What we learned this week….
BORIS Johnson attempted to defend himself from “Partygate” allegations during a protracted and tetchy grilling from cross-party MPs in the Commons.
The former PM, who often seemed ill at ease, argued No 10 staff could not have an “invisible electrified fence around them”, protecting them from being ambushed by cake or prosecco, but failed to convince most observers he had been kept in the dark.
Instead, one English tabloid summed up the situation by saying Johnson was either a “liar or a moron”. Neither of which is a good look in a head of state.
MEANWHILE, it emerged that his successor (after Liz “of the 49 days” Truss) Rishi Sunak paid more than £1m in UK tax over the last three years.
This was on earnings of more than £4.7m from income and a US-based investment fund. He reaveled the details on the same day Mr Johnson was squirming.
DIRECTOR Jon S Baird appealed earlier this month for Aberdeen City Council to reopen the Belmont Filmhouse for special showings of his new movie. But, despite excitement among movie fans, local authority chiefs quickly ruled it out.
Yet this week, the Arc Cinema – in the filmmaker’s native Peterhead – came to “save the day” three years after Mr Baird cut the ribbon on the building.
He said: “I couldn’t be more proud that my hometown cinema has stepped in to screen Tetris for north-east audiences.”
THERE was less happy news for Peterhead FC manager, David Robertson, who survived bombs and civil war in Kashmir, but fell short at Balmoor.
The former Aberdeen and Rangers player left his job less than three months after being appointed when his players were on the wrong end of 5-0 and 7-0 drubbings against Falkirk and Airdrie.
FORMER Aberdeen Lord Provost John Smith, who played a key role in attracting the oil industry to the Granite City more than 50 years ago, died at the age of 92.
He served as provost with distinction from 1971 to 1975 before a term as Minister of State for Scotland between 1975 and 1978. He was subsequently made a peer, Baron Kirkhill, in order to contribute to government at a national level.
ABERDEEN cricketer Kyle Coetzer, who captained his country to a historic win over England in 2018, announced his retirement from the game.
The 38-year-old was described as one of the all-time greats by Cricket Scotland, following a more than 20-year career, where he shone at every level, including the 2015 World Cup, where he hit a superb 156 against Test nation Bangladesh.
NICOLA Sturgeon issued a “sincere, heartfelt and unreserved” formal apology to those who had been impacted by forced adoption.
In an emotional statement to parliament during one of her last acts as First Minister, she condemned the practice, estimated to have forced 60,000 women to part with their children because they were unmarried, and its lasting legacy.
Her voice cracking with emotion, she said at Holyrood: “We can acknowledge the terrible wrongs that were done. And we can say with one voice that we are sorry.”
HEALTH inspectors found a hole in the deck of a North Sea rig – which appeared the same day a worker went missing and sparked a huge search off the coast of Aberdeen.
The body of 50-year-old Jason Thomas has not been found since the January 22 incident on the Valaris 121.
Trade union boss, Jake Molloy, said the inspectors’ findings “only served to confirm” initial fears that he fell through the opening on the rig.
ONE Aberdeen rugby fan’s dream trip to the Melrose Sevens turned into a nightmare – after he accidentally booked a campsite more than 10,000 miles away.
Dave Walker wanted to treat his wife to a weekend in the Scottish Borders in their new Volkswagen camper van – and take in a major rugby sevens event at the same time.
But instead of getting sorted out with a place to stay in the Borders town, the 54-year-old reserved a hook-up in Melrose – in Australia. He said ruefully: “I think I’ll be taken off booking accommodation duties for any trips in the future.”
PRESIDENT Joe Biden affirmed that he is seeking a “back-to-back” term in the White House while honouring famous figures including Bruce Springsteen.
The Boss was recognised at the National Medal of the Arts ceremony for “his extraordinary contributions to the American songbook”. Others acclaimed for their work in the arts included singer Gladys Knight and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
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