And on digital radio b.b.c. Radio Scotland Good evening it's 5 o'clock. And this is news Dr with Betty Stuart tonight emergency talks have been taking place in Fife in an attempt to secure the future of buy fab this for them you know are bullied for the jobs but the long to fight for the jobs I don't want more so the government deals an income to maintain the jobs in the under. The foreign secretaries still under fire over his comments about a British mother imprisoned in Iran so will the foreign secretary today except the impact that his words have has except the distress that has been caused him as unease and apologized and business leaders tell to reason maybe they're concerned about the pace of the BRICs that negotiations the transition to combat that needs to be real body had to z.m. I think that the sense of urgency around that was coming across but it's not enough for business in these to be turned into a real plan. First here's the news with 02 good afternoon workers at Burntisland fabrication or by fab have agreed to continue working on their current order even though they might not be paid according to union leaders emergency talks have been taking place at the engineering company after it warned it was on the verge of appointing administrators by fab has a workforce of about $1400.00 people at yards in Fife and Lewis reporter Lisa Somers is in Fife union leaders say they were told by the company there is no money to pay this week's wages but the workforce has agreed to carry on in the hope the company can be saved by fab says it faces a critical cash problem because of issues with its contractors' The company says as a precautionary measure it has filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator it now has 10 days to find a solution to its cash flow crisis. The Scottish government says it's working with all the relevant parties to find a solution in the past hour the brags that Secretary David Davis has offered a concession to potential conservative rebels Mr Davis said the government would allow the M.P.'s the opportunity to vote on any final deal negotiated with Brussels from Westminster met coal reports the Briggs it secretary was reporting back on last week's e.u. Exit talks labor described the briefing as a Groundhog Day announcement revealing the profound lack of progress but then David Davis an ounce of his intention for a crucial new piece of law primary that distillation giving Parliament time to vote and debate an all encompassing package to approve the content of the withdrawal agreement with the e.u. But also other elements too including the implementation of any transitional period that brags that secretary told M.P.'s that if the Commons votes down the new bill the u.k. Would leave the e.u. Without an agreement critical m.p. Say the bill would have it no real choice as it would be a take it or leave it deal without allowing them to shape the final withdrawal agreement itself the b.b.c. Has learned that several 100 Islamic state fighters and their family members were allowed to leave the Syrian city of Raca when it fell to us back to Forces I s militants left with 10 lorry loads of weapons and ammunition from northern Syria here's Quentin Summerville until now it's thought only a couple of dozen i-s. Vitals escaped from rocka But thanks to a b.b.c. Investigation it's now clear many more were able to flee a convoy of $100.00 vehicles stretching for miles with at least 250 fighters on board was given safe passage the American and British led coalition says it didn't want anyone to leave but the local Arab and Kurdish partners agreed to the Deal coalition aircraft or observe the exodus but didn't intervene. Plans to deal with problems in recruiting G.P.'s have been unveiled by the Scottish government they're part of a proposed new contract for the profession which aims to cut workload and make it easier to run practices. A former Scottish government minister who quit his post after admitting inappropriate actions as that he's committed to changing his behavior writing for the press and journal Mark MacDonald said he had agreed to seek professional support the 1st minister Nicholas Sturgeon said Mr Macdonald's position as an m.s.p. Was still tenable and that his recognition of the need to change was important but I really do think that you know if it's all that we've hair did seen exposed billeting really in many respects over the last few weeks is to have a long term good then it must lead to that longer tail cultural change not just the naming and shaming of individual man importantly that may be in some circumstances but an actual culture change and that does mean that main We Are The recognise that they may have behaved in the play in the past appear to address that and change their behavior and army inquiry has found that the death of a soldier from Tim Friesen Galloway who died on the training course was the result of an underlying medical condition 26 year old Corporal Joshua who'll collapsed while on a training run in Brecon in Mid Wales last year Craig Anderson reports the young infantry man who had served 2 tours in Afghanistan was undergoing an annual fitness test ahead of a course for promotion to Sergeant his death during a run in hot weather came 3 years after 3 soldiers died in the same area during a selection course for the S.A.'s 2 servicemen have recently been charged with and but an army inquiry has found no one was to blame for Joshua whose death his relatives have been told of a heart problem that neither he nor his family were aware of in a statement a spokesman said it was absolutely no comfort are the to the army or Corporal whose family that the service wasn't responsible for his death but I. Added that the army had lost a determined and experienced infantry soldier Bob Geldof has handed back his freedom of the city of Dublin award in protest at the me and my leader Aung San Suu Kyi having this same honor Geldof said she was entirely complicit in the fate of hundreds of thousands of displaced Muslims the Lord Mayor of Dublin said he was surprised the singer was still keeping his honorary knighthood given Britain's colonial past that's the new sport now here's Kenny Crawford I think Syria the former Celtic and had Baron Ian met few there Liam Miller has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 36 he's won 21 caps for the Republic of Ireland and as most recently been playing in the United States Miller also currents Manchester United and Sunderland his former clubs elsewhere after World Cup play off defeat to Switzerland the North American manager Michael O'Neill says he will take time to consider his future he's been tipped as a possible successor to Gordon strucken as Scotland manager at the host Sweden in the 2nd leg of their play off for Russia 2800 tonight Sweden lead one no from the farce leg and if Italy fail to turn things around in Milan they will miss the World Cup for the 1st time since 1988 rugby and there's been a triple injury blow for Scotland ahead of the autumn Test against New Zealand on Saturday Scotland prop w.p. Now has a broken arm walked him Swenson has a hand injury and flanker all parly has a knee problem Newcastle prop John Welsh has been called into the squad as cover and in tennis Jimmy Bruno Suarez lost their opening doubles match and the a.t.p. Finals in London against brothers Macon ball Brian and the saying goes Gregor Dimitrov beat Dominic team and 3 says more sport at 525 but no more travel with Victoria Lumsden in Aberdeenshire delays on the a 98 Stonehaven through the roadworks I find the journey for miles taking around 10 to 15 minutes just one in 5 the 1002 incur Cordie has heavy traffic at the red house trained by its in Renfrewshire road works on the m e to mean long delays West spines with congestion between junction 14 fruit markets . And $27.00 Arkell stand that journey taking around 3 quarters of an hour just now inside Lenox or we're just getting word of an accident on the m $74.00 South Bank between junction 5 for me to feel sorry and 5 Raef interchange and sculptural services between Inverness and Perth are at a standstill because of a broken 10 train at Blair awful b.b.c. Radio Scotland travel and in the forecast a cloudy evening with outbreaks of rain across Highlands and Grampian their rain will be heavy for a time across the northeast the rain move south to reach all parts tonight although it should be light and patchy for most but not as cold as last night with lows of 2 to 5 Celsius in most places frost free you're listening to b.b.c. Radio Scotland at 8 minutes past 5 and as we heard in the news g.m. Be affiliated workers at the Scottish offshore fabrication firm Burntisland fabrication or by fab have been holding emergency meetings today after reports that the company is to be put into administration well as Despite the fact that the firm secured a 100000000 pound contract for offshore wind turbine work last year well g.m.b. Union has 440 members across the 3 sites and their Scotland Secretary Gary Smith joins me in the studio know good evening good evening Have we made any progress today most far as we can see. To the issue to those 2 trade unions involved g.m.b. Scotland and unite brothers and sisters unite. Yesterday and last night we were advised by the scores government our members should be Report for what is normal the Smallman is so new to the being progress in talks over the weekend we know there's serious dispute where one of the contract will see we have a lifting of a Dutch company by fab so lately been progress with all the different parties involved in the us and our members were to report for what was small and then the by far the directors have advised us that there is actually no money to pay our members who. In effect we've had mass meetings today and the workers are working and so they're going to work despite the fact they might not get paid well I think is more than a think is more significant than that. We understand that the main contractor see we have a lifting limited s.c.h. I'll have a plan to take the walk out of the Scottish yards and move that work abroad and to don't south and I think by walking n. The what force will send in a very clear message to the contract goes to all the companies involved in this and a member this is a whole weight consult him involved here s s e the beginner g. Company Siemens etc I think they're sending a very clear message that the work that they've done is not going toward don't so thing or abroad to be finished our members than a fantastic job do the work is almost complete our members expect to get paid for and I would I'm now members expect to still be employed at Christmas do you think it is possible at this stage the ted by fab can can work some deal with seaweed to stop this happening. This isn't just a problem for by far I said this morning the 2 of these yards are owned by Scottish Enterprise that is a state interest and by far we understand there are tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money you kill level. Invested in born's or under-rating the contracts which exist by far so there's a public interest the public to potentially taxpayers money here. No we need to get to the bottom of who's benefit of all this money there's a suggestion the s h l will benefit to the tune of tens of millions of homes believe or not by 5 go bust but we need to get to the bottom and up but we need to cut through this and the primitive responsibility no to provide leadership as with the Scottish government they told us last night our members should report for what was smaller and it's only late business as usual difficult is a circumstances where we want leadership for the scores government we want. Nobody to pull together and we we want these workers and their communities and the facilities to be secured for the future if this company though is adamant that it's going to take their work elsewhere is there anything practically that the Scottish government can do I know you said that the workforce are going for a work in but is there more that commit done well of of course we can do some of the committee on the u.k. Government apparently on the rating these contracts to the tune of tens of millions of pounds these are state facilities know if this goes government and the u.k. Government stand by and I'll load these yards to go to the wall of their load I mean it will actually be $1400.00 skilled jobs if include the supply chain to disappear that would be an absolute hammer blow for the credibility of politicians and the u.k. Level and of course level by the way politicians who told us that the renewables Waka members are doing it by far was the future discourse manufacturing and these were the jobs of the future in the meantime the companies were going through the redundancy process nor the new formal redundancy process started I mean we are absolutely outraged of his meetings at the end of last week we were told by far apart from actual problems and the 1st we held that the business world was seeking volunteer administration was through the media I mean that's a content I mean it's an awful way to treat workers the families and their communities but let me come back to the to the core point here to everyone with an interest in these workers and the communities and in the well for the discourse economy must pull together now and the Scottish government must lead the effort to save by far and if that means taking into public set the control for the period then so be the Scottish Government can find a way for with us we're prepared to what with the mana we need strong political leadership now Ok Gary Smith from the g.m.b. Thank you for coming in. Now within the last hour the bricks that Secretary David Davis has confirmed M.P.'s will get a vote on a final deal before the u.k. Leaves the e.u. Earlier today a European. In its leaders told to reason may that progress is urgently needed on the negotiations to leave the e.u. Or jobs an investment could be lost speaking after meeting in dining street the director general of the c.b.i. Carolyn Fairbairn called for the u.k. And the e.u. To pick up the piece suit talks can move on to trade and transition by December there is a sense of growing urgency you can't listen to what firms all say and the message for a business is across Europe was very consistent I think without without risk without responding to there was a strong sense that was being listened to but it needs to turn into action so the Florence speech which was welcome now needs to become real action the transition. That needs to be real by the end of the year and I think that they the sense of urgency around that was coming across but it's not enough business in these to be turned into a real plan and a real decisions and the conservative m.p. And bricks that supporter John Redwood had this to say to business leaders chair up and the way to end the uncertainty is we should prepare for World Trade Organization terms they work fine that's how we do our trade with the rest of the world at the moment and I hope within the next couple of weeks as I say the you want to set a deadline they should answer one simple question do they want to negotiate free trade agreement with Britain or don't they where we're very happy to offer a full free trade agreement based on what we've got at the moment that would probably be the best outcome but if they're not interested in doing that in the next 2 weeks we must just get on in the uncertainty and plan to trade on the Dr Terry Gross Well let's go to thoughts of the blogger Henry Hill who writes for Conservative Home Henry cheat opposite a lot to be cheating a boat. Well I mean I don't think anybody denies that negotiations are proving very difficult you know that fundamentally we have a government that has lost its overall majority in the House of Commons trying to execute one of the biggest foreign policy challenges any government has faced since the war and of course facing some quite interesting constitutional challenges as well so cheery is probably the wrong way I decide I differ from Redwood on that I think what about this news today that M.P.'s are going to get a vote on the legislation that's going to be a test. Yet it will be it will be challenging in parliament I think the fundamental thing to remember here is that the it doesn't change the fundamental calculus of which is that M.P.'s vote against the deal the government comes up with we will be leaving without a deal this is not of vote to reverse Bracks it's not over it's not a vote to hold it we'll see off a relatively dubious in my view legal challenge bots ultimately this is still a process which is going to happen regardless of the vote it will cause a lot of trouble the government potentially and it could be a very messy night in the chamber but it's not going to have it not for preventing Brits it from happening the government does seem to be in a huge mess doesn't it with all this kind of infighting even within the cabinet. Yes I mean fundamentally that the challenges that breaks it has created a brand new dividing line that cuts across the traditional parties in a sense in a very real sense this is a coalition government this is a coalition government between the leaves the remain as within the Conservative Party and there are clearly very different views about how the government should be proceeding and you saw that with this message from Michael Gove and Boris Johnson Their view is that if the government is not prepared for a no deal breaks it then it will come to the when it comes to the crunch in the last few weeks of the negotiations that will have very little leverage and I think somebody used the phrase It will be over a barrel and there are others like that upon the chancellor who think that if we prepare for no deal bricks that some of the more committed brick cities will use that as an excuse to bring down the negotiations and go out on those thoughts a very real schism which the prime minister is going to have to try and navigate as best you can why doesn't she just sat them. Well I mean 1st of all you have to stoop which side you suck I think you know you can make strong cases both ways I have in my view you should the government should be preparing for a new deal breaks at the 5 The David Cameron didn't produce any preparation for what he did when he lost the referendum has put the government in a hell of a mess and I think that the prime minister has a duty to make sure the government is prepared for what is looking increasingly likely outcome of the negotiations but the other problem you have is the one you can't sack if you did want to suck the child's lead parts like the Chancellor 2 weeks out from from the Autumn Statement of the budget and then you have the difficult decision of if you do a full reshuffle which I know the prime minister wants to do. I hope the Prime Minister wants to do you've got to not only make sure that the balance of remain as an leavers remains much the same as it is now but you've also got to make sure that none of the people you promote are going to end up having to resign in a few weeks as a result of some scandal or other so I think before the prime minister can do or will be making sure that the whips office as much as they possibly can make want to promote to a new position is squeaky clean Is she still the right person for the job. Fundamentally yes essentially as far as a conservative party is concerned at least. Any week there is no time now for another leadership election it would be weeks upon weeks of the other Rouse if we have another leadership election before 2019 it will be completely dominated by BRICs it none of the new generation. Sort of the younger talent in the Conservative Party because we haven't had that reshuffle people who are elected in 2010 or 2015 aren't yet quite ready to be competitive for the leadership and I think the party recognizes that one we are out of time for that kind of self-indulgent stuff we need to stick the course until bricks again 2019 and 2 we need to make sure the next generation is ready to be competitive when a leadership challenge arrives so yes if she if the party had a way of getting getting rid of 2 reason may without causing either a general election or sort of governmental collapse it might have done so by now but fundamentally She is the lynchpin holding the government together and that's why she's still in post and Ray thank you very much indeed for speaking to us that's the blogger Henry Hill from conservative home. The headlines workers at Burntisland fabrication are by far have agreed to continue working in the current order even though they might not get paid the government has announced plans to give M.P.'s a vote in the final Breck's deal agreed with the e.u. And plans to deal with problems in recruiting G.P.'s have been unveiled by the Scottish government. Now the shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has raised the case of the British woman as an insecure the Ratcliffe in the House of Commons Mrs Levy Radcliffe has been held in prison in Iran since April last year Downing Street says the government is considering granting her diplomatic protection under the prime minister has spoken to the Iranian president about the case twice Emily Thornberry asked the foreign secretary Boris Johnson to apologize for comments he made to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee about Misaki the Radcliff's reason for being in Iran the foreign say. She argued last week that his comments to the select committee had and I quote no connection whatsoever with the latest threats by the Iranian authorities to extends Nazanin sentence and that it was simply untrue to suggest otherwise that Mr Speaker is entirely contradicted by what has been said by the Iranian courts last weekend and on Iranian judiciary website and on Iranian state t.v. All of them said explicitly that the furn sexist remarks were the basis of their renewed action against Nazanin here now we know from the evidence of Richard Rachleff that when the need has self was told of the remarks and saw how the Iranian authorities would exploit them she became hugely distressed and upset so will the foreign sex she today except the impact that his words have has except the distress that has been caused him as unease and apologize. About a lot of college eyes for upsetting people but apologize for getting it wrong Yeah well the foreign secretary admitted for the 1st time he'd made a mistake the British government has no guard the misses a guard the rectory was near on holiday and that was the sole purpose of our visit as I said in the House last week my remarks on the subject before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee could and should have been clear and I knowledge of the words are used to open to being misinterpreted not apologize I apologize to Mrs cigar Iraqi and her family if I had inadvertently cause them any further and the House should bear in mind that Iran's regime and no one else has chosen to separate this mother from her infant daughter. The reason is that even they find it difficult to explain or describe the Mississippi right because husband Richard Ratcliffe believes her case has been affected by Mr Johnson's earlier comment. That NASA team had been training journalists when she was arrested in an interview earlier today he was asked if the foreign secretary should resign I don't think it's helpful financing at this point I don't think it's helpful also in terms of her looks in Iran for me to be looking like I'm playing politics it's very important that the Iranians you know to see that this is just a family who are battling to bring nursing home and you not get the sort of sense that we're some sort of great Machiavellian power we're not Richard Ratcliffe the brother of a Scottish man arrested in connection with killings in India says they have no idea of his whereabouts reports in India say that Jack Tar single hull who is 30 m. From Western Barton sure was arrested along with 3 other men in connection with the killings of several high profile figures in Punjab Well b.b.c. Asian network reporter and the circuitry is a following the story that's right it's reported that Jack tossing Joe how was shopping at the time of his arrest and according to the Sikh Federation u.k. That's an organization campaigning for his release he was forced into a van by the police in India now there are media reports over there which say he was arrested along with 3 other men in connection with the killings of several high profile figures in Punjab his brother got pretty telling us such charges are false after he was involved or anything like that this is a common question common pattern would ask why would he go to India why would he spend 6 to 7 weeks in April. I have no issues and then bike and beer to get my date well the local m.p. The s.n.p. Martin Dockerty He's says he's a raise Mr j. Hause case as a matter of urgency with the foreign office he's also said the lack of information being given to jag tells family by the police in Delhi following his arrest is alarming So is it clear then as to why he's been arrested Well the family is very concerned by reports that he's been targeted because of what he's done highlighting the anti Sikh rights which took place in India in 1984 Mr Giles crimes reportedly include running a magazine in the u.k. Highlighting the treatment of Sikhs in that year and it's also claimed he's been influencing the youth through social media and the family understands there is a court appearance tomorrow and the Foreign Office is looking into this well we asked Brother about reports linking him to a website called Never forget 84 which has a list of people described as Shaheed a word from Otis and a band great called Baba Casa is on the list so here's what he had to say many people use our website many people want to learn a person through history whether he was involved or not involved only he can tell you in order for him to tell you he needs to be out in the public eye and the police are not giving him any opportunity to be there. That's corporate single how ending that report from a nice cadre. Sport and here's Kenny Sykes Friday the former Celtic and head Baron in midfielder Liam Miller has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 36 the Republic of Ireland international had most recently been playing and the United States Miller Here's 21 caps for his country also currents Manchester United and Sunderland as former clubs today the Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill who was also at Celtic with Miller offered his best wishes probably stayed years water as a kid at Celtic. Manor free while in the Champions League game one evening substitute the stand and obviously. All thoughts go to him and his family I think it's a good 3 children as well to for a young man 36 years of age and puts things in perspective and elsewhere after World Cup playoff defeat to Switzerland the north and manager may colonial says he will take time to consider his future he's been widely tipped as a possible successor to Gordon Strachan as Scotland manager at Soho Sweden in the 2nd leg of their play off for Russia $2800.00 tonight Sweden lead one no from the farce leg and effectively failed to turn things around in Milan they will miss the World Cup for the 1st time since 1958 and domestic football league to a club Club clients have appointed Danny Lennon as their new manager Lennon gaited sent Madden to the League Cup and 2013 rugby and Scotland defense coach Matt Taylor once has meant to take inspiration from Ireland as they look to claim their 1st fit today or over New Zealand on Saturday the Irish beat the old Blacks last year for the 1st time Scotland having won against New Zealand and 30 tests dating back to 1905 think it's a matter of ation because. Like anything that you have made I would shave you know you strive to achieve it and I think you have to look at all and I mean I was assigned by not too long ago and I had close results and cause results and I minister when they deny the u.s. Side I suppose from a point of view. We had a raise will cause results against the last time so like I said we have to play well we're going to be best. To beat them but that's what I did to Jamie Murray and Breena Suarez last their opening doubles match in the round robin stage of the a.t.p. Tennis famous and London earlier brothers Maken Bob Bryan edged in 3 sets but Jamie Murray still optimistic when you would need to win 2 or 3 matches to get through to the semifinals Anyway I guess on a positive is good you know we lost having want to say better than than losing 2 straight sets all say but I mean the most important thing is to win and the saying goes Gregor Dimitrov beat Dominic team in 3 sets Rafa Nadal faces that would go off on later this evening snooker and John Higgins want to Shanghai Masters qualifier against Switzerland Alexander Urson backer by 5 frames to 2 ensuring he has a place in the fostering proper tomorrow in China a 4 time world champion faces even piece of Wales but still struggling with jetlag due to one obviously. Is pretty tired nearly just off the fellas on have today but I guess that is from the u.k. And just basically but I'm a bit strange at $84.00 to $1.00 another Scot and former world champion Graeme Dott is already through to the 2nd round of those Shanghai Masters the last $32.00 stage of the competition and that's a sport like Kenny and I heard the woods looking Victoria can tell us in Aberdeen the 870 s. And marker drive has heavy traffic and delays of around 5 minutes between the 96 great northern route and King Street and on D.-Day 911 West markets Cape Town slow traffic at the Westport trained by insect Linux or on the South Bank I am 742 separate accidents are causing very slow traffic one just before junction 5 Reith interchange which is now in the hard shoulder now there's a 2nd accident site by and just after junction 5 or 8 interchange and that's adding to the usual peak time congestion in Manchester one lane of the MH is blocked by a breakdown West Bank at Junction 27 Arkell stand route where. Cyr were already causing a very long delays of around 45 minutes from Junction 14 so this is going to make things even slower b.b.c. Radio Scotland travel you're listening to news Dr with very Stuart the time notice half past 5 a summary of the news from Syria to workers at Burntisland fabrication or by fab have agreed to continue working on their current order even though they might not be paid occurring according to union leaders emergency talks have been taking place at the engineering company after it warned it was on the verge of appointing administrators by fab has a workforce of about 1400 people at yards in Fife and Lewis g.m.b. Scotland Secretary Kerry Smith that represents 440 of the workers we understand the main contractor see we have a lifting limited feature I'll have a plan to take the walk out of the school as yards and move that work abroad and to themselves and I think by walking in the workforce will send in a very clear message to the contract goes to all the companies involved in this and say see the beginner Gee company Siemens example that the work that they've done is not going toward done so or abroad to be finished Seaway heavy lifting has issued a statement saying it's been working with bae fab for many months to support them as they address their production problems and cost overruns. Their bags etc Terry David Davis has said M.P.'s will be allowed to vote on the final brakes a deal his team negotiates with Brussels However Mr Davis told the Commons that if the veil was bolted down the u.k. Would still leave the e.u. But without an agreement he said he expected the move would take place before the European Parliament had voted on the matter this also is a promise we give him time to bait scrutinise vote on the final restructure your union disagree let me hold power proves. We expect this bill to cover the contents the withdrawal agreement that it is issues such as. Citizens rights any financial settlement and the details on implementation period between. The Us led coalition fighting the Islamic state group in Syria has admitted that hundreds of Islamic state militants and their families were allowed to escape unharmed from their former stronghold in her Syria rocka a month long b.b.c. Investigation has established that at least $250.00 i.a.s. Fighters were among those who left in a convoy that included 10 lorries loaded with weapons and ammunition. Patients will get more time with their family doctors when that's necessary but they'll be seen by other health care staff for more routine care under plans on veiled by the Scottish government a new contract for G.P.'s has been negotiated with the British Medical Association It aims to cut the workload and attract more medics into general practice Dr Allan McDevitt of the b m e welcomed the new deal will make a huge difference because we've got proposals both of those places where practice is on the premises and also with Lisa which will take many of the risks of that for the vast majority of practices so for example when it comes to owning the premises the government will make an interest free loan which will make those premises cost effective again for G.P.'s and many of the risks of owning that premis $8.00 of the tracks and a former Scottish government minister who quit his post after admitting inappropriate actions has said he's committed to changing his behavior writing for the press and journal Mark MacDonald said he had agreed to seek professional support the s.n.p. M.s.p. For Aberdeen Don side resigned as childcare minister earlier this month but said he would remain at Holyrood. The Lord Mayor of Dublin me how McDonough China has criticised Bob Geldof for returning his freedom of the city of Dublin in protest at the Mian Mar civilian leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi having the same honor the Shin Fein lord mayor said he was surprised the singer was still keeping his honorary knighthood given Britain's colonial past Bob Geldof has told the b.b.c. That Mr Chief is entirely complicit in the fate of hundreds of thousands of displaced for him Jet Muslims she's become a sort of begun to ethnic cleansing basically and I don't want to be on the Frame Well of all that and I don't give the freedom of history to it of double 2 very very people it's a very small role and I do want to be on that same romancer That's the news the next update is at 6 Thanks for that now how is the weather looking Christopher. Wet . Personality and very some fairly persistent rated moment across parts of the northeast of the country elsewhere cloudy with Sherry outbreaks of rain fairly light and patchy in those edging their way southwards as we go overnight so very cloudy quite down. But certainly by the early hours most of that rain will be clearing away and we'll have some clear spells a few showers there across parts of the far north and the Northern Arles and not as cold as last night despite clearing skies to temperatures in towns and cities around 2 to 4 Celsius perhaps Apache frost in a few sheltered Glen's so to tomorrow and a far better day actually largely fine dry and bright with some decent sunny spells around the best of these likely across eastern Scotland from Aberdeen should down towards Fife and the far south through dump recent Galloway in the Borders Well it's going to be cloudy for a good part of the day that cloud there is slowly thinning and breaking across most essential in western Scotland were mixture of bright spells and cloud in there will be a few showers across the far north and the Northern hours but all told generally better than today milder than today as well temperatures around 8 to 10 Celsius tomorrow night some fairly persistent Cheri rain across the far north just edging its way south was but then it through fizzles away and Wednesday a reasonable day once again mostly dry some brightness around the best of that to cross east in Scotland there will be some patchy rain though moving north across the Hebrides as the forecast. News drive on b.b.c. Reduce Scotland. No Scottish universities are planning big changes to that admission system to help increase the number of students from disadvantaged areas called contextualized admissions the plans will mean that less attention being paid to an applicant's exam results instead universities will look more at the applicant skills expedience or potential. But what will this mean for universities Well joining me now is meeting a senior scholar official for the University College Union 1st of all broadly to welcome this yes I think it's a very welcome report from universities Scotland today that looks at how we address some of the challenges to widen in access in our universities and that said I think there is still and massive challenge if we're going to meet the target that's being set to get 20 percent of students in our universities to be from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2030 and you know that is a massive challenge but I think this is a step in the right direction what's your understanding then of how this would work in terms of the admissions process process you know how do you select the right student well the universities today if said they're going to be very clear on the minimum standards and the minimum exam results required for various courses and so that rather than requiring you know a maximum say 5 days or at higher or whatever if that isn't actually required to study the specific course they'll look at the minimum standard so the reason the competition at the top end they will look at those students from disadvantaged areas who have got that minimum to to go on to study so and you know do you think this is a very welcome step however I think we need to do much more to embed and the whole agenda around widening access and into universities and I think universities in Scotland perform very well they're also dealing with a whole range of challenges and for staff in universities when they're looking at priorities for them for example this morning I was advising some of our members who are looking at a new framework around performance and the way performance is message measured we're looking at research outputs we're looking at grants that lecturers have have secured and we look. At teaching time so no where in that framework was there anything that looked at how are you reaching out to schools how are you looking at courses that can support articulation with colleges so you know I think for us we need to do we need to really embedded the whole widening access agenda across the board in universities rather than just looking at you know research and research excellence which is clearly important and so much funding. Is connected with research excellence but how does that address in Access which is the key challenge that universities are facing you know I don't think many people would disagree with whitening access but are you comfortable with the fact that you might get 2 candidates one with 5 A's and one with 2 days and a couple of B.'s and a c. Or something I know you comfortable with that the candidate with the least good results getting the police over the other one well I think a lot of it is very difficult but I think in the whole fair access agenda those are the difficult questions that we are grappling with and I think we're saying Well well yes because we're saying that somebody who has come from a more deprived area a nontraditional background has achieved that result given the circumstances that they you know that they've been raised within and so yes that just mean they they've reached the minimum standards they can go on to perform well at university and that's what this report is looking at today and that's what it's acknowledging and I think we all agree that that's the way we need to move forward to to address those issues and one of the other elements in the report is guaranteeing places at university for students with a care background if they've met the minimum requirement because that's acknowledging that they face many challenges in their life and they've they've managed to reach this minimum level which is required to study the course at university so rather than expecting them to get the 5 days which might you know all the other people who. Much of much of achieved we're saying no they're able to study and if we're going to make progress in terms of widening access and getting people from nontraditional backgrounds particularly care backgrounds or refugee backgrounds you know this is the way forward you know it's difficult how do you determine whether somebody is from a disadvantaged background you know you mentioned refugee and children have been in care but you know aside from that oh do you as a push school does it which school you went to what you think yeah I mean I agree with you it's very very difficult I think you know in Scotland we using the postcodes that are deemed to be the most deprived areas and that's that's the way this is this has been determined but you know I accept that that you know has its challenges that is also an issue isn't there or does this and it probably inevitably will mean that children from more affluent backgrounds will not get the places that they have been. As I said I think there's going to be some hard conversations on this issue but on another key issue easy is absolutely funding we've seen funding in the sector and platter we've seen cuts to it to the to the sector and we know that staff have lost their jobs in in a number of institutions and if we're actually to to make a difference it we need to resource a and we need to resource the place seize properly and we need to make sure that the ratios between staff and students are such that we support students to come to university and stay in university students from nontraditional backgrounds often require additional $1.00 to $1.00 support they'll benefit from small achieve Tauriel Zz and that they'll benefit from smaller lecture theatres where lectures will have time to do more individual support you know that has to be resourced and you know we have the Scottish budget just around the corner and you know everyone is concerned at the funding outcomes that it that it that we're going to be seen there Ok Mary senior thanks very much indeed for coming in Scotland official for the University College Union. There a surfer who was stranded at sea for 32 hours has decided he's ready to return to the water Matthew brace for mayor dri had voted never surf again after being rescued in May this year Gillian sharp reports how exactly are you going to get me to the time to get going tonight wasn't I this is something Matthew Blaisdell would never happen again I can't describe how cool is now. Isn't he when I. Cross I will thank you Howsabout because. It's like when life is just south of your car like that and. Losses are quick and everything is chronic and you just count more time possessions. And tired as well as pass and I rescued off the Argyle coast after surfing trip went disastrously wrong with. Tides and wind carrying a mike to see he survived only by clinging to his board the authorities said he was very lucky speaking to us from his hospital bed in May He said he wouldn't be surfing again explaining more about the experience was all a terrible but the night was of course. In there. With the fishing boats and dozens. Of shades for the fishing boats. And. Like he didn't hear any. And they just they just. I was going to die. Was convinced. I don't think it's in some. Mistakes monsoon to support a friends he's ready to get back in the water here training some fitness and balance to be regained but remembering to why he loves it Matthew and his friends are planning to go back to the sea soon and he thinks he's learned some very valuable lessons can I push. Trying to soften and I think that's a good thing and if you focus on like that helps that helps to fight for you. You know indicts is a horrible experience I wouldn't wish on anyone if someone asked me Mark he would. You know. If you could have stopped herself going to see about the Yes No we it was the most horrific experience I find you know I hope to God I'm never going to experience anything and I think again I would never wish on anyone either. If I can take some positive over and if I can trying to a messenger to people to you know in safe or with friends story will soften I want to be very close like me. Thank you know I'm going to come from. Matthew Brice ending that report from Jillian sharp. The headlines workers at Burntisland fabrication or by fab have agreed to continue working on their current order even though they might not get paid the breaks that Secretary David Davis has said M.P.'s will be allowed to vote in the final Breck's it to deal his team negotiates with Brussels and a former Scottish Government Minister Mark MacDonald who quit his post after admitting inappropriate actions a said he is committed to changing his behavior Victoria has more travel news and in the Highlands roadworks on the a 9 crew bridge mean to lease and both directions. Also in the Highlands in Inverness the 82 Longman road has Have year than usual traffic between the route St roundabout and the sure street trying to bite into a 92 sized market gate tires queuing traffic at the junction at the $85.00 Riverside Drive in Edinburgh very slow tonight heavier than normal on the spines on 2 junction one her missing gate delays there of up to half an hour on a $720.00 city bypass we're seeing delays of up to 25 minutes east Bines approaching inside London sure very slow on the 74 and earlier accident between junction 4 medieval and 5 wreath interchange is now on the hard shoulder after the Wraith interchange a breakdown is now blocking 2 lanes and this is making the road very slow indeed and pressure on the broken down car is blocking one lane West bind at Junction 27 Arkell stem this is adding to delays caused by road works that are queues here from Junction 14 fruits markets that journey from there to junction 27 taking around 40 minutes b.b.c. Radio Scotland travel Scotland's breakfast news programme talking about things which matter to all of us what do you personally think education should be we're all using the n.h.s. From work we're expecting work from it are more job losses inevitable that has to make these changes it difficult to make ends meet we very clearly that they have a right to some presumably it's better not to do something this is absolutely their job is to keep it all away from here if it matters to you it matters to us Good Morning Scotland 7 days a week on b.b.c. Radio Scotland. No the f.b.i. Have released or thought to be the 1st audio and video recordings of a mafia adduction by one of New York's 5 Italian American crime families what the gangsters didn't know as the new recruit was an undercover agent cooperating with police and wearing a wire will know members of the infamous family have been charged with crimes including selling cocaine in a Manhattan ice cream shop and money laundering Professor Federico a very serious Mafia expert from orc's furred university so this is quite a catch. Yes it is it's another and I started an early cat as you say is the 1st time ever an induction ceremony as been recorded so what happened on it. Well they've stuck to the ceremony splitted similar to what we know and Mark is setting mines and being for very very long time he's just another shorter version of the same ceremony and it quickly enough it so or did they do. Well what they do it the same on is to introduce the new person and traditionally they would the pick the finger of the person and the blood the blood doll on the picture of a saint it up the as an in this case that to see Joe was not a down however anything else that was in places and a key element of there on the ceremony is then to turns need to key information about the family to the new recruit which was done in this case so it is a genuine and induction ceremony as you would expect to find they don't really burn the photo of the same to that right yes is a picture of the St It is normally burnt in this case it was in the hand and so what's the significance of that do you know. Well I think they this story highlights 2 aspects of daytime in American Masai North America the banana family in New York and there in that appendix in Canada that they are clearly and the passion to recruit new people so they don't scrutinize very much the new members and the Senate money itself is done in a haste which indicates problems in the funding. Goes through the ceremony and keep the traditional structure in place typically then how do these mafia families make their money these days. So they used to make money so extortion and contacts are leading in this case and for a very long time in fact they continue to make money so the dogs dogs that remains and seems to be the biggest business and as you see in this case that's what they were doing mentally and that's what they've been charged for by the police generally would you say making headway against them. I think so I think they're making headway especially they talian the traditional Italian funding but of course new actors and new players are taking the place perfectly is the mafia know in New York well the Mafia in New York is still day out of the $55.00 media of which were these one the banana cart in funny us didn't place but they have been reduced in size and many of the young Italian to the codes of course can do just image jobs and so it's they find it hard to recruit new people and so they're much less power than in the past and most importantly their connections to day supply in a sea of cocaine and even now even in Colombia are not that strong so there are other players which are more important and are there in touch with their Italian come to parse with a tie Yes there stint that and what is interesting in this case is their New York family is that in charge of their Montell family so they ever international connections but they're independent organization so we shouldn't make the mistake of thinking that they tell you in Mafia calling tolls democratic and advice of us out there to separate organization with separately choice Ok Well thank you very much for speaking to us Professor Federico Very say there from Oxford University. No the Lord made of Dubliners hit back at Bob Geldof's decision to return an award giving him freedom of the city the musician said he didn't know what the owner because it had also been given to the me and my political leader all Sam Suchi he's criticized the persecution of the river in Jammu slums by the military in her country Mikhail McDonald said it was ironic that the Live Aid organizer was still keeping his owner a knighthood given Britain's colonial past Bob Geldof told reporters it had been a very hard decision to make you know I don't want to talk to you but I don't want . To go and you know I get home to things by states and cities around the world but I would don't want this meant very much to me and so as I say it does me most anybody else but to be I don't want to do it but it's the most I can do on the well I speak no to the Dublin based author Martina Devlin Martina What reaction has there been then well it's a mixed reaction really and some people see it as a showbiz stunt Some people believe that it's had genuine attempt to draw attention to the plight of oppressed people and it occurs to others that have pulled Geldof really wanted to persuade the city council to take back the honor to the me and mine leader he should perhaps to them the courtesy of going to a meeting and speaking to them to make his case and because the city council hasn't yet voted on that. The mayor was pointing out that he's kept on really nice he will he certainly thought was ironic. Well not everybody agrees with that the mayor in his turn. Me Home McDonough her has come in for criticism from other kinds leaders who say that he's politicized the issue by mentioning the knighthood and that it makes his position ambiguous you know that being Lord Mayor is above politics but of course there's some bad feeling there because last year Bob Geldof made some fairly inflammatory comments about the men and women of 1916 Arlen celebrated the rising last year the centenary and Bob Geldof compared the people who helped to build the state to suicide bombers he used jihadist analogy saying that the 1916 leaders had martyr themselves in a bid to inspire others to take up arms so this was an century and the Lord Mayor is a Shin Fein kind slur and obviously hasn't forgotten that so popular figure these days is Bob Geldof. He's quite popular he's regarded as a bit of a curmudgeon at times but he's used to celebrity for good I mean the fact that he was awarded a knighthood by Britain in in 1906 because of his Band Aid and Live Aid work people are proud of it at the same time not everybody thinks that handing back his freedom of the city of Dublin was the way to go about things particularly as in the same breath he said I'd like it back please if they do as I want I mean you know we don't always get what we want in life it's about persuasion really and you know the lord mayor has said he's attempting to build consensus among the various groupings in the city council to do something on the me and Maher issue but not everybody knows I mean people are aren't sure if I understand Suu Kyi is. In the grip of the Army much partially has herself in perhaps she's in fear of her own life so. People just really don't know what to make of it quite at the moment thank you very much indeed that is murder to know Devlin. No the number of natural world heritage sites that and by climate change is almost doubled in the last 3 years the u.n. Climate change conference in Bonn has been heating that coral reefs and glaziers of the most threatened ecosystems but a port by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature warns that the number at risk is likely to drill further and the governments need to implement urgently the commitments in the Paris Agreement Peter Shadi is a senior advisor with the i.u.c.n. World Heritage sites designated under the World Heritage Convention which recognizes places of what are called at standing universal bad So essentially these are places that are of such importance really that they transcend national boundaries and they transcend generations so we're talking about you know household names places like the galactic asylums Kilimanjaro the Grand Canyon u.s. These are places that most people would know of in these places which are on the World Heritage list because of their extraordinary that is Portland's and the risk posed to these sites from climate changes is virtually doubled in the last 3 years . Yes we just released. The World Heritage outlook Number 2 this is an i.e.c. In a system and all of the natural world heritage sites around the world so. We assessed 228 sites in 2014 in me so Sue 141 sites. This year we just released a report here at the climate change. Meeting in Bonn it. The outlook report assesses the values of the each of these places the state in the trend of the values that looks at the threats which exist and then it looks at the quality of protection and management and through each side it comes up. But the writing which runs from good to good with some concerns and into the orange and the writ in terms of significant concerns and critical. Of all of the threats which we looked at climate change was in the top 3. Of the current assessment and was this the threat that had spiked most dramatically in just 3 years so in just 3 years we've seen almost a doubling of the number of sides so what sort of damage then yeah is claim change causing to the sites it's quite variable and it's quite the face even the sense that it's it's everywhere but invisible but it's affecting all sorts of different ecosystems. And the coral reef saw its areas which the 2 touch systems where you see the impacts most readily and most quickly so you know place as like the Barrier Reef should trail you where I'm sure all. Severely affected there are other reef sites also impacted in places like New Caledonia neural Billie's systems like Kilimanjaro Iglesias disappearing Swiss Alps. In Europe but lots of other ecosystems affected as well and you're calling for governments to quickly implement what was agreed to in the Paris agreement where we're calling for we're doing 2 things we really raising the awareness here at the climate change. Conference Adi's about the fact that climate change is affecting all sites affecting. All places and nowhere is safe in the sense that even even now finest natural treasures such as these places are being impacted so if we look into raise awareness we are looking for ambitious. Targets within the national commitments that are being made here in terms of bridge . Carbon emissions cation strategies. But we're also promoting the fact that there are things that can be done inside. These individual places manages struggling to deal with climate change but there are things that can be done in terms of preparedness and planning and understanding that you're deliberately reacting to Peter Shadi there from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.