News

Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Unseen photos of a deserted Scottish island on display at St Andrews

Unseen photos of a deserted Scottish island on display at St Andrews

News
How a former World Photographer of the Year captured Mingulay Craig Easton, who won the prestigious award in 2021, was inspired by the early photographs of Robert Moyes Adam, who visited Mingulay between 1905 and 1922. Easton wanted to mark the centenary of Adam’s final visit and follow in his footsteps with a large format camera. He took great risks to reach the island, which lies south of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and is now a nature reserve. The contrast between past and present on Mingulay Easton’s photos are part of an exhibition at the University of St Andrews’…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Scottish women face barriers to sport participation, report finds

Scottish women face barriers to sport participation, report finds

News, Sports
A new report by a Scottish parliamentary committee has revealed the many challenges that women and girls face in taking part in sport and physical activity in Scotland. Harassment and abuse while exercising The report says that one of the main barriers that women and girls encounter is the harassment and abuse they can face while exercising. This can range from verbal insults, sexual comments, unwanted touching, flashing, and even physical assault. The report says that this behaviour can have a negative impact on women and girls’ confidence, self-esteem, and mental health, and deter them from engaging in sport and…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Amazon announces pay rise for UK staff

Amazon announces pay rise for UK staff

Business, News
Online giant boosts minimum starting pay to between £11.80 and £12.50 an hour Amazon has announced a pay rise for its UK staff, effective from October 15. The online giant said the increase will apply to all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal roles, as well as over 15,000 seasonal employees who will be hired for the festive season. The minimum starting pay will increase to between £11.80 and £12.50 an hour, depending on location, and will rise further next April to between £12.30 and £13 an hour. Amazon invests £170m in pay and claims to offer competitive wages and benefits…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
British citizens killed and missing in Israel rocket attack

British citizens killed and missing in Israel rocket attack

News
A rocket attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel has claimed the lives of several British citizens and left others missing, according to their families and friends. Bernard Cowan: “The kindest, most generous person” One of the victims was Bernard Cowan, who was murdered on Saturday in Ashkelon, a city near the Gaza border. His brother confirmed his death on social media, saying he was “heartbroken” by the loss of his sibling. “My brother was murdered by the terrorists Hamas, he was the kindest, most generous person you would ever meet, and would go out his way to help others,…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Scientists warn of addiction to ultra-processed foods

Scientists warn of addiction to ultra-processed foods

Health, News
What are ultra-processed foods and why are they harmful? Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are foods that have undergone industrial processing and contain additives, such as sugar, salt, fat, preservatives, and flavor enhancers. Examples of UPFs include ice cream, crisps, mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, and ready meals. UPFs are widely consumed around the world, especially in developed countries. They account for 58% of calories consumed in the United States, according to a recent study. However, UPFs have been linked to a number of health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. They also have a negative impact on mental…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
New scalpel with built-in sensors could revolutionize surgery training

New scalpel with built-in sensors could revolutionize surgery training

Health, News
A team of researchers from Edinburgh University has developed a scalpel that can measure the amount of force applied by surgeons during procedures. The scalpel could be used to assess and improve the skills of trainees and pave the way for robotic surgery. How the scalpel works The scalpel has a force-sensing system that consists of two thin layers of metal separated by a thin layer of air. When the scalpel is pressed against a surface, the air layer is compressed and changes the electrical resistance of the system. The scalpel can then detect the amount of force applied by…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Scotland braces for more floods and snow after record-breaking rainfall

Scotland braces for more floods and snow after record-breaking rainfall

News
Scotland is facing more wet and wintry weather after a weekend of record-breaking rainfall that caused landslides, floods and disruption across the country. A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued by the Met Office for Tuesday, covering parts of the northwest Highlands down to Glasgow and North Ayrshire. The warning also affects regions including Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Falkirk, Argyll and Bute, Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire. How bad was the weekend’s weather? The weekend’s weather was unprecedented in some areas, with Dunstaffnage in Argyll and Bute recording 68.8mm of rainfall in 24 hours, beating the previous record of 59.5mm…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Aberdeen’s historic Belmont Cinema to reopen as a not-for-profit

Aberdeen’s historic Belmont Cinema to reopen as a not-for-profit

News
Aberdeen’s only independent filmhouse, which closed last year due to financial troubles, is set to reopen in 2024 as a not-for-profit community cinema. A local charity has launched a £2m fundraising campaign to restore the historic venue and make it a hub for film education and culture. The closure of Belmont Cinema Belmont Cinema was Aberdeen’s only independent filmhouse, offering a diverse range of films from around the world, as well as hosting festivals, events and workshops. The cinema was housed in a Grade B listed building that dates back to 1896 and was originally a school. However, in October…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
UK Government snubs Holyrood committee over deposit return scheme

UK Government snubs Holyrood committee over deposit return scheme

News
Scottish Secretary refuses to give evidence on Internal Market Act powers The UK Government has rejected a second invitation from a Scottish Parliament committee to explain its decision to block a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland. The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee wanted to hear from Scottish Secretary Alister Jack and other UK ministers about the impact of the Internal Market Act (IMA) on devolved powers and intergovernmental relations. However, Jack said the responsibility for answering questions on DRS fell with the Scottish Government, not the UK Government. Deposit return scheme delayed by UK legislation The DRS is…
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Oct
10
2023
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By Ishan Crawford
Labour MP refuses to rule out blocking Scottish legislation using Section 35

Labour MP refuses to rule out blocking Scottish legislation using Section 35

News
What is Section 35 and why is it controversial? Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 is a provision that allows the UK Government to prevent the Scottish Parliament from passing laws that would affect reserved matters, such as defence, foreign affairs, immigration, and taxation. The UK Government can use Section 35 to block any Scottish bill that it considers to be incompatible with UK law or international obligations. Section 35 has been rarely used in the past, but it has become a source of tension between the UK and Scottish Governments in recent years. The most notable example was…
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