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  • Alcohol and dementia – is average ingesting secure?

    Women drinking after work Symbol copyright Getty Pictures

    There’s for sure that alcohol abuse is dangerous for the mind – however may just there be well being benefits for average drinkers?

    who’re average drinkers?

    they’re individuals who drink alcohol every week, but to not excess.

    Consuming “sparsely” is usually taken to mean consuming seven to 14 gadgets of alcohol a week, equivalent to six pints of moderate-power beer or seven glasses of wine.

    The UK tips say that ingesting not more than 14 gadgets a week on a normal basis will keep well being risks to a low stage.

    Light drinkers are folks who drink fewer than that – among one and 7 devices.

    Research through BBC Fact Take A Look At

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs

    Any Other look at has pop out so as to add to the complicated image of public well being recommendation around consuming.

    The British Medical Journal take a look at found that a team of individuals who did not drink alcohol in center age were much more likely to boost dementia later on than people who drank somewhat.

    So should non-drinkers take in the dependancy for the sake in their well being? the answer is almost certainly no.

    There are a couple of reasons this study need to be treated with caution.

    First of all, it may well only really say that extra of the folk seen who did not drink in midlife went on to boost dementia – it cannot say that abstaining from ingesting itself is inflicting dementia.

    and people in this team can have inebriated heavily within the earlier or needed to surrender ingesting for health purposes.

    The observe only looked at whether or not people drank all over a specific photo in time, so a few of that group may already be in bad well being.

    There had been a number of studies on this space with conflicting results and this one does not supply enough evidence to signify that anyone should pass in advance and alter their ingesting habits.

    How can alcohol injury the mind?

    Consuming alcohol could cause your blood power and blood ldl cholesterol to upward push which, in turn, can injury the blood vessels delivering the brain, inflicting problems like vascular dementia.

    It too can harm memory.

    Continuous heavy drinkers, together with binge drinkers and individuals who are dependent on alcohol, are so much in peril from harming their brains on this approach and developing dementia.

    Image copyright Getty Images

    Recent research from France discovered that people who had been depending on alcohol or had a health factor resulting from regular heavy ingesting have been three times much more likely to enhance dementia than different other folks.

    Heavy drinkers are more likely to be people who smoke, have melancholy and lead unhealthy lives, which also increases the chance of dementia.

    Some Other take a look at of ingesting habits in 19 nations found that common extra ingesting may shorten a person’s life through among one and two years.

    The similar research warned that individuals who drank greater than 18 alcoholic drinks every week may just lose 4 to five years in their lives.

    Booze calculator: What’s your ingesting nationality?

    Is there any secure level, in that case?

    the manager scientific officer in England says that drinking any stage of alcohol consists of a well being risk for anyone.

    The extra you drink on a regular basis the greater the risk of growing a spread of health problems.

    These include liver illness, cancer, center assaults and stroke.

    Current UK guidelines advise that males and women must drink not more than 14 devices of alcohol per week.

    Experts say protecting to this prohibit and reducing out heavy drinking episodes during the week, whilst preserving several days alcohol-free every week, lowers the danger of illnesses – besides as injuries and accidents.

    what number of devices of alcohol are in every drink?

    Huge glass of wine – THREE devices Pint of upper-strength lager or beer – THREE devices Same Old glass of wine – 2 gadgets Pint of decrease-strength lager or beer – 2 units Bottle of lager or beer – 1.7 devices Single shot of spirits – 1 unit

    Supply: NHS Choices

  • LOL! Proctor & Gamble desires to trademark WTF

    Bucket of cleaning products Symbol copyright Getty Photographs

    Proctor & Gamble is stated to have carried out to trademark acronyms which can be commonplace in text speak, together with “WTF”.

    If a hit, expressions including “LOL” (Snigger Out Loud) and “NBD” (No Big Deal) might be used to marketplace and promote its products.

    The international household products corporate has applied to use the acronyms in cleaning soap, detergents and air fresheners.

    P&G reportedly registered the trademark packages with the united states Patent and Trademark Administrative Center in April.

    The merchandise would be offered alongside widely known manufacturers reminiscent of Febreze, Fairy and Mr Clean.

    It Seems the company believes that below thirty-fives may also be persuaded to shop for its products if they are branded with slang lifted from textual content talk.

    And tech savvy millennials are a very powerful possible shopper team for packaged goods corporations.

    Jointly, millennials (the crowd born around the turn of the millennium and regularly stated as Era Y) in the united states on my own, are anticipated to increase their annual spending to $1.4tr (£1.09tr) through 2020, consistent with the data portal Statista.

    But P&G’s programs haven’t yet been approved and are still “TBD” (To Be Determined).

    The amendment in logo strategy may have come from activist investor, Nelson Peltz, who joined the P&G board in March.

    Last September, he told CNBC that more youthful customers do not want “one measurement fits all” brands however products that “they have got an emotional attachment to”.

    Perhaps, those shoppers – while confronted with a pile of grimy dishes, unwashed socks and a dirty toilet – already have simply the ones words in mind.

    The packages had been first highlighted by way of Ad Age which talked about that other brands, which would have wished to undertake the phrases, at the moment are faced with “FOMO” (that’s “Concern of Lacking Out” in case you did not recognise).

    The BBC has now not been capable of reach P&G for comment.

  • Leo Varadkar happy Church is ‘less dominant’ in Ireland

    Catholic statue Symbol copyright Charles McQuillan

    Leo Varadkar has said he’s satisfied the Catholic Church is now much less dominant in public life.

    On the eve of the arriving of Pope Francis, Taoiseach (Irish High Minister) Mr Varadkar mentioned he hopes the visit will start a new bankruptcy in Ireland’s courting with the Church.

    He introduced he would love to peer the Pope consult with Northern Eire at a later date.

    Mr Varadkar said: “i think in the past the Catholic Church had too much of a dominant place in our society.

    “i think it still has a place in our society however no longer one who determines public policy or determines our laws.”

    Image copyright PA Image caption The remaining papal seek advice from to ireland was by means of Pope John Paul II in 1979

    Mr Varadkar mentioned: “We had hoped that it would be imaginable for him Pope Francis to head to Northern Eire in this instance.

    “i would no doubt like that to occur in the long run, for him to bring a message of peace and a message of reconciliation to the north.”

    The taoiseach defined the papal discuss with as one in every of the largest events in Ireland in the previous 40 years, including it used to be additionally an opportunity for the Pope to speak directly to those harmed through crimes that came about in Church-run institutions.

    “it is an opportunity for him to say something to the women and kids particularly who were sufferers of the Church’s establishments — to reiterate the apologies that he’s given within the earlier but also to illustrate that things are going to switch into the future.

    “I also think it’s an opportunity for us as a republic for us as the Irish state to start out a brand new chapter in our relationship with the Church one that again may be very a lot approximately having a spot for the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland however now not one at the centre in the method it was once in the past.”

    Papal consult with to ireland: Itinerary highlights

    Saturday 25 August

    08:15 – Departure by plane from Rome for Dublin 10:30 – Arrival at Dublin Airport for authentic welcome 10:45 – Transfer to Áras an Uachtaráin (Irish president’s place of abode) ELEVEN:15 – Welcome rite with President Michael D Higgins 12:10 – Arrival at Dublin Fort for assembly with authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps 15:30 – Consult With to St Mary’s Professional Cathedral SIXTEEN:30 – Personal consult with to the Capuchin Day Centre, a centre for homeless other people 19:FORTY FIVE – Preside on the Competition of Households at Croke Park stadium

    Sunday 26 August

    08:40 – Departure via aircraft for Knock 09:45 – Arrival at Knock Shrine for talk over with to the Apparition Chapel and recitation of the Angelus ELEVEN:15 – Departure by plane for Dublin 12:30 – Lunch with the Papal Delegation 15:00 – Last Papal Mass of The World Assembly of Families in Phoenix Park adopted by way of a meeting with the Irish bishops 18:30 – Farewell ceremony at Dublin Airport 18:FORTY FIVE – Departure by way of airplane for Rome 23:00 – Arrival in Rome

  • Australians react with horror and humour amidst political chaos

    Malcolm Turnbull shrugs in his press conference in Canberra Symbol copyright AFP Symbol caption Malcolm Turnbull becomes the fourth PM in eight years to be deposed

    After days of uncertainty, Australia in spite of everything has a new top minister – their 5th in eight years – following a dramatic management battle.

    Malcolm Turnbull resigned as chief on Friday after being driven out in a coup via individuals of his Liberal birthday party.

    His alternative, Scott Morrison, was once voted in mins later by an inside birthday party poll.

    Naturally, the country replied via taking to social media – some in horror, others in humour – about the week that was once unquestionably no longer quick on political drama.

    Australia will get new PM in brutal birthday party coup Australia: Coup capital of the democratic international

    Australia’s national game

    In the run-as much as the birthday celebration coup, Twitter used to be stuffed with the hashtag #libspill, a reference to the Liberal celebration’s management spill – with one left-leaning tweeter calling it the country’s “nationwide recreation”.

    Symbol Copyright @AngelOfAttitude @AngelOfAttitude Image Copyright @LucyXIV @LucyXIV Symbol Copyright @mparker179 @mparker179

    Even Chinese state media perceived to be tired of the ever-converting state of politics – one user shared this headline from China Daily reading “Australia adjustments its high minister again, once more, once more, once more, once more.”

    Image Copyright @fryan @fryan

    ‘How to lose a PM in 10 days’

    Others when compared the state of affairs to reel-life.

    Symbol Copyright @thewestwingTV @thewestwingTV Symbol Copyright @KiLeRaD @KiLeRaD Symbol Copyright @Jesse_Matheson @Jesse_Matheson

    That other Peter Dutton

    One Twitter consumer within the US additionally inadvertently became a celebrity in the rustic after he was once flawed for one among the leadership contenders.

    We’re looking at you, Peter Dutton from Texas. (He Is GOOD ENOUGH. He used his newfound reputation to push his popcorn trade.)

    Image Copyright @PeterDutton5 @PeterDutton5 Symbol Copyright @johnjamescsmith @johnjamescsmith

    ‘So a lot to be offended about’

    Others however, had been full of authentic anger at the state of affairs.

    Symbol Copyright @pgoughy @pgoughy

    Below the Australian system, as within the UK, the high minister isn’t straight away elected through citizens but is the chief of the birthday celebration or coalition that can command a majority in parliament.

    Not a unmarried chief in latest times has controlled to complete an entire time period, a pattern many Australians say they’re in poor health and tired of.

    Image Copyright @emgyres @emgyres Image Copyright @tibbletwins2 @tibbletwins2

    This was Friday’s front web page of the notoriously outspoken NT Information in the Northern Territories.

    Image Copyright @TheNTNews @TheNTNews

    Others like Christine Forster, a Liberal celebration councillor in Sydney, and sister of ex-PM Tony Abbott, tweeted the scoop had stuffed them with “melancholy”.

    Image Copyright @resourcefultype @resourcefultype

    ‘Shameful’

    Some touched on extra severe issues, calling attention to different issues that remain accepted in Australia which went unaddressed at the same time as this drama performed out.

    Newly minted Vegetables Senator Mehreen Faruqi tweeted that the location was once “shameful”.

    Symbol Copyright @MehreenFaruqi @MehreenFaruqi

    While the founder of the Asylum Seeker Useful Resource Centre, a non-benefit business enterprise, mentioned that among different urgent problems, kids caught in Nauru as a results of Australia’s debatable asylum policies had been proceeding to undergo.

    Symbol Copyright @Kon__K @Kon__K

    Record

    Twitter post by @Kon__K: You know what ’s the real crisis in #auspol today?A woman will be beaten by a male partner every 2 minsA family will sleep rough tonightA farmer will lose his home to droughtA single parent will not be able to afford to put the heater onA child on #Nauru will self - harm Image Copyright @Kon__K @Kon__K

    Report

  • Customs workload will bounce on no-deal Brexit warn experts

    Containers Symbol copyright Getty Images

    The boss of one of the uk’s greatest customs agents is warning of a 500% upward thrust in customs processing if there may be no deal to leave the eu Union.

    George Baker informed BBC 5 live’s Wake Up To Cash he expects a no-deal Brexit to increase their workload by 500%.

    He said it’ll be “very tricky to cope” if there may be no Brexit deal.

    Government papers released on Thursday warned importers and exporters to “begin taking steps to mitigate in opposition to” a no-deal exit.

    A customs dealer submits digital declarations on behalf of import and export buyers.

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Transferring goods in and out of the united kingdom will get extra sophisticated if no Brexit deal

    George Baker, whose industry is predicated in Felixstowe, Suffolk, mentioned, “There are many businesses which hadn’t considered they will desire a customs dealer.

    “they will have idea the import and export declarations are just a simple factor they may be able to do and do not have so much idea about how complicated the transactions would be.

    “It takes between two to 5 years to train to be a customs broker.”

    ‘Be ready’

    Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab stated on Thursday that reaching a deal with the ecu was once the “overriding priority” and “through far essentially the most most likely end result” however that “we need to be able to believe the opposite”.

    Allie Renison, head of Europe and trade coverage on the Institute of Administrators, stated: “a lot of these corporations have no idea the entire different data they want to position into this.

    “you’ve gotten a complete different raft of bureaucracy you do not these days must take care of if you’re an exporter to Europe.”

  • No alcohol protected to drink, global examine confirms

    A bottle of beer Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Only One drink an afternoon results in well being dangers

    Unhealthy news for those who revel in what they suspect is a healthy glass of wine an afternoon.

    a large new global have a look at revealed in the Lancet has showed previous analysis which has shown that there is no protected degree of alcohol intake.

    The researchers admit moderate ingesting would possibly offer protection to in opposition to heart illness but found that the danger of cancer and other diseases outweighs those protections.

    A observe writer mentioned its findings have been probably the most vital up to now as a result of the variety of things considered.

    How risky is reasonable consuming?

    The Global Burden of Disease have a look at checked out levels of alcohol use and its well being results in 195 international locations, including the uk, between 1990 and 2016.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption a tumbler of red wine a day is not wholesome, say researchers

    The lead creator of the have a look at Dr Max Griswold, at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), College of Washington, said: “Previous research have discovered a protective impact of alcohol on some prerequisites, but we discovered that the combined well being risks associated with alcohol increases with any quantity of alcohol.

    “The strong affiliation among alcohol consumption and the danger of cancer, accidents, and infectious sicknesses offset the protecting effects for heart illness in our look at.

    “Even Supposing the health dangers related to alcohol start off being small with one drink an afternoon, they then upward thrust swiftly as people drink more.”

    Booze calculator: What Is your ingesting nationality? Alcohol limits minimize to reduce risks Does reasonable ingesting prevent dementia? Six charts on how the British drink

    In 2016, the federal government minimize the degrees of alcohol it recommends for men and girls to not more than 14 devices every week – similar to six pints of moderate strength beer or seven glasses of wine.

    on the time, England’s leader scientific officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, stated that any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of most cancers.

    ‘Informed risk’

    Prof Sonia Saxena, a researcher at Imperial Faculty London and a training GP, stated the study used to be the most vital observe ever carried out at the subject.

    She defined: “This take a look at goes further than others through taking into consideration a bunch of factors together with alcohol sales, self-stated knowledge on the amount of alcohol drank, abstinence, tourism data and the degrees of illicit business and home brewing.”

    The look at displays that British ladies drink a normal of 3 drinks a day, and rank 8th in the international of absolute best drinkers.

    British men in contrast, ranked 62nd out of the 195 countries surveyed, even though additionally they drink on moderate three alcoholic beverages an afternoon. this is since the consuming ranges had been a ways upper in most cases among men, with Romanian men consuming greater than 8 drinks day-to-day.

    Around the arena, one in 3 persons are concept to drink alcohol and it is associated with nearly a tenth of all deaths in those elderly 15 to 49.

    Prof Saxena mentioned: “Such A Lot people in the UK drink well in far more than secure limits, and as this have a look at shows there’s no protected restrict. The recommendations wish to come down additional and the government needs to rethink its coverage. in the event you are going to drink, educate your self about the risks, and take an educated risk.”

    what number of devices of alcohol are in each drink?

    Huge glass of wine – 3 units Pint of upper-power lager or beer – 3 units Same Old glass of wine – 2 devices Pint of lower-power lager or beer – 2 gadgets Bottle of lager or beer – 1.7 devices Single shot of spirits – 1 unit

    Supply: NHS Choices

    Yet Prof David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the public Working Out of Risk at the University of Cambridge, sounded a observe of warning in regards to the findings.

    “Given the excitement most likely associated with moderate drinking, claiming there’s no ‘protected’ stage doesn’t appear an issue for abstention,” he mentioned.

    “There is not any secure level of driving, but the federal government doesn’t recommend that individuals keep away from driving.

    “Come to recall to mind it, there’s no safe stage of living, but no one would suggest abstention.”

  • Malcolm Turnbull: How the birthday celebration became on Australia’s PM

    Video Why Turnbull is toast

    (more…)

  • Scott Morrison is Australia’s new PM: How did we get right here?

    Video How did we get right here?

    (more…)

  • A Temporary historical past of Alex Salmond

    As Scottish first minister and chief of the Scottish Nationwide Party, Alex Salmond has been probably the most high-profile determine within the independence motion.

    He took the SNP closer to its central intention than it had ever been, however after the “No” vote in September’s referendum Mr Salmond made up our minds to face down.

    So, how did Mr Salmond go from brash political outsider to world statesman?

    in the beginning

    Image copyright PA

    Born on Hogmanay 1954 in the ancient burgh of Linlithgow, Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond graduated from St Andrews University and started a profession in economics, operating for the Scottish Workplace and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

    He also played an an increasing number of energetic position in the Scottish Nationwide Celebration, having come to the belief that the economic case for independence was once robust.

    Mr Salmond’s rise to prominence came because the SNP fell on laborious occasions, induced through Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 Conservative election win, which noticed the choice of Nationalist MPs slashed from 11 to two.

    He played a outstanding function within the breakaway ’79 Team, which sought to sharpen the SNP’s message and entice dissident Labour electorate – a transfer which earned him a short lived expulsion from the birthday party in 1982.

    Reflecting at the incident years later, he positioned it down partially to his being a “brash young man” – although the urge to lead to a little bit of mischief has never been far from his mind.

    Regardless Of this episode, Mr Salmond dependent himself as a rising megastar of the SNP, winning the Westminster seat of Banff and Buchan in 1987 – and particularly getting himself banned from the Commons chamber for a week after interrupting the chancellor’s Budget speech in protest on the advent of the ballot tax in Scotland.

    SNP management (part one)

    Symbol copyright PA

    Whilst the SNP management process came up in 1990, Mr Salmond grabbed the chance and, on winning the put up, repositioned the birthday celebration as more socially democratic and professional-European.

    Scottish devolution was once a possibility for the SNP. The party didn’t win the first Holyrood election in 1999, but received enough seats to turn into the principle competition.

    During the campaign, Mr Salmond had sparked controversy whilst he defined Nato motion in Kosovo as “an act of doubtful legality, but, especially, one among unpardonable folly”.

    After putting in a decade as SNP chief, Mr Salmond decided to quit, status down as an MSP and returning to Westminster.

    During his time in London, Mr Salmond had a visual profile, partially from appearances on TELEVISION shows equivalent to Question Time, Have I got Information for You and Channel 4’s Morning Line, the place his horse racing expertise noticed him offering tips and insights.

    SNP management (the sequel)

    Symbol copyright PA

    John Swinney took over the reins as SNP leader from Mr Salmond, but stood down in 2004 following persevered grievance from sections of the party and the poor publicity of a leadership challenge.

    Many became to Mr Salmond to understand the thistle and take his antique job again. He answered by way of quoting Union Military Basic William Sherman, who, on being asked to run for president following the yank Civil Conflict, declared: “If nominated I’m Going To decline. If drafted I’m Going To defer. And if elected I’ll resign.”

    as the leadership contest persisted, with Roseanna Cunningham considered a front-runner, Mr Salmond made a marvel access into the race, explaining: “I changed my mind.”

    Changing Into Scotland’s boss

    Symbol copyright PA

    Following his management comeback, on a joint price tag with deputy Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Salmond led the SNP to what used to be then its largest hour – victory on the 2007 Scottish election and delivery of a minority SNP government.

    The newly appointed first minister, who returned to Holyrood via profitable the Liberal Democrat-held Gordon seat, quickly had his first of many brushes with the united kingdom executive.

    The matter was once the long run of the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was once launched via the Scottish executive on compassionate grounds on account of his terminal sickness, in the face of enormous criticism from the u.s. and others.

    In distinction, the Glasgow Airport terror attack and the foot and mouth drawback confirmed how prepared the first minister was once to paintings with Westminster on issues of UK importance.

    Scottish govt insurance policies equivalent to protecting NHS spending, freezing council tax and scrapping bridge tolls and prescription charges have been popular with voters.

    But critics puzzled whether universal advantages had been affordable, and accused SNP ministers of giving local authorities a uncooked deal.

    Symbol copyright PA

    as the world financial meltdown took cling, Mr Salmond blamed “spivs and speculators” for the issues which brought about the takeover of HBOS, as the predicament of confidence in the monetary sector hit Scotland.

    He later confronted grievance from political opponents who mentioned HBOS’s actual issues had been due to the financial institution’s exposure to the unstable loan market.

    at the day Fred Goodwin used to be stripped of his knighthood, Mr Salmond also mirrored on a letter he in the past wrote to the banker whilst he used to be operating Royal Bank of Scotland, providing the Scottish executive’s assistance within the takeover of Dutch financial institution ABN-Amro – the deal which contributed to RBS desiring a £45bn bailout.

    Looking again, Mr Salmond said very few other folks can have expected the meltdown, including: “If we had the convenience of hindsight we would do issues in a different way and i am sure that is real of lots and plenty of people.”

    the primary minister has faced competition accusations of close links with big businessmen, including the Stagecoach boss Brian Soutar, US rich person Donald Trump – who later turned on Mr Salmond over his government’s professional-wind farm coverage – and media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

    Mr Salmond at all times insisted family members with such figures had been about promoting jobs for Scotland.

    Conservative break of day

    Image copyright Getty Images

    Mr Salmond’s hopes of accelerating the choice of SNP MPs in a hung UNITED KINGDOM parliament in 2010 with the purpose of “making Westminster dance to a Scottish jig” did not quite come off.

    With a resurgent Tory celebration heading in the right direction for victory, Scots citizens came out in their droves to again Labour, all over a campaign which saw the SNP unsuccessfully take the BBC to court docket, after it was determined Mr Salmond couldn’t debate with Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron on TELEVISION.

    In Spite Of the end result, the first minister got here to regard a Tory-led Westminster govt as a key argument for independence, by invoking memories of Thatcher (and poking amusing on the Conservatives’ single Scottish MP).

    Breaking the system

    Symbol copyright PA

    It gave the impression Labour was once heading in the right direction to win the 2011 Scottish election, however Mr Salmond – never to be underestimated – launched into the contest with a good campaign.

    Whilst he got here up in opposition to Labour’s terrible, attacking style, Scots voters decided there has been no contest – and the SNP was once returned with a jaw-losing landslide win.

    Holyrood’s phase-proportional illustration/part-constituency device was necessarily designed to keep anybody party (ie the SNP) from profitable an general majority – but the nationalists’ victory caused a generational shift in Scottish politics, which had noticed Labour because the dominant power for 50 years.

    The Salmond Management V2.0 endured as Scotland’s devolved executive, pledging to resist Westminster cuts and protect beloved common advantages, at the same time as claiming achievements corresponding to chopping crime to a 30-year low.

    Opposition events regularly argued the primary minister was once turning into so obsessive about his dream of independence that he’d taken his eye off the ball while it got here to Scotland’s needs.

    Mr Salmond’s critics also claimed falling teacher and nursing numbers, and housing shortages, had been examples of a lax attitude.

    The vote

    Symbol copyright PA

    Mr Salmond didn’t deliver ahead his govt’s promised Referendum Invoice in its first term because it lacked the required votes in Holyrood – possibly a blessing in cover, given the polls have been indicating a “No” consequence on the time.

    The 2011 election consequence made the independence referendum a sure bet – and it used to be time for Mr Salmond to place his cash (and North Sea oil reserves) where his mouth used to be.

    the primary minister, along along with his executive and the broader independence movement, set out a vision of Scotland’s as one among the world’s richest small nations – with opponents arguing he was willing to say anything else to win a “Yes” vote.

    But at the night it wasn’t to be, as citizens rejected independence by way of FIFTY FIVE% to FORTY FIVE% in the 18 September vote.

    The following day, Mr Salmond announced he used to be standing down as first minister and SNP leader – but no longer ahead of delivering a caution to his combatants to make just right on their promise to extend the powers of the devolved Scottish Parliament.

    Downtime

    Symbol copyright PA

    In Spite Of his public profile, Mr Salmond and spouse Moira, carefully give protection to their non-public lives.

    he’s also identified for his fondness for singing, horse racing and (like many Scots) curries.

    As to the longer term – watch this space.

    His suggestion that he would possibly make a decision to stand for Westminster in the 2015 election was once a heavy trace that the world has not observed the ultimate of Alex Salmond.