The Red Cross have finally arrived in the besieged Syrian city of Homs and say they are determined to go into the Baba Amr district. Syrian Red Cross spokesperson, Salah Dabakeh, said: “They are set to deliver supplies to Baba Amr in order to provide urgent help and make it easier the eviction of injured [...]
French President takes refuge in bar
March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Attack: The French President is booed this morning. Video: TFI News/ YouTube French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been attacked by protesters while out on the campaign trail, forcing him to hide in a bar. Mr Sarkozy was in Bayonne in the Basque region of France, continuing his tour of the country prior to the [...]
Lockerbie Timeline
February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
December 2008 – Pan Am flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, killing 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 on the ground November 1991 – Libyan nationals Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi and al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah are accused of 270 counts of murder January 2001 – After a trial at Camp Zeist, a neutral court set up in the Netherlands, [...]
Podcast: new book sheds light on Lockerbie bombing
February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Claims MacAskill urged Lockerbie bomber to drop appeal
February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Scottish Justice Secretary urged the Lockerbie bomber to abandon his appeal against conviction in order to “make it easier” for him to be released on compassionate grounds, according to a new book. The Scottish government has denied the claims, with Downing Street branding the book “an insult.” “Megrahi: You Are My Jury” was written [...]
Neil Lennon mail-bomber accused go on trial
February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The trial of the two men accused of a plot to kill Celtic manager Neil Lennon began at the High Court in Glasgow today. Neil McKenzie, 42, and Trevor Muirhead, 43, both from Northern Ayrshire, are accused of sending suspected parcel bombs to Mr Lennon, QC Paul McBride and former MSP Trish Godman. They are [...]
Scottish childcare costs highest in the UK
February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
by Boyana Atanasova Scottish families are paying the highest childcare fees in the UK, according to new survey data. The results of a poll by Save the Children and the Daycare Trust show that childcare expenses in the country have increased since last April, when the Government introduced cuts to its financial support for childcare. [...]
Edinburgh first to back global Occupy movement
November 24, 2011 By
Edinburgh Council has become the first political body to officially back to worldwide Occupy movement. The council this afternoon voted in an overwhelming majority to redirect economic decisions to be more focussed on the needs of the 99% in an attempt to reduce the “inequitable gap” between the rich and poor. The SNP, Liberal Democrats, [...]
Council scraps environmental privatisation plans
November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The council has scrapped plans to outsource its environmental services to private firm Enterprise. The move means that services such as bin collection, recycling and responsibility for public spaces including parks will remain with the council. The decision came this afternoon after SNP councillors won a majority vote against their Liberal Democrat coalition partners who [...]
New future ahead for Spain after the General Election Day?
November 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
by Natalia Rodríguez Domínguez Will Spanish General Election results mark the beginning of a new era for the country to get over its worst-ever economic crisis? This year’s elections have been dominated by Spain’s deepest debt crisis. In his victory speech, Mariano Rajoy, new President of the Spanish Government stated: “There won’t be any miracles. [...]
National strikes row continues
November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
On November 30, the largest series of strikes in UK history are set to take place. They will involve over 25 different unions around the country including UNISON, Unite, NUS and EIS. The Trades Union Congress’(TUC) website states that their Day of Action could potentially attract up to 3 million workers in the walkout. The [...]
Finland says farewell to the Markka
November 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
Before leaving Scotland a friend handed over some old Finnish markka, challenging me to see if I could “still use them.” In truth the Finnish markka ceased to be legal tender in 2002. Finland adopted the euro when entering the Eurozone in 1999, and is still the only Scandinavian country to have embraced the single [...]
Salmond “scared of separation”
November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Iain Gray used today’s First Minister’s Questions to corner Alex Salmond over his refusal to name a date for Scotland’s referendum on independence, accusing the First Minister of being “scared of separation”. In typical First Ministers’ Questions style, Mr Salmond responded in kind by accusing the Labour leader of being “frightened of the concept of [...]
“Chinese Army” couldn’t grit Edinburgh
November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A local Councillor has described Edinburgh’s attempt to keep the city’s streets safe during the winter season as “impossible for the Council to do, even if they got the Chinese army.” The comments come as local residents raise concerns about the availability and distribution of grit as predictions of a harsh winter loom. Last year [...]
Scotland climate change warning
November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Scotland is at increasing risk from climate change, a new report published today claims. The report, entitled, ‘How well is Scotland preparing for climate change’, argues that there will be both benefits to Scotland, and risks. It urges the Scottish government to take action to mitigate the impact of climate change. Some of the benefits [...]
The week so far in Scottish politics
November 24, 2011 By 1 Comment
Squabbles over independence, a fight against sectarianism and donations from lottery winners: this is the week so far in Scottish politics. Listen here: Check back this afternoon for a run down of the first minister’s questions.
Thousands of students protest against Spanish education cuts
November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
by Natalia Rodríguez Domínguez Just three days before the Spanish General Elections, thousands of students and teaching staff from Spanish Universities have taken to the streets in order to protest against education cuts, difficult working conditions and educational reform which is to be implemented by the government in 2015. Spanish students have chosen the International [...]
Activists condemn ‘Another Pine Gap’
November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
by Tom Freeman and Marie Montodo Australian peace activists have criticised a new agreement between Australia and the US which will lead to an increased American military presence in the area. President Barack Obama assured the Asia-Pacific region that the U.S. was “here to stay,” after announcing 2,500 U.S. troops and aircraft will operate out of [...]
Another Statutory Notice Saga
November 17, 2011 By 1 Comment
Salmond:Teacher strike is “premature”
November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Today in parliament Alex Salmond praised Scottish teachers, but refused to bow to impending strike action. Teachers have responded by accusing the First Minister of ‘serving platitudes’. Last week members of Scotland’s largest teaching union voted “overwhelmingly” to join other public sector workers in a national day of strike action on the 30th November. Salmond [...]
NUS Scotland reacts to spending review
September 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
By Joseph Blythe NUS Scotland have welcomed Scottish Government plans to increase funding for universities by around £75million. However they have said that they are “concerned” at proposed cuts to college funding, and warned that the government should ensure the number of places available doesn’t fall. The plans, announced yesterday by Finance Secretary John Swinney, [...]
Edinburgh Council’s ‘painful’ vote goes ahead despite court action
September 22, 2011 By 4 Comments
By Tom Freeman In the face of legal action, Edinburgh City Council is today voting to approve preparatory works on building on one of Edinburgh’s community parks. Portobello Park, between the ancient Portobello 9-hole golf course and the Milton Road section of the A1, is the preferred site for the new Portobello High School. The Portobello [...]
2.30 Bulletin
March 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Headlines: Listen to today’s 2.30 bulletin to hear about the latest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution, funeral marches in Syria and how to have a dinner with the lights off. Listen Here:
1.30 Bulletin
March 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
by Catherine Mumford, Susannah Radford, Fearghus Roulston, Orla Nr Sheaghdha Headlines: Listen to today’s 1.30 bulletin to join in the debate as questions are asked about aid to Burma. We talk with Grassmarket Community Project about helping people to fill out the census. We investigate whether people know about Earth Hour and find out what’s [...]
