Dayna Bass

A massive transformation is underway at one of Scotland’s most critical energy sites. The Port of Nigg is officially rebranding to Maraen and launching a £30 million expansion project to cement its status as a global leader in renewable energy. This major investment marks a new chapter for the Highlands and promises to accelerate the UK’s transition to green power. Announced today, the project includes the construction of a new heavy-duty quay designed to handle the massive components required for offshore wind farms. Under the fresh leadership of Japanese owners Mitsui & Co. and Mitsui OSK Lines, the newly formed Maraen group…

Millions of voters across the UK are preparing to head to the polls on Thursday, May 7. This marks the most significant voting event since the 2024 general election. A sudden change in plans means thousands more seats are now up for grabs in England following a high-profile legal battle. You need to know exactly where to vote, who is on your ballot paper and why this election acts as a massive test for the current government. Government U Turn Adds English Councils to Ballot The biggest story of this election cycle is the last-minute addition of 30 local councils…

Snow fell across the Scottish Highlands on Wednesday morning, catching everyone off guard barely five days after the country baked in its warmest weather of the year so far. The dramatic swing from summer-like warmth to winter chill has left people stunned and roads treacherous in several areas. Temperatures plunged overnight as Arctic air swept south, turning rain into heavy, wet snow above 200-300 metres. Where the Snow Hit Hardest Nethy Bridge in the Cairngorms National Park woke up to a white blanket on Wednesday. Local BBC Weather Watcher Speygirl captured fields and trees coated in fresh snow near the…

Scotland just gave the green light to one of its biggest new onshore wind projects in years. EDF Renewables UK can now build the 91.8MW Dunside Wind Farm in the Lammermuir Hills, a move that will power tens of thousands of homes and pump millions into local communities. The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit granted permission on 22 March 2024, ending a two-year planning journey that began with public consultations in 2022. Where the Turbines Will Spin The new wind farm will rise on moorland east of the existing Fallago Rig site, just south of Dunbar in the Scottish Borders.…

A 15-year-old schoolboy from Edinburgh has become the first Scot ever to win the British Rapidplay Chess Championship, beating England's top grandmaster in a thrilling final-round decider. Freddy Waldhausen Gordon delivered a brutal checkmating attack to crush tournament favourite GM Gawain Jones in Peterborough last weekend, finishing on 9.5/11 and taking the £1,500 first prize by half a point. Final Round Fireworks: Queen and Rooks Storm the Back Rank With everything on the line, Freddy needed a win against the Yorkshire grandmaster who had started the tournament with eight straight victories. Jones blundered early and soon lost rook for knight.…

Scotland just dropped a five-year AI masterplan that could add £23 billion a year to the economy by 2035 and cement its place as a genuine global player. The strategy, published today (20 March 2026), shifts the focus squarely onto jobs, startups, and investment while making sure the benefits reach every corner of the country. Why Scotland Believes It Can Win Big Business Minister Richard Lochhead didn’t mince words at the launch in Edinburgh this morning. “AI is moving faster than any technology in history and Scotland is right at the front of it,” he said. “We already have almost…

Scottish lawyers woke up on 28 February 2025 to the biggest shake-up in prescription law in fifty years. The Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018 is no longer "coming soon". It is here, it is live, and it is already changing how claims start, run and die. For litigators, the stakes could not be higher. One missed date and a strong claim vanishes forever. Master Policy brokers Lockton have sounded the alarm: prescription errors remain one of the top causes of claims against solicitors. The new Act was meant to fix harsh old rules, but it has also created fresh traps. The…

Scottish singer and broadcaster Michelle McManus has fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing a brand-new hymn in front of the Pope in Rome. The emotional moment is the climax of a stunning new BBC Scotland documentary that airs this Easter. Michelle McManus Sings for the Pope follows the Pop Idol winner on a deeply moving pilgrimage from Glasgow to the Vatican, where she sings “Because” – a hymn specially written for the 60th anniversary of SCIAF and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s groundbreaking environmental encyclical Laudato Si’. The hour-long film, made by Glasgow’s Solus Productions, will air on BBC One…

The West Indies roared back to life at Eden Gardens, hammering Scotland by 35 runs in their 2026 T20 World Cup opener. Shimron Hetmyer blasted 64 off 38 balls and Romario Shepherd claimed the tournament's first hat-trick on his way to a stunning five-for as the two-time champions reminded everyone why they still carry that swagger. This was vintage West Indies cricket: explosive batting, lethal bowling, and pure carnival energy in Kolkata. Hetmyer and Powell Turn on the Heat West Indies chose to bat first and wasted no time setting the tone. Brandon King looked in sublime touch, racing to…

Scotland's bold 2021 decision to nearly double funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1140 hours a year has slashed costs for parents and cut reliance on grandparents. Yet a major new Scottish Government study published this week reveals the policy has so far failed to deliver the expected improvements in children's cognitive, language or broader development skills. The landmark research, based on thousands of families before and after the rollout, shows the biggest financial winners are the lowest earners – while the pandemic's shadow hangs heavily over children's progress. Families Pocket Real Savings, Especially the Poorest The expansion has…