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Jun
05
2025
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By Dayna Bass
Alstom Secures £50m Deal to Refurbish Lumo Trains for Stirling–London Open Access Route

Alstom Secures £50m Deal to Refurbish Lumo Trains for Stirling–London Open Access Route

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In a clear vote of confidence for open-access rail in an era of renationalisation, Alstom has signed a £50 million agreement to overhaul and maintain the fleet behind Lumo’s bold new Stirling-to-London service, marking the operator’s first foray into West Coast competition. The contract, jointly funded by FirstGroup and rolling stock lessor Eversholt Rail, will see Alstom upgrade five six-car Class 222 Meridian units ahead of the open-access launch in mid-2026—a revised timeline from the original 2025 plan. The move positions Lumo to directly challenge Avanti West Coast and other legacy players on Britain’s busiest long-distance rail artery. Alstom to…
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Jun
05
2025
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By Chris Muir
MINISO Heads West: First Store in West of Scotland Opens at Braehead This Friday

MINISO Heads West: First Store in West of Scotland Opens at Braehead This Friday

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A penguin mascot, live drummers, and £25 goody bags—Braehead is about to get a lot more fun as MINISO officially sets up shop in the West of Scotland. It’s official. The beloved lifestyle retailer MINISO is opening its very first store in the west at Braehead Shopping Centre on Friday, June 6th. The grand opening kicks off at noon, and it’s not just about shelves and shopping bags—this one comes with drums, balloons, and the kind of buzz usually reserved for concert tours. A Global Brand with a Playful Twist Lands in Braehead Braehead isn’t just getting another store. It’s…
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Jun
05
2025
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By Axel Piper
Hamilton Votes: A Crucial By-Election Begins in Scotland’s Heartland

Hamilton Votes: A Crucial By-Election Begins in Scotland’s Heartland

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HAMILTON, Scotland — It’s polling day in the constituency of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse — and while the morning air is calm, the stakes feel anything but routine. Following the death of veteran SNP MSP Christina McKelvie earlier this year, voters are now choosing who will carry the baton into what remains of this Parliament term. The by-election — the first of its kind in Scotland in more than five years — has become a local event with national resonance. Ballot boxes opened at 7 a.m. and will close by 10 p.m., with results expected in the small hours of…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Zane Lee

Scotland County Leads Missouri’s Rural Renewable Energy Charge with New Biodiesel Tank Installation

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MEMPHIS, Mo. — Scotland County is setting an example for rural communities across Missouri by installing a brand-new 20,000-gallon biodiesel tank at the county’s Road & Bridge Barn. This upgrade replaces a decades-old system and brings major improvements in fuel efficiency, cost savings, and environmental impact — while supporting local farmers who produce the renewable fuel. Installed earlier this year, the new tank was funded largely through the Missouri Biofuels Infrastructure Incentive Program. Equipped with a modern dispenser and digital tracking tools, it enables the county to store larger quantities of biodiesel and manage fuel usage with precision. The project…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Ishan Crawford
North of Scotland Strikes £300m Deal to Supercharge EV Infrastructure

North of Scotland Strikes £300m Deal to Supercharge EV Infrastructure

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The Highlands and north-east councils are plugging into a greener future, with the region set for a transformative EV boost — the biggest of its kind in Scotland. A £300 million electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure contract has been secured by councils across the north of Scotland in what officials are calling a “historic collaboration.” The 20-year deal, led by Highland Council and involving EasyGo, aims to radically expand charging access across some of the UK’s most remote communities. A First for Scotland — And a Big One This isn't just another green infrastructure project. It's Scotland’s first inter-council EV…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Dayna Bass
Edinburgh’s Identity Crisis: Is the Capital Becoming a Harry Potter Theme Park?

Edinburgh’s Identity Crisis: Is the Capital Becoming a Harry Potter Theme Park?

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Edinburgh is pulling in record-breaking tourist numbers — but at what cost? Some fear the capital is losing its soul as magic merchandise and photo ops replace real city life. Just six months after being named the most expensive city break in Western Europe, Edinburgh is again under the spotlight. International tourism is booming, yes — but city leaders are asking a sharp-edged question: do we want Edinburgh to turn into a Harry Potter theme park? A City That’s Too Popular for Its Own Good? There’s no question that people love Edinburgh. And it’s not just the Brits or the…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Chris Muir
Simone Lahbib Set to Shake Up River City in Explosive New Role

Simone Lahbib Set to Shake Up River City in Explosive New Role

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One of Scotland’s most recognisable screen talents is heading back to her roots — and straight into the heart of Shieldinch. Simone Lahbib, best known for gritty dramas like Bad Girls, Wire in the Blood and Loch Ness, will make her River City debut later this month in what producers are promising will be a high-stakes, emotionally charged storyline. Her new character, Vivienne ‘Viv’ Barton, is no ordinary arrival. She’s a long-lost mother, a shrewd businesswoman, and part of the notorious Foulkes gangster family — but Viv’s return is anything but a warm homecoming. “She’s a tornado,” Lahbib warns. “She’ll…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Axel Piper
Paths of the Departed: Hiking Scotland’s Ancient Coffin Roads

Paths of the Departed: Hiking Scotland’s Ancient Coffin Roads

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In the far reaches of the Scottish Highlands, where the land opens into sky and the weather changes faster than you can lace a boot, stone-strewn trails curve quietly through heathered hills. They cut across empty glens, skirt lochs black as ink, and climb into wind-scoured passes that few cross today. These are coffin roads — paths of the dead — once trodden by mourners carrying the weight of the departed over many miles to reach sacred burial grounds. Long before paved roads, hearses, or highways, communities in remote corners of Scotland had only their feet and faith to guide…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Zane Lee
Scottish Gang Figures Shot Dead in Spain: Police Push Back on Feud Link

Scottish Gang Figures Shot Dead in Spain: Police Push Back on Feud Link

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Two Scots with ties to Glasgow’s underworld were gunned down in a Spanish bar over the weekend — but police say the killings aren’t necessarily a continuation of Scotland’s gangland feud. Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, and Ross Monaghan, 43, were shot dead late Saturday night in a bar in Fuengirola on Spain’s Costa del Sol. The two were reportedly watching the Champions League final when a gunman burst in and opened fire. Spanish police have launched a murder investigation, but back in Scotland, officials say there’s currently no evidence to suggest the killings were planned or ordered from home turf.…
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Jun
04
2025
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By Ishan Crawford
‘Avalanche’ of Redundancies Hits Scotland’s Oil and Gas Sector, Warns Unite

‘Avalanche’ of Redundancies Hits Scotland’s Oil and Gas Sector, Warns Unite

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Scotland’s oil and gas sector is teetering on the edge of a mass employment crisis, with trade union Unite warning of an “avalanche” of job losses cascading through the industry. Hundreds of skilled contractors at key sites like Grangemouth and Mossmorran are facing redundancy in the coming weeks, in what could be the early stages of a far deeper collapse across the sector. The immediate trigger: cost-cutting by oil giants like ExxonMobil and a steady downturn in operations — but underlying the turmoil is what some now call a failure of transition planning. Mossmorran: First Domino Falls At the Fife…
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