Archive
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Ferrie Files: Talking Point - Time will tell but given the chance Lancaster could yet be remembered as a great England coach
Honesty, dignity and generosity all marked a stony-faced Stuart Lancaster’s post-match press conference at Twickenham on Saturday evening and the man who has placed so much emphasis on history and has now made it in the wrong way was also up early facing
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Good Day for Wallaby scrummaging; Bad Day for Toon Army bid to recruit All Black reinforcements
GOOD DAYTo be an Australian prop, basking in the glow of unheard of praise after a meeting with England but James Slipper is expecting even greater demands to be made of him and his front-row colleagues by specialist coach Mario Ledesma, the former Argentina
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And Another Thing
They say the bookies never get it wrong. Really?Minutes after full-time at Twickers a message arrived in the inbox from Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes claiming it was now 1/3 that Stuart Lancaster would be out of a job by the end of 2015."England have
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David Cameron tells Tories: Shine has come off the SNP
LABOUR is a “busted flush” and has given up on the Union, the Liberal Democrats have gone and left the field of play while the shine is now coming off the SNP, David Cameron has declared. Speaking to enthusiastic supporters at the Tory conference
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Rodgers sacked hours after Merseyside draw
A point away from home in a Merseyside derby is rarely a catastrophic result but it proved to be the final straw for Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group who sacked manager Brendan Rodgers a couple of hours after the final whistle.The suspicion is the
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Van Gaal 'amazed' but Arsenal dazzle at the Emirates
Louis van Gaal was “amazed” by Manchester United’s display as Arsenal got back to winning ways in emphatic style with a 3-0 home victory. An air of positivity had been building around Old Trafford after a run of four straight wins in all competitions.
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Hibs 0 Glasgow City 2: Title all but secured for Booth's side
SECOND half goals from Hayley Lauder and Erin Cuthbert ensured a ninth successive SWPL title for Glasgow City provided they turn up for their next league game against Aberdeen.Only Hibs could have prevented that outcome, but the 2-0 scoreline leaves them
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Scot in the Springbok camp hopes for perfect Group B ending
THERE was at least one satisfied Scotsman at St James' Park on Saturday. Richie Gray, not the current giant Scotland lock forward but the former SRU youth coach and native of Galashiels with the same name who now earns his crust with a role on the Springboks
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Battered and bruised Scotland plan to get physical with Samoa
IN the end, it was a simple matter of physics. Perhaps David Denton, the Zimbabwean-born back row who was one of three Afrikaans speakers in the Scotland starting XV against South Africa in Newcastle on Saturday, summed it up best. “It’s not that we weren
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Leigh Griffiths can do nothing more than he is to win a Scotland start
LEIGH GRIFFITHS yesterday revealed he had to score for Celtic against Hamilton Academical after his three main competitors for a Scotland starting spot got goals for their respective clubs the previous day.The striker, who took his season's tally to 12
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Hardie hopeful of returning but concussion protocols give Cotter a pre-Samoa headache
SCOTLAND were last night sweating over the availability of three likely starters for the pivotal Rugby World Cup meeting with Samoa in Newcastle on Saturday, with hooker Ross Ford and centre Matt Scott joining back row John Hardie in the queue of players
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Advocaat calls time at Sunderland after another winless Saturday
Dick Advocaat has left his job as Sunderland’s head coach just four months after being persuaded to delay his retirement plans for a year. The 68-year-old Dutchman, who was parachuted in to mastermind a nine-game rescue mission at the end of the last
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Emails reveal how economic case for independence was undermined by scandal-hit Michelle Thomson
An MP whose property deals are at the centre of a police probe had her consultancy services terminated by the pro-business group set up to campaign for independence. Michelle Thomson's payments as Managing Director of Business for Scotland (BfS
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Hughes' men take the plaudits after puncturing expectations
THEY say the more things change, the more they stay the same. Certainly, when it comes to Highland derby day hostilities, history tends to repeat itself. Here we were anticipating an affirmation of Ross County's rising status, perhaps even an emphatic
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Scots in fine fettle for Samoa decider despite Springboks defeat
AFTER the seismic tremor of the first weekend, the dust has settled on Pool B and the natural order has been restored. Having got the shock of losing to Japan out of their system in their next game against Samoa, the Springboks were their old selves against
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The mighty Thor as Olesen conquers in Dunhill Links Championship
It was tricky to judge what was wider. The 18th fairway of the Old Course or Thorbjorn Olesen’s grin after winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. It’s a good job the aforementioned landing area from the final tee, which also takes in the first
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Hamilton Academical 1, Celtic2: Leigh Griffiths is the difference as the champions are made to fight for a win
CELTIC need to buy a top class striker in January according to Ronny Deila but with Leigh Griffiths in such match-winning form the manager’s priority is surely to make sure the one he already has stays fit. Griffiths was the difference at New Douglas
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Davidson: Tories on course for best result yet at Holyrood elections
SCOTLAND’S Conservatives are “on course” to return their largest number of MSPs in May’s Holyrood elections, Ruth Davidson has claimed.The party leader also used a fringe conference speech to accuse the SNP Government of “cronyism and incompetence” and
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Ferrie Files: Scouting Report - well backed Irish grind their way into quarter-finals
Another iconic English sporting venue and another Irish takeover as, a week after they overran Wembley, the area surrounding the Olympic Stadium was annexed by the team that now looks like being the best supported heading into the knockout stages.
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Police face probe after flat death
Police Scotland is facing more pressure following the death of an elderly woman who was found next to the body of her 88-year-old husband 20 hours after the alarm was first raised. An independent investigation was been launched into the force's response
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Could Davidson succeed Cameron as UK Tory leader? One senior minister thinks so
RUTH Davidson has been touted as a surprise potential candidate in the race to succeed David Cameron when the Prime Minister stands down as the UK Conservative leader before the 2020 General Election. The Scottish Conservative chief has become
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Swimmer Robbie Renwick named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year 2015
Swimmer Robbie Renwick has been named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year 2015. Following an outstanding season, which saw him become World Champion for the first time in his career, swimmer, Robbie Renwick was named Scottish Sportsperson of the
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Lyme disease threat to family members 'cannot be ruled out'
EXPERTS say they cannot rule out that potentially fatal Lyme disease, which is more common in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK, can be passed on to other members of the family. Stella Huyshe-Shires, chairman of Lyme Disease Action, said while
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Arsenal 3 Manchester United 0: Gunners move to second place
Alexis Sanchez's stunning first-half brace helped Arsenal blow away Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move second in the Barclays Premier League. The Gunners came into Sunday's encounter on the back of a disappointing home Champions
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Consultancy staff raise thousands in global charity drive
STAFF from a Scottish firm have battled the elements to raise £6,800 for charity.Some 35 staff from the Glasgow and Edinburgh offices of property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, raised the money with a triathlon-style event.Consultants from Glasgow
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Commuters dig deep for cancer charity
THOUSANDS of Scottish commuters have dug deep and raised £5,000 for a leading cancer charity on their morning train journey.Scotrail offered tea, coffee and cakes in return for a small donation on board their trains as part of the World’s Biggest Coffee
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Scottish scientists looking at ways to clone Edinburgh pandas
SCOTTISH scientists behind the cloning of Dolly the sheep are turning their attentions to the Edinburgh Zoo pandas in an effort to save the species.Tian Tian and Yang Guang were loaned by the Chinese Government, at around £600,000 each year, but have
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State of the art mother and baby unit receives its official opening
A STATE of the art mother and baby unit, which helps new mums suffering from mental illness, has received its official opening. The new facility provides support for new mothers suffering from severe mental illness following the birth of their baby.Called
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Osborne: I will 'face up' to prospect of leadership race once PM quits
George Osborne will "see how it flies" when David Cameron stands down in an indication he plans to run to replace his ally in Number 10. The Chancellor stressed his loyalty to the Prime Minister, saying he owed it to Mr Cameron to do his current
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Professors from Edinburgh crowned as two of the UK's most inspirational nursing leaders of 2015
TWO professors from Edinburgh have been honoured as two of the UK's most inspirational nursing leaders of 2015.Professor Brendan McCormack, Head of Division of Nursing, and Professor Jan Dewing, the Sue Pembrey Chair in Nursing, both from Queen Margaret
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Deila: Charlie Mulgrew will drop out of Scotland squad for Poland game
Celtic manager Ronny Deila believes Charlie Mulgrew will almost certainly drop out of the Scotland squad. Mulgrew has been missing for Celtic recently with a thigh injury and Deila expects him to fail the national team's fitness assessment ahead
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Celtic spirit delights boss Ronny Deila after win at Hamilton
Celtic manager Ronny Deila hailed his players' fight and character after they came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Hamilton. Some poor defending from Dedryck Boyata allowed Gramoz Kurtaj to hit a fourth-minute opener, but the Belgian defender atoned
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Tayside patients get access to free wifi in hospitals across the region
NHS patients in Tayside are being given access to free wifi, which has been rolled out in hospitals across the region.Patients at Ninewells, Stracathro and Perth Royal Infirmary can connect to the patient wifi in all wards and treatment areas which have
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'Questions must be asked of SNP's vetting process and selection of Michelle Thomson', say political opponents
Questions need to be asked over the selection of Michelle Thomson as an SNP candidate and the party's vetting procedures, according to political opponents. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said there was a question around the "probity
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'We will never sell out Falkland Islands', Foreign secretary announces at Tory party conference
Philip Hammond has issued a firm hands-off warning to Argentina by insisting the government will "never sell out" the Falkland Islands. The Foreign Secretary insisted the "bullying and harassment" against the islanders must stop, adding it is counter-productive
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Ruth Davidson: Westminster needs more women leaders
Westminster politics needs more women at the top, the Scottish Conservative leader has said. Ruth Davidson said it was vital the best person was appointed to each post in public life as it comes up but told Conservative activists in Manchester
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Tories copy 'shambolic' scheme that installed Corbyn as leader
SCOTTISH Tory leader Ruth Davidson has imported the “shambolic” system used to elect Jeremy Corbyn to pick her own Holyrood candidates.
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Prudential assessing whether to move headquarters
Prudential is reported to be looking into whether to move its headquarters outside Britain to escape looming European Union regulations.The insurer is also thought to be considering selling its British operations or spinning them off as a separate listed
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Former presenter John Leslie says he was determined to avoid bankruptcy and reality TV after his career ended
FORMER presenter John Leslie has opened up about how he avoided bankruptcy - and reality shows - after rape allegations ended his TV career.Edinburgh-born Leslie had a high profile career in the 1990s as a presenter on Wheel of Fortune and This Morning
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Tens of thousands protest outside Conservative Party conference in Manchester
Tens of thousands of activists have marched in Manchester in protest at Government policies as the Conservative Party began its annual conference in the city. Up to 85,000 people are claimed to have joined the demonstration on issues such as austerity
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Assad says Syria and allies must win or 'Middle East will be destroyed'
PRESIDENT Bashar al-Assad has claimed a military campaign by Russia, Syria and its allies must succeed "or else the whole region will be destroyed". Mr Assad said yesterday the coalition will decide the fate of the Middle East and that a year of
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Hamilton 1 Celtic 2: Win moves Hoops a point behind Aberdeen
Dedryck Boyata atoned for an early blunder to help Celtic close the gap on Aberdeen with a 2-1 victory over Hamilton at New Douglas Park. Some poor defending from Boyata allowed Gramoz Kurtaj in to fire Hamilton ahead inside four minutes but the
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Boko Haram suicide attacks in Niger kill at least four
Suspected Islamist militants from Nigeria's Boko Haram group have killed at least four people in suicide attacks across the border in Niger.The dead included three civilians and a soldier and four attackers also died during the attacks in Niger's southeastern
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Doctors without borders leaves Afghan city after hospital air strike
International medical charity Doctors Without Borders has withdrawn from the northern Afghan city of Kunduz after a deadly air strike destroyed its hospital.Some staff are working in other health facilities in the city, where troops have been battling
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Drug mule Melissa Reid still hit by delays in attempts to transfer to Scotland
JAILED drug mule Melissa Reid is still waiting on the go-ahead for her proposed transfer back to Scotland, with reports that it could still be overturned by Peru's president. Reid, who is from Lenzie near Glasgow, was sentenced to six years and eight
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Guatemalan mudslide death toll rises with hundreds still missing
Rescue workers using shovels and pickaxes recovered more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed hillside on the outskirts of Guatemala City as the death toll rose to 69 with another 350 people believed missing.Julio Sanchez, spokesman for Guatemala's volunteer
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Alex Salmond stopped from boarding aircraft after booking under Star Trek name James Kirk
Alex Salmond found himself in a bizarre situation with airline staff after booking on to a flight under the name James Kirk - the captain of Star Trek's USS Enterprise. The former Scottish first minister caused confusion when British Airways initially
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Road closed after two cars collide in Shawfield, Glasgow
POLICE have closed a busy Glasgow road after two cars collided. The accident happened at Shawfield Drive, near Shawfield Greyhound Stadium, this afternoon. Police say they received a call at 1.25pm. A spokeswoman said: "The incident is
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200,000 evacuated as Typhoon Mujigae hits southern China
A strong typhoon roared into southern China yesterday, bringing powerful winds and heavy rain to the region after leaving more than a dozen fishermen missing in the Philippines. Nearly 200,000 people in southern China were evacuated before Typhoon
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Ruth Davidson: Tories on track for best Holyrood result ever
The Tories are on track for their best ever Holyrood result, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson has forecast as she announced plans for a new "carer's allowance". Ms Davidson said last year's independence referendum had put the soul back
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Former college principal "welcomes" giving evidence in severance package row
THE former college principal at the centre of a row over excessive severance payments has remained defiant in the face of criticism as he prepares to give evidence to auditors.John Doyle caused outrage when it was revealed that he and six others all shared
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Israel bars Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City after stabbings
Israeli police have barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City in response to stabbing attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded three others, as Israel's prime minister vowed a "harsh offensive" to counter rising violence. A Palestinian
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Sunday newspaper business digest
Hargreaves Services is mulling a rescue bid for the Redcar steelworks however the deal would still see the site closed until commodity prices recover. The Sunday Times reports Hargreaves wants to keep the blast furnace at the plant maintained with a view
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Marriage is binding bond between man and woman, Pope Francis asserts
Pope Francis has opened a divisive meeting of the world's bishops on family issues by asserting that marriage is a binding bond between a man and woman. He said, though, the church does not judge and must "seek out and care for hurting couples
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Oregon gunman 'shot victim as she begged for her life'
The gunman who opened fire in an Oregon college shot one classmate after saying he could save her life if she begged, and others were killed after being told to crawl across the floor, according to relatives of students in the classroom.However, Christopher
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Flooding sparks state of emergency in South Carolina
Flooding from days of record-setting rain along the east coast of the US has washed out bridges and homes, with forecasters warning wind gusts topping 35mph could down trees and power lines across the Carolinas and Virginia. At least five weather-related
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Music Review: Snarky Puppy, O2 ABC, Glasgow
Snarky Puppy02 ABCGlasgowRob AdamsFOUR STARS Snarky Puppy love playing Glasgow and Glasgow clearly loves having them back as they continue to move up the venue scale. The band’s live appeal is obvious: its performances have the feeling of an event and
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Cumnock Tryst review: The King’s Singers at Trinity Church
MusicThe King’s SingersTrinity Church, CumnockKeith BruceFive starsAlthough it is easily travelled by their audience as a consequence of the skill and versatility the sextet brings to the task, the journey of a King’s Singers concert is a remarkable one
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Music Review: BBC SSO, City Halls, Glasgow
BBC SSOCity Halls, GlasgowKeith BruceFour starsUnder the somewhat prosaic title “Two British Voices”, this concert, to be broadcast on Saturday October 24 in BBC Radio 3’s Hear and Now slot, showcased the music of Oliver Knussen and Ryan Wigglesworth,
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Music Review: RSNO, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
RSNO, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Michael TumeltyFour starsFOR a bizarre reason, I had an instinct how Peter Oundjian was going to interpret Mahler’s colossal Second Symphony, The Resurrection, in the opening concert of the RSNO’s winter season on Saturday
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Theatre Review: The Last Yankee, Summerhall, Edinburgh
TheatreThe Last YankeeSummerhall, EdinburghNeil CooperFour starsDisappointment pulses throughout every second of Arthur Miller's late period 1993 play, revived here by Rapture Theatre as the second part of the company's 100 Years of Miller celebrations
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Thistly Cross to import US cider
Scottish cider maker Thistly Cross has struck an import deal with a US brand.The Dunbar company is expanding its longstanding collaboration with JK’s Scrumpy Cider bring cans of the organic beverage, made in Michigan, to the UK.Thistly Cross has been
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Music Review: The King’s Singers, Trinity Church, Cumnock
The King’s SingersTrinity Church, CumnockKeith BruceFive starsAlthough it is easily travelled by their audience as a consequence of the skill and versatility the sextet brings to the task, the journey of a King’s Singers concert is a remarkable one. This
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Osborne: Working grandparents will be given legal right to take time off and care for grandchildren
Working grandparents will be given a new legal right to take time off to help care for their grandchildren under plans announced by George Osborne. The Chancellor said that many grandparents played a "central role" in caring for younger generations
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Denis Healey
Labour ministerBorn: August 30, 1917;Died: October 3, 2015Lord (Denis) Healey, who has died aged 98, was an outwardly jovial, ebullient and much-impersonated Labour minister – but behind the jolly frontage lay a consummate politician who was feared by
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Thousands take part in Great Scottish Run through Glasgow
MORE than 30,000 runners from 21 different countries descended on Glasgow City Centre to take part in this year’s Great Scottish Run. An excited and expectant crowd gathered right along the course, which started at George Square and took in many
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Tax credit cuts will not be reviewed in Autumn Statement, says David Cameron
Cuts to tax credits will not be reviewed in the Autumn Statement, David Cameron has insisted amid calls from his own party to think again. The Prime Minister said he felt the package was the right way to reach the ambition of raising wages and
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Arrest made following death of man, 25, in Cumbernauld
Police investigating the death of a man found injured in a street have made an arrest. Officers were called to a disturbance in Glenhove Road, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, at around midnight of Thursday into Friday, where they found 25-year-old
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Glasgow bin lorry crash driver arrested
GLASGOW bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke has reportedly been arrested over claims he drove his car last month despite being banned from the road. Mr Clarke, 58, is accused of getting behind the wheel of a car after losing both his car and HGV
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Ferrie Files - Talking Point: The dangers of disrespecting the efforts of predecessors; David Sole's bid for an image change; and plaudits for Georgia
Talking PointThe term ‘Super Saturday’ is somewhat overused and rugby has already laid claim to one this year when we witnessed the astonishing events of the final day of the Six Nations Championship, but it is hard to remember its World Cup ever having
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FanDuel's Nigel Eccles still looking to grow the unicorn
IT is not always calm in the eye of the storm. FanDuel, the fast-rising star of the Scottish tech scene, has blown like a hurricane through the business world this year, taking on heavyweight finance in a precursor to a spate of acquisitions
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Jesus Garcia Tena hope travel problems are thing of the past as Celtic come to town
ALL roads lead to New Douglas Park this lunchtime for Hamilton Accies' Ladbrokes Premiership meeting with Celtic but Jesus Garcia Tena for one has learned that it is prudent to go early. The Spaniard left his home in Edinburgh a fortnight ago at his usual
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Burns planning big day as judo returns to his native Glasgow
ANDY Burns is a long time out of Possilpark. To be in the company of this 28-year-old judoka you would hardly guess that he was Scottish, let alone the product of two Glaswegian parents who was reared on the mean streets of the north of Glasgow. A bronze
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Forward planning still at forefront of Ronny Deila's mind
IT is unknown to what extent British culture has influenced Ronny Deila during his time living on this island but presumably when the Celtic manager uttered the phrase “striker light” the other day it wasn’t because he has become a massive fan of Eastenders
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South Africa 34 Scotland 16: Boks back on top after bruising battle
SCOTLAND lost a match for the first time at this Rugby World Cup, but they emerged with their pride and their hopes of qualification intact. South Africa are now top of Pool B and are overwhelming favourites to stay there, but - as was always expected
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Generation Girl speaks out about what women really want in 2015
IT is a global gathering being held for the first time in the UK featuring the most powerful and inspiring women on the planet, ranging from Hollywood actresses to politicians, super-models to Queens, women who have faced down Islamic extremists and acclaimed
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Scotland still in the hunt despite Springboks loss
SCOTLAND will qualify for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with any kind of win against Samoa next Saturday, despite losing 34-16 to South Africa in Newcastle yesterday. The Springboks, who won the try count 3-1 and were 20-3 up at the break,
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SNP MP warns of fracking threat to Scotland's "clean, green" food and drink industry
FRACKING could threaten Scotland’s £14bn-a-year food and drink industry, an SNP MP warned yesterday, amid mounting tensions on the issue ahead of the SNP conference.John McNally, convenor of the SNP’s Westminster fracking group, highlighted risks for
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Furious Falkirk boss Peter Houston accuses referee of buckling under pressure from the Rangers dugout
PETER Houston last night accused referee John McKendrick of allowing himself to be influenced by the Rangers management team after watching his Falkirk side succumb to a late defeat at Ibrox. Houston was incensed that McKendrick awarded Rangers a free-kick
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Hartley irked at rough treatment of Stewart as Dens Park side take the points against Motherwell
IT is not often that Dens Park can be described as looking as pretty as a picture. Yesterday’s stage was bathed in beautiful autumnal sunshine but the football could only be described as incongruously ugly. Yet, having taking three points and watched
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Victory at last for Partick Thistle as Dundee United fail to benefit from managerial change
STRUGGLING teams often get a leg-up in the game immediately following a change of manager but not usually like this. This was meant to be Dundee United’s day to benefit from the dead-cat bounce having taken the decision last weekend to dispense with Jackie
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Ruth Davidson: Tories are only functioning unionist party left in Scotland
RUTH Davidson will today present the Scottish Tories as the only Unionist party left standing in Scotland amid the rubble of the Labour and the LibDems.The Tory leader will use the collapse of her former Better Together allies at the General Election
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Parties unite to pay tribute to Denis Healey, a giant of politics
TRIBUTES from across the political spectrum have been paid to former Labour chancellor Denis Healey who has died aged 98.The former MP and Labour peer served in Number 11 during the 1974-79 government and became the party's deputy leader in 1980.He died
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Balance needed when tackling the harm caused by alcohol
WHEN the World Health Organisation (WHO) framework convention on tobacco control came into force in 2005, it was a watershed moment for public health as the first international effort to tackle the cause of an avoidable chronic disease. The aim of the
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Chief Constable's clumsy remarks deal another blow to his legacy
THE last thing Police Scotland needed this month was another controversy to undermine public confidence in the vital service it provides. On Friday, the single force published details of a long-awaited staff survey that made disturbing reading.The dossier
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PM accuses Russia of backing "the butcher" as air strikes on Syria continue
DAVID Cameron has accused Russia of supporting “the butcher” President Bashar al-Assad rather than fighting terrorism in Syria.The Prime Minister said that Vladimir Putin's forces were not discriminating between Daesh (also known as Islamic State, Isis
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Mass killer had stockpile of weapons
THE GUNMAN who killed nine people in America's latest mass shooting had a stockpile of more than a dozen weapons, authorities have confirmed.Chris Harper Mercer was armed with six guns when he arrived at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, and
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Finding Allah: why more and more Scots are converting to Islam
A GROWING number of Scots are converting to Islam - with the majority young women.Glasgow Central Mosque alone is now seeing more than 200 Scots a year 'revert'. Due to the rising number of Scots finding Islam, mosques across the country are also setting
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The fight for women's right goes on both at home and abroad - there is much work to be done
As a woman in public life the responsibility to inspire and to encourage young women to fulfil their ambitions and to live out their dreams is one I am keenly aware of.When I first thought about entering politics, seeing other women blazing a trail encouraged
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Refugees are coming to Scotland. Here's how you can help make them welcome
SCOTLAND is a caring and compassionate country and I’m sure few people have been able to look at the heartbreaking images of refugees without feeling emotional. It’s devastating to see men, women and children trekking across Europe with their whole world
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Nato and US knew location of hospital a month before bombing raid killed 19 doctors and patients
NATO and US forces knew the precise location of the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Afghanistan for over a month before it was bombed in the early hours of yesterday morning, killing at least 19 doctors and patients. The UN High Commissioner
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Airstrikes on Syria: why Putin launched the attack
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin was always on a hiding to nothing when he ordered Russian forces to intervene in the long-running civil war in Syria by attacking targets across the country. His reasoning was that the aircraft would join the air campaign against
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SNP denounce "scandal" of pro-Union spindoctor in foreign aid budget
Tom GordonThe SNP will today challenge Tory International Development Secretary Justine Greening to justify spending foreign aid on a pro-Union spindoctor in Scotland.The Department for International Development (Dfid) recently advertised a £41,000-a-year
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'Linking Megrahi to a new Lockerbie bombing suspect won't work ... he was innocent and his conviction is a stain on Scottish justice'
Fifteen years ago, three Scottish law lords found Abdelbaset al-Megrahi guilty of the Lockerbie bombing. For many observers, including the majority of the relatives of the attack’s 270 victims, it was an unsatisfactory verdict. Megrahi’s co-accused, Lamin
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Forget traditional swings and roundabouts...how parkour is being used to encourage kids to play
IT is a far cry from the image of a traditional play-park with swings and roundabouts: a course of graffiti-covered walls and metal railings where kids learn to jump from building to building like trainee superheroes.Campaigners say purpose-built parkour
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Westminster bid to scupper Scottish renewable project could bankrupt family business
WESTMINSTER has launched an unprecedented legal action against the SNP Government to scupper a renewable energy project – and potentially bankrupt a family business.Through the Advocate General for Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has raised a
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Calls for Scotland to lead global 'war' on alcohol
AN international expert on tobacco control is calling for Scotland to lead the way in a global ‘war’ to tackle alcohol problems, similar to the efforts which have been made to reduce smoking across the western world.Professor Gerard Hastings, who founded
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Top judge to give Holyrood evidence after double snub
ONE of the country’s top judges has finally bowed to pressure by agreeing to give evidence to a Holyrood inquiry on the creation of a judicial register of interest.Lord Gill, who recently retired as Lord President, had twice snubbed calls to face MSPs
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Maciej Zurawski on the reinvention of Robert Lewandowski as Poland's national hero
MACIEJ ZURAWSKI once scored five goals in a game. It was for Wisla Krakow away to Katowice in a Polish league match back in September 2001. In his memory Zurawksi reckons it took him around an hour to complete his haul, although he is doing himself a
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Jeremy Corbyn has handed Scotland to the SNP on a plate
READERS of this column may have detected a certain sympathy in recent months for the new Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Headlines such as “Corbyn has killed New Labour”, “Corbynmania is transforming British politics” and “JC has made radical policies
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Police chief under pressure over claim Eastern Europeans linked to spike in housebreaking
OUTGOING Police Scotland chief constable Stephen House is under pressure to explain his claim that a rise in housebreakings in Edinburgh was linked to Eastern Europeans.Figures obtained by the Sunday Herald show that only 9 of 4,935 housebreaking-related
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Could better planning affect the cost of your home?
To find an example of how great planning can enrich its citizens, materially as well as socially, consider the case of Freiburg.The southern German city has a similar population to Aberdeen’s, but its reputation as a liveable city is the polar opposite
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Billy Dodds: Time for Steven Fletcher to stand up and be counted for Scotland
STEVEN FLETCHER owes Scotland a big performance and Thursday’s match against Poland would be the perfect time for him to deliver it. We might not have a superstar like a Robert Lewandowski or a Gareth Bale but there are potential match-winners in Gordon
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'Frenchgate' diplomat quits Scotland
THE diplomat at the centre of the phoney “Frenchgate” scandal involving former LibDem Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has quit Scotland.Pierre-Alain Coffinier left at the end of August after five years as the Consul General in Edinburgh, it has
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Underworld kidnap gang behind spate of savage 'torture abductions' in Scotland
A VIOLENT gang of underworld enforcers is terrorising the Scottish underworld with a series of savage kidnappings.Terrified victims - often linked to rival gangs or businesses - have been snatched from their homes at gunpoint by the group and tortured.The
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East, west, Scotland's best says Japan's master of silver
The Scottish market’s willingness to invest of the art of the silversmith makes the country the best global location for a practitioner of the ancient craft, a master Japanese practitioner has said.Yusuke Yamamoto, who moved to Elderslie from Tokyo three
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Get ready for slave law lawyer tells Scottish business
Scottish businesses should prepare themselves for the onset of new obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 which have a “huge potential impact on their public image.” a leading corporate compliance expert has warned.Ray Gribben, a partner in the
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Racism, sexism, bile and hate ... is there nothing that can stop the rise of Donald Trump?
When Donald Trump announced his intention to run for president on June 16, few people took him seriously. His grand entrance, down an escalator at Trump Tower, to the sound of Neil Young’s Rockin’ In The Free World, was brash and bombastic and gloriously
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When did willingness to commit mass murder become sensible politics?
ON the principle that even a mushroom cloud must have a silver lining, Labour’s Trident row has produced a warm, if not yet radioactive, glow. Should the worst come to the worst, it turns out, we will have the comfort of knowing that our end was a proper
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Gordon Strachan: "We have nobody like Bale or Lewandowski. We have to work at everything we've got."
IT seems remarkable that we could actually be approaching the last few weeks of Gordon Strachan’s tenure as Scotland manager. Were we not only just getting going? Strachan, naturally, won’t be drawn on his future at this juncture but should the national
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Player power in place as Scotland under-21s gear up for key double-header
RICKY SBRAGIA does not look like the sort of character many would fancy taking liberties with. In his new Scotland under-21 set-up, however, dissenting voices are not only tolerated but encouraged. Even before they have been handed the key to the door
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The Turner Prize at Tramway: Nothing to sing about
Unfortunately there is no boggle-eyed, urinating David Shrigley giant at this year's Turner Prize exhibition. Glasgow would have loved that. But, no, that was two years ago and in another country (Northern Ireland). More's the pity. I could have done
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Six To Follow: Emily Maguire on watching "her" team win Euro hockey champs without her
WATCHING England win the recent Euro Hockey Championships was like an out-of-body experience for Emily Maguire. She watched her team-mates and friends defeat the Netherlands in the final via a shoot-out, saw them celebrating on the pitch and then lifting
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Sunday Herald review: Macbeth (15)
In a year when Scotland asserted its strength in British politics, it’s fitting that an adaptation of ‘the Scottish Play’ should place Shakespeare’s tragedy more squarely into its proper milieu than any previous film and probably most stage productions
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TV review: Damien Love on From Darkness (BBC One)/Unforgotten (STV)
SundayFrom Darkness9pm, BBC OneUnforgottenThursday, 9pm, STV I’m not certain whether we’ve reached tipping point with this, but it really feels like it this week: that there are now more cop shows being made in the UK with female leads than male. The
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Album review: Mercury Rev, The Light In You (Bella Union)
Mercury RevThe Light In You(Bella Union)For all that Mercury Rev’s latest album intimately reflects the friendship of core members Jonathan Donahue and Sean ‘Grasshopper’ Mackowiak, it’s a big, big production, akin to Phil Spector getting stuck into a
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The wheels of heal
Michael John McCarthy is a 33-year-old musician from Ireland who, when not composing for theatre, filling out the ranks of various Glasgow indie bands or looking after his baby son, likes to play records. Big deal, you say. But what gives his vinyl-spinning
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Landscape and whisky: a magical blend
I HAVE long maintained that malt whisky is the quintessence of Scotland. For me, it conjures the land of its birth in all its seasons with every sip – flowering machair in spring, warm beaches and heather pollen in summer, wayside berries and orchards
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EP review: Bella And The Bear, A Girl Called Bella (bellaandthebear.net)
Bella And The BearA Girl Called Bella(bellaandthebear.net)A boy/girl acoustic duo: you expect The Civil Wars, you get bits of Kate Tempest. That’s the download generation for you, lifting influences from across genres, marrying them in the same song.
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Album review: London Philharmonic Orchestra/Skrowaczewski, Bruckner Symphony No 3 (LPO)
London Philharmonic Orchestra/SkrowaczewskiBruckner Symphony no 3(LPO)I find myself attracted to this warm performance of Bruckner’s Third Symphony by the London Phil and its conductor, Stanislaw Skrowaczeski, now well into his nineties and sounding like
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Ross Murdoch tips Duncan Scott to shine
ROSS MURDOCH, the Commonwealth Games gold-medal winner, has tipped rising star Duncan Scott to become “a force in world swimming”. Scott is one of the Sunday Herald’s Six to Follow as he tries to make the British team for next summer’s Olympic Games in
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The Force Awakens: Swimmer Ross Murdoch on his return from illness, Olympic sacrifices, and the new Star Wars movie
THE date in December is already circled in Ross Murdoch’s calendar. It is not Christmas that the Commonwealth Games gold-medal winner is excitedly looking forward to, nor is it the Duel in the Pool when the cream of European and American swimming will
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Geoffrey Smeddle: Warming crumbles
WE have already devoured the first crumble of autumn, made, I might add, with plums from the tree in the garden. I confess I am like the cockerel taking credit for the dawn with this tree: we didn’t plant it. Then again, we have pruned and encouraged
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Three rock chick memoirs
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, heeeeere’s Grace!”I think my favourite line in Grace Jones’s memoir comes when Trevor Horn phones to ask her to pop into the studio to do a vocal line for the track Slave To The Rhythm. “He called just when I was setting
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Sunday Herald Review: Scottish Ballet Autumn Programme
Motion Of Displacement/Elsa CanastaSeen at Theatre Royal, Glasgow Reviewed by Alan Morrison Let’s think of Scottish Ballet’s Autumn Season programme as a tour with twin headliners and a local support act. And, as can often be the case on the music circuit
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Sunday Herald review: Tribes, on tour
TribesSeen at Byre Theatre, St AndrewsTouring until October 22 Reviewed by Mark Brown Glasgow-based Solar Bear theatre company seeks to make work for and about neglected and marginalised communities in our society. Its latest play, Tribes by Nina Raine
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Album review: Gráinne Brady & Tina Jordan Rees, High Spirits (G ’n’ T)
Gráinne Brady & Tina Jordan ReesHigh Spirits (G ’n’ T) Fiddler Gráinne Brady and pianist, flautist and whistle player Tina Jordan Rees met at a traditional music session in Glasgow in 2011 and this first full-length album suggests there was an instant
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Paperbacks
Fly Away Home: Stories by Marina Warner (Salt, £8.99)The always excellent Marina Warner ranges through eras, from art history to myth, and from fiction to non-fiction, to produce a collection of mostly modern-set stories where central characters are searching
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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits to 'a bit of embarrassment' as his players are booed off the pitch
THEY were streaming through the exits with 20 minutes left on the clock at Pittodrie. It had all become just too much to bear.Well, how would you feel having a handful of St Johnstone supporters scattered around a corner of your ground, chanting ‘We Want
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Priest comes out as gay in direct challenge to Vatican
A SENIOR priest has been dismissed by the Vatican after revealing he is gay in order to highlight the 'inhuman' treatment of sexual minorities by the Catholic Church.Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa was removed from his position ahead of a major meeting that
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How Google's 'right to be forgotten' scheme helped drug-dealing Scots boxer
A court ruling that allows Google search results of embarrassing articles to vanish is under fresh scrutiny after a web-link about a drug-dealing boxer disappeared.Google notified the publishers of the Sunday Herald that a link to story on the jailing
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How the referendum tactics of Project Fear killed of Labour in Scotland at the General Election
IN research for my book on Labour’s election campaign – Five Million Conversations: How Labour Lost An Election And Regained Its Roots – I gained access to some of the party’s extensive private polling in Scotland. It points to even deeper difficulties
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Anti-bigotry football law "doesn't work", admits SNP MSP
AN SNP MSP has privately admitted the party’s controversial anti-bigotry law isn’t working.Richard Lyle said the law banning sectarian songs at football games was “too sweeping”, didn’t work as intended, and legislation was not always the answer to such
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Essay of the week: How we learned to stop being afraid of the future and fell back in love with science fiction
MY cat has a chip in his neck with the sort of processing power you would once have needed a room full of computers to generate. It's so small, so sneakily subcutaneous, that I don't think he knows it's there. I know he definitely doesn't understand what
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Insurers are anti-cyclist says campaign group
SIMON BAIN The founder of a campaign to protect vulnerable road users has said there is an “anti-cyclist culture” in motor insurance . Lawyer Brenda Mitchell, initiator of the Roadshare campaign which submitted an 8200-name petition to
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John Phelps's portfolio
We entered the final quarter of 2015 in confident fashion last week with all four of our investment portfolios showing signs of stabilising after enduring some of the toughest stock market trading in recent history.True, our performance over the previous
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John Phelps's portfolio
We entered the final quarter of 2015 in confident fashion last week with all four of our investment portfolios showing signs of stabilising after enduring some of the toughest stock market trading in recent history.True, our performance over the previous
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Star-ratings for people are a chilling sign we've all become commodities
THERE'S a theory going round that Peeple, the forthcoming app that has already created a Twitter storm, is actually a spoof, a piece of performance art or even a sinister joke. Let’s hope it is. Because what we know of Peeple is chilling. Dubbed “Yelp
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Who should be world's policeman?
It is obvious that as far as the Western media is concerned the old Cold War continues. What a sceptical press poor Mr Putin receives. His support for the embattled Syrian government of Bashar Al-Assad is being blamed for the emergence of Isil, despite
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No campaign on road to recovery
Ian Bell says not every voter wants to be on one side or the other, in reference to Scottish Labour and Scottish LibDems being open to differing views on independence within their parties (The benefits of a debate without cynicism, Comment, September
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Thanks to the trail-blazer
May I kindly thank Richard Walker, former editor of the Sunday Herald for all his sterling work in helping to point Scotland on the road to independence and wish him continued success and happiness in the future. His editorials and essays have been truly
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People versus profits versus cars
Patrick Harvie, writing about the VW scandal, stated that "the downfall of the 'People's Car' should remind ministers that people matter more than corporate profits" (VW's car crash should serve as a wake-up call to governments about the toxic
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Topic of the week: Preparing for Indyref 2
To the undoubted appetite for second referendum, could I add a suggestion that serious preparatory work requires to be done (Why Yes vote may be one for the future, Letters, September 20). The nature of the relationship, after independence, of Scotland
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Tip, tipple, hooray!
It’s been a good week for ... drinking out It’s not exactly the dining carriage on the Orient Express, but it’s a step up from a can of super-lager and a curled-up cheese and pickle sandwich from the buffet trolley. A new fad in railway boozing is trending
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DVD reviews
The Physician (15)Based on Noah Gordon's 1986 historical novel, a blockbuster in Europe though not in his US homeland, this German production stars Ben Kingsley, Stellan Skarsgard and Tom Payne as (respectively) an 11th century Persian physician, an itinerant
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Simon Helberg interview: The Big Bang Theory star on his directorial debut, We'll Never Have Paris
SIMON Helberg, his wife, and their two-month-old son have come to Edinburgh from LA for the weekend. Unfortunately, their luggage has not done the same. This evening is the Edinburgh International Film Festival premiere of Helberg’s directorial debut,
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Drink: what to sip with plum crumble
IT'S time for me to come out of the closet and admit that I have a sweet tooth. I love crumbles and tarts and there’s always a sweet wine in the rack to enjoy alongside. The best options for Geoff’s delicious crumble would be a sweet German Riesling or
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Joanna Blythman: Bo Kantina, Glasgow
Bo Kantina48a West Regent Street, Glasgow 0141 353 6712Lunch/dinner £20-£30Food rating 5/10BO Kantina has slipped into the former premises of one of Glasgow’s charred meat joints, Burger Meets Bun, and is brought to us by the same kitchen team, two chefs
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Bar Stool: Ardshiel Hotel, Campbeltown
Ardshiel Hotel Kilkerran Road Campbeltown What is it: Ardshiel Hotel was built in 1877 for a local family called the Greenlees. As well as the rooms it has a popular restaurant and a lounge called The Usquebaugh Bar, which I headed straight
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Rangers boss Mark Warburton: Football is far harsher than the cut-throat world of The City
MARK WARBURTON, with 20 years of experience in the cut-throat world of trading behind him, is unequivocal when asked whether football is a harsher environment than the City."Football is," he said. "Absolutely."The Rangers manager has