It Seems Scotland Played Into Britain's Hands

You've probably followed everything that transpired during the Scottish Independence Referendum. The SNP and Tories went head-on explaining their platforms and the consequences of both outcomes, positive or negative. Eventually, the Tories won over majority of Scots by offering them devolved, state-only powers and the exclusion of Britons from Scottish lawmaking.

It sounds like a great deal. Without having to leave the pound sterling, Scotland is soon set to prosper.

Or at least so it thought.

Scottish MPs are complaining that Scotland is now unable to vote for English-only laws. They could not criticise laws that only concern the Brits.

I mean, that's common sense for devolved powers, right?

SNP Spokesman Pete Wishart, I think was having a force-of-habit moment when he said the English have been ignoring Scotland.

But sometimes, there's that looming feeling that the tories knew what was going to happen. 

In fact, I think the tories intended Scotland to be flushed out of Westminster's issues and they agreed Holyrood's issues should be its own problems.

It's just as well because the English just submitted their first English-only law. This would mean less opposition, which usually comes from Scotland's MPs.

But that also means more English Nationalism, and also more Scottish Nationalism. Which brings us once again, to a probable new Independence Referendum in the next few years.

Law Society Condemns Small Claims Court Limit Rise For Personal Injury

To crack down on "crash for cash" incidents, the UK Chancellor George Osborne plans to increase the small claims court's compensation amounts from £1000 to £5000. The Law Society expressed its criticism.

According to the society, the proposals may undermine the ordinary citizens' right to receive proper compensation when they are hassled or injured through no fault of their own.

The Law Society said that serious injuries from employer and traffic accidents lead to complex cases and the small claims courts' £5000 can severely limit victims' compensation.

The limit would mean even facial scarring, which typically receives £10,000-20,000 in compensation including emotional and psychological damages, would only receive £5000 as it is a soft-tissue injury.

The Select Transport Committee (STC) had pushed the same complaint forward. They said victims cannot find proper legal consultation and will be forced to represent themselves before the small claims court.

This would be difficult for those who are living alone and have no legal counsel. They will also have to take care of their personal arrangements for the matter.

Britain is today known as Europe's whiplash capital following exaggerated or fraudulent claims have a 90 per cent chance of successfully earning recompense through personal injury claims.

Saudi Billionaire Gets UK Legal Immunity As Caribbean Diplomat

Billionaire Walid Juffali from Saudi Arabia owns one of Saudi Arabia's biggest conglomerates, making him one of the richest men in the country. He currently resides in the UK. He presented his legal immunity in Britain as the Caribbean Government recognises him as their 'diplomat to London. He is a representative of Foreign States and Commonwealth countries based in London.

How that happened is still a mystery. But…

No Public Record

St. Lucia from the Caribbean lists Juffali as its "Permanent Representative" to the International Maritime Organisation on its list of diplomats.

However, journalists' investigations reveal that Juffali has no public record attending meetings of the International Maritime Organisation.

When questioned, the St. Lucian Government did not reveal the amount of time he spent in the Country's High Commission in Kensington, London.

This is a clear indicator of some fishy business, I must presume.

Well-Established Businessman

However, the St Lucian government did say that Juffali was chosen because of his "well-established success as a businessman and having previously undertaken diplomatic duties.

The St Lucian government said it did not want to make official comments as it is not common practice to answer Foreign Service appointment questions.

Definitely something fishy. Maybe he invested in the country in exchange for diplomatic immunity almost anywhere? That would be useful for any billionaire. 

Legal Highs: Church Incense May Be Banned

Home Secretary Theresa May's ongoing blanket ban on legal highs include 'items that set the human mind on a higher plane'. Church incense may be included in the list following the parameters of the new law.

Fears of incense burning in churches, temples and other religious edifices in Britain the Home Office may criminalise. Religious advisers are warning about the implications of the new laws, which could bring forth religious products in the spotlight and outlawed.

The Psychoactive Substances Bill introduces seven-years jail time maximum for anybody promoting and using said legal highs. The Home Office introduced the bill to stop the proliferation of drugs blamed for youth deaths all over the United Kingdom.

The bill was originally drawn to prevent producers and dealers to make minor change to the chemical composition of substances to undermine new restrictions on legal high production.

However, the blanket ban reaches towards Church incense, even new drug research where trial patients may file claims against researchers for botched or undesirable side effects despite waivers.

The Home Office listed caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes as official exemptions from the bill's ban.

Religious officials are concerned about a trial on mice wherein incense heightened the mood of several trial mice. However, the Home Office said they would likely exclude incense because it does not fit the "intentional" use of a substances "for psychoactive effects."

New Egyptian Anti-Terror Law May Have Media By The Neck

A free voice is one of the foundations of democracy and to grapple this would mean a false belief in the political ideal. Unfortunately, Egypt would be one of the countries adopting a false belief in democracy. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday ratified an anti-terrorism law. It would heavily fine and suspend from employment false reports on militant attacks.

The new law came after the Egyptian military lashed out at the media after reporting that dozens of troops have been killed during Sinai. The military's official death toll was 21 soldiers and more jihadists. The number is negligible considering the achievement of the mission.

The fine is worth £200,000 pounds in Egypt for any media who calls 'wolf' on terrorist attacks. The fines could reach more than £500,00 of the same value in the UK.

Critics said the very high fines will shut down smaller Egyptian newspapers. Larger ones may be deterred from reporting attacks and any military operations against militants.

The Egyptian government originally planned to give a jail sentence for offenders. However, due to a backlash from Egyptian media, they backed down. The law also allows courts to prevent the convicted from practising his profession for more than one year. This did not mention whether it was journalism or any profession in general.

Legal Highs Cause Similar Internal Injuries Of Car Accident Victims

A senior doctor from Scotland warned that many users of legal highs suffered internal injuries similar to car crash trauma victims. Professor James Ferguson of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary said doctors were increasingly concerned about the legal highs' possible long-term effects on users.

Ferguson said four men in their 30s who consistently used legal highs had their activities linked to muscle breakdown. The breakdown can be lethal because it could cause tissue to move into the bloodstream and lead to liver or kidney failure, which could result in potential death. Ferguson describes the condition as similar to car crash victims or building collapse patients.

To prove their hypothesis, they used an enzyme test that expected 300 or under for patients with healthy muscles. One man constantly taking legal highs returned a result of 167,000 after taking the legally-deemed substances. Ferguson's research sees ridiculously high levels.

“If you are using these legal highs again and again, you have to know what the long-term effects are going to be. This is a significant workload for us just now and it is a regular workload," he said.

“Obviously I am worried about the people who we see at the hospital. But I am also worried about those who use legal highs who we don’t see.”

Independent Reviewer Of Anti-Terrorism Laws Calls For Major Surveillance Law Overhaul

Daniel Anderson believes that the current legal framework that taps into emails, phone calls and online activity needs a major overhaul. But he called on the government to explain why the authorities need more powers.

Anderson said that agencies are the ones to carry out the bulk interception of information.

Meanwhile, the UK parliament is debating how to protect privacy while guaranteeing security agencies have the powers they need.

The issues have risen after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden put forward the abusive data collection activities of the organisation which jeopardises citizen privacy.

UK security chiefs point out they face a significant capability gap caused by technological advances and Edward Snowden’s revelation had furthered the gap for them.

UK’s GCHQ, the equivalent of the NSA, called on Twitter and Facebook to allow security services to work with them as their networks are highly important to militant groups.

Anderson pointed out that a “clean state” was important. There needed an easy to understand and comprehensive law that improves safeguards that judges instead of ministers will approve warrants to allow access to the content of emails and other private citizen information.

But he backed that organisations can collect data in bulk as it could help determine militant attacks without jeopardising the privacy of the public.