Scottish news
‘Worrying’ dip in foreign languages at Scots schools
FOREIGN language learning in Scotland’s schools has dipped to “worrying” new levels, education experts warned last night. The warning that the decline will have an negative impact on Scotland’s standing in the world came after it emerged that only about one in ten S5 pupils is taking foreign language courses.
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Jimmy Savile’s Highland home to be auctioned
JIMMY Savile’s holiday cottage in the Scottish Highlands is to be auctioned off by trustees of the disgraced television presenter’s estate to help fund compensation to hundreds of the victims he sexually abused.
Police probe Glasgow Council leader on George Square
THE leader of Glasgow City Council is facing calls to stand down after it emerged that he is being investigated by police over alleged misconduct during the £100,000 contest to redesign George Square.
Yes Scotland must ‘sharpen up’, says chairman
THE chairman of the pro-independence campaign says it must “sharpen up” and address the everyday “needs of people” to secure a Yes vote in next year’s referendum.
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Family appeal for information on M9 teen death
THE devastated family of a boy found dead on the M9 motorway have made an appeal for information about his death.
UK
Andy Murray’s big year sends him up Rich List
SCOTTISH tennis ace Andy Murray has seen his fortunes soar in more ways than one since making his big sporting breakthrough when he won the US Open last year.
1 commentMansion swimming pool deaths ‘unexplained’
Post-mortem examinations will take place today into the deaths of a man and woman found in a swimming pool at a country mansion.
Blind people have ‘more accurate’ memories
CONGENITALLY blind people have more accurate memories than those with sight, research has found.
Ukip ‘full of clowns and racists’, says Ken Clarke
KEN Clarke ramped up Tory attacks on Ukip yesterday, branding the party’s politicians “clowns” and some of their supporters racist.
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Coalition infrastructure plan ‘not credible’
A FLAGSHIP £310 billion coalition government drive to get Britain building and revive the flatlining economy has been branded “unrealistic” by an influential committee of MPs.
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International
Bangladesh factory owner held by police
THE owner of a factory building that collapsed in Bangladesh killing hundreds of textile workers has been arrested trying to flee to India, as hopes of finding more survivors from the country’s worst industrial accident began to fade.
Two dead as gas explosion rips apart French homes
A PROBABLE gas explosion ripped off the side of a five-storey residential building in France’s Champagne country yesterday, killing at least two people and injuring at least ten others.
Iceland votes to return centre-right to power
IN a dramatic political swing, Icelandic voters have returned to power the centre-right parties that led the national economy to collapse five years ago.
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Obama lets hair down at White House media bash
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has joked that the years are catching up to him and he’s not “the strapping young Muslim socialist” he used to be.
Monk dubbed ‘Burmese bin Laden’ provokes violence
WRAPPED in a saffron robe, Buddhist monk Wirathu insists he is a man of peace. Never mind his nine years in prison for inciting violence against Muslims.
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Politics
Smoking in cars ban proposal to be put to MSPs
A consultation on proposed legislation to ban smoking in vehicles when children are present will be launched by a Liberal Democrat MSP next week.
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Nicola Sturgeon hails Scottish water pipe upgrade
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hailed Scottish Water’s efforts as it reached a major milestone of a massive pipe upgrade stretching more than 2,600 miles.
Fine-dodgers face benefits hit in new crackdown
Fine dodgers in Scotland are facing a fresh crackdown with courts set to be handed beefed-up powers that will help them deduct money straight from the benefits of defaulters.
Funeral for Brian Adam MSP to be held on Friday
The funeral of the SNP MSP Brian Adam will be held on Friday in Aberdeen.
Ukip ‘full of clowns and racists’, says Ken Clarke
KEN Clarke ramped up Tory attacks on Ukip yesterday, branding the party’s politicians “clowns” and some of their supporters racist.
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Opinion
Lesley Riddoch: All quiet on the independence front
The SNP is failing to fight back positively in public against the negativity of the No campaign, writes Lesley Riddoch.
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Brian Ferguson: Creative Scotland’s head worth cost
I MAY be going soft, but I’m beginning to feel slightly sorry for whoever ends up at the helm of Scotland’s national arts agency. It’s now five months since Creative Scotland’s last figurehead, Andrew Dixon, fell on to his sword – and still we wait to hear who his successor will be.
Brian Monteith: More stigma on the way for smokers
POLITICIANS want all tobacco lovers to be stigmatised, but bans just fan rebellious flames, writes Brian Monteith
2 commentsTom Peterkin: Scots lacrosse cap who danced into history
IT MIGHT not quite bear comparison with sport’s greatest “Fredalo” moments – the one involving cricketer Freddie Flintoff and a pedalo – but before the Second World War there was a rather jolly night out that probably brought a promising international hockey career to a premature end.
Jane Devine: Celeb chefs’ health claims unpalatable
THERE’S a place for celebrity chefs, but it’s not swallowing their assertions that their recipes are good for us, writes Jane Devine
Transport
Call for Scots airports to provide free water
AIRPORTS must provide passengers with drinking water facilities while they await flights, an SNP Euro MP has demanded.
Trains’ share of Scots going to England ‘doubles’
THE proportion of people using trains to travel from Scotland to England, instead of planes, has doubled, figures published today show.
Edinburgh tram shelters ‘inadequate’ say critics
PASSENGERS on Edinburgh’s £776m tram line will be left wet and windswept because of the “minimalist” shelters at stops, critics have claimed.
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Edinburgh trams: End of road chaos in sight
AN awesome foursome of tram project milestones are to be completed this year – in a major signal the much maligned building project is finally drawing to an end.
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Edinburgh trams: St Andrew Square opens to traffic
THE long-delayed Edinburgh tram scheme passed another milestone with the reopening of St Andrew Square following more than a year of track work.
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Education
Mandarin blossoms among Scots language pupils
IT’S difficult, unfamiliar, and far from a traditional educational choice. So why are more Scottish pupils bucking the UK trend and venturing out of their comfort zone to study Mandarin? Jackie Kemp speaks to some of the people involved in the pursuit of oriental excellence
Tuition caps to hit Scots students
SCOTTISH pupils are facing tougher entry requirements for university courses in Scotland because of government-imposed caps on the numbers eligible for free tuition.
6 commentsPM adviser defends his Eton claim
AN ADVISER to the Prime Minister has defended an interview in which he said Eton’s “ethos” of public service was why so many former pupils were in top positions in government.
5 commentsCouncil put bill to parliament for Portobello High School
A PRIVATE bill to allow the new Portobello High School to be built on Portobello Park has been introduced in the Scottish Parliament.
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Stephen McGinty: Thumbs down for Kalq layout
MRS Clifford’s secretarial class was on the fourth floor of St Andrew’s High School in Clydebank and it was here in the summer of 1987 that I first learned to play the “literary piano”.
Environment
Lochhead: Don’t ban pesticides until bee risk known
THE environment secretary has called for a two-year delay on the implementation of a ban on pesticides which are thought to be harmful to bees.
Plans for £85m Glasgow biosphere park revealed
THE first plans for an ambitious £85 million tourism park in the east end of Glasgow have been revealed.
Pulic consulted over polluter fine plans
A PROPOSAL to fine those who pollute the environment up to £40,000 has been opened up to public scrutiny.
1 commentBoris Johnson urges support for third Heathrow runway
MAYOR of London Boris Johnson yesterday urged the government to resist the “great Moloch of aviation capacity” and rule out a third runway at Heathrow before the next election.
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Plans for canal to connect Clyde and Loch Lomond
DO YOU want to tak’ the High Road, the Low Road or the canal? Plans for a five-mile waterway connecting Loch Lomond with the River Clyde are being developed in what would be Scotland’s first new canal in nearly 200 years.
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Health
Smoking in cars ban proposal to be put to MSPs
A consultation on proposed legislation to ban smoking in vehicles when children are present will be launched by a Liberal Democrat MSP next week.
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Blind people have ‘more accurate’ memories
CONGENITALLY blind people have more accurate memories than those with sight, research has found.
Medics take fight against killer bug to communities
SCOTLAND’S health professionals are entering a new phase in their battle against the deadly Clostridium difficile bug, targeting cases in the community to trigger a fresh downward trend.
Jane Devine: Celeb chefs’ health claims unpalatable
THERE’S a place for celebrity chefs, but it’s not swallowing their assertions that their recipes are good for us, writes Jane Devine
Cigarette display ban comes into force
Legislation banning the display of cigarettes and other tobacco products in larger retailers comes into force today.
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Celebrity
Andy Murray’s big year sends him up Rich List
SCOTTISH tennis ace Andy Murray has seen his fortunes soar in more ways than one since making his big sporting breakthrough when he won the US Open last year.
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Video: Geri Halliwell performs impromptu pub gig video
SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell treated drinkers to an impromptu gig at a pub as she burst into song in front of bemused punters.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Harry Potter visit
FOR Ron, Hermione and Harry read Harry, Kate and William – as the Royals duel with wands during a crash course in the magical arts.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Potter studio
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge duelled with wands like wizards from the Harry Potter movies today after they were given a crash course in the magical arts.
Celebrity rapper ‘raped woman after being mocked’
A TEARFUL woman told how former I’m A Celebrity contestant Aggro Santos raped her in his hotel room in Somerset after she saw him perform at a gig.
Odd
New contender for ‘smallest Scots post office’ crown
IT IS a case of last past the post as various contenders attempt to stamp their authority.
‘Plebgate’ bike placed on eBay
THE bicycle belonging to former chief whip Andrew Mitchell, who was at the centre of the “Plebgate” row, is now up for sale on eBay.
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Video: Geri Halliwell performs impromptu pub gig video
SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell treated drinkers to an impromptu gig at a pub as she burst into song in front of bemused punters.
Three-legged alligator takes in golf tournament
GOLFING spectators and at least one marshal were startled when an alligator made an appearance during the Zurich Classic golf tournament in Louisiana, choosing to sun himself on the 12th fairway.
Glasgow homeless hostel given ‘five-star’ reviews
A HOMELESS hostel in Glasgow has been given the dubious honour of being named one of the city’s most luxurious resorts after being inundated with ‘five-star’ reviews on TripAdvisor.
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Weather for Edinburgh
Monday 29 April 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 29 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: West
