choice' call Farioli had instilled confidence and vigour back at Ajax after a poor campaign before he came in, finishing fifth. But he decided to quit after that title collapse. Slot defended him, insisting PSV had more firepower up front which is out of the coach's control. And he also hit out at claims he plays defensive football. The Liverpool boss said: "You can do very well as a manager, but in the end you have to have players who make the difference. "Example: from what I've seen, I think Francesco Farioli is a very good manager. I've heard that he was only defensive and all that, but when I watched Ajax, I always saw a good build-up from the back, where they could always find a free man and put the opponents under good pressure. "That's what you influence as a manager. Farioli was just unlucky that PSV and Feyenoord had a lot of much, much better strikers than he did."
The National
an hour ago
- Politics
- The National
Nigel Farage to visit Aberdeen on Monday to campaign ahead of Hamilton by-election
Four Aberdeenshire councillors have defected to Reform UK in recent months, with the region being seen as a key battleground for the party in the Holyrood elections next year. Farage is expected to be joined by his deputy Richard Tice and speak to media on Monday. The location has not been given to the public. READ MORE: I saw Angela Rayner's farcical Scotland visit first-hand. Here's what happened It will be his first trip north of the Border since he attended a campaign event for the Brexit Party in 2019. His visit to Edinburgh in 2013 descended into chaos after the former Ukip leader had to take refuge in a pub in the Royal Mile after he was protested by independence supporters. The Reform MP had to be rescued by police in a riot van. The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Holyrood by-election, set to take place on June 5, had become a 'straight contest' between the SNP and Farage's Reform, according to John Swinney. Reform UK have spent more than £10,000 promoting a 'racist' advert which falsely claims that Sarwar has 'said he will prioritise the Pakistani community', continuing to pour money into it despite accusations of 'race-baiting'. The online ad – which the SNP and Labour have demanded be removed by Meta – shows clips of Sarwar calling for more representation of Scots with south Asian heritage, although he did not say he would prioritise any one group. Reform UK has defended the video and said it was merely highlighting Sarwar's own words. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner cancelled her campaign visit to Scottish Labour's Hamilton hub on Thursday after a demonstration to greet her was organised by members of the Scottish Socialist Party and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, who chanted slogans including 'Rayner, Rayner, you can't hide, you're supporting genocide' and 'don't vote for genocide'.
The National
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
Motherwell should avoid 'safe' appointment after Wimmer exit
Well then. Last week's newsletter, an interview with Luca Ross where he spoke of his excitement at working under Michael Wimmer next season, fairly aged like milk. It was thoroughly deflating when the news landed on Friday afternoon, and not only because I thought I had managed an early finish and was enroute to beat the teatime queue for an Asda pizza, before a quick about-turn, pizza-less, for home. It was also because it hadn't only been the players like young Luca who were intrigued by what Wimmer may be able to do next season with the summer transfer window and a pre-season with his squad under his belt, but it was an exciting prospect for the fans too. (Image: SNS Group) There had been glimpses of what he stated was his preferred, high-pressing style, particularly in the win at Ibrox with Lennon Miller and Callum Slattery pushed up as number 10s. There was then some pragmatism and flexibility when it dawned on him that such an approach with this group of players was unlikely to yield the points required to stave off any lingering relegation worries, and he showed in-game nous in matches like the home win over St Johnstone and the away win at Dundee that secured Motherwell's safety. He had spoken of how he didn't feel particularly comfortable compromising his principles to such a degree, which was something of a teaser over the more front-foot style he would be looking to adopt next term. It was a shock initially then to hear that he wouldn't in fact be here to see that through. But on reflection, the signs that life in Scotland far from his family was proving increasingly difficult for Wimmer were evident. He said as much when I had the chance to chat to him back in April. 'I had the job in Nurnberg, that's one hour 20 with the car,' Wimmer said. Read more: 'Then the next job was in Augsburg, that was one hour 35 with the car, then came Stuttgart, that's two hours 40 with the car, and the next step was Vienna, there's three hours 50 with the car. So, it's getting further and further! 'But if there was an issue with my son, you could also use the car, and in three hours you are at home. So, this is now the first time where you have such a far distance. My son is growing up and now he's 11. "I felt that it is very difficult for him, and if your son is at home and is not happy, perhaps a little bit crying, then it obviously isn't a good feeling.' As chairman Kyrk Macmillan revealed in his excellent update this week, there had since been further complications at home for Wimmer, so while I can understand the disappointment from fans about his sudden departure, family has to come first. So, thanks for the very brief memories, Michael, but it is time now to move on. My one hope though as the board embark on the recruitment process all over again is that they haven't been stung by the difficulties Wimmer had as a foreign coach in Scotland and are subsequently discouraged from going down that road again. There are some decent Scottish candidates for the position, of course. Robbie Nielson, for instance, couldn't have made it much more obvious that he was interested in the role supposing he turned up outside Fir Park with John Spencer's old 'Gizza job' T-shirt on. And his record is more than decent, albeit his stats do benefit from three seasons managing Hearts and Dundee United in The Championship. But the best man available for the job is the best man for the job, no matter where he may be from. The extension of the season ticket deadline hints that the club recognise many fans are hedging their bets on committing to the big up-front outlay before knowing what it is they are signing up for. Wimmer was a refreshing appointment and was exactly what was needed at the time to provide a contrast to the style that had grown rather stale under predecessor Stuart Kettlewell. You only have to witness the reaction of the Kilmarnock support to Kettlewell's appointment at Rugby Park this week to see that while he will likely do a decent enough job there (as he did at Fir Park, incidentally), that it hasn't exactly sent pulses racing. This is anecdotal, but for many fans I speak to now, Motherwell just keeping their heads above water in the Premiership by any means necessary isn't really cutting it anymore. Survival is always the priority, but there has to be some excitement somewhere along the way to stave off apathy. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) I have been impressed by the cut of the chairman's jib (I'll even forgive him his little dig at the press over sending us on a wild goose chase by having his dad beside him in the stand with a scarf over his face), and my feeling is he is unlikely to be bruised too badly by Wimmer's departure, or be tempted to stray from the same process that led Motherwell to the German in the first place in favour of a 'safe pair of hands'. Let's hope that's the case, and the sooner the better. There are still some player contracts to be sorted out (or not, as the case may be), and hopefully a good chunk of change courtesy of Lennon Miller to be invested in adding some quality to the squad. This can still be an exciting summer for Motherwell, but that will rest on the board and what is a big call for them to make in the coming days.
The National
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Why nuclear power isn't the green energy solution you've been told
Instead, energy policy has become a political football with outrageous dishonesty about the real environmental consequences and financial costs of nuclear power. Nigel Farage, Tony Blair and, sadly, some Scottish political representatives are contributing to the false narratives that only building nuclear power stations will save us from future energy crises and that nuclear power is 'green' or carbon neutral. Encouraged by persistent, well-funded charm offensives by the nuclear industry, pro-nuclear narratives are repeated with vehement conviction, ignoring counter-evidence. Pro-nuclear political leaders may also be motivated by their wish to support Britain's capacity to build nuclear bombs. Even setting aside this deadly link, however, there are injustices, harms and risks that contradict the supposed attractiveness of nuclear. READ MORE: £150m renewable energy site proposed for former coal terminal The mining and milling of uranium, the main nuclear fuel, leaves contaminated water and soil, and ill health, historically often without buy-in from or benefit to local people. Hence, the many indigenous campaigns against uranium mining in Africa, Australia, Canada and the USA. The green claim ignores the carbon footprint of this mining, and the milling and construction that involves extraordinary amounts of concrete, the manufacture of which significantly contributes to climate change. Moreover, the nuclear cycle ends with various levels of radioactive nuclear waste that must be kept secure for the decades, hundreds and even thousands of years it remains hazardous to health. There are also ignored everyday harms in their operation. Nuclear plants are by the sea or rivers because their reactors are cooled by water as well as gas. When sucking up water can kill millions of living creatures. They also routinely emit small amounts of ionising radiation within supposedly 'safe' levels. However, scientists agree any additional ionising radiation causes harm in some circumstances. For example, X-rays are avoided in pregnancy because ionising radiation risks harm to the foetus. Women, girls and all infants are more susceptible to ionising radiation than adult males. Spikes of ionising radiation are produced when fuel rods are removed and cooling gas released into the atmosphere (as happens, for example, when sucked-up jellyfish force Torness to make an unplanned shut-down). Such peaks in radiation are concealed in the annual statistics but any pregnant woman or infant who happens to be locally downwind at the time is at heightened risk of harm. Then there is the downplayed risk of accidents. This may be a tiny risk, but the consequences of a Chernobyl or Fukushima-type accident are catastrophic. Similarly, war or a terrorist attack could lead to a disaster enormously more serious than the loss of electricity. READ MORE: Scottish Government scraps plans for national park in Galloway None of this is resolved with smaller and purportedly cheaper modular nuclear reactors – which create the same pollution, waste and risk. Generating electricity from renewables is a cheaper and faster way to make the necessary switch from fossil fuels than nuclear. There are political decisions regarding electricity costs, which include a government levy to pay for the infrastructure required by new renewables. Meanwhile, the large contributions the Government pays towards the costs of decommissioning nuclear power stations come from our pocket through taxes rather than our electricity bills. In the UK, the price of electricity also diverges from the cost of its generation because the Government tolerates a market system of trading, called 'marginal pricing' which sets the overall cost by the most expensive method in the mix. In the last quarter of 2024, the mix was about half renewables: wind 31%, biomass 14%, solar and hydro power 4%; about 30% from burning gas, and about 10% nuclear. Despite this balance, the wholesale cost of gas has typically set the overall price since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There are more flexible alternatives to nuclear when wind and sun are unavailable. Nuclear power plants cannot be switched off when demand for electricity drops because it takes days to safely power down a nuclear power station. Currently, when electricity generation risks exceeding demand, wind farms have to be switched off to allow nuclear power plants to keep running. All forms of energy generation involve environmental impact in their materials, construction, operation and decommissioning and some risks to human health. Nuclear power is particularly harmful, as well as historically linked to injustice and interconnected with weapons of mass destruction. Your voice and pen are needed to tell your political representatives, whatever party you support, 'nuclear power, no thanks' – go back to the evidence and seek a just energy policy for people and planet. Lynn Jamieson is chair of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
