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Alex Salmond appears in court on attempted rape charge Scotland’s former first minister faces 14 charges that also include indecent assault Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, has appeared in court accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House, the Georgian property in Edinburgh’s new town used as the official residence of Scotland’s first ministers, in June 2014.He appeared at the high court in Edinburgh on Thursday in front of Lady Dorrian, the lord justice clerk, to face a total of 14 charges including one of attempted rape, 11 charges of sexual and indecent assault, some of which allegedly occurred numerous times, and two common law charges of indecent assault dating to 2008. Salmond has repeatedly denied the charges. Continue reading... Go to Source

Strictly Come Dancing's first same-sex routine sparks almost 200 complaints The groundbreaking performance on the BBC ballroom smash has garnered 189 complaints for being ‘offensive’Strictly Come Dancing has received 189 complaints following the “offensive” broadcast of its first ever individual same-sex routine this month.On the 3 November edition of the hit BBC ballroom show, professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima danced together during a performance by the singer Emeli Sandé. Radebe – who is gay – told Hello! magazine that the groundbreaking routine made him feel that “for the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am” and that being able to perform with di Prima, who is in a heterosexual relationship, “says so much about the people of this country”. I...

Downward mobility 'becoming a reality for much of British youth' Social policy experts call for educational, tax and pay reforms to beat economic slideDownward mobility – the phenomenon of children doing less well than their parents – will become a reality for young people today unless society makes dramatic changes, according to two of the UK’s leading experts on social policy.The UK is among the worst of the developed countries for social mobility. It appears increasingly unlikely that people will be able to escape economic disadvantages linked to their background. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prince Andrew: lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein's victims hint at subpoena Royal pressed to turn over all relevant documents about contacts with financierLawyers representing the victims of the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have signalled they are willing to serve a subpoena to Prince Andrew to ensure he cooperates with their investigations.In a statement on Wednesday announcing he was standing down from public duties, the Duke of York said he was willing to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency” with their investigations after what he accepted was his “ill-judged association” with Epstein. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prince Andrew to step back from public duties 'for foreseeable future' Duke of York issues statement amid criticism over relationship with Jeffrey EpsteinThe Queen has given permission for Prince Andrew to “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future” after days of mounting pressure following his interview with the BBC about his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The Duke of York also said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required” over the US probe into Epstein. Continue reading... Go to Source

Sondland's bombshell testimony blows holes in Trump's Ukraine defence Ambassador to EU testifies as House impeachment hearingSondland: ‘We followed the president’s orders’A star witness at the impeachment inquiry has delivered a devastating blow to Donald Trump, testifying about the existence of a quid pro quo with Ukraine and insisting: “We followed the president’s orders.”Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, stunned Washington with bombshell evidence that blew a hole in the White House’s defences, implicated numerous senior officials and left the US president facing probable impeachment. Continue reading... Go to Source

Extinction Rebellion founder’s Holocaust remarks spark fury German politicians accuse Roger Hallam of downplaying significance of genocideA co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has sparked anger in Germany after referring to the Holocaust as “just another fuckery in human history”.Roger Hallam has been accused of downplaying the Nazis’ genocide of 6 million Jews by arguing in an interview that the significance of the Holocaust has been overplayed. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Liberal Democrats promise £50bn windfall from stopping Brexit at manifesto launch – live news Lib Dems say they are only party to offer credible plan for climate crisis; prime minister reveals national insurance manifesto pledgeLib Dems’ manifesto pledges £5bn duty rise for frequent flyersNo deal made with Labour on Scottish referendum, says SturgeonSign up for Andrew Sparrow’s evening election briefing 5.51pm GMTListen in to this week’s Politics Weekly, as my colleague Heather Stewart is joined by Ayesha Hazarika, Paul Harrison and Will Jennings to pick apart the ITV debate. Plus, Rowena Mason calls in from the Tory battlebus and Peter Walker reports from the Green party’s manifesto launch: Related: When Johnson met Corbyn – Politics Weekly podcast 5.46pm GMTJo Swi...

Police investigating Caruana Galizia murder arrest businessman on yacht Maltese journalist was killed by car bomb on Mediterranean island in 2017A prominent Maltese businessman has been arrested onboard his yacht as it was heading out to sea, in an operation linked to the murder of the Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.Armed forces personnel boarded a vessel at about 5.30am on Wednesday and detained Yorgen Fenech. Continue reading... Go to Source

English nationalist MP candidate found guilty of harassing Anna Soubry Amy Dalla Mura banned from campaigning in Broxtowe after targeting Soubry over Brexit A Brexit supporter who is standing against the remainer Anna Soubry in the general election has been found guilty of harassing her and banned from campaigning in her constituency.Amy Dalla Mura, 56, targeted Soubry between January and March this year, turning up at events and calling her a traitor on live television, Westminster magistrates court heard. Continue reading... Go to Source