Ishan Crawford

What is Section 35 and why is it controversial? Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 is a provision that allows the UK Government to prevent the Scottish Parliament from passing laws that would affect reserved matters, such as defence, foreign affairs, immigration, and taxation. The UK Government can use Section 35 to block any Scottish bill that it considers to be incompatible with UK law or international obligations. Section 35 has been rarely used in the past, but it has become a source of tension between the UK and Scottish Governments in recent years. The most notable example was…

How the fire started A bird farm in Leeds, UK, has been fined £26,680 after a fire in a rearing shed resulted in serious injuries to one of its employees. The incident happened at Yorkshire Game Farm, in Woodlesford, on 6 May 2020. The employee had been installing gas heaters in a pheasant rearing shed, ready for a new crop of birds. Upon turning on the gas supply and lighting the heaters, the shed burst into flames, leaving the employee with significant burns and totally destroying the shed. What the investigation found An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety…

A group of construction professionals in Scotland has formed a choir to raise funds for two causes and showcase their musical talents. Building Harmony Choir: How it started The choir was launched in May 2023 by Claire Rosset and Molly Armstrong, both of BakerHicks, a design and engineering company. They wanted to create a fun and relaxing way for people in the construction sector to network and socialize, without the usual pressure of formal events. They also wanted to share their passion for singing and music with others. The choir is open to anyone who works in the construction industry,…

Gaza under siege as Israel vows to retaliate with ‘enormous force’ A British man from Glasgow was among the hundreds of people killed in a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel over the weekend. Bernard Cowan, 57, was described by his family as the “kindest, most generous person” who was “horrifically murdered” by the terrorist group. The attack, which targeted a music festival near the border with Gaza, also left 10 other British citizens missing or presumed dead. More than 700 Israelis and 500 Palestinians have died in the violence so far, as Israel launched a massive counterattack on…

A key flood gate that was left open by Perth and Kinross Council has caused massive water damage to several streets and properties in Perth, Scotland. The council has been accused of negligence and incompetence by residents and businesses who suffered from the flooding. How the flooding happened The flooding occurred after extremely heavy rainfall hit the region over the weekend. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning on Friday and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency had put out a flood alert for Tayside. However, the council did not close a flood gate leading from the North Inch,…

A 62-year-old man from Glasgow has admitted to possessing hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse and extreme pornography. Chi Wah Yau was arrested after police raided his home in Possilpark and seized several devices containing the illegal material. How the police caught Chi Wah Yau The police executed a search warrant at Yau’s home on March 7, 2022, after receiving intelligence that he was involved in downloading and distributing indecent images of children. They found a total of 24 discs and 11 hard drives, as well as a computer tower unit, in his possession. A…

Security guard tried to stop her from entering urgent care with her sick daughter A blind woman has shared her ordeal of being denied access to a hospital with her guide dog and her ill child. Dr Amy Kavanagh, a historian and disability activist, said she was stopped by a security guard at the West Middlesex University Hospital in London on Monday night. She said she was trying to enter the urgent care unit with her guide dog Ava and her poorly baby, but the guard told her that dogs were not allowed. She said she kept walking after firmly…