Chris Muir

Storm Amy battered Scotland with fierce winds and heavy rain over the weekend, leading to more than 480 separate incidents on the country's railway network. Network Rail teams faced tough challenges in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, and Perthshire, where gusts hit 96 miles per hour, forcing widespread closures and delays for thousands of passengers. The Force of Storm Amy Hits Hard Storm Amy, the first named storm of the 2025 season, arrived faster and stronger than many experts predicted. Winds whipped up to 96 miles per hour at Tiree in the Inner Hebrides, while heavy downpours caused flooding across northern and…

Paleontologists have uncovered a stunning fossil on Scotland's Isle of Skye that blends traits from lizards and snakes in one creature from 167 million years ago. This Jurassic reptile, named Breugnathair elgolensis, challenges what experts know about how snakes evolved and lived alongside early dinosaurs. The find happened near the village of Elgol in 2016, but detailed studies just revealed its secrets this week. Researchers used advanced scans to confirm the animal's unique mix of features, sparking excitement about reptile history. The Thrilling Discovery on Skye The Isle of Skye holds some of the world's best Jurassic fossil sites, and…

The Royal Bank of Scotland announced plans on October 7, 2025, to introduce intellectual property backed loans for high growth businesses in Scotland, starting next year. This move allows firms to use their IP as collateral for funding from 250,000 pounds to 10 million pounds, helping overcome barriers for innovative companies without traditional assets. Understanding IP Backed Loans Intellectual property backed loans represent a fresh approach to business financing. These loans let companies borrow money by pledging patents, trademarks, or copyrights instead of physical items like buildings or equipment. The Royal Bank of Scotland will roll out this option in…

The Scottish Government released a key paper on September 4, 2025, titled Your Right to Decide, which argues that people in Scotland hold the power to shape their constitutional future. This move comes as First Minister John Swinney pushes for a fresh mandate on independence through the upcoming Holyrood election in May 2026, highlighting tensions in the UK union. Scotland's push for self-determination has long shaped its politics, but this latest document reignites the debate by challenging the balance between voluntary partnership and parliamentary control from Westminster. The Heart of the Argument The paper lays out a clear case that…

A group of six new electric vehicles faced off in a grueling real world range test organized by Carwow, driving from Oxford in England all the way toward Scotland to see which one could go the farthest on a single charge. The test pitted Chinese brands against established players from Europe, South Korea, and the United States, revealing surprises in efficiency and performance under demanding motorway conditions. The journey highlighted how electric car range test results can differ from official claims, especially on long hauls with varied weather and speeds. Drivers used eco modes and kept to the speed limit…

Two young Scottish chefs, Kaitlyn McGibbon and Ben Smith, just wrapped up a week of hands on training at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. This chance came through the 2025 HIT Scotland scholarship, a program backed by partners like Gecko Hospitality and Escoffier Global Solutions, aimed at boosting skills in sustainable cooking and global techniques. The HIT Scotland Scholarship Journey The scholarship targets rising stars in Scotlands hospitality world. It picks chefs with real world experience to send them abroad for top notch learning. This year, McGibbon from Hazel restaurant in Glasgow and Smith from…

Scotland's push for independence is heating up again, with politicians like Kenny MacAskill arguing that the nation's rich natural resources could drive a stronger economy if free from UK control. As of late September 2025, recent polls show mixed support, while experts debate the potential costs and benefits of breaking away. Rising Calls for Change Kenny MacAskill, a vocal advocate for Scottish independence, recently highlighted how Scotland's abundant resources, from oil and gas to renewables, have not fully benefited its people. In a statement just hours ago, he described Scotland as a land blessed with natural wealth and talented minds,…

Scotland's salmon farming industry has stepped up efforts to save declining wild salmon populations. On September 24, 2025, Salmon Scotland announced over £230,000 in grants to ten projects across the country, focusing on river protection, habitat restoration, and research to help wild salmon and sea trout thrive. This funding is part of a larger £1.5 million pledge to combat long-term species decline. Projects range from fixing dams to planting trees, showing a united push by communities and experts to revive Scotland's waterways. Funding Details and Goals The grants aim to tackle key threats like habitat loss and predation. Salmon Scotland's…

Road maintenance workers in Inverness have voted to strike against Bear Scotland in a heated pay battle that could snarl traffic on the vital A9 trunk road. The action, backed by the Unite union, stems from rejected offers seen as too low amid the firms recent profits, raising fears of winter chaos on this key route between Inverness and Perth. Roots of the Pay Clash Workers at Bear Scotland handle critical upkeep on Scotlands trunk roads, including the busy A9 that links the Highlands to the central belt. On September 19, 2025, dozens of these employees in Inverness overwhelmingly supported…

James Keatings, a former professional footballer known for his time with clubs like Hearts and Hibs, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for attempting to launder nearly £400,000 in criminal cash. The 33 year old from Wishaw carried out the handover on a street in North Lanarkshire last year, but officers from the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland were watching closely after a tip off. The Cash Handover Caught on Watch Investigators spotted Keatings on June 28, 2024, in Young Street, Wishaw. He pulled up in a white Transit van and moved two heavy boxes into the…