News

Unite union accuses Scottish Water of unfair treatment and bypassing collective bargaining A majority of the over 500 Unite members with Scottish Water have voted to strike over a pay and grading dispute. The union claims that the company has refused to make a fair pay offer for 2023 and has imposed a new reward system that is tied to the pay offer. The union also accuses Scottish Water of ignoring long-standing collective bargaining processes and trying to force through changes without consultation. The industrial action could take place in the coming weeks, unless Scottish Water agrees to negotiate with…

A new report by an international campaign group reveals the alarming scale and nature of online child sexual exploitation and abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. Online child abuse images increased by 87% in two years The report, released by the WeProtect Global Alliance, shows an 87% increase in reported cases of online child abuse images to more than 32 million globally. The group collected data from law enforcement agencies, internet companies, civil society organizations and academic institutions from 40 countries. The report attributes the surge in online child abuse images to several factors, such as: Increased internet access and usage…

The mysterious clown of Skelmorlie A small village in Ayrshire, Scotland, has been terrorized by a creepy clown who has been stalking the streets at night. The clown, who calls himself Cole Deimos, dresses as Pennywise the Clown from Stephen King’s hit horror movie It. He has been posting pictures and videos of himself on social media, taunting the residents and the media. The clown claims that he just wants to play in the “sleepy village” and that he does not care about the police. He also says that he does not want fame, glory or gold, but only to…

A brutal attack on a Muslim family A 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy was stabbed to death and his mother was seriously injured by their landlord in Plainfield, Illinois, on Saturday. The attacker, Joseph Czuba, 71, allegedly targeted the mother and son with a 12-inch serrated military knife because of their religion and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. He reportedly yelled “you Muslims must die!” as he tried to choke the woman and stabbed her multiple times. The boy, Wadea al-Fayoume, had celebrated his birthday just a few weeks ago. He loved his family, his friends, soccer and basketball. He…

The aerospace engineering giant announced a major restructuring that will affect its global workforce and operations. Why is Rolls-Royce cutting jobs? Rolls-Royce said it aims to become a “simpler, more streamlined, organisation” through the process of cutting between 2,000 and 2,500 jobs across its global business. The company, which currently employs 42,000 people, said it also plans to remove “duplication” and deliver cost efficiencies through the shake-up. The move is part of a significant transformation plan that Rolls-Royce has been implementing since 2018 to improve its performance and competitiveness. The company has been struggling with the impact of the Covid-19…

Why Israel is fighting Hamas Israel is engaged in a war against Hamas, a terrorist organization that has killed 1,400 people in Israel since 2000. Hamas launched a series of rocket attacks on Israel in October 2023, triggering a swift and fierce response from the Israeli military. Israel says it aims to destroy Hamas’s infrastructure and capabilities, and end its threat to the security and peace of the region. How Israel is trying to minimize civilian deaths Israel faces a difficult challenge in fighting Hamas, as the terrorists hide among the civilian population of Gaza, a densely populated territory. Israel…

Glasgow Life admits losing track of Rodin’s Les Bourgeois de Calais Glasgow Life, the organisation that manages the city’s museums, has admitted that it has lost track of a sculpture by the famous French artist Auguste Rodin. The plaster version of Les Bourgeois de Calais, which is estimated to be worth about £3m, was damaged while on display in Kelvingrove Park in 1949 and its location is currently unknown. The sculpture is one of about 1750 items that are unlocated in Glasgow’s museums collection, according to a freedom of information request by the Sunday Times. The missing items also include…

Sewage spills pose risks to wildlife and swimmers A resolution at the SNP’s annual conference, held in Aberdeen, urged the Scottish Government to increase the availability of data to the environmental watchdog SEPA. The resolution was backed by delegates who expressed concerns over the impact of untreated sewage “gushing” into rivers, lochs and seas on wildlife and swimmers. Sewage spills increased by 40% in recent years Dawn Black, of the SNP Stonehaven and Mearns Branch, told the gathering that during 2022 at least 14,000 sewage spills directly into rivers, lochs and seas had been reported. She said the number of…

Scotland has a rich and diverse aviation heritage, from the early days of flying to the modern era of commercial and military air transport. In this article, we will explore some of the airfields and airports that have had an impact on Scottish history and culture, and how they have transformed the landscape and the lives of Scots. The origins of Scottish aviation: RAF Drem and RAF East Fortune Two of the oldest airfields in Scotland are RAF Drem and RAF East Fortune, both located in East Lothian. They were established by the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, before the…

How the team achieved the feat A team of four kayakers, including Mark Agnew from Edinburgh, completed the 1600-mile journey through the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean in three months. They became the first to kayak the entire route and the first to do it using only their own power, without sails or engines. They followed the same route taken by Sir John Franklin, whose 1845 expedition ended in disaster with the loss of two ships and all 129 men. What challenges they faced along the way The team had to deal with waves as high as 15 feet,…