News

A new international project has been launched to explore the possibilities and challenges of Scotland’s future relationship with Europe. The project, called Scotland’s European Future, is led by the University of Edinburgh and involves researchers from Scotland, the UK, and other European countries. The Aim of the Project The project aims to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of the legal, political, economic, and social implications of Scotland’s potential future scenarios in relation to Europe. These scenarios include: Remaining part of the UK and seeking a closer alignment with the EU than the current UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Becoming an…

A performing arts academy in West Lothian has tripled its intake of students after moving to a new multi-million pound facility. The academy, which offers courses in music, dance, drama and theatre, has seen a surge in demand from young people who want to pursue their creative passions. A dream come true for the academy The academy, which was founded in 2015, had been operating from a rented space in Livingston until last month, when it moved to its new home in Bathgate. The new facility, which cost £3.2 million to build, features state-of-the-art studios, classrooms, rehearsal rooms and a…

A Scottish charity has delivered hundreds of gifts to children in Ukraine who are living in the midst of a war that has entered its third winter. The charity, called Aid Convoy, collected donations from schools, churches, and individuals across Scotland and transported them to the eastern region of Donbass, where a conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists has been raging since 2014. A gesture of kindness and solidarity The gifts, which included toys, clothes, books, and toiletries, were wrapped in festive paper and labelled with the names and ages of the recipients. The charity said that the aim…

Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt has expressed his trust in Blair Kinghorn, who is set to play his final home game for the club against Benetton on Friday night. Kinghorn, who has been linked with a move to French giants Toulouse, scored two tries in his last appearance at Hive Stadium, but could not prevent his side from losing 22-24 to the Italian outfit. Kinghorn’s contribution to Edinburgh Kinghorn, who joined Edinburgh in 2015, has been one of the club’s most consistent and versatile players, featuring in various positions across the backline. He has made 115 appearances for the club, scoring…

Peter Kelly, the director of the Poverty Alliance, has criticised the Scottish Government for using tax avoidance as an excuse to make spending cuts in the upcoming budget. He argues that the government has a choice to invest in public services and social security, and to tackle the root causes of poverty and inequality. Tax gap widens between Scotland and the rest of the UK The Scottish Government has decided not to pass on a tax break for higher earners that was introduced by the UK Government in April 2023. This means that the tax gap between Scotland and the…

The Scotsman has published the first chapter of a new historical novel by Ross Macfarlane QC, titled The Supernal Sisters. The novel features Edward Kane, a young Scottish advocate who is drawn into a mysterious case involving two sisters who claim to have supernatural powers. The First Chapter: ‘Jesus Was Just Like a Ghost’ The first chapter introduces the reader to Edward Kane, who is attending a lecture by Professor James Young Simpson, a pioneer of anaesthesia and obstetrics. Kane is fascinated by Simpson’s experiments with chloroform and ether, and his discoveries of ancient artefacts and fossils. Kane also meets…