For a country of five and a half million people, Scotland has produced some remarkable political figures. Alex Salmond, the former first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party who died suddenly aged 69, was one of those.
Hugely controversial – loved by many, loathed by some – Salmond often outwitted, out-argued and outperformed his political opponents. He earned respect and often friendship. The Conservative MP David Davis, for example, was no fan of Salmond’s core policy of seeking an independent Scotland, but he became a friend who generously paid tribute on Salmond’s passing.
Salmond was first minister of Scotland from 2007. He managed to secure a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014. When the vote was lost by 45 per cent to 55 per cent, he stepped down as party leader. Despite that failure, it is no exaggeration to say that Salmond took Scotland closer towards independence from the UK than any politician in recent history – and by “recent” in terms of our ancient country, I mean since 1707. That was the year of the Union of the English and Scottish Parliaments.
Scotland, therefore, remains part of the UK for the foreseeable future, although polls suggest more than 40 per cent of Scottish voters still would like Scotland to be an independent country within the EU.
The past few years, however, saw Salmond split from the SNP amid scandals and bitterness.
Back in 2014, he handed over power to his former deputy Nicola Sturgeon but the two eventually had a very public falling out. The SNP endured a number of scandals, investigations and political failures. Salmond himself faced a series of legal battles, leading to his arrest in 2019. He was charged with 14 sexual offences. He was eventually acquitted on all but one charge, and on that charge the jury reached the uniquely Scottish verdict of “not proven”. That does not amount to a conviction, but the process revealed some very unpleasant tales of behaviour at the highest levels in Scotland during his time as first minister.
Controversially, and perhaps unwisely, Salmond also broadcast for a time on RT, the Russian state TV channel. He left the channel after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The tributes, however, have come not merely from political friends, but from opponents, critics and even King Charles himself.
In a message issued by Buckingham Palace, King Charles said: “My wife and I are greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer called him a “monumental figure” who “leaves behind a lasting legacy”, as first minister of Scotland. This is undeniably true. Whatever you think of his politics, or his flaws, Salmond was what Scots sometimes call a “man of parts” – a talented or gifted man with many different attributes.
When I teased him on television about the fact that, as a Scot living in England, I could not vote in his independence referendum, he answered very clearly. But after we finished the live interview, he put an arm around me and said that if I wanted to vote I should “buy a hoose” – Scottish for house – back in Scotland. Of course, he was correct. Only people residing in Scotland should be able to vote on Scotland’s future, but his solution – that I should come back to live in my home country – was typically Alex.
It is laughter and joking amid the serious business of politics that I most remember him for. We had humorous discussions about Scottish football – he loved the Edinburgh team Hearts – but he also reflected on the often-unpleasant historical sectarianism involving Protestant and Catholic supporters of Rangers and Celtic. Perhaps what I most admired was his optimism and stubbornness. The Scottish word is “thrawn” – an almost unreasonable conviction that ultimately you are in the right. Salmond never gave up, even in times of great difficulties.
A few months after the failure of the 2014 independence campaign, during the 2015 general election, I went to meet him for a long private chat. He had – to be polite – a difficult relationship with the BBC, where I worked. But when I filmed with him, he would instruct some of his supporters that whatever they thought of the British Broadcasting Corporation, my TV crew was to be treated with respect. And we were. He was to me generous, kind and good company.
After filming on one occasion, he and I and a couple of his SNP colleagues sat down together. I suggested that independence as an idea was dead for a generation. In typical Salmond fashion – he had a talent for memorable theatrical gestures – he opened his bag. He said, “here’s a wee present”. It was one of the first copies of a new book he had written in the aftermath of the failed independence campaign. He pointed at the title and we both laughed. The title of his book – and indeed the epitaph of Alex’s life – is The Dream Shall Never Die.
May he rest in peace.
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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