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A nail salon owner in Scotland is fighting to keep her sign after the local council ordered her to change it because it did not fit the traditional style of the conservation area. How the sign controversy started The owner of USA Nails, on Dalkeith High Street, had painted her shop front bright pink and installed a red, white and blue sign without planning permission. The building is a Category C listed property, which means it has some historical or architectural interest. The Midlothian Council issued an enforcement notice in August, saying that the changes had a “significant adverse impact”…

A devastating fire has destroyed a large part of the Station Hotel, a landmark building in Ayr, Scotland. The blaze broke out on Monday, September 25, and lasted for more than a week, leaving the hotel in a dangerous condition. Three teenagers have been arrested and charged in connection with the fire. The Station Hotel: a heritage site in peril The Station Hotel was built in 1885 and was once a grand accommodation for railway travelers. It has 72 rooms, a ballroom, and a restaurant. The hotel is also known for its iconic clock tower, which overlooks the town center.…

A tiny turtle that was stranded on a Scottish beach has made a remarkable recovery and journey back to her natural habitat. How Iona was found and rescued Iona, a loggerhead turtle, was found washed up on a beach in Scotland last year over a thousand miles from her natural habitat. She was not expected to “make the night” after she was found in 10C water off the Scottish island of Iona – after which she was named – in January 2022. The animal was found cold-stunned and dehydrated and became the smallest live stranded loggerhead turtle recorded in the…

A historic clock tower in Stirling, Scotland, was unexpectedly torn down by the council last month, sparking outrage and criticism from locals and heritage groups. What happened to the Christie Clock? The Christie Clock was a category C-Listed building that was erected in 1906 in memory of George Christie, who was Provost of Stirling from 1870 to 1879. The clock tower was located on the corner of King Street and Spittal Street, near the city centre. On August 29, 2023, Stirling Council began work to remove the head of the clock for urgent off-site repairs, after it was deemed at…

Suella Braverman calls for ditching universal human rights and refugee conventions The UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, delivered a controversial speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester on Tuesday, in which she warned of an imminent “hurricane” of migration and suggested that the UK should abandon the Refugee Convention of 1951 and the European Convention of Human Rights. She also attacked the opponents of Brexit as unpatriotic and elitist, and dismissed the supporters of human rights as a privileged “ruling class” who never pay the price for their own “luxury” opinions. Braverman’s speech has been widely condemned by human…

Scotland have made a surprise change at scrum-half for their decisive Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Ireland in Paris on Saturday. Ali Price has replaced Ben White, who has dropped out of the match-day 23. The rest of the team is the same as the one that lost to South Africa in their opening game. Price gets the nod over White Price, who plays for Glasgow Warriors, has 65 caps for Scotland and started the 84-0 thrashing of Romania last week. He will partner Finn Russell at half-back and outside them will be centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw…

Why buffer zones are needed The article begins by describing the author’s personal reaction to seeing anti-choice protesters outside Scottish hospitals. The author, a Scottish Green MSP, expresses horror and revulsion at the protesters’ graphic banners, judgmental attitude, and aggressive tactics. The author empathizes with the people who have to endure the protesters’ harassment and intimidation, and questions how such a situation can exist in the 21st century. How buffer zones work The article then explains the concept of buffer zones, which are pre-designated areas surrounding a site where protests are prohibited. The author argues that buffer zones are the…