News

GLASGOW — Scotland is set for a burst of summer heat in the coming days, with temperatures climbing into the mid-20s Celsius—potentially making this week the warmest of the year so far. But don’t pack away the waterproofs just yet. The sizzle will be tempered by a wave of heavy, thundery downpours sweeping across the country. Warmest Spell of 2025 Incoming? Wednesday saw temperatures peak at 22°C officially in parts of the Highlands, Perthshire, Renfrewshire, and Aberdeenshire. But many personal weather stations reported even higher readings, with some Glasgow and North Lanarkshire monitors registering 24°C—making it one of the hottest…

EDINBURGH — A major Canadian space technology company has announced it is expanding operations in Scotland, opening a new office in Edinburgh as part of its growing European footprint. PCI Geomatics, known globally for its advanced Earth Observation (EO) solutions and operating under its brand Catalyst, has selected the Futures Institute in Edinburgh as the base for its latest venture. The move marks a significant milestone in the firm’s international expansion and reinforces its commitment to the UK’s fast-growing space sector. Strengthening Ties with the UK’s Space Ecosystem With a 40-year legacy of developing image processing technologies for satellite data,…

BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELAND — Officers from Police Scotland have been sent to Ballymena following a formal request for assistance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), as tensions in the town continue to escalate after two consecutive nights of civil unrest. The move comes under the mutual aid agreement — a protocol allowing UK police forces to support one another in times of operational strain. An undisclosed number of public order officers, specially trained in handling large-scale disturbances, have been deployed. Violent Protests and Injuries The unrest in County Antrim was sparked by public anger over an alleged sexual…

EAST AYRSHIRE — A state-owned energy titan from Germany is making a significant investment in Scotland’s renewable future, with confirmation that Uniper will begin construction on its first wind farm in the country. The project, located in East Ayrshire, will feature seven turbines with a total generation capacity of 46.2 megawatts — enough to power the equivalent of more than 66,000 UK households annually once operational. Germany’s Green Muscle Lands in Scotland Uniper, which is majority-owned by the German federal government, announced it is entering the construction phase of the East Ayrshire wind farm after developing the project in partnership…

INVERNESS – Scotland’s iconic North Coast 500 (NC500) road trip may be known for its dramatic views and rugged coastal beauty, but it’s also become the centre of mounting concerns over road safety and overcrowding. Now, a new pledge signed by over 3,000 visitors is aiming to change that — by encouraging more respectful, responsible travel through the Highlands. Launched last October by North Coast 500 Ltd, the initiative asks travellers to “do the right thing” by committing to a set of behaviours that protect both the environment and the communities who live along the 830-kilometre route. A Scenic Route…

Too often, public conversation around refugees is dominated by numbers, fears, or politics. But behind every statistic is a human journey — filled with setbacks, perseverance, and quiet victories. When I arrived in Scotland as an asylum seeker, I didn’t carry a roadmap. What I had were hopes, aspirations, and a deep uncertainty — but also an unwavering determination to build a better life. I sought more than just safety. I sought a future. What I found here was more than refuge. I found a country that, despite its challenges, has offered sanctuary to tens of thousands like me. And…

European islands have always had a flair for the dramatic — sweeping cliffs, sun-drenched villages, and windswept ruins that seem plucked from a storyboard. In 2025, that natural charisma is being leveraged like never before as Spain joins Denmark, Ireland, Malta, and Scotland in luring U.S. and U.K. tourists away from predictable vacation paths and into travel packages inspired by the silver screen. Forget all-inclusive resorts and overcrowded capitals — this year, it’s about Cinematic Island Getaways, where fantasy collides with reality. With travel companies rolling out curated trips that mimic movie settings, these five island nations are tapping into…

For centuries, Poland’s Piast dynasty stood as a national cornerstone — homegrown rulers said to have emerged from the soil of Slavic ancestry. But a recent series of scientific breakthroughs has delivered a jolt to that story: Poland’s founding kings may not have been Polish at all. In fact, their bloodline might trace to the rugged shores of early medieval Scotland. That’s the stunning implication of genetic research led by molecular biologist Marek Figlerowicz and his team at Poznań University of Technology. Their DNA study, which involved exhuming bones from over a dozen medieval crypts, has introduced a new and…

“If you know someone who’s gone above and beyond—nominate them.” That’s the message from Health Secretary Neil Gray, as Scotland’s most heartfelt awards ceremony returns for another year. And this time, the spotlight on everyday heroes feels brighter than ever. With 17 categories ready to celebrate the nation’s health and care champions, nominations are now open—and the call to act isn’t just a polite suggestion. It’s a nudge from the heart of government to the people of Scotland. Why These Awards Matter More Than Ever You can feel it in Neil Gray’s voice—this isn’t just about handing out trophies. It’s…

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has defended Police Scotland’s policy on recording the sex and gender identity of suspects, as opposition parties and campaigners call for urgent government intervention following explosive claims from a whistleblower inside the force. The anonymous officer alleged this week that front-line staff are being “coerced” into recording suspects by their self-declared gender identity—even in the most serious cases, including rape. The whistleblower told media outlets that officers fear disciplinary action if they question policies that permit male-born suspects who identify as women to be recorded as female in official crime data. “There is clarity,” says Constance…