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Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Head of Scots Foreign Office to make history swapping East Kilbride for Jamaica
Alicia Herbert will be the UK's first Head of Mission deployed to a Caribbean post to have been born in the Caribbean. Top diplomat Alicia Herbert has been given a warm send-off by Foreign Secretary David Lammy as she leaves Scotland to take up a historic posting as the UK's High Commissioner to Jamaica. Trinidad & Tobago-born Alicia is Caribbean bound after serving as head of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's joint HQ in East Kilbride since 2016. She met the Foreign Secretary to discuss making history as the UK's first Head of Mission deployed to a Caribbean post to have been born in the Caribbean. Alicia, 57, said: 'I feel like my life's gone full circle. There aren't many roles could have persuaded me to leave Scotland but having first come to the UK on a scholarship, I simply couldn't resist going back to the region of my birth to represent the UK as High Commissioner to Jamaica. 'It's been such a joy to work and live in Scotland. I will of course draw on Scotland and Jamaica's shared history. 'Living in Scotland has given me a comprehensive understanding of the issues that underpin that shared history, which will certainly help me as I work to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Jamaica, as we support the Caribbean on the 21st century challenges it faces - most notably climate change." She quipped: 'Lots of my colleagues have been joking that I'll miss the Scottish rain, but while Kingston's a lot sunnier than East Kilbride, I've not had to worry about hurricanes much working there. 'The Caribbean is a part of the world where the climate crisis is acute with the frequency and intensity of hurricanes increasing. A huge focus of my job will be how the UK partners with the Caribbean to address how climate change is affecting the region.' Alicia added that she was "proud" to be the first UK diplomat of Caribbean heritage to be announced as a Head of Mission to Caribbean post. 'It was lovely to have a send-off chat with the Foreign Secretary about this", she said. "I think it signals the huge strides that the FCDO and the UK has made on diversity. 'Joining the civil service as black, female immigrant back in 1999 was like landing on a different planet. Quite often I was the only woman in the room, and almost certainly, the only person of colour. Now 40 per cent of our Heads of Mission are female. 'While my appointment shows that things are heading in the right direction, there is still much to do. For example, black staff are still underrepresented at senior levels. We want people from all walks of life representing the UK internationally. 'No-one is resting on any laurels, but back when I joined the civil service, I could never have envisaged that I would be a High Commissioner having a chat with a black Foreign Secretary. 'My background has often proved an asset, helping me to develop rich and positive relationships with counterparts when working overseas. I have been claimed as Nigerian, Mozambican, Sudanese, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Colombian… the list goes on.' Alicia has overseen the work of almost 1,000 FCDO staff in Scotland at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and also served as the UK's special envoy for gender equality. International development specialist Alicia's job has seen her face danger in war-torn Sudan, take on terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, and help combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Mozambique. She said: 'I think my dear mum when she was alive did worry and ask 'You're going WHERE?'. 'I have not come under direct threat, but that threat has been there. I lived in Sudan for three years from 2006 and there was always war. A US diplomat was assassinated not too far from my house on New Year's Eve. 'I was in Nigeria when Boko Haram was just seeding and by the time I left, they had become quite a force. Boko Haram literally means 'Western education is forbidden'. 'I had colleagues working in the UN compound where 13 people were killed in a Boko Haram bomb attack in Abuja in 2011. I remember frantically sending in drivers to get our people out when they attacked Kano the same year.' Alicia says her family have been thrilled by her new appointment as the UK's top diplomat in Jamaica. She went on: 'My parents are both sadly passed, but I have six siblings who are super excited and proud of what I have achieved. 'We are a typical Caribbean family so when we got to the age of 18 or 19, everybody left to go overseas to university, as I did. One of my brothers went back to Trinidad. 'A few years ago, when I went on an official visit to Trinidad, it was so interesting to invite him to a diplomatic reception at the High Commission for him to see me at work. 'It's funny because there is a fair amount of inter-island rivalry between Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica – similar to the sort of good-humoured banter you get between people from Scotland and England. 'So one of the first things my family said was 'Wait till Jamaicans find out that the new High Commissioner is really a Trini'. You get banter across all the Caribbean islands, but there's also a unity and a commonality.' Alicia described the move as an "exciting new challenge" but said she will really miss the "incredible spirit" of the people she has worked with in Scotland for over nine years at the joint HQ, Abercrombie House. She added: 'FCDO continues to have a sizeable footprint in Scotland with our staff in East Kilbride at the heart of shaping and delivering UK foreign policy as a force for good in the world.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook?
Mint
2 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Goldman Sachs, Motilal Oswal, others give ‘buy' rating to THIS mutual fund, FIIs' favourite stock
Global brokerage giant Goldman Sachs, along with Motilal Oswal and Yes Securities, recommends buying the shares of mutual funds and foreign investors-backed insurance firms Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Ltd. In its latest report, Goldman Sachs highlighted that it expects a 17.2% upside for the Star Health shares, citing the 4% YoY growth in its gross written premium (GWP) due to the company's combination of value and volumes in the April-June quarter. 'We lower our FY26-28E EPS estimates by up to 18% to factor in Q1 results, relatively gradual combined ratio improvement and revised outlook for the business over the medium term, and we maintain our 'Buy' rating on the stock,' said Goldman, highlighting that there remains room for improvement of the loss ratio trends hereon. Motilal Oswal, in its report, cited the 12% YoY rise in the net interest premiums of Star Health to ₹ 3,940 crore in the first quarter of FY2025-26. 'STARHEAL's pricing actions, underwriting strategy, and reducing pressure from claim frequency and severity will drive an improvement in the company's loss ratio trajectory in the coming quarters,' said Motilal Oswal, targeting an upside of 16% for the stock. Yes Securities expects the shares of the private insurance company to rise in the upcoming months. The brokerage firm also said that the second-quarter claims are expected to be higher, but the price hikes taken earlier will also play out in the upcoming quarter for the insurance company. 'The company has taken price corrections (hikes), altered underwriting strategies, recalibrated business and also exited some, all of which will flow through over a period of time, leading to improvement in loss ratio,' they said in the stock report. Loss ratio is the equation between the total premiums earned and actual losses incurred over a given period of time. Foreign Investors, including Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs), and other Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), hold a total of 13.76% stake in Star Health, as per the official public shareholding data. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a 1.64% stake, Mio Star, with 1.14%, Government Pension Fund Global, with 2.38%, and Theleme India Master Fund Ltd, with 1.53%, were among the prominent foreign investors. Other foreign stakeholders were FDIs at 3.06%, FPIs at 10.49% and 0.20%, as per the official data. ICICI Prudential Banking and Financial Services, HDFC Mutual Fund, and SBI Mutual Fund are the mutual funds that currently hold stake in the company. Goldman Sachs' Target: ₹ 500 (17.2% in a 12-month period); Buy at CMP or ₹ 426.70. Motilal Oswal Target: ₹ 520 (16% upside); Buy at CMP or ₹ 448. Yes Securities Target: ₹ 540; Buy at CMP. Star Health and Allied Insurance Company shares closed 0.76% lower at ₹ 444.50 after Thursday's stock market session, compared to ₹ 447.90 at the previous stock market session. The private sector insurer's shares have lost 50.92% since it was listed on the Indian stock market in December 2021. In the last one-year period, Star Health shares have dropped 26.57%. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the stock has lost 7.54% in 2025. However, the company shares have gained 5.29% in the last one-month period and are trading 4.17% higher in the last five market sessions on the Indian markets. Star Health's share price hit its 52-week high level at ₹ 647.65 on 9 September 2024, while the 52-week low level was at ₹ 330.05 on 7 April 2025, according to the data collected from the BSE website. The company's market capitalisation (M-Cap) stood at ₹ 26,179.66 crore as of the stock market close on Thursday, 31 July 2025. Read all stories by Anubhav Mukherjee Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Police issue fresh statement after two British children drown at Spanish beach
The children were swept away from the beach by powerful currents. Police have released a new statement after two British children drowned off a beach on Spain's north-eastern coastline. The brother and sister, aged 11 and 13, were dragged away from the shore by fierce currents at Llarga beach in Salou on Tuesday night. Emergency services were called at 8.45pm according to Catalonia's Civil Protection agency. The children were pulled from the water but despite medical attention were pronounced dead at the scene. The children's father, who had also gone into the water, was pulled to safety alive by rescue teams. He was taken to hospital. Local police, paramedics and fire crews all responded to the incident, with a team of psychologists also deployed to provide support to the bereaved family. Catalonia's Civil Protection agency initially stated that two brothers had perished, but in an updated statement on Wednesday, Jose Luis Gargallo, chief of Salou's local police force, clarified it was a brother and sister. During a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Gargallo told journalists: "There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. "There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality. "When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. "Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful. "The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated: "We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities." The tragedy comes after several tourists have died abroad in Spain in recent weeks. Ice hockey player Gary Kelly, 19, from Dundee and Evan Thomson, 26, from Aberdeen, both died after falling from height at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel earlier this month. King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, tragically drowned in a hotel swimming pool in Albufeira, Portugal.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Donald Trump tariffs: Why India's stock market has not crashed, is resilient even after 25% tariff announcement
Market experts note that negotiations remain possible, whilst Foreign Institutional Investors have largely factored in the tariff impact. (AI image) Donald Trump's tariff impact on India's stock market: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex saw a gap down opening on Thursday after the US President imposed a 25% tariff and additional penalty on India. But the market was quick to recover losses, rising over 700 points from the day's lows. Why is the Indian stock market not crashing after Trump's tariff announcement? The tariff implementation, starting August 1st, positions India as Trump's main Asian focus, with rates significantly higher than those imposed on Vietnam (20%), Indonesia, and the Philippines (19% each). Trump tariffs on India: Why is the stock market not crashing yet? Market experts note that negotiations remain possible, whilst Foreign Institutional Investors have largely factored in the tariff impact, having already withdrawn approximately Rs 25,000 crore from equities during eight consecutive days of selling. Narendra Solanki, Head Fundamental Research - Investment Services, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers tells TOI, 'On July 30th, the US imposed a 25% tariff on all Indian exports, putting $81 billion in trade at risk. The move is expected to squeeze margins in sectors like pharmaceuticals and textiles, with an estimated 30–50% of the tariff burden falling on Indian exporters and a potential drag of 0.3–0.4% on India's GDP growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do You Remember Her? You Better Sit Down Before You See Her Today Learn More Undo However, any weakening of the rupee would partially offset the margin pressures of Indian exporters in rupee terms.' Also Read | Donald Trump announces 25% tariffs: Where does that leave India-US trade deal talks? What to expect 'This announcement is a significant test of India's strategy of balancing global relationships while protecting its economic interests. India may seek to de-escalate through dialogue, but it is unlikely to reverse course. In an increasingly multipolar world, neutrality is not passivity; it is a deliberate strategy to maximise room for manoeuvre,' he said. 'The impact on markets today has been more or less on expected lines as partially similar outcomes may have been priced as deal negotiations remained non conclusive in the past week while the deadline approached. However the true nature of impact is also not known as clarity is still not there and things are still evolving. At the moment while the event is sentimentally negative the knee jerk reaction may not be warranted at this stage and underscores the need for India to diversify export markets and accelerate new trade agreements to reduce future vulnerabilities,' he added. According to Nomura's Sonal Varma, "The announced higher reciprocal tariff rate of 25%, however, may be temporary, and might settle down lower. Unlike other countries, India is in the process of securing a detailed trade deal with the US. Most of the other countries have secured very rough-cut deals, with some agreements largely verbal. Indian government sources had previously suggested that an 'interim' deal was meant to be part of a more comprehensive trade deal that would take until end-2025 to agree upon," said. India has adopted a more pragmatic stance by focusing on thorough assessment of trade agreements rather than rushing to meet strict deadlines, according to Varma, who emphasised that these discussions are ongoing and require substantial time. Also Read | 'Trump frustrated with India trade talks…': US President feels 25% tariff will 'remedy' the situation, says adviser; additional penalty for Russia trade 'shortly' "The US trade delegation is set to visit India at the end of August as part of this process. Hence, the elevated tariffs announced by the US are unlikely to be permanent, in our view, although the best-case outcome would be tariffs in the 15-20% range," the brokerage firm said. Dr. VK Vijayakumar from Geojit concurred, noting that whilst the tariff negatively impacts Indian exports and short-term economic growth prospects, it represents a typical negotiation strategy by Trump to secure advantageous agreements from India, likely settling at a tariff rate of 20% or below. "Nifty is unlikely to go below the support level of 24500. Investors can buy the dip focusing on domestic consumption themes, particularly segments like leading private sector banking names, telecom, capital goods, cement, hotels and select autos which have done well in Q1," he said. Emkay's economist lead Madhavi Arora provides a reassuring perspective: "The tariff will have little impact on India's 2HFY26E earnings recovery trajectory, as high-weightage sectors such as financials, consumption, and technology are unaffected." Regarding the 25% rate, she stated: "We believe the 25%+ regime is the worst-case scenario and the final bilateral deal could be reached with a lower tariff ... .In any case, a meaningful correction is an opportunity to buy the market with consumer discretionary and industrials as the key sectors." Also Read | 'India-Russia can take their dead economies down together': Trump's new jab after 25% tariffs; issues warning to ex-Russian President Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
STV News
5 hours ago
- STV News
British brother and sister, 11 and 13, drown off Spanish beach
A British brother and sister aged 11 and 13 have drowned off a beach on the north-eastern coast of Spain. Emergency services were called to Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona, shortly after 8.45pm local time on Tuesday evening, Catalonia's Civil Protection agency said. The children's father, who had also entered the water, was rescued alive by the services. Local police, medical and fire services all attended the incident, while a team of psychologists were also at the scene to assist the victims' family. The children, who were swept away from the beach by powerful currents, received immediate treatment but died at the scene, according to local media. Their father remains in hospital after being pulled from the water unconscious, it was reported. Catalonia's Civil Protection agency initially said two brothers died, but Jose Luis Gargallo, the head of the local police force in Salou, later said it was a brother and sister. At a news conference on Wednesday, Mr Gargallo told reporters: 'There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea. 'There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality. 'When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. 'Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful. 'The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.' The deaths come after several other British people died while abroad in southern Europe this month. Scots Gary Kelly, 19, and Evan Thomson, 26, died at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio, Ibiza, while King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, died after drowning in a hotel swimming pool in Albufeira, Portugal. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
