Axel Piper

With CalMac fare structures up for examination, the Scottish government insists it hasn’t decided the fate of its popular Road Equivalent Tariff. Islanders and tourists alike are bracing for potential changes, even as ministers vow to rule out options one by one. Ferry Fares Under the Microscope The Connectivity Minister, Jim Fairlie, stressed that “no decisions have been made on anything at this stage.” He added that every possibility—from tweaking fares to adjusting fleet resilience—would be considered and then discarded if it didn’t stack up. Governments need to look at everything, he said. But what exactly is on the menu?…

Scotland is hitting reset on its climate strategy after repeatedly missing key emissions targets. The Scottish Government has officially scrapped its legally binding 2030 climate goal, instead unveiling a new framework based on five-year carbon budgets aimed at reaching net zero by 2045. The move has sparked a heated mix of praise, panic, and political finger-pointing. Scotland, once seen as a global climate frontrunner, now finds itself facing tough questions—about credibility, capacity, and whether it's still on course to meet its long-term environmental promises. Abandoning the 2030 Pledge The 2030 commitment was ambitious: cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% compared…

In a stark attempt to manage surging inmate numbers, Scotland has released more than 150 violent offenders early from custody this year—raising sharp questions about public safety and justice priorities. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed that 312 prisoners were let out between February and March, under an expanded emergency early release programme designed to ease chronic overcrowding in the country’s prison estate. And nearly half of those released were convicted of non-sexual crimes of violence. Early Release Policy Quietly Expanded The early release powers were introduced last year but extended further in February 2025, allowing inmates with sentences of…

Scotland’s west coast, long considered the final stronghold for harbour seals in the UK, is no longer a safe haven. A major new study by the University of St Andrews has found a 20% decline in seal numbers between 2018 and 2023, marking the first significant downturn in decades for the area. Once a refuge, now a red flag The research, led by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), paints a sobering picture of the marine mammal’s fate. Using aerial surveys, tagging, and long-term photo identification methods, scientists have tracked the species since the 1980s. Until recently, the Inner Hebrides…

Every week, ordinary Scots snap extraordinary slices of life—and the week of 6–13 June was no different. Whether it was raw triumph after a 54-mile march or the splash of teamwork in a summer gala, these personal captures brought out the grit, charm, and quiet pride that pulse through the country’s communities. This week’s highlights come from Blairgowrie to Strathaven—and each image has a story behind it. “Raw Emotion”: A Selfie at the Finish Line There’s tired. Then there’s 54-miles-through-the-Perthshire-heather tired. Brendan Hannan shared a selfie with five mates trailing behind him, all grinning, thumbs up, walking a gravel path…

In a major step forward for ophthalmic care, Scotland has officially approved the first licensed formulation of bevacizumab for treating wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has given the green light to Lytenava (bevacizumab gamma), developed by Outlook Therapeutics, marking a significant development for patients at risk of permanent vision loss. A Game-Changer for Wet AMD Treatment Lytenava is the first and only licensed ophthalmic version of bevacizumab approved for wet AMD use in both the European Union and the United Kingdom. While bevacizumab has long been used off-label in ophthalmology, this is the first…

Physics grads eyeing a future in Scotland just got a major boost. The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow is now offering scholarships worth £7,000 — roughly Rs 7 lakh — to international students enrolling in its full-time postgraduate Physics programs this September. And the best part? No lengthy paperwork or applications. Eligible students are automatically considered once they pay their deposit. Simple route, serious reward Strathclyde has made the process refreshingly straightforward. From June 2 to July 31, 2025, students can register for their Physics MSc or MPhil programmes. Once they pay the required course deposit, the £7,000 scholarship kicks…

St Andrews has done it again—cementing its place at the peak of Scottish higher education and rubbing shoulders with the UK’s academic giants. The Complete University Guide 2026 just dropped, and St Andrews isn’t just holding steady—it’s climbing. This year, the historic university not only retained its position as the top-ranked university in Scotland but also placed within the top four across the entire UK. A significant feat. But what’s really caught eyes? The sheer sweep of its subject-specific rankings, with major leaps in everything from English to Biological Sciences. A Familiar Name at the Top, but the Gap is…

BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELAND — Officers from Police Scotland have been sent to Ballymena following a formal request for assistance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as tensions in the town continue to escalate after two consecutive nights of civil unrest. The move comes under the mutual aid agreement — a protocol allowing UK police forces to support one another in times of operational strain. An undisclosed number of public order officers, specially trained in handling large-scale disturbances, have been deployed. Violent Protests and Injuries The unrest in County Antrim was sparked by public anger over an alleged sexual…