Dayna Bass

New figures paint a stark picture of cancer care in Scotland. Waiting times for treatment have now reached their worst levels since records began. The numbers — quietly released by Public Health Scotland — reveal that nearly one in three people referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer are now waiting longer than the government’s official 62-day target for treatment to begin. Only 68.9% Treated on Time — Lowest Ever on Record Let that sink in: fewer than 7 in 10 cancer patients referred urgently are starting treatment on time. That figure — 68.9% — covers January to March 2025.…

A sprawling Scottish island featuring ancient ruins, pristine beaches, and 1,100 acres of dramatic terrain has just gone on sale for the first time in nearly a century. The price? £5.5 million — or around $7.5 million. Shuna Island, located just off Scotland’s picturesque west coast near the Sound of Shuna, is drawing international attention not just for its beauty, but for the rarity of such an offering. It’s not every day a private island with a crumbling 18th-century castle and eight residential properties comes to market. It’s Big, It’s Wild, and It’s Been Off-Limits for Generations For 80 years,…

In a quiet corner of Glasgow, a woman with no political power, no fortune, and no PR machine is quietly changing lives. And now, she’s earned a medal from the Crown for doing it. Audrey Mutongi-Darko, founder of The No.1 Befriending Agency, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her relentless work supporting elderly people suffering from loneliness and isolation—work that has touched hundreds of lives and inspired volunteers across Scotland. More Than Just a Service—A Lifeline The No.1 Befriending Agency, launched in 2016, isn’t flashy. There are no glossy advertisements, no celebrity endorsements. But behind the modest…

After winning hearts on national television just weeks ago, Glasgow’s very own Vinnie McKee will take to the stage again tonight—this time at home, and in front of Scotland’s real-life heroes. The 23-year-old singer, who came 8th in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent final, is making his Pride of Scotland Awards debut at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel, joining a room packed with celebrities, campaigners, and ordinary Scots being honoured for extraordinary things. A Fresh Chapter Begins for the Rising Star This isn’t just another performance. For Vinnie, it marks a return—not just to his home city, but to a version of…

Once touted as Scotland’s future, the former Glasgow Warrior is back on the international scene — this time wearing stars and stripes — despite a domestic abuse conviction. Just over a year ago, Rufus McLean’s name vanished from Scottish rugby overnight. A promising winger with searing pace and a dream debut for Scotland, McLean was swiftly dropped and then sacked after admitting to a two-year campaign of emotional and physical abuse against his former partner. The reaction from Scottish Rugby was decisive: gross misconduct, breach of contract, and a complete severing of ties. Now, the 24-year-old is back in the…

If you’ve ever wondered where to begin your gravel biking journey in Scotland, forget the tourist-choked roads of the Highlands or the slick tracks of the Central Belt. Instead, head southwest — to Galloway. Tucked between the Solway Firth and the Southern Uplands, this underrated region of Dumfries and Galloway offers wide-open landscapes, little traffic, and an ever-growing network of mixed-surface trails. Long bypassed by travellers on their rush north to Loch Lomond, the Cairngorms, or Skye, Galloway is now finding new fame — one gravel track at a time. Scotland, Undiluted The charm of Galloway lies in its contrasts.…

A 68-year-old man has died following a wild swimming incident off the Isle of Bute, prompting a police inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death. Emergency services were called to Kilchattan Bay, a scenic and often serene spot on the southern tip of the island, around 20:10 BST on Thursday evening. The call was made after concerns were raised about the man's wellbeing while he was in the water. The man, whose identity has not been publicly released, was retrieved from the sea and airlifted by emergency helicopter to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced…

PARIS – Scotland’s LoganAir is taking a bold step toward decarbonising regional aviation, announcing this week a landmark partnership with hydrogen-electric engine developer ZeroAvia. The airline, best known for servicing remote Scottish islands and underserved regional routes, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the potential adoption of ZeroAvia’s cutting-edge hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. The announcement was made during the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, further cementing the show’s growing focus on sustainable aviation technologies. Flying into the Future Under the agreement, LoganAir and ZeroAvia will collaborate on assessing the feasibility of installing hydrogen-electric engines on LoganAir’s fleet of De…

With a 2027 rollout, Scotland aligns with France, Japan, Thailand, and others by embracing tourist taxes to protect local services and share tourism's cost with travellers. Scotland is officially stepping into the global spotlight on travel policy—not by launching a new campaign, but by asking tourists to chip in. A new tourist levy, roughly £4.83 per hotel night, is set to take effect in January 2027. It's Scotland’s biggest move yet to balance economic benefits from tourism with the swelling strain it puts on city infrastructure, public spaces, and local communities. And it’s not going it alone. From Bangkok to…

Scotland could be on the brink of losing out in the multi-billion-pound robotics boom unless it urgently tackles barriers stalling homegrown innovation, a leading tech expert has warned. A new four-point plan hopes to change that — but the clock is ticking. Robotics Chief Warns Scotland is Slipping Behind It was a stark message, and Stewart Miller didn’t sugar-coat it. Speaking from the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, Miller, who leads the cutting-edge research facility, said Scotland risks being “left behind” while countries like China and the US power ahead in the robotics space. The numbers are hard to ignore.…