Dayna Bass

Scotland football fans are buzzing with excitement after their national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a return to the global stage after 28 years. Supporters like Bruce Buchan from Aberdeen are scrapping home renovation plans to fund family trips to the United States for group stage games in Boston and Miami, highlighting the deep passion and national pride this achievement has sparked. Historic Qualification Boosts National Pride Scotland secured their spot in the World Cup with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark in November 2025, ending a long drought since their last appearance in 1998. This…

South of Scotland Enterprise has invested nearly £1 million in The Carbon Removers, a local carbon capture company, to fuel its bold plan for £1 billion in annual revenues by 2035. This funding, announced on January 7, 2026, aims to help the firm expand operations across the UK and Europe while tackling climate change through innovative carbon removal technology. Company Roots and Innovation The Carbon Removers, founded by brothers Ed and Richard Nimmons, started in a small village near Dumfries, Scotland. The company focuses on capturing carbon dioxide from sources like biogas plants and whisky distilleries. It holds a unique…

Police Scotland has placed driving limits on about 4,000 officers to meet new safety rules that started three years ago. These changes, effective right away, aim to boost road safety while officers complete required training, and leaders say frontline work will stay strong. Thousands of officers in Scotland now face curbs on how they drive during emergencies. The move follows a 2022 UK law update that sets higher standards for police behind the wheel. What Sparked the Driving Limits The restrictions kicked in on Tuesday after Police Scotland reviewed its training to match the Police, Courts, Sentencing and Crime Act…

Edinburgh's Bard gallery in Leith has kicked off its third anniversary with the Bardware exhibition, inviting visitors to touch and explore works by 22 Scottish craft makers. Running through January 2026, this show turns the everyday hardware store into a playground for sensory art, blending old techniques with fresh ideas to celebrate making and mending. The Vision Behind Bardware Bard gallery, founded in 2022 by Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens, sits in Leith's historic Custom Lane. This spot has become a hub for Scottish craft, drawing artists who mix tradition with modern twists. The Bardware show draws from the pair's…

The United Kingdom faces major disruptions as Storm Goretti, the first named storm of 2026, sweeps in with heavy snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures. Issued by the Met Office, warnings highlight risks across England and Wales, following a night where temperatures dropped to minus 12.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest so far this winter. Storm Details and Path Storm Goretti, named by the French meteorological service Meteo France, approaches from the southwest. It marks the start of a challenging weather period after days of arctic blasts that already closed hundreds of schools and caused travel chaos. Experts predict the storm…

Scotland's health service has reported another drop in long waiting times for treatments and appointments. New data from Public Health Scotland shows the number of patients waiting over a year fell to just over 70,000 by the end of November 2025, down from 78,000 in October, marking the sixth straight month of improvement. Key Figures from November 2025 Public Health Scotland released the latest statistics on waiting times, highlighting progress in reducing backlogs. The drop in year-long waits affects outpatient appointments, inpatient treatments, and day-case procedures. Health officials point to increased funding and targeted efforts in high-demand areas like orthopaedics…

SSEN Transmission has awarded key contracts to Hitachi Energy for supplying high-voltage direct current converter stations on two subsea cable links in northern Scotland. This move, announced in late 2025 and detailed in early 2026, aims to boost renewable energy flow and support the UK's shift to clean power by 2030. Details of the Winning Contracts Hitachi Energy secured these deals after being picked as the preferred bidder in 2023. The contracts cover design, purchase, build, setup, and startup of the converter tech at both ends of the links. One link connects Spittal in Caithness to Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, already…

In the coastal town of Newburgh Beach in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, tourists flock to witness thousands of seals basking on golden sands, turning the area into a hotspot for wildlife lovers. Now, advanced AI technology is stepping in to monitor seal populations and ensure that growing visitor numbers do not harm these marine animals, promoting sustainable tourism as of early 2026. The Growing Appeal of Seal Watching Seal tourism has surged in Scotland over recent years, drawing visitors from around the world to places like Newburgh Beach at the Ythan Estuary. This spot boasts one of Britain's largest seal colonies, with…

Heavy snowfall has struck northern Scotland, forcing hundreds of schools to close and causing major travel disruptions. On January 5, 2026, amber weather warnings remain in effect, with more snow expected, as communities deal with drifting snow and icy roads after days of harsh winter weather. Widespread School Closures Schools across northern Scotland shut their doors on Monday, affecting thousands of students and families. Officials cited unsafe conditions from heavy snow and ice as the main reason, with many areas seeing up to 30 centimeters of fresh snow overnight. This marks the first major disruption as pupils return from Christmas…

Scotland's west coast ferry network is getting a green upgrade as construction hits key stages for new electric vessels. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited announced that the keel laying for the first ferry and steel cutting for the second happened ahead of schedule in Poland, paving the way for improved services by 2027. Construction Progress Boosts Hopes for Greener Travel Work on seven new electric ferries is moving fast at a shipyard in Gdansk. The keel laying ceremony for the lead vessel marked a big step forward last week, while steel cutting for the next one started right after. These milestones…