Axel Piper

In what campaigners are calling a landmark moment for nature, the UK government has confirmed that lead-based shotgun pellets and bullets will be banned for hunting and shooting in England, Scotland, and Wales — with a phased rollout starting in 2026. A Long Battle to Protect Birds The fight to ban lead ammo has dragged on for decades. For many conservationists, this week’s announcement feels overdue — and necessary. Every year, around 100,000 waterbirds in the UK die from lead poisoning, according to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). The reason? Birds often swallow discarded lead pellets, mistaking them for…

Shock and sorrow ripple through Dundee and Zimbabwe after the killing of Dr Fortune Gomo, a rising scientist whose life was cut short just weeks before her 40th birthday. Dr Gomo, who moved to the UK a decade ago and earned her PhD from Dundee University, died after being found with fatal injuries on South Road in the city’s Lochee area on Saturday afternoon. Court Appearance as Grief Spreads Kyler Rattray, a 20-year-old from Dundee, has appeared in private at Dundee Sheriff Court charged with murder. He made no plea and was remanded in custody. Police Scotland confirmed Dr Gomo…

Scotland’s U20 side is looking to bounce back in style as they gear up for a bruising encounter with South Africa at the World Rugby U20 Championship. The line-up for Wednesday’s penultimate pool game reveals a mix of returning talent and new starters — with big hopes riding on the young squad’s shoulders. Glasgow Warriors Academy Stars Back in the Fold Four players from the Glasgow Warriors Academy are stepping up for this crunch tie at Stadio San Michele. Jack Shearer makes his comeback at loosehead prop after sitting out the bruising defeat to Australia. One line: His return is…

Scotland’s economy is showing two very different faces this summer. On one hand, the services sector is holding strong, with tech firms, consultants, and finance outfits enjoying a modest but steady climb. On the other, Scotland’s once-mighty manufacturing industry is feeling the squeeze — struggling with fewer orders and costs that keep inching up. For folks looking to invest or make sense of what’s next, this divide might be the clearest clue in years about where the real opportunities lie. Services Keep the Wheels Turning Let’s start with the good news. According to the latest Royal Bank of Scotland Growth…

A new directive from Scotland’s leading animal welfare charity has sparked an outcry from staff and the public alike. The Scottish SPCA has told its frontline workers they can no longer euthanise suffering animals themselves — meaning wounded wildlife may now endure painful, drawn-out deaths if no vet is immediately available. Until now, SSPCA inspectors could carry out on-the-spot euthanasia in the most dire cases, using a fast-acting drug combination that ensured a quick, painless passing. But as of last Thursday, that responsibility has been pulled from their remit. Why the New Rule Has Staff Worried For years, SSPCA staff…

A new gem has joined Scotland’s luxury scene — Seaton House, a five-star boutique hotel in historic St Andrews, is already creating quite the buzz. At the heart of its promise? A blend of local culinary brilliance and world-class hospitality. A Culinary Star Draws Top Talent Michael Davern, the hotel’s new general manager, knows his way around high-end hotels. But what sealed the deal for him?Two words: Roy Ondine. Davern says the celebrated seafood maestro was a huge pull. Ondine’s name rings bells in foodie circles for his artful takes on Scotland’s coastal treasures.One line: It’s not every day a…

A chance brush with a metal detector turned a misty Scottish field into the site of one of the most breathtaking Viking finds in UK history — and maybe, just maybe, a reminder that sometimes the past really does sit just beneath our feet. A Field in Dumfries and Galloway: Treasure Beneath the Plough Derek McLennan wasn’t expecting to change history when he set out on a metal-detecting trip in 2014. Like countless hobbyists before him, he swept his Minelab detector over the soil of Dumfries and Galloway, a region thick with stories of ancient raids and hidden fortunes. One…

A grand old bank, sweeping staircases, and tartan details — The Edinburgh Grand has flung its iconic doors open once again, proudly claiming the title of Scotland’s first Luxury Collection Hotel. For a city steeped in history, this move feels like a fitting new chapter. Yesterday’s relaunch on St Andrew Square sees the landmark residence join Marriott International’s prestigious Luxury Collection, slotting in alongside more than 130 unique properties worldwide. Locals say it’s about time Edinburgh got in on the action — and maybe it’s just the push the city’s hotel scene needed. From Bank Vaults to Velvet Sofas Not…

A streak of blazing light split Scotland’s night sky wide open this week, astonishing countless people from the Isle of Lewis to Glasgow with what many called an unforgettable cosmic show. For a few seconds just before 1 a.m., the heavens lit up like a camera flash — only much, much bigger. One moment, silence. Next, a crackling boom. Some said it rattled windows, others said their Wi-Fi blipped out. All agreed: nobody will forget it anytime soon. A Sky Lit Up from Lewis to Lanarkshire It was the kind of spectacle you never expect to catch on a late-night…

Who’d have guessed that the rugged Scottish Highlands and Jeju’s legendary women divers would share a cultural thread? Yet that’s exactly what Pernod Ricard Korea’s CEO says lies at the heart of a fresh strategy to bring Scotch whisky into Korean homes — and hearts. For Frantz Hotton, boss of the spirits giant’s Korean arm, selling Aberlour isn’t just about bottle displays and glossy ads. It’s about connecting stories — and finding respect for traditions that span continents. Scotch Makers and Sea Women: A Surprising Cultural Echo Aberlour might be more than a century old, but its spirit is far…