Zane Lee

You can count on the group chat for almost anything—except actual group travel plans. So I finally gave up, booked a trip to Scotland solo-ish, and let Contiki do the rest. The Group Chat Was Great—Until It Wasn't It started like all our best conversations do: someone tossing out a dreamy idea about a European getaway in the dead of winter. Hype built fast. We were all in, at least until reality hit. Half of us were pregnant, buried in work, or doing grown-up things like homeownership and PTO math. So, I had two choices. Wait around for the stars…

Angus and Fife hardest hit as below-average rainfall triggers early environmental alerts Scotland is facing the early onset of water scarcity risks after a prolonged dry spell continued into April, raising concerns among environmental regulators, agricultural stakeholders, and climate experts. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued a warning on Thursday, citing signs of stress in rivers and groundwater supplies, especially in parts of the south and east. Businesses have been urged to take proactive steps to reduce water usage and brace for what could be a drier-than-normal spring and summer season. Rivers running low, groundwater slipping In its latest…

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has snapped up a majority stake in Scottish property consultancy Ryden, marking a bold move to strengthen its footprint across Scotland and the north of England. The acquisition, announced Thursday, brings together over 1,600 professionals across LSH, Ryden, and fellow new partner SHW. It’s the latest in a string of strategic plays by LSH, part of the Connells Group and ultimately backed by Skipton Building Society. The aim? A broader national reach and a sharper edge in the UK commercial property scene. Big moves north of the border LSH isn’t tiptoeing into Scotland. This is a…

The Scottish Conservatives lost one of their most prominent MSPs as Jamie Greene walked out, accusing the party of veering into dangerous territory. Within hours, he resurfaced at the Liberal Democrat conference with a yellow badge on his chest. A sharp turn: From Tory blue to Lib Dem yellow Jamie Greene didn’t hold back. Just 48 hours after resigning from the Scottish Conservatives, the West of Scotland MSP appeared at the Scottish Lib Dem conference in Inverness grinning ear to ear, flanked by party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and UK Lib Dem boss Ed Davey. His decision wasn’t some quiet political…

A stark warning has been issued by firefighters as Scotland faces an "extreme" risk of wildfires over the next week. With recent incidents already testing fire crews, authorities are urging the public to take extra precautions and avoid lighting fires outdoors. Fires Erupt as Scotland Faces Dry Spell Firefighters battled a major blaze in the Kilpatrick Hills near Glasgow on Tuesday, a region that has already seen repeated fire outbreaks this year. Meanwhile, in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, a deliberate gorse fire required emergency response between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the event has only heightened…

A bold commitment to shift NHS Scotland and its suppliers to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 is within reach—though not without hurdles—according to Scotland’s minister for public finance. Decarbonising Healthcare Infrastructure Ivan McKee MSP underscored the significance of embedding net-zero principles into every policy decision for the next two decades. Addressing attendees at the Procurement 4 Health Scotland conference, he pointed to greener heating solutions as a major challenge, highlighting the potential of heat pumps and solar energy to reduce the NHS’s carbon footprint. The Scottish government’s targets are ambitious: NHS Scotland itself aims to be net-zero by 2040.…

Mowi Scotland is celebrating a major milestone—six decades since its first salmon farming trials in the country. What started as an experiment has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that supports jobs, innovation, and rural communities across the Highlands and Islands. From Small Beginnings to Industry Leader Sixty years ago, a group of determined fish farmers stocked the first generation of farmed salmon into Lochailort. Back then, the process was rudimentary. Fish were reared in small pens, and farmers relied on trial and error to refine their methods. Things look very different today. Mowi is now the largest salmon producer in…

Esports, once dismissed as mere gaming, is now carving a niche in educational curricula. Selkirk High School in Scotland stands at the forefront, offering students a comprehensive look into the burgeoning esports industry.​ Beyond the Screen: A Holistic Approach At Selkirk High, the esports program isn't about logging hours in front of a console. Instead, it delves into the industry's history, business dynamics, and diverse career paths. Students like 16-year-old Alfie are discovering roles they hadn't imagined, from player nutritionists to event organizers. Alfie reflects, "I didn't know this, but you can be a nutritionist for players." ​ Organizing Tournaments:…

Scotland is gearing up for an unseasonably warm spell next week, with parts of the country expected to be hotter than Barcelona. The Met Office forecasts temperatures reaching as high as 20C, marking the warmest day of the year so far. Glasgow and Edinburgh to Bask in Spring Sunshine Edinburgh is set for a gradual temperature climb, starting with 11C on Saturday alongside brief afternoon showers. By Sunday, the mercury will rise to 15C, offering a glimpse of the warmer days ahead. Glasgow, however, will take the lead in Scotland’s warm streak. The city is expected to hit 19C on…