Zane Lee

A 10-acre wildfire raging in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, has triggered an extreme risk warning across mainland Scotland. Firefighters are battling intense flames in scorching, bone-dry conditions as environmental officials raise concerns about water scarcity. Six fire engines and two specialist units remain at the scene, tackling a blaze that's swallowed a wooded area roughly the size of five and a half football pitches. Fauldhouse Fire Spreads Fast in Peak Season The fire broke out late morning, just as authorities were warning of heightened wildfire threats due to Scotland’s unusually warm and dry spring. Crews were called to the scene at…

Scotland’s climate advisors have unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to slash greenhouse gas emissions, putting electric technologies like heat pumps and EVs at the center of the country’s drive to reach net zero by 2045. The Climate Change Committee (CCC), the UK’s independent statutory body providing climate advice, released their first-ever set of recommended carbon budgets specifically for Scotland. These budgets set legally binding limits on emissions from 2026 through 2045, guiding policymakers on how much the country can emit in five-year chunks to stay on track. Tougher Carbon Budgets Reflect Scotland’s Ambitious Climate Goals The CCC’s advice marks a significant…

Scotland’s railway stations have become a little more welcoming this week, as new Breathing Space Benches were officially unveiled in a continued effort to promote mental health awareness and encourage people to take time out for themselves. The latest benches were installed at Dumfries, Dundee, Uddingston, and Fort William, adding to the first wave already in place at major transport hubs such as Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. A Simple Seat With a Powerful Message Launched in collaboration with Samaritans Scotland, Network Rail, NHS 24’s Breathing Space, and ScotRail, the benches are designed as more than just places to rest.…

A landmark UK–EU trade agreement, hailed by some as a lifeline for exporters and slammed by others as a political surrender, is redrawing the post-Brexit landscape for Scottish industry. Announced in London by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European Council President António Costa, the deal is already causing political and economic ripples from Peterhead to the Hebrides. A Divided Reaction Across Scotland The new agreement removes many of the export barriers that have plagued UK-EU trade since Brexit — slashing red tape, removing health certificates for many food and drink products, and allowing some previously banned shellfish back into…

NHS Scotland’s healthcare workers have backed a pay deal that will boost their salaries by a combined 8% over the next two years. The agreement, welcomed by the Scottish government, covers nurses, midwives, paramedics, and other essential staff — but notably excludes doctors, whose pay talks run on a different track. What the Deal Means for NHS Workers According to Scotland’s Health Secretary Neil Gray, around 170,000 NHS staff will see their pay increase in two stages. First, a 4.25% rise will come into effect in 2025-26, followed by another 3.7% bump the year after. This package includes an “inflation…

A vast weather system is bearing down on the UK, promising widespread rain and stormy skies from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire. Only eleven counties are expected to escape the soaking. Rain Bomb Poised to Drench the Nation It's going to be a washout weekend for most of Britain. Forecasters are warning of a sweeping storm front that could bring relentless downpours to nearly every part of the UK. According to WXCharts data, only a tiny handful of counties—just eleven—are forecast to stay dry. The rain, described by some meteorologists as a "rain bomb", is predicted to stretch more than 550 miles.…

Scottish prisons are increasingly locking down on the high-tech threat of drones delivering drugs, phones, and other contraband to inmates — with early results showing promising disruption to organised crime networks operating behind bars. The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) says a recent pilot scheme, including the installation of metal grilles on vulnerable windows, has halted drone breaches at Perth Prison over the last six months. The move is part of a broader strategy to tackle the growing problem of drones being used as airborne couriers of illegal goods. A Growing Threat From Above The smuggling of contraband into prisons has…

EDINBURGH — Heriot-Watt University has been named Scotland’s leading institution for producing Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors, according to a new report analyzing millions of alumni career paths across the UK. The study, conducted by financial services firm Novuna Business Cash Flow, examined over 10 million LinkedIn profiles tied to more than 120 UK universities. It found that 4.57% of Heriot-Watt alumni have gone on to occupy top leadership roles such as CEO or MD — the highest percentage in Scotland. Practical, Enterprise-Focused Education Much of the credit, according to the university, lies in its emphasis on enterprise-focused learning.…

Starbucks has introduced what it calls its “most exciting” coffee cup yet in Europe—a bold move away from plastic linings toward sustainable, home-compostable materials. The iconic white cup now comes with a mineral-based coating and fibre lids, aiming to cut down plastic waste without changing the coffee experience customers love. A New Era for the Classic Starbucks Cup It’s no secret that single-use coffee cups have long been a headache for the environment. Starbucks, one of the world’s biggest coffee chains, is taking a significant step forward with this new cup design. The change isn’t just cosmetic. After over three…

A new initiative is underway to protect the A82 from landslips by planting native trees along the hillsides above Loch Ness. This stretch of road has seen closures caused by rockfalls in recent years, raising safety concerns. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has begun establishing a native woodland aimed at reinforcing the slopes, reducing erosion, and creating a natural barrier against the weather’s worst effects. The project’s first phase saw 5,000 trees planted near Drumnadrochit on previously cleared land. Clearing Old Pines to Make Way for Native Woodland The project involves removing some conifers—some nearly a century old—that are vulnerable…