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Support for Scottish independence needs to be higher and more consistent to force another referendum, the new SNP leadership believes. In a rethink of strategy, Scotland's First Minister and new SNP leader Humza Yousaf wants to focus on making the case for independence because he knows pushing for a vote immediately will be rejected. Mr Yousaf told the BBC this week that he wants a "consistent majority for independence". Senior figures familiar with his thinking say there has been a shift in position since Nicola Sturgeon stood down - with Mr Yousaf wanting to prove independence is the settled will of Scottish voters. They acknowledge Mr Yousaf has introduced an extra step in the process of forcing another referendum. Ms Sturgeon had wanted to use the next general election in Scotland as a de facto referendum. Mr Yousaf does not favour that policy but has said he will listen to SNP members about the next steps. How many more difficult days for SNP's Yousaf? Douglas Ross backtracks on tactical voting call Can Humza Yousaf unite the SNP? In opinion polls, support for Scottish independence consistently sits in the mid to high forties. But senior figures acknowledge they have not yet moved the dial to show sustained support as a majority. Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, told the BBC: "The realisation has dawned on them that while support for independence has tended to be higher than it was in 2014, it tends to be just below 50%. "If you want to win a referendum - and clearly make the case a referendum is justified - you need to start well ahead." In the independence referendum in 2014, Scotland voted against becoming an independent country by 55% to 45%. Since becoming first minister, Mr Yousaf has demanded a Section 30 order - to allow another referendum. But that has not been accepted by the prime minister. Mr Yousaf's allies acknowledge the position in Westminster is not going to change under the current government. The Supreme Court also made clear last year that Holyrood could not force another vote without Westminster's consent. Sources say they now have to move the dial to force another referendum - and that there is no shortcut to making that happen. They argue events may help change that. In particular, they claim a Labour government could be forced to accept another referendum as the price of support in a hung Parliament. Labour has said it would not cut any deals with the SNP. Mr Yousaf's focus on the longer term aim comes as his party is confronted by multiple short term challenges. There is the ongoing police investigation into the SNP. Senior figures in the party expect Ms Sturgeon to be questioned by detectives soon. Secondly, there are increasingly public tensions in the party, both at Westminster and Holyrood. There is also the political challenge of Labour's revival in Scotland, and the potential threat Sir Keir Starmer's party poses to the SNP in the central belt and the west of Scotland. Labour thinks it could win back as many as 20 seats in Scotland at the next general election. Mr Yousaf is responding to this threat by portraying himself as the most left-leaning political leader in Scotland. He has talked about increasing taxes on higher earners to improve his "progressive" credentials. Any strategy which involved waiting longer for an independence referendum would be a risk for the SNP leadership. Some SNP politicians and activists want more immediate action. Ms Sturgeon also faced criticism for relegating the importance of independence in the 2017 general election campaign - with some in her party arguing they failed to mobilise their key support and thus lost seats. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65425495

A man who left a dog inside a van on a hot day for two hours outside a boarding kennels has pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering after the pet died. Luna, a pug, had been at her owners' wedding in Hertfordshire on 8 July 2022 and was then taken by Country Boarding to their kennels near Baldock. Jeremy Burrowes, 66, co-owner of the kennels, admitted causing the dog's death at Stevenage Magistrates' Court. He was fined £3,550 including costs. The dog's owners, Ffion James and Ben Hill, from Hitchin, had posted photographs of their wedding and Luna on Facebook at the time, saying: "Yesterday [Friday] was one of the best and most amazing days of our lives. "Unfortunately this morning is a completely different story. We woke up this morning to find out our beautiful little Puggy had died shortly after these photos were taken." Ms James said Luna had been left "in the care of a well-known local kennels and was horrifyingly left in the van and forgotten about". "She was found a few hours later but it was already too late," she added. "The weather yesterday would have made the van unbearably hot, and I can't imagine the suffering she must have gone through." At the time of Luna's death the kennels' co-owner Renate Burrowes wrote on social media that her husband, Jeremy, had picked up Luna from the wedding venue and brought her back to their kennels at 15:00 BST. She said Burrowes had been called away "urgently" and she did not find Luna until 17:00, by which time the dog was "unresponsive... [and] despite trying I could not revive her". The case was taken to court by North Hertfordshire District Council. In a statement it said: "This was an incredibly sad incident and heartbreaking for Luna's owners. "As the licensing authority it was important we took action and we are satisfied with the order of the court." Burrowes admitted one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal when he appeared at court. Following the court case, Country Boarding released a statement to the BBC in which they said: "No words will ease the distress of Ffion and Ben [Luna's owners] but we do want again to state how deeply sorry we are for the death of their beloved pet Luna and for the unintended suffering she went through. "Mr Burrowes accepts full responsibility for the awful consequences that day and feels continuing remorse that he became distracted by other tasks, leaving Luna stranded until it was too late. "Since this happened he has given up any animal handling responsibilities and his role is now entirely administrative." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65426170

Built by go-karting's founding father, Duffy Livingstone, this pieced-together hot rod has an impressive history. Brock Yates's book, The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend, follows his purchase and subsequent Pebble Beach win with the Eliminator. It's currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with bidding open through May 1, 2023. Let's connect Formula One, land speed racing, and the Pebble Beach Concours all in one car. If you expected that car to be a cobbled-together Ford Model A frame wearing bruised Model T bodywork and housing a patched-up small-block Chevy V-8 engine, well then, you've already read Brock Yates's book The Hot Rod: Resurrection of a Legend. Before we get into the hardware of this special Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is a part of the Hearst Autos group—auction, let's introduce the main characters. Despite being listed as the "Ex-Brock Yates Ford 'Eliminator'", this historic hot rod was the work of a Pasadena, California-based racer named Duffy Livingstone. Livingstone is most famous as the man who gave go-karting its name. He also launched it as a mainstream activity in the late '50s. Livingstone didn't invent the go-kart, that's credited to Art Ingles at the Kurtis Kraft race shop, but Livingstone locked in its moniker when he launched Go Kart Manufacturing. Before that, Livingstone was racing a sort of full-scale go-kart in the form of a Ford T-bucket body mounted on a Model A frame. In 1950, Livingstone purchased the pile of Ford from another racer, Jay Chamberlin. (Chamberlin would go on to leave his own mark on automotive history by importing Lotus cars into California, among other things.) If you're getting the sense that the Eliminator has touched greatness all along its journey, you're correct. And we're just at the start. Chamberlin lost interest in the car after a rule change occurred in the class he was building it to race in, so he passed the old Ford over to Livingstone, who cobbled it up as a jalopy sports car, initially powered by a flathead, which was later replaced by a bored-out Chevy small-block. Livingstone wasn't alone in road racing a hot rod. Max Balchowsky's Buick-powered "Old Yeller" cars were formidable competitors against the snooty sports car set right around the same time Livingstone was building and campaigning the Eliminator. Livingstone raced in SCCA and USAC competitions, often pitting the Eliminator against open-wheel single-seaters or fields of exotic Ferraris and Porsches. The fans and other racers often scoffed, but ol' Duff was in on the joke. He often entered the car as a "Tihsepa Mk II" or the "Tihsepa Eliminator." Take a second to say that to yourself backward, and you'll also be in on the giggle. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43725435/ford-eliminator-hot-rod-auction/

Nottingham Forest were stunned as a late Brentford fightback denied them precious points in their fight for Premier League survival. Brazilian midfielder Danilo marked his 22nd birthday by putting Forest ahead just before half-time, reacting quickest to steer home Morgan Gibbs-White's shot which deflected into his path. Brentford had plenty of the ball but created few clear chances until Ivan Toney's 82nd-minute free-kick went in off Forest keeper Keylor Navas. With Forest hanging on and only 10 men on the pitch after Danilo went off injured, substitute Josh Dasilva scored the 94th-minute winner which was only confirmed after a long VAR check. After beating Brighton at home on Wednesday, Forest looked well on course for a second win in four days and earn a rare away victory. But, with all their nearest rivals yet to play this weekend, they remain in 17th place and just a point ahead of third-bottom Leicester. "It is a sense of massive disappointment - one that got away," said Forest manager Steve Cooper. "It was always going to be a tiring week with three games and there were a lot of tired legs on the pitch. It was a game of fine margins. "We felt in a comfortable position - Brentford weren't creating a lot of chances. The two goals we've given away are really disappointing and it has cost us the game. "No problem of the effort of the players but you've got to do everything right until the end of the game." Reaction to Saturday's Premier League games How did you rate Brentford's performance? Have your say here What did you make of Forest's display? Send us your views here Forest denied breathing space from bottom three With none of the other sides in the tightly packed bottom five playing on Saturday, Forest had an excellent opportunity to put pressure on their rivals. For a long period after Danilo's opening goal, and with Brentford providing little threat, it looked as though Cooper's team were going to move four points clear of the bottom three. Forest's survival hopes were given a significant boost when they fought back to beat a Brighton side chasing European qualification at a raucous City Ground on Wednesday. Lifting them out of the relegation zone, the win took Forest to 30 points - with 24 of those earned in front of their own fans. The challenge has been transferring their ability to pick up points at home into doing the same on the road. But, after defending well for most of the match, they were denied even a point at a time when each one is so precious. Forest had to wait 23 years for their return to the Premier League and are hoping to avoid an immediate exit. Cooper's task after this dispiriting defeat is to rally his players again, knowing their next game at home against Southampton on 8 May is likely to have a huge impact on their survival hopes. Brentford still 'giving themselves chance' of European football Brentford have continued to defy the odds and expectations in their second season in the Premier League, having already surpassed their points tally in an impressive debut campaign. Anything less than a win against Forest would have all but ended the Bees' push for Europe. While it still appears they have too much ground to make up, with the sides above them having played fewer games, Brentford maintained the pressure on the likes of Brighton, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham. "We didn't play our best. Sometimes you have to find a way to win and we did it ugly today," said Bees skipper Toney. "I think Forest are a great side, dug in well and if they stick at it they give themselves a chance of staying in the league. "It's still possible [for European football] but we have to focus on ourselves and give ourselves a chance." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65357222

The comedian on alienating his friends, regrettable hairstyles and tricking his dad into naked yoga Born in London, Jack Whitehall, 34, began his career at the 2007 Edinburgh festival fringe. On television, he appeared in Fresh Meat and wrote and starred in Bad Education. He was named King of Comedy at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 British comedy awards. Travels With my Father, his Netflix show, ran for five seasons, and his recent films include Clifford the Big Red Dog and Jungle Cruise. He appears in travel show Live Italian on Prime Video. He lives in London with the model Roxy Horner. What is your greatest fear? Turning into my father. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I’m rabidly indiscreet. If you tell me an embarrassing story, it will probably end up in one of my scripts or standup routines. What is the trait you most deplore in others? I dislike dawdlers. When I walk, I do so with purpose. I have no time for people shuffling along. What was your most embarrassing moment? I was bumped as a guest on The Justin Lee Collins show for Bianca from EastEnders. What is your most treasured possession? I have a signed photograph in my lavatory from the Chuckle Brothers which says: From me to you love Barry and Paul. What would your superpower be? I’d like to be able to talk to animals. What is your guiltiest pleasure? I was pretty scared at how much I loved the Abba Voyage experience. What do you most dislike about your appearance? I think I might have quite a punchable face, and a body that looks like it’s been drawn by a child. If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? One Direction. Who would play you in the film of your life? Christopher Biggins. What scares you about getting older? Gradually alienating all of my friendship circle. Which book are you ashamed not to have read? The Bible. I’m going to wait for them to make it into a Netflix series. What did you want to be when you were growing up? I was hellbent on being a Thunderbird. I was devastated when my parents finally told me it was a fictional organisation. Ruined my 18th. What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you? “You look like a fat Jack Whitehall.” What do you owe your parents? Everything and nothing. What is the worst job you’ve done? It’s also one of the best jobs I’ve done, but two hours in, when everyone’s pissed and ignoring you, hosting the Brit awards can be a tough gig. If you could edit your past, what would you change? All of my hairstyles from the age of 16 to 25. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Tricking my dad into doing naked yoga. What keeps you awake at night? Mainly my devil dog. What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Don’t make jokes at the expense of Little Mix. They have an ardent fanbase. What happens when we die? I want to come back as a ghost and torment my enemies. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/29/jack-whitehall-interview

A father whose son died of cancer - which his doctor said was likely caused by gas-flaring from BP's oil fields in Iraq - told the company that "cancer is so common it's like the flu" at its annual meeting. Ali Hussein Julood documented his life for a BBC investigation which found high levels of cancer-linked pollutants in a BP oil field. He died on 21 April of leukaemia. BP said it offered condolences to the family. The father, Hussein Julood, told the BBC that his son's life was sacrificed for the company's record profits. Ali's doctor said that his leukaemia was likely caused by high levels of pollution in the local area. Iraqi communities living close to oil fields, where gas is openly burned, are at elevated risk of leukaemia, a BBC News Arabic investigation revealed. Gas flaring is the "wasteful" burning of gas released in oil drilling, which produces cancer-linked pollutants. In Rumaila, flaring takes place less than 2000m from where he lived, violating Iraqi laws that state it should be at least 10km from people's homes. BP and Eni are major oil companies the BBC identified as working on some of the country's biggest oil exploration areas in south-eastern Iraq. Speaking at BP's annual general meeting via webcam and an interpreter from southern Iraq, Mr Julood spoke in place of his son - who had intended to ask a question himself, but died before he was able to do so. Mr Julood described his situation to the BP board. "From my door, you can see the black smoke from gas flaring 24 hours a day, and you can smell the toxic chemicals from these flares," he said. "Sometimes it's so bad breathing is difficult, and oil rains from the sky...cancer is so common here it's like the flu." Ali had been suffering from the disease since he was 15. People living in some of the world's biggest oil fields in Basra, south-east Iraq - Rumaila, West Qurna, Zubair and Nahran Omar - have long suspected that childhood leukaemia is on the increase, and that flaring is behind it. An official document leaked to the BBC investigation found there was a 20% increase in cancer in this region over the past five years, as gas flaring has increased. Mr Julood explained that Ali's greatest wish was that the gas flaring and pollution would stop. "He loved nature - his favourite place in the world was his garden. And he wished that children could enjoy playing and breathing freely outside," he said. The oil giant said at its annual meeting that it is continuing to reduce flaring at Rumaila. The BBC also found millions of tonnes of undeclared emissions from gas flaring at oil fields where BP, Eni, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Shell work. On Thursday, some of the UK's biggest pension funds voted against reappointing BP's chairman over a decision to weaken its climate plans, but the majority of shareholders backed Helge Lund. It comes after the energy giant cut back its target to reduce emissions by the end of the decade. As well as the dissenting votes there were also disruptions during the annual meeting from climate protestors. BP said it valued "constructive challenge and engagement". The five pension funds - Nest, the Universities Pension Scheme, LGPS Central, Brunel Pension Partnership and Border to Coast - are concerned that the new targets put BP financially at risk, as the company's fossil fuel projects are likely to lose value as the world moves towards net zero emissions. Nest, one of the five pension funds that voted against the reappointment of Mr Lund, told the BBC that there were concerns over BP's actions on reducing gas flaring, after seeing the BBC documentary Under Poisoned Skies. The five pension funds told the BBC that their vote was a protest against the company's actions. The pension funds have £440m invested in BP, which represents less than 1% of the company's total shares. But they manage the pensions of more than a third of the UK's workers so are an influential voice. Eni said it "strongly rejects any allegation that its own activities are endangering the health of the Iraqi people". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65414431

Music Title: Taa Ya Habibi Signer: Jad Khalife Release Date: 26 Feb 2014 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: ---- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 9/10

The government borrowed less than expected last year, despite spending heavily on helping with energy bills and facing higher borrowing costs. Borrowing, the difference between spending and tax income, was estimated at £139.2bn in the year to 31 March. That was less than had been predicted and gives ministers "wiggle room" for possible tax cuts ahead of the next election, one analyst said. The chancellor said the government was still borrowing "eye-watering sums". The amount borrowed last year was equivalent to 5.5% of the value of the UK economy - the highest percentage since 2014, excluding the pandemic. However, the borrowing figure was lower than the £152bn predicted by the government's forecaster, the Office for Budget Responsibility, at the time of the Budget last month. How does government borrowing work? The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the government borrowed £21.5bn in March alone, the second-highest March figure since monthly records began in 1993. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "These numbers reflect the inevitable consequences of borrowing eye-watering sums to help families and businesses through a pandemic and [Vladimir] Putin's energy crisis. "We were right to do so because we have managed to keep unemployment at a near-record low and provided the average family more than £3,000 in cost-of-living support this year and last." However, he said the government had a "clear plan to get debt falling". The lower-than-expected borrowing for 2022-23 will give the chancellor "more wiggle room to cut taxes or raise spending ahead of the next general election", said Ruth Gregory at Capital Economics. Mr Hunt faces pressure from Conservative MPs to cut taxes before the next election, which is expected in 2024, while public sector workers' unions are pushing for pay increases to offset the soaring cost of living. Ms Gregory said that with the next election fast approaching, she "wouldn't be at all surprised" to see giveaways in the Autumn Statement, following similar moves this spring. But she added: "With both parties likely to stick to current plans to bring down public debt as a share of GDP, a sizeable fiscal tightening will still be required after the election, whoever is in charge." What could you do with an unexpected £13bn? Thanks to the better-than-expected public finances, that's the amount the chancellor could have at his disposal and still meet his (self-imposed) rules on financial housekeeping. He has three broad choices: He could boost spending. £13bn would be roughly enough for a 5% pay rise for public sector workers. But the chancellor has shied away from matching pay awards to current elevated rates of inflation - arguing that, by possibly provoking bigger pay rises elsewhere, that could prolong high inflation and be more damaging to the economy. Some economists dispute his reasoning. Or, with an election looming within the next couple of years, he may cut taxes, throw a couple of sweeteners to voters - £13bn would pay for a penny or two off the standard rate of income tax, it would stretch to taking more than 1p off the standard rate of VAT, soften the blow of the cost of living crisis. After all, much of this sum came about because more money went to the tax man. Or he may opt to save the cash - after all the outstanding pile of debt remains high. And the outlook for the economy - and so public finances - remains very uncertain. It would help raise his credentials for prudent housekeeping, and is the most likely option - for now . But if the economy avoids any severe shocks, the temptation of a pre-election giveaway will be high. The government's borrowing costs jumped last year as interest rates rose around the world and spiked after former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng proposed a swathe of tax cuts without explaining how he would fund them. Mr Hunt reversed most of the plans easing concerns on financial markets. However, borrowing costs remain relatively high and the UK is set to be one of the worst performing major economies in the world this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. All in all, the ONS said public sector net debt at the end of March 2023 was £2.53 trillion - equivalent to around 99.6% of the value of the whole UK economy and a level not seen since the early 1960s. Mr Hunt has said he plans to get debt falling as a share of output - or GDP - in five years' time. Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG, told the BBC's Today programme: "The way things are at the moment it doesn't look like he will meet that target but it wouldn't be the first time a chancellor doesn't meet a target. "The important thing is that he still has the confidence of the markets so in the longer term, debt will go down and we won't have similar episodes like we had from last year." https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65377041

A rare black fox which has been roaming the streets of a Vale of Glamorgan town for two weeks has been rescued. Black Foxes UK began receiving numerous reports of an abandoned "silver fox" in Barry on 8 April but were unable to locate its owner. Also known as silver foxes, they are not native to the wild in the UK, but domesticated and kept as exotic pets. The fox was safely captured on 24 April and has been found a home at a secure facility. RSPCA Cymru said even the most experienced fox experts have had difficulty keeping adult foxes and does not advise it. Rare black fox is spotted roaming the streets In North America, about 10% of foxes are black, with the rest a mixture of colours, such as red. Some people will breed only black litters to make totally black foxes, and there are currently no restrictions in the UK on breeding or owning them. Black Foxes UK sought help from the local authority animal warden and local cat rescue, Shua Trust Home and Sanctuary who helped with the rescue. The fox, which is male and appears to be about two years old, has been named Shadow. He was taken to Vets4Pets for treatment as there were reports of the fox having a leg injury, but he was found to be in fine health. Shadow is very confident around people and was clearly well-socialised prior to his escape, said Black Foxes UK. It said there may still be an injured fox on the loose and asked the public to stay alert. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65400677