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The health secretary’s admission Health Secretary Michael Matheson has admitted that his sons used his parliamentary iPad to watch football matches during a family holiday in Morocco, resulting in an £11,000 data roaming bill that was initially paid by the public purseThis shocking revelation came after weeks of pressure from the Scottish Conservatives, led by Douglas Ross, who demanded transparency and accountability from the SNP minister. Matheson had previously claimed that he used the iPad for work purposes only, and that the bill was caused by an outdated SIM card. He also said that he had contributed £3,000 from his…

The COP28 climate change summit is underway in Dubai, where world leaders are expected to discuss how to limit and prepare for the impacts of a warming planet. However, some critics have raised concerns about the credibility and effectiveness of the conference, as well as the role of the host country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the world’s top oil producers. The stakes are high for COP28 The COP28 summit follows a year of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves, that have shattered many climate records and caused widespread devastation and displacement. According to…

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of the world’s most iconic cultural events, is set to enter a new era under the leadership of a former US marine. Buster Howes, who took over as the chief executive of the Tattoo in January 2023, has ambitious plans to expand the global reach and impact of the show, while preserving its heritage and traditions. A military and diplomatic background Howes, who was born in London but grew up in Scotland, has a distinguished career in the military and diplomacy. He joined the US Marine Corps in 1981 and served in various roles, including…

Sexual violence against women and girls is a global problem that affects millions of lives every year. Despite the efforts of activists, governments, and international organizations, the issue remains pervasive and often ignored. Many experts agree that talking about the problem is not enough to end it. Instead, they call for more concrete actions, such as changing social norms, strengthening laws, and providing support to survivors. The scale of the problem According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. This means that more than one billion women…

Denmark is a world leader in renewable energy, with more than half of its electricity coming from wind and solar power. The Scandinavian country has also pioneered district heating, a system that uses waste heat from power plants and other sources to warm homes and buildings. Denmark’s green energy revolution can inspire Scotland to ditch fossil fuels and achieve its ambitious climate goals. Denmark’s district heating system: a model for Scotland District heating is a network of pipes that delivers hot water or steam to multiple buildings, providing space heating and domestic hot water. The heat can come from various…

A new poll has revealed that Labour has overtaken the SNP in voting intention for the next UK general election, while the Conservatives have slumped to third place. The poll, conducted by Redfield and Wilton Strategies, also showed that Labour has a narrow lead over the SNP in the regional list vote for the Scottish Parliament, while the SNP remains ahead in the constituency vote. Labour and SNP Tied on 35% for Westminster The poll, which was published on Wednesday evening, found that both Labour and the SNP would win 35% of the votes in Scotland if a general election…

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that its two giant pandas, Yang Guang and Tian Tian, will be returning to China after 12 years of living in Scotland. The zoo said that the decision was made after a long and difficult negotiation with the Chinese authorities, who own the pandas and loan them to foreign zoos for a fee. Pandas were a major attraction for the zoo The pandas arrived in Edinburgh in December 2011, as part of a 10-year agreement that was later extended by two years. They were the first and only giant pandas in the UK, and attracted millions…