Babak Belurs

Kamis, 20 Agustus 2020

Celtic want fan return NEXT WEEKEND as Hoops target Government permission for Motherwell 'pilot event' - Daily Record

Celtic hope to be granted Government permission to let fans back into Parkhead for next weekend’s top flight visit of Motherwell.

Record Sport understands the champions’ showdown with the Fir Park club a week on Sunday has been pencilled in as the potential first pilot event for Scottish football as the top flight prepares to reopen its turnstiles to limited number of spectators from next month.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today that fans can begin returning to grounds all over the country from September 14 so long as the spread of coronavirus stays under control.

And she also gave the green light for test events to take place before that date to prove that strict protocol can be put in place to keep supporters safe.

As we revealed on Wednesday rugby bosses hope to open up BT Murrayfield for the first time since lockdown next Friday, for the second leg of a PRO 14 double header between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh.

And now Celtic - who have been working in tandem with the SRU on plans to keep spectators socially distanced in a bio-secure environment - are also seeking approval from Holyrood to roll out similar measures for the Motherwell match just two days later.

Talks between the football authorities and St Andrew’s House are set to continue over the next 24 hours as the details of how to get supporters back inside grounds are thrashed out.

But it’s expected that even if the SRU and Celtic are allowed to roll out practice runs next week they will be restricted to opening the doors to no more than 1,000 fans at each event.

Celtic FC news

A source said: “It’s all about proving to the Government and the health experts that robust plans can be put in place which will allow fans to watch games without risking public health.

“It’s also important that fans are given the confidence of knowing that all possible measures are being taken to make sure they can safely get back to supporting their teams.”

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2020-08-20 21:45:00Z
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Manchester Arena bombing: Families of victims call bomber's brother a 'coward' for court no-show - Sky News

Heartbroken families have branded the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber "a coward" after he refused to enter a courtroom to receive his life sentence.

Hashem Abedi, 23, was given a minimum 55-year sentence after a court found he was "just as guilty" as his brother, Salman, who carried out the suicide bomb attack in Manchester in May 2017.

Paul Hett, who lost his son Martyn, told Sky News: "Hashem Abedi couldn't even be man enough to come to court to hear how he had affected these people.

Manchester bombing sentence — The mother of bombing victim Martyn Hett says she has a life sentence

"We've spent two days listening to harrowing details of lives that have been totally shattered, not just the 22 that lost their loved ones but the hundreds of lives changed forever.

"I'm sure the parole board will ensure that this coward never sees the light of day again."

Sharon Goodman's 15-year-old granddaughter, Olivia, also died in the attack which happened in the closing moments of an Ariana Grande concert.

She told Sky News: "I think it's contemptible, it's arrogant, I find it very disrespectful that he didn't come to court."

Her husband, Steve added: "It's obvious he couldn't face up to his actions."

The couple, who watched the Old Bailey sentencing via video link in Manchester with several other families, said they "felt numb" after hearing the sentence and that "whatever he [Abedi] was given, nothing would bring Olivia back".

It's been more than three years since the couple lost their granddaughter, who they describe as a girl who "just had love and a smile".

"I don't think I'll ever understand how the Abedis came to that point where they felt they had to not only endanger other people's lives but blow themselves up," Mrs Goodman added, "I cannot understand it, I cannot comprehend it."

For the families, and the hundreds of injured, Hashem Abedi's sentencing is "one step closer to peace."

"We still have lots of questions," Steve Goodman says.

He hopes the public inquiry into the attack, due to begin next month, will help answer them.

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2020-08-20 19:28:49Z
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Sturgeon 'not aware' women advised not to be alone with Salmond - BBC News

Nicola Sturgeon has told Holyrood she was not aware of female civil servants being advised not to be alone with her predecessor Alex Salmond.

Ms Sturgeon was speaking during First Minister's Questions, responding to a question raised by the Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser.

He asked if she was "aware of female civil servants being advised not to be alone in the company of the former first minister".

Ms Sturgeon replied: "No, I wasn't."

Mr Fraser had begun by explaining that - earlier in the week, during a meeting of the Scottish Parliament inquiry into the failure of the government's complaints handling process - he had asked Scotland's highest ranking civil servant, Leslie Evans, if she was aware that female civil servants had been advised not to be alone with Mr Salmond.

Ms Evans replied that she could not comment.

The first minister said that she was not going to comment on evidence given by other people, but added that she understood Mr Fraser's question at the committee had been "ruled out of order".

Ms Sturgeon was referring to committee convener, SNP MSP Linda Fabiani, prohibiting further questioning on the issue.

She continued: "I understand that the permanent secretary has already said that she is happy to write to the committee to address this issue if the committee wishes," she added.

Ms Evans - who is the permanent secretary to the Scottish government - went before the Scottish Parliament inquiry which is investigating the Scottish government's handling of complaints against Mr Salmond, which saw him awarded a £500,000 expenses payout in court.

Who is Leslie Evans?

Mr Fraser also asked Ms Sturgeon if Ms Evans' response was in accordance with the Scottish government's commitment to fully cooperate with the parliamentary inquiry.

Ms Sturgeon said was "absolutely committed to fully complying with the inquiry", and would answer "all questions that are put to me by the committee, when the committee asks me to do so - unless, of course, they are asking me questions where my answers would breach legal requirements".

She added that she had already submitted written evidence to the inquiry - saying it was for the committee to decide "when and to what extent" this is made public.

Ms Sturgeon also said she had recused herself from any decision-making about the government's interaction with the committee, given that part of the committee's remit is to look at her conduct.

For this reason, she said, she was not going to issue instructions, but added: "The government will continue to fully co-operate, I am sure, and within the legal obligations that the government operates under make available the maximum amount of information that it can to the committee."

The government launched an internal investigation into harassment complaints against Mr Salmond from two female members of staff in January 2018.

The allegations dated back to when he was serving as first minister.

However, Mr Salmond raised a legal challenge which led to the government admitting that the investigation had been unlawful.

The judge said it had been "procedurally unfair" and "tainted with apparent bias" because the investigating officer assigned to the case had had prior contact with the complainers.

Mr Salmond was subsequently cleared of 13 charges of sexual assault at the High Court in Edinburgh in March.

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2020-08-20 15:48:17Z
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GCSE results: 'A weight has been lifted' - BBC News

It has been a GCSE results day like no other for pupils this year. Grades have risen dramatically in England after exams were cancelled and a government U-turn meant results could be based on teachers' estimates rather than an algorithm.

Following the uncertainty of recent weeks, many students were relieved upon receiving their results.

"I was so nervous this morning, but I just feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," says Tanisha Sethi, 16, from west London.

With mostly 7s and 8s - equivalent to As to A*s under the old grading system in England - she has the results she needs to go to sixth form, and hopes to go to university in the future.

But she thinks she could have performed better in some subjects if she had sat exams, and was disappointed when they were cancelled.

"I really wanted to prove myself and I was gutted that I didn't get the chance to show all the effort I had put in" she says.

"I'm not going to have the practice and the knowledge and the exam technique that I would have gained from sitting GCSEs, and it will be a lot harder to make a start on A-levels."

Jack Connor, 16, from Kent, was also feeling apprehensive after the confusion over A-level results last week.

"There was a lot of uncertainty and people were very stressed out because we had not control over it," he says.

"Then with the U-turn the government made I didn't know what to expect."

But after receiving a mixture of 7s, 6s, and 5s - equivalent to As and Bs under the old system - he says he is "really pleased".

Results day was a very different experience this year. Jack received his results online rather than going into school.

"I wanted the experience of waiting outside school and getting my grades with my teachers around me," he says.

"Obviously we missed out on that. We missed out on lots of things - exams, prom."

For Lucia Davis, it was also a day of mixed emotions. She is from Dinas Powys in Wales, which kept its letter-based grading structure.

She says the last few months have been difficult as pupils were "in the dark for a long time" about what would happen with their grades.

"With exams being cancelled it put all of us in a really bad mindset because our results were out of our hands," she says.

She is also pleased with her GCSE results, receiving mostly A*s and As. But she is still waiting for her BTec result.

BTec grades were pulled on the eve of results day, after exam board Pearson said they needed to be reviewed to ensure fairness following the U-turn on A-levels and GCSEs.

"It's a bit nerve-wracking," says Lucia. "It added extra stress to everything that's already gone on."

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2020-08-20 15:05:52Z
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GCSE results day LIVE: Grades hit record highs as Pearson pulls BTEC scores hours before release - The Sun

TEENAGERS in England have received a record-breaking set of GCSE results after a quarter of students received the top grades.

The number of pupils who received a seven or above - equivalent to at least an A - is at a record high, with 25.9% of entries receiving one of the top three grades.

It represents a leap from 20.7% last year - however, students have been warned that it could spark a scramble for college places.

However, BTEC students face a nervous wait for their exam results after exam board Pearson pulled their grades just hours before results day.

The exam board confirmed on Wednesday that 450,000 students would receive revised marks to bring them in line with A-Levels and GCSES - meaning their results will not be published on Thursday morning.

Follow our GCSE and A-level live blog for all the latest news and updates...

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2020-08-20 14:07:23Z
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GCSE results day LIVE: Grades hit record highs as Pearson pulls BTEC scores hours before release - The Sun

TEENAGERS in England have received a record-breaking set of GCSE results after a quarter of students received the top grades.

The number of pupils who received a seven or above - equivalent to at least an A - is at a record high, with 25.9% of entries receiving one of the top three grades.

It represents a leap from 20.7% last year - however, students have been warned that it could spark a scramble for college places.

However, BTEC students face a nervous wait for their exam results after exam board Pearson pulled their grades just hours before results day.

Follow our GCSE and A-level live blog for all the latest news and updates...

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Coronavirus: Scotland sees highest daily rise in COVID-19 infections in nearly three months - Sky News

Scotland has recorded the highest daily rise of new coronavirus cases in almost three months - a jump of 77.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the total number of cases recorded now stands at 19,534.

She added while the prevalence of COVID-19 is low, the R number - the average amount of people someone with the virus passes it on to - may be above one.

No new deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours.

Ms Sturgeon confirmed Scotland will remain in phase three of her four-part plan for easing restrictions, having seen the largest daily rise in reported cases since 22 May.

Local lockdowns are in place in Aberdeen and with the authorities dealing with a "significant cluster" in Coupar Angus, the SNP leader said she is "considering carefully and urgently whether further restrictions are necessary".

Despite the clusters, Ms Sturgeon said some reopenings penciled in for 24 August could proceed, including outdoor live events - with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene and restricted numbers in place.

Organised contact sports can resume but for outdoor coaching sessions the number of people who can attend will be capped at 30.

Driving lessons may also restart, Ms Sturgeon said, as well as indoor face-to-face advice services.

And the reopening of gyms, swimming pools and indoor sports courts is being brought forward to 31 August.

Ms Sturgeon added further measures could be relaxed from 14 September but "given the volatility we face in transmission of the virus, there is a very real possibility that these plans will change".

She said the devolved government hopes sports stadiums can reopen in just under a month - but only for limited numbers of spectators who will have to follow strict distancing rules.

It is also hoped indoor contact sports activities can resume for people aged 12 and over from the same date.

Theatres, live music venues and other entertainment sites could be able to reopen then too - again with strict distancing in place.

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2020-08-20 12:11:15Z
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Kamis, 20 Agustus 2020

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