The Deputy First Minister said the first gay marriages in Scotland are likely to take place at the start of 2015, the same year that the Coalition Government wants to make the change south of the Border.
David Cameron is consulting on legalising civil gay marriages but homosexual couples in Scotland will have the choice of a religious service.
Announcing the decision, Miss Sturgeon said: “We are committed to a Scotland that is fair and equal, and that is why we intend to proceed with plans to allow same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies for civil partnerships.
“We believe this is the right thing to do. We are also mindful of the fact that the leaders of all of the other parties represented in parliament support same-sex marriage and that there is significant parliamentary support for legislation.”
She denied ignoring the consultation results or that they gave weight to the Catholic Church’s call for a referendum on the issue, which SNP ministers have rejected.
According to an analysis, 62,057 of the responses came from Scotland. Of this total, 39,724 opposed gay marriage and 22,223 backed the change.
More than 26,000 Catholics forwarded postcards handed out by the church to congregations, but even when these and other petitions were excluded there was still a narrow majority against gay marriage.
Scotland for Marriage, a church-led campaign against the change, said ministers have ignored the consultation results even though “civil liberty concerns still hang in the balance”.
“Hundreds of years of matrimonial law should not be unravelled in such a cavalier fashion, riding roughshod over public opinion in the process,” a spokesman added.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland accused SNP ministers of “embarking on a dangerous social experiment on a massive scale.”
The Church of Scotland, which will report on its own investigation of the issue in May 2013, said opinion is split among its members.
Rev Alan Hamilton, convener of the Kirk’s legal questions committee, said: “We are concerned the government will legislate without being able to effectively protect religious bodies or their ministers.”
Under the SNP’s plans, celebrants will “opt in” to conducting gay marriages. Miss Sturgeon said existing equalities legislation prevents churches from being forced to do so.
But she said the law may has to be extended to protect individual clergymen from legal action by gay couples. The Home Office has indicated it will make the necessary amendments.
After this has been done, SNP ministers will consult interested parties on what other protections should be included and a draft Bill will be published later this year for public consultation.
Miss Sturgeon promised to protect the curriculum in Catholic schools but would not say whether teachers in other schools would have a legal right to refuse to tell children about gay marriage.
However, she said parents would continue to have the right to withdraw their children from class if they disagreed with them being taught about homosexuality.
A Bill will be tabled at the Scottish Parliament next year and MSPs will be given a ‘free vote’, meaning they can vote in line with their consciences rather than the party whip.
The SNP has a majority but gay marriage is also supported by the Liberal Democrats, many Labour MSPs and some Tories, including Ruth Davidson, their leader, who is homosexual.
The decision was also welcomed by the Equality Network, a gay rights campaign group. Tom French, its policy coordinator, said: “Today is a proud day for Scotland.”
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Jogger killed after electricity cable crashes down in field and sets it alight - Daily Mirror
A jogger died after apparently running into a live electricity cable while out running.
Dr James Kew, 41, was out training with three members of his running club at around 8.40pm yesterday when the tragedy occurred.
It is understood Dr Kew, from Ashdon in Essex, was leading the pack when he ran into the 11,000 volt cable which was dangling from overhead.
As Dr Kew came into contact with the cable he completed an electrical circuit with the ground.
The current was so high it caused the surrounding field to set alight in front Dr Kew’s shocked running partners.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were called but he Dr Kew died instantly, two days before his 42nd birthday. Two other runners suffered minor injuries.
The freak accident took pace in the middle of a crop field, which ran parallel to a public footpath.
Dr Kew had been running on a network of paths through farm and woodland to the east of Newport and about half a mile from the nearest road.
All electric cables have been secured and group of around 10 officers from UK power and police continue were today investigating the scene.
Detective Inspector Stephen Jennings visited the scene this morning where he met representatives of UK Power Networks.
He said: "We are investigating with the Health and Safety Executive and fire service to establish exactly how the man came into contact with the cable.
"This is a thankfully unusual event but it is obviously a tragedy for everybody involved."
A spokesman for UK Power Networks today said: “Engineers were called to an incident at Saffron Walden and are currently helping with an investigation.
“Our thoughts at this time are with the family and friends of a man who died and also our employees who helped at the scene.”
Peter Ascot, who lives in Newport, was out walking with a group of 10 at about 6.30pm yesterday.
He said: "We saw the cable hanging low and almost touching the wheat. We all remarked on it at the time.
"I woke up this morning and saw what happened. I feel absolutely dreadful that I didn't report it - you can't help feeling you could have done more.
"It's unbelievable this has happened. It's absolutely devastating."
The reason why the cable was hanging down is expected to form part of an investigation.
Dr Kew was a regular runner with the Saffron Striders based in Saffron Walden, Essex, as well as playing for Bishop’s Stortford hockey club.
He was ranked first out of 58 in the club's championship and previously completed the London Marathon in three hours and five minutes, finishing 1,591st in the race.
He regularly ran 10km races in under 40 minutes and finished 33rd in this year’s Hatfield Broad Oak 10k out of a field of more than 1,000 in a time of 37min 38sec.
In a statement, Saffron Striders said he was a relatively new recruit but had quickly established himself as one of the club's very best runners.
Chairman Nigel Coates said: "James joined us in 2010 and soon became an established club runner.
"He clearly had a natural aptitude for the sport and went on to compete with the club in various competitions and races.
"His greatest achievement during his time with the Striders was no doubt at this year's London Marathon.
"It was the first marathon he had ever run and he had predicted he would finish in what would have been an excellent time of three and a half hours.
"In fact, on the day he completed the race in an astonishing 3 hours 5 minutes, which made him the first Strider to finish and in a time that really was testament to just how good a runner he was."
He described Dr Kew as a "quiet and unassuming" character.
Mr Coates added: "He was a very popular member of the Striders who will be deeply missed.
"Everyone at the club is absolutely devastated by James's death and our thoughts go to his family at this incredibly difficult time.
"We would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene last night."
Writing on Twitter, Bishops Stortford Hockey Club said: "Very sad news about 4th XI and Vets player James Kew who sadly died in a freak accident whilst running yesterday."
One online tribute to Dr Kew read: “tragic news about @StortfordHockey player James Kew: a lovely guy and good hockey player. Thoughts are with the Kew family.”
Another friend wrote: “Very sad news about 4th XI and Vets player James Kew who sadly died in a freak accident whilst running yesterday. Condolences to Kew family.”
Dr Kew joined the Centre of Excellence for External Drug Discovery in 2010 as a Director of Biology, which is a research department at GlaxoSmithKline.
Before joining the CEEDD, he spent eight years working within GSK’s Central Nervous System drug discovery unit, most recently as Director of Molecular & Cellular Biology within the Schizophrenia & Cognitive Disorders Discovery Performance Unit.
Dr Kew obtained a B.Sc. in biological sciences at the University of Exeter and a Ph.D. in developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.
He spent seven years within the CNS research group at F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.
Dr Kew has co-written more than 65 peer-reviewed publications.
For more of today's big stories check out our live breaking news blog.
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
UK weather: Queen in Isle of Wight as Britain to bask in the hottest day of the year today as temperatures to top 31C - Daily Mail
- Children enjoying first week of school holidays lap up sunshine in the country's parks and beaches
- Parts of Britain hotter than Rio de Janeiro
- But it's likely to cool down by the weekend, with showers on the way
- Rain could marr the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday
- Queen greeted by crowds and sunshine on final day of Jubilee tour
- Duchess of Cornwall resorts to using fan to beat the heat during Sandringham Flower Show
- Train speed restrictions in place on First Great Western services in and out of Paddington in London
- Sun has been blamed for a blaze that caused thousands of pounds' worth of damage at a house in picturesque village
By Emma Reynolds and Amy Oliver
|
Anyone would think we’ve been starved of sunshine this summer...
As temperatures soared to leave parts of Britain hotter than Rio de Janeiro, thousands of families headed for the south coast – filling the beaches to bursting point.
Forecasters recorded a high of 30.4C (86.7F) at London’s Olympic Park. It was the highest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year.
Seaside under seige: Thousands of families compete for a precious place on the pebbles as they head to the south coast yesterday - the hottest day of the year
Better than Brazil: With temperatures beating Rio, the Dorset resort saw 100,000 sun-seekers surge to the sand yesterday
And it seems the sun-seekers were wise to make the most of their day by the sea – because although the fine weather will continue today, tomorrow is likely to see the return of the all-too-familiar rain.
The Met Office said there was a 50/50 chance of showers during the Olympic opening ceremony in Stratford, East London, tomorrow evening and a 20 per cent chance they would be heavy.
It may mean the fake clouds and rain – said to be included in Danny Boyle’s vision for the show – will be rendered unnecessary.
Beach babes: From left to right, best friends Lucy Martin, Polly Mayman and Tiree Jahn from Lymington in Hampshire keep their cool on Bournemouth beach yesterday as the mercury soared into the 30s
Not much room: Brighton beach was a mass of people, sunloungers and umbrellas
Relaxing: A group of friends swig beers on a rug in London Fields, London amid the sizzling heat
Shall we dance? Dancers enjoy the sun as they rehearse prior to the start of the Beach Volleyball competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics
The unsettled conditions are set to continue next week, with temperatures managing only 17C (63F) at the weekend and a risk of thunder on Saturday.
Barry Gromett, of the Met Office, said: ‘At the moment, we have high pressure coming up from continental Europe, hence the clear skies and hot weather in the South. Next week, we will return to a mixture of sunshine, showers and cooler temperatures.’
Yesterday’s temperature beat the previous day by a fraction of a degree and was even higher than that in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where temperatures reached just 27C (81F).
In Bournemouth, 100,000 people hit the beaches. Staff at a sea-front ice cream kiosk reckoned takings were up four-fold compared with recent weeks. At nearby Poole, all the beach furniture had been hired out by 11am when an estimated 30,000 sun-seekers arrived.
On the Isle of Wright, meanwhile, a road was closed when it started to blister and melt in the heat.
Not everyone is enjoying glorious weather, however, with Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing temperatures of no more than 19C (66F) so far this week.
The mini-heatwave has brought warnings to the elderly, with Age UK suggesting they remain indoors during the worst of the heat.
‘We advise wearing light clothing, drinking adequately and replacing salt lost through sweating by eating normally,’ a spokesman added.
Bikini weather: People made the most of the weather to sunbathe in London Fields, London
Undeterred by the threat of an end to the good weather, Britons made the most of the heatwave yesterday and by noon beaches across the country were teeming with people, including school children enjoying the hot weather on the first week of their summer holidays.
In West Wittering, West Sussex, it was hard to find a patch of sand amongst the windbreaks, tents and sunbathers.
In Bournemouth, Dorset, roads were jammed and car parks were full as sun-starved Brits attempted to get to the seaside.
All the resort's deckchairs and sunloungers were snapped up and beach huts were opened up along the seven miles of sand. An estimated 80,000 people were on the beach and some were being warned about the dangers of sunburn and sunstroke, and several required treatment.
Paddling around: A couple take a trip on a pedalo in Victoria Park, east London
Finally, a BBQ summer: A man tends to a BBQ in London Fields, London as others catch some rays in the sun
The sea temperature was a refreshing 18C and thousands were splashing around in it. Ice cream salesmen were doing a roaring trade and sea front businesses were delighted that the sun emerged in time for the school holidays.
Many workers took well-timed sickies and thousands of boats and other craft were out at sea.
Lucy Reeve, 32, and husband Dave, 33, an IT worker, from Southampton, Hants, were on Bournemouth beach with their daughter Sian, six, and son Tom, four.
Mrs Reeve said: 'Thank goodness the sun is here or we wouldn't know what to do. We have come to stay with my mum for the first week of the school holidays and it's wonderful.
'After all the rain we've had we thought we'd never see the sun this summer, but it's like being abroad. The sea is wonderfully refreshing and perfectly clear. There are long queues for ice creams, but it's worth the wait.'
Making the most of it: It was hard to find an inch of sand among the crowds on the beach at West Wittering, West Sussex
Sun worshiper: 17-year-old Liz Mazuryk from Corby keeps her cool on Bournemouth beach as the south bakes on the hottest day of the year
...Meanwhile in Oxford: (from left to right) Angela Hilton, 43, Claire Mulligan, 38 and Maria Evans, 25, soak up the sun at the Hinksey outdoor pool
Heaving: Crowds descended onto Brighton Beach as the sun beat down on the shingle
A coastguard spokesman said: 'There are lots of people out on boats and we are warning people about the dangers of inflatables. We had one incident in Lyme Regis where a mother ran into the office saying her child was drifting out to sea on an inflatable.
'And we had another incident at Highcliffe where two youngsters were being taken out to sea.'
Meanwhile, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by jubilant crowds and warm sunshine during their visit to Cowes, Isle of Wight today.
The trip, which also takes in the New Forest will end their regional Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK. The royal party arrived in Cowes aboard the ship Leander through a parade of sail featuring a series of superyachts before being greeted with a 21-gun salute.
At the New Forest Agricultural Showground, they will be met by television presenter and show society president Alan Titchmarsh and they will tour the showground, starting with the blacksmith area.
Looking Games perfect: The wild flower meadows around the Olympic Stadium in London are watered as the hot weather continues
Making a splash: Eight-year-old twins Cameron and Riley Salvage cool off in the sea at Southsea beach
Even the police were enjoying themselves: A police officer in short sleeves and sunglasses patrols an entrance gate at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, prior to the start of the women's Olympics soccer match between Great Britain and New Zealand
The tour started in March in Leicester and took in every corner of the UK, during which they travelled by a range of means - car, royal train, aircraft and ship.
Elsewhere on the Isle of Wight a road had to be closed when it started melting. The busy stretch of road at Blackwater was shut to allow contractors to lay fresh chippings on the tarmac which had blistered and started to melt in the heat of the blazing sun.
The road was closed from the junction of Blackwater Hollow to the Crouchers Cross junction with Merstone Lane to allow the work to take place.
Navvies were called in after drivers found their cars were being splattered with thick, black, sticky tar where the surface dressing was melting and lifting.
Natural pool: People enjoy a dip in a sea pool at Dancing Ledge, near Swanage, Dorset as the sun continued to shine
Keeping cool: Visitors to the Royal Victoria Park in Bath seek some shade under the trees to admire the view
In full sun: A couple sunbathe in the Royal Victoria Park, Bath, as they enjoy the hottest day of the year so far
Drivers were advised to take alternative routes said a council spokesman who revealed that the same stretch of road had been hit by problems in the last hot spell a few months ago.
The Duchess of Cornwall was prepared for the sweltering weather when she toured a rural show yesterday. Camilla waved a fan as she walked around the Sandringham Flower Show with the Prince of Wales.
Charles is a regular visitor to the event - a traditional country fair that features steam engines, local produce, community stalls and fairground rides among its many attractions. It is staged on the Queen’s private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and this year celebrates its 131st anniversary.
Baking: Thousands flocked onto Britain's beaches - West Wittering in West Sussex was packed - to take advantage of the hot weather before it turns to rain next week
Come on, the water's lovely! Ten-year-old Matthew Walker, left, cools off in the sea while, right, a little girl fills up her watering can with sea water at West Wittering, West Sussex
You've brought the sun with you M'am! The Queen arrived to jubilant crowds and sizzling weather at Cowes on the Isle of Wight for the final day of her Diamond Jubilee tour
Pretty in pink: The Queen enjoys a few words with the Lord Lieutenant Major General Martin White during her trip to Cowes today
Crowds line balconies waiting to catch a glimpse of the Queen as she arrives at Cowes on the Isle of Wight for the final day of her Diamond Jubilee tour
Keeping her cool: The Duchess of Cornwall uses a 'Royal Greenwich' fan to cool herself as she tours the Sandringham Flower Show during a visit with Prince Charles
The royal couple toured tents displaying the Best in Show winners who had entered a range of produce. The Prince and the Duchess also went on a number of walkabouts, shaking hands and welcoming the thousands who had turned out for the event.
At one point five-year-old Phoebe Warwick gave Camilla a hug and the royal visitors were also presented with a strawberry plant aptly named Jubilee.
Southern areas are set to see the best of the long-awaited summer weather today and tomorrow as last minute preparation for the London Games are put into place.
But it's best not to pack the bolly away just yet as forecasters predict the capital will be hit by showers on Friday. These should have have cleared by the time the evening opening ceremony gets under way but will make an unwelcome return next week.
Balmy: Sunbathers sizzle on the sands of Woolacombe beach, Devon, as the mercury soars into the 30s
From Horseguards to Wales: Two young women play beach volleyball in the sea in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Yummy: Seven-year-old Helena and Bethany Ferrans, five, enjoy an ice cream on Southsea beach during the hottest day of the year so far
Wish you were here: Hundreds of people flock to Langland Bay in Gower near Swansea, south Wales, as the sun shone for another day this week
Oooh, that's nice: An African elephant at West Midlands Safari Park, Bewdley, enjoys a cooling foot spritz from head of elephants Andy Plumb
Race you! Six-year-old Marley, right, and Tyler Pastecchia, eight, don rubber rings and sprint off to the sea on Bournemouth beach
Bombing: Children prepare to bomb the Jesus Green swimming pool - the longest outdoor pool in Europe - in Cambridge during the hottest day of the year
Anyone for a dip? The 91-metre pool at Jesus Green, Cambridge is 90 years old and one of the few remaining lidos built across the UK in the 1920s
Bliss: Visitors to the rooftop pool at the Thermae Bath Spa soak up the sun as they bathe
No, not the Med but Britain: Adka Skrkova, 26, takes an early morning dip in the roof top pool at Thermae Bath Spa in Bath as forecasters predict another sizzling day with temperatures reaching 31C
Bee bushes: Farm workers enjoy another day of sunshine as they hand-pick lavender from a Hampshire farm for the Olympic victory bouquets
Cool breakfast: Macaque monkeys enjoyed a carrot ice lolly or two at Bristol Zoo this morning as the mercury started to soar towards 31C
...But they could be back to bananas by the end of the week as forecasters predict a return to lower temperatures
Hot cars: Drivers swelter in the hot weather as they queue in the one remaining lane of the A40 in London, left, and right, on Marylebone Road, London on the first day of the Olympic Lanes being open
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Essex DA: Suspect shot by police in Lynn was on his way to commit home invasion - Boston Globe
The Lynn man fatally shot by police on Sunday was among a group of men who were beginning an armed home invasion, Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett said today.
Blodgett said in a statement that as part of a joint federal, state, and local investigation, investigators had “received reliable information” that Brandon Payne, 23, and others were “in the process of initiating an armed home invasion.”
“Acting on this information, members of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit and the Lynn Police Department acted swiftly to prevent this potentially deadly home invasion by attempting to stop the vehicles,” Blodgett said in the statement.
Authorities said Monday Payne was shot after he rammed his car into a police cruiser when officers tried to stop his car and another car on Sunday night at about 9:30 p.m. at Ingalls and Chatham streets in Lynn.
Authorities had previously only said that police had witnessed a possible illegal gun exchange between the occupants of the two vehicles before trying to stop the two vehicles.
Three other men who were in the two cars are facing charges. A fourth suspect is being sought.
An Essex County prosecutor said at the arraignment of the three men Monday that police were “fearing for their lives.”
Authorities said three guns were removed from the two vehicles.
The district attorney’s office is continuing to investigate whether the shooting was justified. Blodgett said a “complete report” would be released once the investigation is complete.
Source: www.boston.com
Essex biologist James Kew dies in power cable jogging incident - BBC News
A man has died of severe burns after coming into contact with an electricity cable while jogging.
Dr James Kew, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services were called to a field in Newport, Essex, at 20:40 BST on Tuesday.
Dr Kew, of Radwinter Road, Ashdon, was jogging with three other people when he struck the cable. Two were treated for minor electric shock injuries.
It is thought the 11,000-volt cable was hanging across a path.
Electricity firm UK Power Networks was called by the fire service to isolate power to the cable and an area of wheat field was cordoned off.
A police spokesman said the Health and Safety Executive had been informed of the death and a joint investigation with Essex fire service was under way.
A spokeswoman for UK Power Networks said it was "helping with an investigation" and would not comment on reports locally suggesting the low-hanging cable had been reported earlier in the evening.
Dr Kew died two days before his 42nd birthday.
He was a director of biology in the research department at GlaxoSmithKline in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, since 2010.
He had a BSc in biological sciences from the University of Exeter and a PhD in developmental neuroscience from the University of Cambridge.
'Absolutely devastating'In a statement, GlaxoSmithKline said: "James Kew was a respected scientist and valued colleague in our research and development organisation.
"Our thoughts are with his friends, family and his GSK colleagues at this extremely difficult time."
A police spokesman said the scene in the field had been very disturbing
Dr Kew was also a lead member of the Saffron Striders running club, ranking first out of 58 in their 2012 championship.
The club said he completed this year's London Marathon in three hours and five minutes.
Club chairman Nigel Coates said: "He was a very popular member of the Striders who will be deeply missed.
"Everyone at the club is absolutely devastated by James's death and our thoughts go to his family at this incredibly difficult time.
"We would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene last night."
He added Dr Kew was a "quiet and unassuming" person.
The runner also played for Bishops Stortford Hockey Club, who tweeted: "Very sad news about 4th XI and Vets player James Kew who sadly died in a freak accident whilst running yesterday."
Peter Ascot, who lives in Newport, was out walking with a group of 10 people at about 18:30 BST on Tuesday.
He said: "We saw the cable hanging low and almost touching the wheat. We all remarked on it at the time.
"I woke up this morning and saw what happened. I feel absolutely dreadful that I didn't report it - you can't help feeling you could have done more.
"It's unbelievable this has happened. It's absolutely devastating."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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