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Last few days 'difficult and traumatic', says Sturgeon - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to "fully co-operate with police" after the arrest of her husband. | Scotland politics | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Nicola Sturgeon told reporters recent days had been "obviously difficult".
Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to get on with her life and her job after a week that saw her husband arrested and her home searched by police.
Scotland's former first minister was speaking for the first time since Peter Murrell was questioned over the SNP party's finances.
The former SNP chief executive was arrested and released without charge pending further investigation.
Ms Sturgeon told reporters recent days had been "obviously difficult".
Outside her Glasgow home, which was the subject of a two-day search by Police Scotland, the former party leader said: "Well first off, there is obviously nothing I can say about the ongoing investigation.
"As much as there are things I may want to say, I'm not able to do so, other than to say that, as has been the case, there will continue to be full co-operation.
"The last few days have been obviously difficult, quite traumatic at times, but I understand that is part of a process."
Police were stationed outside of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon's home in Glasgow
Asked if she had been questioned by officers, Ms Sturgeon replied: "I haven't, but I will fully co-operate with the police as and when they request that, if indeed they do."
She declined to say whether detectives have indicated that they wish to speak to her.
Police searched their home in Glasgow, with uniformed officers also searching the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh.
She asked for a "little bit of privacy in my own home" following the week's events.
She added: "My neighbours, I think, are also entitled to a wee bit of privacy as well.
"Over the years, as a result of living next door to me, they've been subjected to more than their fair share of disruption and inconvenience.
"And that has obviously been particularly the case over the last couple of days."
Mr Murrell, who has been married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010, resigned as chief executive of the SNP after taking responsibility for misleading statements about a fall in party membership.
Last year it emerged that he gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election.
The party had repaid about half of the money by October of that year.
At the time an SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election".
He said it had been reported in the party's 2021 accounts.
Ms Sturgeon told assembled media: "Peter's at home as you would expect it to be. Peter's not able to say anything.
"Again, that's not necessarily a matter of choice. That's just the nature of this."
It emerged on Friday that the firm that audits the SNP's finances had resigned.
Accountants Johnston Carmichael had worked with the party for more than a decade but said the decision was taken after a review of its clients.
Earlier on Saturday, SNP president Mike Russell conceded the party had been plunged into its biggest crisis in half a century.
Mr Russell also said he does not think independence can be achieved "right now". | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65221865 |
King Charles joined by family for first Easter service as monarch - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | The service in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle is his first as monarch. | UK | The King and Camilla, Queen Consort, led the walk to the chapel
The King and other senior royals have attended their first Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Charles was accompanied by Camilla, the Queen Consort, with his siblings the Princess Royal and the Duke of York immediately behind them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also at the St George's Chapel service, with all three of their children.
Last year, only Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined them.
But on Sunday, Prince Louis - their youngest, at the age of four - held his mother's hand for the walk to the chapel, in the spring sunshine.
The family was colour-coordinated in shades of blue, with Charles and Camilla also wearing dark blue outfits.
The Princess of Wales was colour-coordinated with her children in a marine blue coat dress and matching hat
While Zara Tindall wore fuchsia, with Princess Beatrice behind her in a cooler pink tone
Other royals at the traditional Easter Sunday Matins included the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - Edward and Sophie - with their son James, the Earl of Wessex.
Princess Eugenie - who is expecting her second child this summer - attended with her husband Jack Brooksbank, along with her sister Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Zara and Mike Tindall were joined by their two elder children, daughters Mia and Lena, and her brother Peter Phillips.
The new Duke of Edinburgh waved to the crowds
Princess Eugenie is expecting her second child this summer
The Royal Family traditionally takes the short walk to the chapel together
Princess Charlotte shook hands with Dean of Windsor David Conner as she left the chapel
Camilla was presented with a posy of flowers after the service
The 15th Century chapel where the service was held is the late Queen's final resting place. She is buried in its tiny King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside the late Prince Philip and her parents George VI and the Queen Mother.
It is now less than a month until Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Sunday also marks the 18th anniversary of his marriage to Camilla. The pair left the chapel separately, with Camilla stopping to receive a posy of flowers before waving to members of the public and wishing them a Happy Easter as she got into a car.
As the King left a few minutes later, he received a round of applause from the crowd. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65225124 |
Joe Biden: President to give key speech at Ulster University in GFA visit - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | US president's speech at new Belfast campus the sole NI engagement of his visit. | Northern Ireland | US President Joe Biden is expected to give an address at Ulster University's newly opened Belfast campus on Wednesday
US President Joe Biden will give a key address at Ulster University's newly opened Belfast campus next week, it has been confirmed.
He is visiting NI and the Republic of Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
His speech at UU's £350m campus, understood to be his sole NI engagement, will take place on Wednesday.
He is expected to leave Northern Ireland that afternoon.
Mr Biden will also attend engagements in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo during his four-day visit.
Announcing the Belfast speech, UU vice-chancellor and president Prof Paul Bartholomew said the university was "looking forward to what will be a very special day in [its] history and to hosting President Biden on his first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming president".
The university's Belfast campus, which opened last autumn, "truly reflects the hope and promise" of the Good Friday Agreement "and our aspirations for a positive, prosperous, and sustainable future for everyone", he added.
It is believed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be in Northern Ireland for Mr Biden's visit.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to be in Belfast for US President Joe Biden's visit
On Saturday Louth County Council confirmed Mr Biden will visit both Dundalk and Carlingford, close to the border with Northern Ireland.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported his visit to the Republic of Ireland may include government receptions at Farmleigh House and Dublin Castle.
It is also believed the US president will attend the Irish presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, to meet Michael D Higgins.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said Mr Biden was expected to address the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) on Thursday.
He will become the fourth US president to do so, following John F Kennedy on 28 June 1963, Ronald Reagan on 4 June 1984 and Bill Clinton on 1 December 1995.
It has also been confirmed that Mr Biden will be in County Mayo on Friday, where he will speak at an event outside St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he was "delighted" Mr Biden would be visiting Ireland.
"When we spoke recently in the White House, President Biden was clear that in celebrating the Good Friday Agreement, we should be looking ahead, not backwards," he said.
The involvement of the United States and of Mr Biden personally had been "essential to the peace process in Ireland", he added.
Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina. It is understood Joe Biden will visit the Irish presidential residence, Áras an Uachtaráin, next week
BBC News NI understands Joe Kennedy III, the US special envoy for Northern Ireland, will accompany President Biden on his visit.
It will be his first trip to Northern Ireland since taking up the post of special envoy in December.
Mr Kennedy will stay in Northern Ireland for several days after President Biden travels to the Republic of Ireland, it is understood.
On Thursday Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Asst Ch Constable Chris Todd said the visit would require a security operation on a scale not seen in Northern Ireland since the G8 summit in 2013. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-65221919 |
Cardiff: St David's apologises after drivers stuck in car park - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Problems with traffic lights near the exit of a multi-storey car park are blamed for the chaos. | Wales | Cars were queuing for hours trying to get out of St David's car park
A shopping centre has apologised after malfunctioning traffic lights left shoppers trapped in car park congestion for up to three hours.
St David's shopping centre in Cardiff said it was sorry for the backlog on Saturday night.
"We know how frustrating congestion is and are sorry for the inconvenience," a spokesman said.
One motorist said it took her three hours to drive out of the car park.
The sequencing of traffic lights outside the St David's car park entrance "meant the backlog took some time to clear," the shopping centre said.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. View original content on Twitter The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Skip twitter post by Tevo 🦊 🔜 CFz#483 This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Shopper Wendy said she spent three hours in a queue, including a 30-minute break to get food and coffee.
"The car park was taken by surprise by the sheer amount of traffic trying to get out of a car park that only has one exit," she said.
"It only managed to get going when the car park opened the barriers so there was no pause for the cars." | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65227293 |
Wolves v Chelsea: Police looking to make more arrests after homophobic chanting - BBC Sport | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | null | Police say they are looking to make more arrests over homophobic chants heard during Wolves' win over Chelsea on Saturday. | null | Last updated on .From the section Football
West Midlands Police say they are looking to make more arrests over homophobic chants heard during Wolves' win over Chelsea on Saturday.
This comes after Wolves said three arrests had already been made after the game at Molineux.
Both Wolves and Chelsea condemned the chants following the match.
Wolves said they reminded supporters over the PA system during the game that "discriminatory behaviour and chants" are not tolerated.
Three men, aged 32, 24 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of a "public order offence which caused harassment, alarm or distress and also of using threatening words or behaviour to stir up sexual orientation hatred", said West Midlands Police in a statement.
All three men have been released on bail while the police investigation continues.
"We are continuing to investigate and officers are currently looking at CCTV to identify those taking part in the chants. We will be looking to make further arrests," said Superintendent Sallie Churchill.
"Homophobia, like all other forms of discrimination, has no place in football or society," a statement from Wolves read.
"Anyone engaging in discriminatory behaviour is committing a criminal offence."
The club said it would offer its full support to the police as they carry out their investigation.
In a statement, Chelsea branded "all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable", adding that they will work to "eradicate these vile chants from our game".
The Premier League said there is "no place in football or society" for homophobic chants and discrimination. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65221106 |
Good Friday Agreement: How Blair and Ahern brought new focus - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Ahead of the deal's 25th anniversary, we look back on the twists and turns of the year leading up to it. | Northern Ireland | New leaders, new impetus: Bertie Ahern (left) and Tony Blair arrived in office in 1997
It is 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, the peace deal that brought an end to the Troubles. How did the arrival of new leaders in both the UK and Republic of Ireland help bring fresh momentum to the talks?
The impressive King's Hall at Balmoral today operates as a multi-million pound health and well-being centre but the complex in south Belfast has played host to many memorable cultural and sporting events over the years.
For decades, it was home to the annual multi-day Balmoral Show, the biggest agricultural event in Northern Ireland.
Music lovers flocked there to hear the sounds of The Beatles, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen, among many others, while boxers Barry McGuigan, Wayne McCullough and Chris Eubank have all entertained fight fans.
But the King's Hall's important role in our political history is perhaps less well known.
The Good Friday Agreement referendum result was announced at the King's Hall
In May 1998, under the gaze of the world's media, the result of the Good Friday Agreement referendum was revealed at the King's Hall, revealing 71% of voters had backed the deal.
A year earlier it was the venue for a key moment when the faltering peace process was given a boost.
Just days after becoming prime minister, Tony Blair came to the King's Hall complex to try to get political talks back on track.
He delivered a bold plea to republicans, declaring: "My message to Sinn Féin is clear. The settlement train is leaving. I want you on that train but it is leaving anyway and I will not allow it to wait for you.''
Tony Blair won the 1997 general election with a massive parliamentary majority and Northern Ireland was one of his priorities.
Tony Blair, centre, with Northern Ireland Minister Paul Murphy and Secretary of State Mo Mowlam
Tom Kelly, who would initially work as director of communications with the Northern Ireland Office and then as the prime minister's official spokesperson, said the new leader was determined to get a breakthrough.
"He also said the peace process was something that was a responsibility that weighed not just on the mind but on the soul. It was personal," he added.
New leadership in the UK was soon mirrored in the Republic of Ireland, where Bertie Ahern became taoiseach (Irish prime minister) in June 1997.
Diplomat Dan Mulhall, who worked in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and would become directly involved with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, said the arrival of Blair and Ahern changed the political dynamic.
"The fact that you had two new leaders, heads of government coming into office at roughly the same time, I think, gave the whole thing a boost that turned out to be critical in the end."
Political talks got going in June 1997, with republicans told that unless there was an IRA ceasefire Sinn Féin would be left out in the cold.
Social Democratic and Labour Party leader John Hume, who had been talking to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, continued his behind the scenes discussions and, in July 1997, a second IRA ceasefire was announced.
This cessation of violence changed everything, said Prof Marie Coleman from Queen's University Belfast.
"The new Labour government was not as stringent as Sir Patrick Mayhew [ the former Northern Ireland secretary] had been with decommissioning before those talks," she said.
"But certainly there would have been no negotiations going into the autumn of 1997 if there had not been a ceasefire."
US politician Senator George Mitchell was tasked with bringing the parties together and finding common ground - a process that Mr Mulhall recalls as being painstakingly slow.
"George Mitchell had that endurance, and the patience, to be able to cope with the glacial pace of progress," he said.
By the autumn of 1997, talks were under way but it seemed Tony Blair's much reported "settlement train" was making little headway.
He came to Belfast for discussions but was booed and heckled while on a walkabout at Connswater Shopping Centre in east Belfast, underlining the difficulties the talks faced.
A protester holding up a sign during Tony Blair's visit to Connoswater Shopping Centre in 1997
However another landmark moment, Prof Coleman said, came at Christmas, when the prime minister hosted Sinn Féin in Downing Street.
"What we saw in December 1997 would bring back images of Michael Collins leading the [Anglo-Irish] Treaty delegation in to talk to [prime minister] David Lloyd George in that very same building over 70 years previously," she said
"So there was a significant historical resonance there."
The months to come, before the deal got over the line, had many twists and turns - talks broke up in Christmas 1997 without agreement.
Then loyalist paramilitaries withdrew their support and, in January, Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam went into the Maze prison to try to get them back on board.
The new year also brought a wave of killings, with both loyalist and republican paramilitaries blamed.
The announcement of the referendum result brought cheers at the King's Hall - but the year leading up to it was anything but smooth
This led to the loyalist Ulster Democratic Party group, which was linked to the Ulster Defence Association, to be barred from the talks, and then Sinn Féin being expelled.
The prospects of a political deal in February 1998 looked bleak, as Mr Kelly recalled.
"People expected failure - people did not expect success," he said.
History turned out differently. In May 1998, the King's Hall became the place to watch as political history was made.
• None What is the Good Friday Agreement? | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64652222 |
Ben Ferencz: Last surviving Nuremberg prosecutor dies, aged 103 - BBC News | 2023-04-09T00:00:00 | https://www.facebook.com/bbcnews | Ben Ferencz was 27 when he prosecuted 22 Nazis for war crimes and crimes against humanity. | World | This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. From 2017: Ben Ferencz on the lessons of warfare
The last surviving prosecutor from the post-World War Two Nuremberg trials has died aged 103.
Ben Ferencz was just 27 when he secured the convictions of Nazi officers for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He later advocated for the establishment of an international court to prosecute war crimes, a goal realised in 2002.
Ferencz died peacefully in his sleep on Friday evening at an assisted living facility in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Confirming his death, the US Holocaust Museum said the world had lost "a leader in the quest for justice for victims of genocide".
Speaking to the BBC, his son, Donald Ferencz, who also works in international law, said he would remember his father as someone who dedicated his life to "trying to make it a more humane world under the rule of law".
"He'd seen and experienced things which were so horrific that they fuelled the passion which took him not only through the court at Nuremberg but fuelled really the rest of his life", he told the Newshour programme.
He described his father as a "funny" and "mischievous" person, but one who worked "every day of his life".
"This is not a guy who went fishing or played golf," he said. "This is a guy whose life mission was to try to make it a better world."
Ferencz was born in Transylvania - part of Romania - in 1920, but his family emigrated to the US when he was young to escape antisemitism, later settling in New York.
After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1943, he enlisted in the US Army and took part in the Allied landings at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and ultimately joined a team tasked with investigating and gathering evidence of Nazi war crimes.
The team was based with the army in Germany and would enter concentration camps as they were liberated, taking notes on conditions in each and interviewing survivors.
In a later account of his life, Ferencz spoke of finding bodies "piled up like cordwood" and "helpless skeletons with diarrhoea, dysentery, typhus, TB, pneumonia, and other ailments, retching in their louse ridden bunks or on the ground with only their pathetic eyes pleading for help".
He described Buchenwald - one of the largest camps inside Germany - as a "charnel house of indescribable horrors".
"There is no doubt that I was indelibly traumatised by my experiences as a war crimes investigator of Nazi extermination centres," he wrote. "I still try not to talk or think about the details."
After the war, Ferencz returned to New York to practice law, but shortly afterwards was recruited to help prosecute Nazis at the Nuremberg trials, despite having no prior trial experience.
He was made chief prosecutor at the trial of members of the Einsatzgruppen, mobile SS death squads that operated within Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe and are estimated to have murdered more than a million people.
Of 22 men who stood trial, all were found guilty on at least one charge, with 14 sentenced to death and four ultimately executed.
After the trials ended, Ferencz - who was fluent in six languages, including German - remained in West Germany and helped Jewish groups obtain a reparations settlement from the new government.
In his later years, he became a professor of international law and campaigned for an international court that could prosecute the leaders of governments found to have committed war crimes, writing several books on the subject.
In 2002, the International Criminal Court was set up in The Hague, Netherlands, although its effectiveness has been limited by the refusal of several major countries, including the US, to take part.
Ferencz is survived by a son and three daughters. His wife - childhood sweetheart Gertrude Fried - died in 2019. | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-65223756 |
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