Zane Lee

The National Library of Scotland has received a stark legal warning for pulling a gender-critical book from its centenary exhibition after staff raised concerns. Human rights group Sex Matters claims this move breaks equality laws and could lead to thousands of claims costing millions. This decision stems from complaints by the library's LGBT staff network, who said the book, The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht, might cause harm and even spark hate crimes. The book, a collection of essays by feminists including JK Rowling, details fights against gender self-ID laws in Scotland. Background of the Dispute The controversy started when the…

Gaza Remains The Story, first shown in Gourock, will now travel to other Scottish towns, bringing Palestinian voices and perspectives to a wider audience. Art from the West Bank Hits Gourock A pioneering exhibition featuring work from Palestinian artists has opened in Gourock, drawing strong local interest. Titled Gaza Remains The Story, the display includes paintings, photographs, and information panels from the Palestine Museum in Birzeit, West Bank. The exhibition took place in Medinelli’s pop-up shop on Kempock Street and was inaugurated by former Westminster MP Dr Philippa Whitford, who has long-standing ties to Gaza and the West Bank through…

BEAR Scotland’s Grotaig site welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Transport this week as the government ramps up investment in protecting vital transport routes. Climate Pressure on Scotland’s Roads in Focus The A82 winds its way through some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery — but also some of its most challenging terrain. At Grotaig, a rugged section on the North West trunk road network, the risks are more than scenic. Rock slopes loom above traffic, and heavy rainfall combined with warming temperatures have increased the chances of landslides and falling debris. Fiona Hyslop MSP arrived on Tuesday to see first-hand how…

Scotland’s most important wetlands will now get the same level of legal protection as Europe’s top conservation sites, after the government responded to a watchdog’s investigation into a long-standing policy gap. Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) confirmed this week that ministers have updated policy so all Ramsar sites — wetlands of international significance — must now go through rigorous environmental checks before any development is approved. From Loophole to Landmark Policy Change The update may sound technical, but campaigners say it fixes a flaw that has lingered for years. Until now, protection for Ramsar sites depended on whether they were also…

EDINBURGH – August 12, 2025 — Scotland’s ambition to lead the way in circular economy innovation is being undermined by a stubborn bottleneck: a shortage of domestic facilities to reprocess plastics, metals, paper and batteries. A new government-commissioned assessment has revealed that the country exports most of its high-value recyclable materials, forfeiting millions in potential economic gains. The Waste Reprocessing Infrastructure in Scotland report, published last week under the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, paints a striking picture: just 1.3% of the resources used in Scotland are cycled back into its own economy. That’s a fraction of the UK’s 7.5%…

Authorities have sounded the alarm again, with a fresh wildfire risk alert covering most of Scotland after a blaze scorched Edinburgh’s iconic Arthur’s Seat. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) says the warning — in force from Wednesday for seven days — marks the 10th such alert this year. Arthur’s Seat Blaze Adds Urgency Flames were spotted on Arthur’s Seat on Sunday evening.Smoke billowed over the capital, and flickers of orange could be seen from the city streets below. Crews rushed in to tackle the fire, which ripped through gorse and brush on the slopes.The fire service believes it…

EDINBURGH — Nicola Sturgeon’s long-anticipated memoir Frankly landed on bookshelves earlier than planned this week, offering a frank self-assessment from Scotland’s longest-serving first minister. The former SNP leader, who guided the country through the pandemic and eight election victories, uses the book to reflect on political triumphs and bruising defeats — including the divisive debate over gender recognition reform that overshadowed her final months in office. Rancour, Regret and Legislative Lessons Sturgeon writes that the gender recognition bill — aimed at making it easier to change legal gender — became “a time of rancour and division,” exacerbated by the Isla…

Macquarie Capital has taken a stake in AMS Accountants Group, aiming to fuel its expansion across Scotland and the wider UK with a people-first approach that’s already shaking up the market. A Young Player with Big Ambitions AMS only set foot in Scotland a few months ago, but it hasn’t wasted any time making its presence felt. In that short spell, it’s picked up more than £200,000 worth of new contracts. These aren’t just in one niche either—clients span energy, food and drink, and other key sectors. The mood inside AMS feels different from most accountancy firms. There’s a sense…

From cows on the run in North Lanarkshire to rockets poised for take-off in Shetland, Scotland is experiencing one of its more eclectic weeks — equal parts storm chaos, space ambition, and homegrown celebration. Indie Beer Scotland makes its hoppy return to Glasgow Scotland’s flagship craft beer festival, Indie Beer Scotland, will return for its third edition this September, bringing with it a resolute message: no faux-craft allowed. Held on September 5 and 6 at Clyde Rooms at Edmiston House in Glasgow, the festival is organized by independent brewers under the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA). Organiser Ian…

Policing the Unmanageable: Overtime Bill Soars to £85,000 Per Day Scotland's national police force is grappling with growing operational demands, plunging officer numbers, and a surging overtime bill that is raising alarm across political and public sectors alike. New figures published in 1919 Magazine reveal Police Scotland paid out £28.15 million in officer overtime for the 2024/25 financial year, alongside £3.4 million for non-officer staff. That puts the daily overtime cost at £85,000, a figure that has sparked concern about sustainability, especially in light of rising national and international commitments. Although the total has dropped from the spike seen in…