Dayna Bass

Scotland has seen an explosive rise in cryptocurrency-related crime — up a jaw-dropping 2,000% since 2019 — with drug syndicates, scammers, and cyber crooks turning to Bitcoin and other digital tokens to cover their tracks and clean dirty money. Police Scotland is scrambling to keep up, using new tools and training programs while laying the groundwork for a full-blown Cyber and Fraud Command. But criminals aren’t waiting around. They’ve already made the shift. From Back Alleys to Blockchain Just a few years ago, crypto crime wasn’t even on the radar in most police briefings. Now? It’s all over the docket.…

Glasgow's food scene is about to feel the heat — quite literally. The world-renowned fire-cooking festival Meatopia is heading to Scotland for the first time, and it’s bringing smoke, flames, and an army of celebrated chefs with it. For a city already obsessed with good grub, this isn't just another food festival — it's a searingly hot ticket. From London’s Tobacco Dock to Glasgow’s SWG3 After more than a decade of sold-out success in London, Meatopia is packing up its smokers and heading north. Set to land at Glasgow’s SWG3 from June 6–8, 2025, the event promises a spectacle of…

Scotland’s own Erin Cuthbert is soaking up some home comforts after an intense run with Chelsea. Her return offers a much-needed breather before she gears up for big international challenges. Return to Home Turf: A Breath of Fresh Air Erin Cuthbert is clearly enjoying her time back in Scotland. It feels like a well-earned reset.After weeks of non-stop travel and pressure-packed fixtures, the midfielder relishes the slower pace and warm familiarity of her homeland.Her words paint a picture of relief and belonging. “I just love the refresh here in Scotland and hearing the Scottish accent,” she remarked, a sentiment that…

A sudden roar in the skies over Scotland left residents startled as two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept a commercial aircraft that had lost contact with air traffic control. The jets, launched from their base, responded swiftly to the mid-air emergency before communication was successfully restored. Jets Sent Into Action After Radio Silence RAF Typhoons took off at high speed from their base in Scotland on Wednesday afternoon after an inbound aircraft approaching the east coast failed to respond to air traffic control. Such incidents trigger immediate intervention due to the potential risks involved. The commercial flight in…

Fossilized footprints on the Isle of Skye are offering new insights into the behavior of predatory dinosaurs that roamed Scotland 167 million years ago. Originally mistaken for fish burrows, the tracks paint a vivid picture of an ancient lagoon where dinosaurs gathered in large numbers. A Discovery Decades in the Making In the early 1980s, paleontologists spotted peculiar impressions along the craggy coastline of Scotland’s Isle of Skye. At the time, the marks were thought to be the petrified burrows of ancient fish. That assumption remained largely unchallenged for decades. It wasn’t until 2019 that Tone Blakesley, then a graduate…

GoFibre is accelerating its broadband expansion across Scotland and northern England, promising faster, more reliable connectivity for thousands of households. By leveraging the Calix Broadband Platform, the company aims to streamline customer support, introduce new services swiftly, and offer a more personalized internet experience. Aiming for Market Leadership in Scotland’s Broadband Sector The race for broadband supremacy in the UK’s alternative network (altnet) sector is heating up, and GoFibre is making bold moves. Partnering with California-based Calix, the company is expanding its network coverage at an unprecedented pace. Every month, hundreds of new customers are gaining access to high-speed internet,…

Dozens of students at North East Scotland College (NESCol) have been told they must redo part of their coursework after an audit uncovered malpractice in the awarding of qualifications. The college has since apologized, acknowledging the disruption caused. Audit Uncovers Irregularities The issue came to light following an internal audit at NESCol’s Aberdeen Altens Campus, focusing on coursework completed by students in the advanced engineering program during the 2023/24 academic year. The findings pointed to errors in how qualifications were awarded to 50 students, prompting immediate corrective action. College officials confirmed that the malpractice was linked to key elements of…

Moat Brae, the Dumfries mansion that inspired JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, has been sold to a local property investor after months of uncertainty. The Victorian villa, which once operated as a children’s literature centre, had been on the market since last year following the collapse of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT). Long-Awaited Deal Finalized Liquidators overseeing the sale confirmed that a deal had been completed, though the identity of the buyer and the sale price remain undisclosed. The closing date for offers passed more than five months ago, yet negotiations continued before an agreement was finally reached. Alistair…

Two Largs Academy pupils played a crucial role in Scotland under-18s' hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland on March 27. The match, held at Stenhousemuir, extended Scotland’s strong run in the competition, which also included an emphatic 6-2 triumph over England at Cappielow. With seven points from three matches, Scotland now looks ahead to next week's showdown in Belfast, where the final result will determine whether they secure the championship title. Rising Talents Representing Scotland Josh Gilmour and Fraser Rodger, both standout players from Largs Academy, earned starting positions in the crucial fixture. Their performances were lauded by…

A stark warning has been issued to Scottish councils after a school ceiling collapse in Aberdeenshire exposed potential risks with certain roof trusses. The incident, which occurred at Slains School in Collieston, has sparked urgent inspections and concerns over structural safety in other schools across the region. Structural Failure Before School Hours It was sheer luck that no one was harmed when the ceiling at Slains School came crashing down on March 10. The collapse happened before pupils arrived, preventing what could have been a devastating tragedy. A confidential Aberdeenshire Council report, seen by BBC Scotland News, pointed to "deficiencies…