
One of NI's largest farm estates goes on sale for £9m
One of Northern Ireland's largest farm estates is going on the market for a combined value of £9m.
The Eglinton Estate, a 1,075 acre farm in Co Londonderry, has been described as one of the most significant agricultural properties to go on sale in a generation.
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Reuters
10 minutes ago
- Reuters
Latvian president believes NATO will overcome obstacles, meet 5% goal
RIGA, June 20 (Reuters) - Latvia's president expressed confidence NATO would agree to a new higher defence spending target demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, despite Spanish objections, saying the alliance had little choice given the growing threat from Russia. Spain on Thursday asked to opt out of the plan to increase members' defence spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, as requested by Trump, a move which could derail next week's NATO summit at the Hague. Any agreement to raise defence spending needs unanimous approval by the 32 member states. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics told Reuters on Friday he understood why countries further from Russia might have difficulties convincing their voters to spend more on defence. But he said the need was pressing. 'I do hope there is the understanding in Madrid that this is a critical time for the Alliance, both when it comes to (increasing) its defence capabilities, but also to the Trans-Atlantic relationship,' he said in an interview in Riga. 'I think that they don't have much of a choice,' he added. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Latvia and fellow Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia are urgently ramping up their militaries, fearing that their neighbour and former overlord Russia could push on from its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to take more territory. They spent more than 3% of GDP on defence this year, and have committed to top 5% for the next few years. "We are saying that we need to spend as soon as possible now in order to avoid a worst-case scenario, spending much more later," Rinkevics said. "While Russia is stuck in Ukraine, that possibility of a direct military attack is not very high," he said. "But it may change very, very quickly ... if a development in Ukraine leads Russian leadership to believe that NATO is weak, that Ukraine is defeated, that NATO is divided".


The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘Massive step forward' for post-Brexit youth visa scheme
The European Union has given approval to begin detailed discussions with the UK regarding post- Brexit youth visas. Campaigners have hailed this decision as a "massive step forward" for young people in the UK, aiming to restore opportunities lost after Brexit. The proposed scheme would allow 18 to 30-year-olds from the UK to work in EU countries and young EU citizens to work in the UK for short periods. Conditions for the youth visa scheme include no access to benefits, no accompanying family members, and payment of an immigration health surcharge. This development follows a recent poll indicating that a majority of Britons now desire the UK to rejoin the European Union.


Scotsman
14 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh council agrees to explore possibility of trialling four-day week for staff
Edinburgh Council is to explore running a trial of a four day week on the back of a successful study in an English council. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After a decision by city councillors on Thursday, council officers will study four day working week trials in other parts of the country, and determine if and how a trial could be run in Edinburgh. They will also explore the state of recruitment, staff retention, productivity and health of council staff. The council is to explore trialling a four-day week for staff | Getty Images/iStockphoto Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Officers will present the report at a future meeting of the city's finance and resources committee. Green councillor Claire Miller, who put forward the motion asking for a trial to be explored, said: 'When faced with the need for budget cuts every year, it's a joy to find a proposal which helps to save money while also being beneficial rather than detrimental. 'And the four day week is just that. The four day week is one where services remain as-is – there are no changes as far as residents are concerned, either in opening hours or what's provided – but our workers deliver in a reduced working week. 'Studies of four day weeks show that productivity remains the same, or in some cases even improves, when the number of hours worked is reduced down and a greater proportion of the week is given back to people for their other responsibilities, for rest and for leisure.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cllr Miller's motion comes off the back of a 15-month four day week trial for some staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council, which found it offered significant benefits. An academic study of the trial found that it reduced turnover by 39 per cent and saved the council over £300,000 in agency worker fees. Additionally, it found that a range of council services either saw no change or improvements in delivery. Further, less council staff were found to be going on benefits. However, not all councillors held firm support for the motion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Conservative councillor Chris Cowdy said: 'At a time when our own council continues to face budgetary pressures, rising demand of core services and persistent performance issues, now may not be the time for a speculative experiment.'