February 18, 2025. 14:33 ist There is nothing effortlessly in maintaining curls. So, for all products, heat and built -in ...
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Pensioner arrested in Scotland-first at abortion clinic protest days after JD Vance row
A PENSIONER has been arrested for allegedly protesting at an abortion centre – a first-of-its-kind case in Scotland.
The woman, 74, was nicked by cops just after 2pm today near Hardgate Clinic, Clydebank.
Officers were alerted to a group of protesters outside the venue and remain at the scene.
This is the first arrest in Scotland under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024 which prohibits rallies within 200 metres of named premises.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Around 2.05pm on Wednesday, 19 February, 2025, we were made aware of a group of protesters at the Hardgate Road area of Glasgow.
“Officers attended and a 74-year-old woman was arrested in connection with a breach of the exclusion zone.
“Officers remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.”
John Swinney today hit back at JD Vance after the US Vice President claimed Scots who live near abortion clinics could be banned from praying in their own homes.
During a speech in Munich last week, Mr Vance said that “disturbing letters” had been sent to houses located within buffer zones warning citizens they could be breaking the law under legislation introduced last year.
But, he was accused of spreading misinformation, with the Scottish Government clarifying that only “intention or reckless behaviour” is covered under the law, which forbids protests within 200 metres of abortion hubs.
Speaking in Glasgow on Wednesday, the First Minister said: “JD Vance is just wrong, and that issue was extensively discussed in the course of the passage of the Bill.
“On the letter that was issued to households, his claims were wrong about that letter as well, and no such point was put across to residents whatsoever about private prayer.”
Speaking at a security conference, Donald Trump’s second-in-command referenced the legislation in Scotland as he suggested that free speech in the UK and across Europe is “in retreat”.
However, Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who spearheaded the law change, accused him of “shameless misinformation” over the letters that were sent out.
She added: “He is one of the most powerful people in the world but he is peddling total nonsense and dangerous scaremongering.
There is no mention of silent prayer, it’s about using your home to influence people going to seek an abortion.”
Man and woman, 20s, arrested and charged as gardai swoop on Tallaght house & seize over €1m in drugs and cash
A MAN and a woman, both in their 20s, have been arrested and charged by gardai following a seizure of drugs and cash worth over €1m in Dublin.
Community Gardai and the Drugs Unit based at Tallaght Garda Station swooped on a residential property in the Old Bawn area of Dublin 24 yesterday.
Officers confirmed today that the search resulted in the seizure of a “substantial quantity” of controlled drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and ketamine, with a combined estimated street value of €950,000.
Some €231,000 in cash was also taken from the property during the probe, bringing the total seized to over €1million.
A man and a woman, both aged in their late 20s, were arrested and charged over the seizure.
The woman charged in connection with the investigation is due to appear in court this evening.
The man has been charged and released.
He is scheduled to appear before Tallaght District Court next month.
The drugs seized are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.
Gardai said investigations into yesterday’s seizure are “ongoing”.
The seizure was part of ongoing investigations targeting the distribution of controlled drugs under Operation Tara.
Operation Tara, described by gardai an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, was launch in 2021 and focuses on disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting drug trafficking networks at all levels.
A garda spokesperson said: “As part of ongoing investigations targeting the distribution of controlled drugs under Operation Tara, Community Gardai and the Drugs Unit based at Tallaght Garda Station, conducted an operation on Tuesday, 18th February, 2025, in Dublin 24.
“During the operation, a residential property in the Old Bawn area was searched, resulting in the seizure of a substantial quantity of controlled drugs, including cannabis, cocaine and ketamine, with a combined estimated street value of approximately €950,000.
“Gardai also seized over €231,000 in cash, bringing the total seizure to over €1 million.”
I helped guide my team from fourth tier to the top division.. but highlight was falling in love with and marrying MASCOT
MARKUS KRÖSCHE was named in SC Paderborn’s Team of the Century – and he even married the club MASCOT.
The Eintracht Frankfurt CEO, 44, is one of European football’s rising stars in the boardroom.
Krösche started his football journey in more modest surroundings, signing his first pro papers with Werder Bremen aged 15.
He would go on to spend the majority of his career with Paderborn, where he became a club legend.
As a tough-tackling midfielder, Krösche helped lift the club from the fourth tier all the way to the Bundesliga.
Krösche played almost 400 games for Paderborn and skippered the side in the top-flight.
But it was the club’s mascot – mouse Holli – that had a lasting effect on the former German under-21 international.
Speaking to BILD, Krosche revealed: “My [now] wife worked for an agency that marketed the mascot.
“She worked there alongside her studies and accompanied Holli to appointments as a photographer, among other things.
“That’s how we met.”
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Krösche confirmed that his wife Viktoria would also help out as Holli on some match days.
He added with a laugh: “It’s true, yes. That’s our story.”
The pair now have two teenage daughters – Maya and Clara – with the family still living in Paderborn.
Krösche worked as a sporting director at RB Leipzig before landing his current role with Frankfurt.
The club have enjoyed success in recent seasons, winning the Europa League in 2022 and finishing 6th in the Bundesliga last term.
Krösche admits he was fortunate to enjoy such a stunning career – as he lacked “outstanding skills.”
He added: “I wouldn’t sign me at all because I didn’t have any outstanding skills.
“No good technique, no outstanding header, I wasn’t particularly fast.
“I would definitely fail our scouting team.
“[Frankfurt Director] Charly Korbel once told me that he wanted to sign me to Eintracht in the mid-2000s.
“The manager at the time turned me down – I would have done the same!”
Kevin Webster lashes out after devastating health news as he struggles to cope in Coronation Street
UPCOMING Coronation Street scenes will see Kevin Webster lash out after receiving devastating health news.
A devastating new storyline has seen the mechanic diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Having found a lump on his testicles, Kevin got himself tested fter a pep talk from his best mate Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine).
Things appear to be getting worse, as the soap legend is set to receive more bad news in scenes yet to air.
His wife Abi (Sally Carman) offers to cancel her therapy session, in order to spend the afternoon with him – but Kevin won’t allow it.
Tim later finds Kevin in the garage and after offering support, Kevin’s hurt becomes anger.
Elsewhere, Abi opens up to Ronnie (Vinta Morgan) about her therapy sessions.
Kevin enters, sees them laughing together and leaves again – how will he react?
Discussing the storyline, producer Kate Brooks previously said: “As we go into the new year, Kevin will discover that he’s got testicular cancer, which causes a massive strain on his relationship.
“Abi is a really strong character, but she’s going through her own turmoil at the same time.
“We want to tell this really truthfully. We’ve been working closely with Macmillan to make sure that we tell the story right.”
Kevin received his test results last week, as his ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) accompanied him to his appointment.
When the diagnosis is revealed, the doctor also informed him he’ll have to undergo an operation.
The Sun revealed last year how Kevin would be diagnosed with testicular cancer.
It comes 41 years into the long-standing character’s tenure in Coronation Street.
In another heartbreaking storyline, Kevin’s sister Debbie is set to be diagnosed with dementia.
Darkest soap storylines
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
Viewers were left stunned when it was revealed last year how the legendary character was being killed off.
This arc will mark the end of actress Sue Devaney’s time in the ITV soap.
A source told Metro “It’s one of the show’s biggest storylines of the year, and a real chance for Sue to finally get her time in the spotlight – it will just be devastating for fans that it will effectively be her final storyline.”
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
One sixth of staff at cash-strapped RTE considered managers as station chief vows ‘there’ll be reduction in the number’
ONE in six staff in RTE are classified as managers in their contracts and they got a pay rise over a year ago even though the station was skint, it has emerged.
The disclosure was made by Director General Kevin Bakhurst to staff in reply to answers from a town hall meeting before Christmas.
He also acknowledged that some members of staff described as bosses may not even manage someone.
A briefing document summarising the meeting and sent to employees read: “Managers got a pay increase last year and in previous years as part of a deal paid to all RTE employees.
“There are 300 people in RTE characterised as managers. They maybe line managers or may not manage people.
“KB (Kevin Bakhurst) said many managers are brilliant and some who are not so good.
“There will be a reduction in the number of managers with fewer people to be managed.”
He urged staff to respect people and not to be disparaging because of a manager’s title.
The Director General also indicated he is in favour of a new pay rise for all RTE staff and he believes in people being properly and fairly rewarded in so far as the organisation can pay.
The doc stated: “ Negotiations will start soon with unions on the next pay deal. The duration of a deal and what is fair and affordable will be looked at.
“Pay has been addressed in some areas. For example, pay bands at RnaG have been brought in line with radio producers.”
Mr Bakhurst expressed frustration at the Dept of Media and its failure to sign off on a new Voluntary Exit Scheme to reduce staff numbers.
‘ESSENTIAL ROLE’
He said 176/177 applied for the last exit scheme and just 26 people left.
In a statement, RTE said: “The Director General made the comments at a staff meeting to highlight that the role of a manager in RTE is wide ranging and refers to people at all levels and in all parts of the organisation, including project managers and line managers.
“He also highlighted that managers at all levels play an essential role in the day to day operation of RTE.”
PAY DEAL
The spokesperson added: “The salary entry point for management positions in RTE is €49,542.
“The pay increase referred to was part of a pay agreement between RTE and the Trade Unions and applied to all staff, not just those classified as managers.
“The agreement included a 6 per cent pay increase over two years and was passed by ballot in December 2022.
“RTE has continued to reduce its headcount since 2023 as part of ongoing cost management measures.
“However while RTE’s five year strategy proposes to reduce headcount in RTE by up to 400 over the next five years, these plans have not yet been approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.”
BAILOUT FUNDS
The state allocated €225 million for RTE this year plus €60 million for TG4. RTE recorded a deficit of €9.1 million in 2023.
RTE will then receive a guaranteed €240m in 2026 and €260m in 2027 in funding from the licence fee and the exchequer.
The station implemented over €10 million in cutbacks in 2024 and pledged to reduce its headcount by 400 by 2028.
Last year it had a total of 1,852 full-time, part time and casual staff.
A typical “manager to staff ratio” is considered to be around 1 manager to 10 staff members.
New Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan is expected to meet Mr Bakhurst and senior RTE executives in the coming weeks after their transformative and survival strategy.
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