Dayna Bass

Invergordon, Scotland — The Scottish Government’s proposal to introduce a cruise ship levy has sparked a heated debate in Invergordon, one of Scotland’s busiest cruise ports, as locals, visitors, and industry representatives weigh the potential economic impact. Last year, an estimated 1.2 million cruise passengers arrived in Scotland, with Invergordon standing out as a major gateway for the 2024 cruise season. The government has proposed giving local authorities powers to introduce a levy on cruise visits to raise funds for overstretched local services. However, details such as the fee amount and who would pay — cruise lines or passengers —…

Nation’s animation sector unveils bold identity at world’s top animation market, eyes international investment and talent growth Animation Scotland is celebrating its third anniversary with a bold new look—and even bolder ambitions. Launched in 2022 to unify Scotland’s animation and visual effects (VFX) community, the organisation unveiled a fresh brand identity this week at MIFA 2025 in Annecy, France, the world’s largest animation market. The move signals a new phase for Scotland’s creative sector as it seeks to scale its global influence and attract further investment. “This new identity reflects our collective strengths, our ambition, and our growing influence in…

STV, the Scottish broadcaster, has announced plans to launch a new commercial radio station aimed squarely at the 35 to 54-year-old audience. This move marks the company’s first major foray into digital radio, with a focus on delivering content tailored for Scotland. The station will operate out of STV’s Pacific Quay headquarters in Glasgow, under the leadership of Graham Bryce, former COO of Bauer Media. Details on the station’s name, launch date, and key presenters will be revealed later this year. A Fresh Voice for Scottish Radio Graham Bryce described the new venture as an opportunity to “shake things up”…

Scotland, long defined by its sodden glens and misty highlands, is now finding another seasonal identity: a land increasingly defined by smoke. In just the past few weeks, Culbin Forest, Glen Rosa on Arran, and Galloway have all burned. According to the Global Wildfire Information System, more of the UK burned by April 2025 than in any full year in more than a decade. A park ranger on Arran summed up the scale of the damage plainly: “We’ve lost 10 years of conservation work and effort. We just have to start again.” Climate, Ignition, and a New Kind of Wildfire…

A new £1.6 million fund has been launched to rescue Scotland’s embattled seabird populations — but the money comes as tensions grow over massive windfarm plans that conservationists fear could do more harm than good. Big Money, Big Hope for Scotland’s Seabirds Scotland’s rugged coasts have long echoed with the cries of gannets, puffins, and kittiwakes. But their numbers? Nearly half gone since the mid-1980s. That’s where the new Seabird Resilience Fund steps in — offering a rare dose of hope. Managed by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF), it’s built on voluntary cash from nine offshore wind developers.…

Orkney Islands, Scotland – 21 May 2025A pioneering electric hydrofoil vessel has arrived in the Orkney Islands, marking a milestone in the UK’s maritime decarbonisation efforts. Northern Ireland-based Artemis Technologies delivered the Zevi 1, a fully electric workboat designed to demonstrate the future of zero-emission inter-island transport. The vessel’s arrival kicks off a three-year demonstration project backed by UK Government funding and delivered in partnership with Orkney Ferries and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). A Leap for Island Maritime Transit Zevi 1, based on an earlier Artemis hydrofoil that entered service in 2022, will operate four daily rotations between…

One of Glasgow’s key traffic arteries could grind to a halt after control room workers voted to strike in a bitter pay dispute. The Clyde Tunnel, used by tens of thousands daily, now hangs in the balance. The threat comes as GMB union members, who manage tunnel safety systems, rejected a 3% wage offer and demanded a better deal. They’re asking for a 6.5% rise — about £1 an hour more — arguing their work is critical, and frankly, underappreciated. What’s at stake: 65,000 daily vehicles and a city’s commute Roughly 65,000 vehicles pass through the Clyde Tunnel every weekday.…

Business tycoon pushes for radical rethink of Scotland’s economic model, with innovation and intent at the heart of a new strategy Scotland needs to think less like Stockholm and more like Singapore if it wants to reverse its long-term economic decline, according to entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, who is calling for a bold, business-led transformation of the country’s strategy. A new Oxford Economics report commissioned by Hunter paints a stark picture of stagnation in Scottish productivity, education, and health outcomes — and draws a provocative comparison between Scotland and the high-growth city-state of Singapore. “The status quo is…

Staff at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) are inching closer to a formal strike vote amid fears over compulsory redundancies. Unions representing lecturers and support staff have backed industrial action if the university does not guarantee job security. Rising Tensions as Staff Demand No Compulsory Redundancies The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) and Unison recently held consultative ballots among their members at UWS. Results showed overwhelming support for strike action if necessary, with 85% of EIS members and 75% of Unison members ready to move towards a formal ballot. David Belsey, assistant general secretary of the EIS,…

Aberdeen Minerals has kicked off a new round of drilling at its Arthrath site in Aberdeenshire, pressing ahead with ambitions to uncover more of the battery metals the UK so badly lacks. The company’s latest campaign, known as Phase 2B, got underway this month, building on promising signs from its 2024 efforts. If successful, this could mark a rare step toward domestic production of nickel, copper, and cobalt—elements vital to the electric future. Five New Boreholes, 2,400 Meters, and Big Hopes Aberdeen’s current drilling plan isn’t small change. The company is targeting five new boreholes, stretching a total of 2,400…