News

Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Heritage Train Tours in Scotland Face Uncertain Future Due to Safety Upgrade Costs

Heritage Train Tours in Scotland Face Uncertain Future Due to Safety Upgrade Costs

News
The Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS), a charity that operates scenic railway excursions and museums, has announced that it will have to suspend most of its heritage train tours until it can raise £500,000 for safety upgrades. The SRPS said that new regulations from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) require all its locomotives and carriages to be fitted with an automatic braking system called TPWS (Train Protection and Warning System) by the end of 2023. Without this system, the SRPS trains will not be allowed to run on the mainline network, which covers most of the routes they…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
A Scottish island’s abandoned house sold as a second home

A Scottish island’s abandoned house sold as a second home

News
A house on the remote Scottish island of Hirta, which was once part of a thriving community before being evacuated in 1930, has been sold as a second home to a private buyer. The sale has sparked controversy among conservationists and locals, who fear that the island’s heritage and wildlife will be compromised. The history of Hirta and its evacuation Hirta is the largest and only inhabited island of the St Kilda archipelago, located 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides. It was home to a small population of islanders who lived off the land and sea, mainly by hunting…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Glasgow marks 10 years since Clutha helicopter crash

Glasgow marks 10 years since Clutha helicopter crash

News
Survivors and relatives share their memories of the night Ten years ago, on 29 November 2013, a police helicopter crashed into the roof of The Clutha, a popular pub in Glasgow, killing 10 people and injuring 31 others. The tragedy shocked the city and the nation, and left many questions unanswered. Today, survivors and relatives of the victims shared their memories of the night and how they have coped with the aftermath. John McGarrigle Jr, whose father John McGarrigle Sr was one of the six people killed in the pub, said he still struggles with the loss of his dad,…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Scottish legal reforms face backlash from senior judge and lawyers

Scottish legal reforms face backlash from senior judge and lawyers

News
The Scottish government’s proposed bill to reform the regulation of legal services has sparked a strong opposition from the country’s second most senior judge and the legal profession. They claim that the bill threatens the independence of the judiciary and the legal sector from the state. Lady Dorrian expresses ‘grave concerns’ over the bill Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk and chair of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, has voiced her ‘grave concerns’ over the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill in a letter to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament. She said that…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Scotland’s healthcare workers demand fair pay and recognition

Scotland’s healthcare workers demand fair pay and recognition

Health, News
Scotland’s healthcare workers have staged a protest outside the Scottish Parliament, calling on the government to honour its promises of fair pay and recognition for their efforts during the pandemic. The protest, organised by the trade union Unison, was attended by hundreds of NHS staff, including nurses, paramedics, porters, cleaners, and administrative workers. Unfulfilled promises and low morale The protesters claimed that the government had failed to deliver on its pledge of a 4% pay rise for all NHS staff, which was announced in March 2021. According to Unison, many workers have not received the pay increase, or have received…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
China and the U.S. seek to improve trade relations at Davos

China and the U.S. seek to improve trade relations at Davos

Business, News
China’s President Xi Jinping delivers a surprise speech at the World Economic Forum In a rare appearance at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a speech that signaled a willingness to engage with the U.S. on trade issues. Xi said that China and the U.S. have both realized that they need to have trade and that they should respect each other’s core interests and major concerns. He also said that China is ready to work with the international community to uphold the multilateral trading system and promote global economic recovery. Xi’s speech…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Greece accuses UK of using Parthenon Marbles as a political tool

Greece accuses UK of using Parthenon Marbles as a political tool

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Greece has slammed the UK for using the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, as a political tool to boost the popularity of Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of the next general election. The Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said that the UK’s decision to loan one of the sculptures to a museum in Sunak’s constituency was a “provocative act” and a “violation of international law”. The Parthenon Marbles dispute The Parthenon Marbles are a collection of ancient Greek sculptures, friezes, and architectural elements that once adorned the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena on the Acropolis…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Saint Andrew’s Day: Alyn Smith on the significance of Scotland’s patron saint

Saint Andrew’s Day: Alyn Smith on the significance of Scotland’s patron saint

News
Saint Andrew’s Day, celebrated on November 30 every year, is a national day of Scotland that honours its patron saint. On this occasion, Alyn Smith, the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture in the Scottish Government, shared his views on why Saint Andrew is the key to Scotland’s national story. Saint Andrew: A symbol of unity and diversity According to Smith, Saint Andrew represents the values and aspirations of the Scottish people, as well as their connections with the wider world. He said that Saint Andrew was a “traveller, a storyteller, a bridge-builder and a peacemaker”, who embodied…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
New poll shows ‘record’ support for abolishing the monarchy

New poll shows ‘record’ support for abolishing the monarchy

News
A new poll conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NCSR) has revealed that only 29% of Britons think the monarchy is “very important”, the lowest proportion on record. The poll, which was published on Wednesday, also showed that 25% of respondents said the monarchy was “not at all important” or “should be abolished”. King Charles faces a rocky future The poll comes at a time when King Charles, who ascended the throne in February 2022 after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, is preparing for his coronation in June 2023. The coronation, which is expected to…
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Nov
29
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Rent prices soar across the country as landlords cash in on housing crisis

Rent prices soar across the country as landlords cash in on housing crisis

Business, News
Renters across the country are feeling the pinch as landlords hike up prices amid a housing crisis that has left many people struggling to find affordable and decent accommodation. According to the latest data from Rent.com, the national median rent price for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 13.7% year-over-year in October, reaching $1,978. This is the highest annual increase since the company started tracking rent prices in 2012. Demand outstrips supply in major cities One of the main factors driving up rent prices is the imbalance between demand and supply in major urban areas, where many people are looking for work,…
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