Axel Piper

Scotland woke up to sad news yesterday. Mondy, the country's only African elephant and a gentle giant who captured hearts for more than 25 years, has died at Blair Drummond Safari Park. The 54-year-old female was humanely euthanised after her health declined sharply due to age-related conditions. Staff say the decision was heartbreaking but necessary. Mondy had been struggling to stand and move comfortably in recent weeks. Veterinary teams monitored her around the clock before concluding that letting her go was the kindest choice. A Life That Began in the Wild Mondy was born in the African bush around 1971.…

Angharad Evans has become the first woman named to Team Scotland's swimming squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 22-year-old breaststroke specialist joins Duncan Scott as the second swimmer pre-selected for the home Games, earning her spot through a string of breakthrough performances that have rewritten British record books. The University of Stirling swimmer continues to turn heads with her rapid rise. She now holds the British record in the 100m breaststroke with a stunning 1:05.38 set at the 2024 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, making her the only British woman ever to break the 1:06 barrier. A Season of…

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), the country's largest civil society coalition on climate, has opened applications for a pivotal Coalition Manager role starting spring 2026. The £40,000 pro-rata post signals a major push from the alliance of over 70 organisations at a time when Scotland's climate credibility is under intense scrutiny. The job advert, launched on 4 February 2026, comes as the Scottish Government faces growing criticism for missing eight of the last twelve annual emissions targets and abandoning its 2030 75% reduction commitment. Campaigners say the next Coalition Manager will be crucial in holding ministers to account and driving…

Parts of Scotland turned into a winter postcard overnight as heavy snow swept across the Highlands and Grampians, catching many by surprise on Tuesday morning. Yellow weather warnings remain active, roads are closing, and gritters are working round the clock while forecasters warn the wintry spell is far from over. Snow Gates Close on Famous A939 as Conditions Worsen The infamous Cockbridge-Tomintoul road, the A939 in Aberdeenshire, saw its snow gates slammed shut for the first time this season. Drivers faced "stop - police" signs and barricades as blizzards made the route impassable. Photos from the scene showed deep drifts…

Scotland is staring down the barrel of a brutal winter storm as the Met Office slaps two yellow weather warnings across huge chunks of the country, with heavy snow and blizzard conditions set to hit from Tuesday night. Up to 20cm of snow and fierce winds will hammer roads, railways and ferries, leaving travellers facing major delays and danger from Tuesday 3 February into Wednesday 4 February 2026. Where and When the Worst Will Hit The first warning covers eastern and northern Scotland from midnight Tuesday until 3pm Wednesday. That means Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highland, Orkney, Angus, Perth and Kinross,…

Scotland is staring down the barrel of another brutal winter blast as the Met Office issues new yellow weather warnings for heavy snow and fierce winds across large parts of the country this week. The alerts come just weeks after the north-east was brought to a standstill by deep snow and flooding, and forecasters are now warning of blizzard conditions, drifting snow, and possible travel chaos from Monday night through Wednesday. New Warnings Cover Most of Scotland The main yellow warning runs from midnight on Monday 17 February until 3pm on Wednesday 19 February and covers all of mainland Scotland north…

North Lanarkshire is about to become one of the world's most advanced artificial intelligence sites after the UK government picked the Scottish region for its first major AI Growth Zone. The deal, unveiled today, promises more than £8 billion in private investment and thousands of new jobs in an area once famous for steel and coal. The transformation starts now. What the Deal Actually Means for Jobs and Money The numbers are huge. CoreWeave, the American AI cloud giant, will partner with Scottish firm DataVita to build massive new data centres at its existing site near Airdrie. Directly, the project…

Nicola Anderson, the driving force behind Scotland’s booming fintech cluster, has been appointed director of scaling innovation at Scottish Enterprise. The move, confirmed today, places one of the country’s most respected innovation leaders at the heart of efforts to turn breakthrough Scottish companies into global giants. The appointment ends months of speculation about where Anderson would land after stepping down as CEO of FinTech Scotland late last year. Sources close to the search process say Scottish Enterprise moved quickly to secure her, beating interest from London-based funds and international agencies. From Fintech Cluster Builder to National Scale-Up Chief Anderson leaves FinTech…

Scotland just became the first UK nation to force every new home to include nesting places for swifts, passing a law that campaigners are calling a game-changer for one of Britain's fastest-declining birds. Holyrood Votes Overwhelmingly to Save the Screaming Summer Visitors MSPs backed Scottish Green Mark Ruskell's amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday evening with cross-party support. The new rule requires swift bricks or similar nest spaces in all new dwellings "where reasonably practical and appropriate". Environment minister Gillian Martin told the chamber the move was essential because swifts have crashed by more than 60 per cent…

Traveling to Scotland with friends sounds like a dream, but small oversights can turn it into a hassle. From chaotic planning to unexpected expenses, group trips often reveal pitfalls that could sour the fun. Drawing from recent traveler tales and expert advice, here's how to dodge common mistakes and make your Scottish getaway unforgettable. Whether you're eyeing Edinburgh's castles or the Highlands' rugged beauty, smart prep can keep the group vibe strong and the memories golden. Why Group Trips to Scotland Go Wrong – And How to Fix It Scotland's allure draws millions yearly, with over 3 million international visitors…