Dayna Bass

A political fight just crossed the Atlantic — and one of America’s most powerful newspapers got left behind. The White House has barred the Wall Street Journal from President Trump’s upcoming trip to Scotland following a report linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. The move has sparked a fresh clash between press freedom and presidential power. Trump Takes Aim at the Press — Again The drama centers on a controversial story published by the Journal last week. The paper reported that Trump, in 2003, allegedly sent a suggestive note to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday — a note…

The White House has abruptly cut the Wall Street Journal from President Trump’s press pool for his high-profile visit to Scotland, following a controversial story linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. The move, made public just days before Trump’s four-day golf trip, has stirred a backlash from journalists and First Amendment advocates alike. The Journal’s reporter slated to cover the trip was removed from the press manifest—despite having no role in the bombshell piece that triggered the fallout. Scotland Trip Turns into Media Flashpoint Tarini Parti, the White House correspondent for the Journal, was originally scheduled to join Trump’s travel pool…

Flash flooding, lightning, and hail expected as Met Office issues two alerts for Sunday and Monday Scotland’s muggy midsummer weekend has taken a sharp turn for the worse, with back-to-back weather warnings issued for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. What began as a yellow alert for rain has now escalated into a double whammy — with the Met Office warning of disruptive storms hitting both Sunday and Monday. From the Borders to the Highlands, much of the mainland is now braced for flash flooding, lightning strikes, and bursts of hail, with transport disruptions expected across the board. Sunday starts wet —…

Scotland's first full year of ethnicity-based childhood vaccination data has revealed troubling gaps in uptake—especially among African, Caribbean, and some Asian communities. Health officials say the consequences could be deadly if the trend continues. The figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS), released alongside broader vaccination updates, show that children from several ethnic minority groups are significantly less likely to receive full protection against diseases like measles, HPV, flu, and Covid-19. The disparities are prompting urgent calls for action. Startling Drop-Off After First Dose Scotland’s MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) programme remains one of the most critical public health defences, but even…

One of Europe’s biggest battery energy storage projects just took a major step forward in Scotland—and it’s happening at the site of a former coal mine. Independent renewables firm RES has officially signed on to manage the Coalburn battery energy storage system (BESS), a 500MW/1GWh installation that could shift how the country handles its surging wind power supply. From Fossil Past to Storage Future The Coalburn site isn’t your average clean energy location. It’s set on the remnants of a coal mining operation in Lanarkshire, a place that once powered the nation with fossil fuels. Fast-forward to 2025, and it’s…

GARTCOSH, SCOTLAND — In a significant boost for Scotland’s manufacturing and whisky sectors, Italian packaging giant Guala Closures has officially opened a €60 million next-generation facility in Gartcosh, marking one of the largest investments by an Italian firm in the UK. The cutting-edge 20,000 square meter plant will produce high-end closures and security features for bottles—particularly for the Scotch whisky industry—and is expected to employ over 300 skilled professionals, deepening Guala’s presence in a region globally celebrated for spirits production. Scotch Whisky Meets High-Tech Manufacturing Strategically located in the heart of Scotland’s whisky belt, the Gartcosh facility already supplies over…

The historic coronation stone, central to centuries of royal tradition, remains unharmed after a dramatic security breach in Scotland’s newest national museum. Security Breach Raises Alarm at Home of Scotland’s Most Sacred Symbol Authorities in Scotland have arrested a man accused of attempting to smash the protective glass encasing the Stone of Destiny — one of the most culturally and politically significant artifacts in Scottish history. The incident occurred at the newly reimagined Perth Museum, where the ancient stone has been on public display since its ceremonial return to Perthshire earlier this year. The suspect, identified by police as Arnaud…

Medical leaders have fired a warning shot at the Scottish Government’s new long-term conditions framework, claiming it could ‘dilute’ vital resources for tackling one of Scotland’s biggest killers — heart disease. Open Letter Raises Alarm In an open letter to Public Health Minister Jenni Minto, 11 organisations — including the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow — said the proposals lack clear strategy. They argue the government’s idea of a broad, generalised approach for all long-term conditions risks taking focus and money away from…

A young mum has spoken out after her baby girl ended up with severe sunburn and blistering during just a few cloudy hours outdoors — a stark reminder that Scotland’s skies can still burn, even when they don’t look sunny. ‘We Thought We Were Covered’ Lauren Leishman, 22, from East Lothian, says she still can’t believe what happened to her 12-month-old daughter, Rhegan.The family headed to a local farm show in Haddington on June 28. It was chilly, with everyone in jumpers. Lauren put on factor 50 suncream for Rhegan “just to be safe.” One line: They were outside for…

French renewables player Qair has landed planning consent for its first standalone battery energy storage site in the UK — a 49.9-MW facility in the heart of Aberdeenshire. It’s a telling sign that the push for greener energy backup is hitting fresh momentum in Scotland. Scotland’s Growing Appetite for Storage Power Battery energy storage is having a bit of a moment here. Qair’s project is part of a wider trend sweeping through the Highlands and beyond. People used to think of wind turbines dotting the hills when they heard “Scottish renewables.” Now? Big batteries are stepping into the spotlight too.…