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What is the Bute House Agreement? The Bute House Agreement is a co-operation deal between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, signed in August 2023. It gave the Greens two ministerial posts and a range of policy concessions, in exchange for their support for the SNP government in the Scottish Parliament. The deal also committed both parties to work together for a second independence referendum. Why is the deal controversial? The deal has been criticised by some SNP members and supporters, who fear that it will alienate moderate and pro-union voters, and that it will give too much influence to…

What happened in the attack? On Saturday, October 8, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The militant group used motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders and speedboats to break through the security fence and infiltrate into nearby Israeli towns. They gunned down civilians on roads, in orchards and at a music festival, killing at least 700 people and wounding thousands more. They also dragged back dozens of captives, including women, children and the elderly, to Gaza. How did Israel respond? Israel retaliated with a massive bombardment of Gaza, hitting more than 800 targets and leveling much…

A young British man serving in the Israeli army has been killed in an attack by Hamas militants on the Gaza border, his family have said. Nathanel Young, 20, was one of the 26 soldiers who died in the invasion that started on Saturday. Who was Nathanel Young? Nathanel Young was a former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London. He had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana, a city in central Israel. He was serving with the Israeli Defence Services (IDF) as a combat soldier. His family described him as their “little…

A new book reveals the life and times of Ruaraidh Erskine of Marr, a Scottish poet and activist who influenced some of the most radical figures of the 20th century. Erskine of Marr: A forgotten hero of Scottish independence Ruaraidh Erskine of Marr was born in 1879 into a wealthy and aristocratic family. He was educated at Eton and Oxford, where he developed a passion for literature and politics. He became a founder of the forerunner of the National Party of Scotland, which advocated for Scottish self-determination and independence from Britain. Erskine of Marr was also a prolific writer, who…

Quebec is a province of Canada that attracts thousands of Europeans every year, especially French people who share a common language and culture with the Quebecers. Many of them come to visit, study, work or settle in this land of opportunity and diversity. In this article, we will explore the reasons why Quebec is a dream destination for many French people, and how they integrate into the Quebecois society. Quebec’s history and culture are closely linked to France One of the main reasons why French people are drawn to Quebec is its history and culture, which are closely linked to…

The UK government is facing criticism from human rights groups and activists for its alleged plans to scrap a ban on conversion practices and delay reforms on trans rights. What are conversion practices and why are they harmful? Conversion practices are any attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. They are based on the false and harmful assumption that being LGBT+ is a disorder that needs to be cured. Conversion practices can take various forms, such as psychological counselling, religious rituals, or even physical abuse. Conversion practices have been widely condemned by medical and mental health professionals,…

Scotland is facing a major flooding crisis as heavy rain caused rivers to overflow and inundate nearby areas. The River Dee and the River Spey have burst their banks, affecting parks, fields, and roads along their courses. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for rain across several regions, while the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued more than 50 flood warnings and a severe flood warning for the Aviemore/Dalfaber area. How the rain triggered the flooding The flooding was triggered by a prolonged period of heavy rainfall that started on Saturday and continued until Sunday afternoon. The…

Labour has claimed a stunning victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, defeating the SNP by a large margin and increasing its share of the vote by more than 20%. How Labour pulled off a historic win The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who breached Covid-19 rules by travelling between Scotland and London while infected. Labour selected Michael Shanks, a local councillor and former teacher, as its candidate. He campaigned on a platform of delivering change for the constituency, which has been hit hard by poverty, unemployment and drug deaths. Labour also…

The environmental impact of pet food Pet food production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption. According to a new study, switching dogs and cats to vegan diets would make emissions savings equal to those produced by Saudi Arabia or Australia. The study estimates that this would also spare billions of animals from slaughter and free up more calories for human consumption. The feasibility of vegan diets for pets Some people may wonder if vegan diets are healthy and safe for pets, especially cats who are obligate carnivores. Numerous studies have shown that dogs…