Archive
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Ray Stubbs - My Sporting Saturday
As the worst left-back in the history of Tranmere Rovers, my late teenage Saturday afternoons were occupied by Lancashire League fixtures that took in games against Everton, Liverpool, both Manchester clubs and all points between Burnley and Blackpool
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The reallocation of medals is a minefield
I RARELY disagree with Scotland's ground-breaking endurance icon, Liz McColgan, but take strong issue with her criticism of a World Championship bronze medal being awarded to Joe Pavey 10 years after she was denied it by a drug cheat.Pavey was fourth
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The annual trip to the bookies? Why, it must mean the Boat Race is here again
THERE are a lot of things that can get lost in translation. Occasional readers of this column, for instance, will vouch for that . . . what? You’re lost already? Good grief. It’s hardly surprising, of course. Some of these wandering, up hill, doon dale
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At the Spring Double . . . it's shaping up to be quite a week for Brian Ellison
The Spring Double might be a hard call for punters but it has proven impossible for trainers.The man who came closest to landing both races in the same year was Dermot Weld who won the Lincoln in 1984 with Saving Mercy and a week later saw Greasepaint
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Edinburgh 22 La Rochelle 32: late fightback not enough for Duncan Hodge’s team
A ROUSING second-half comeback by Edinburgh fell just short of snatching what would have been an improbable victory last night in this Challenge Cup quarter-final. Lucky to be only 14 points behind at half-time after a dishevelled first 40, they were
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There's no pressure on us, says McInnes
DEREK McINNES, the Aberdeen manager, says that his side’s scintillating demolition of Dundee was the perfect way to show that they don’t feel any pressure in the race for second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership. The Rangers manager, Pedro Caixinha
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Dedryck Boyata hoping that squaring up to Thierry Henry with Belgium will help Celtic's bid to become Invincibles
RETURNING to the Belgium set-up for the first time since the Euro 2016 finals last summer would have been a daunting enough prospect for Celtic centre half Dedryck Boyata during the international break as it was. But having to pit himself against a certain
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Brendan Rodgers will rest key Celtic men after semi-final despite unbeaten run as he eyes Champions League qualifiers
BRENDAN Rodgers will get preparations for next season’s Champions League qualifiers underway after the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final later this month by giving his key Celtic players time off. The Scottish champions, who will win their sixth consecutive
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Ryan Fraser relieved that he rose to the challenge at Bournemouth
RYAN FRASER admits his Bournemouth career was hanging by a thread at the start of this season.The 23-year-old joined the Premier League from Aberdeen in January 2013 but initially struggled to shine in the first-team as he adapted to life in England.
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Neil Lennon lambasts Jim Duffy for playing down touchline melee describing it as a 'very serious incident'
NEIL Lennon has branded the ugly melee that marred Hibs’ explosive clash with Morton as "20 times worse" than his bust-up with Ally McCoist in the Old Firm "shame game".In an astonishing rant, the Hibs head coach has accused Cappielow
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MARK WILLIAMS EASES PAST SHAUN MURPHY TO REACH SEMI-FINALS OF CHINA OPEN
Mark Williams moved closer to sealing his place at next month's World Championships with a 5-1 win over Shaun Murphy in the China Open quarter-finals.The two-time world champion will slip out of the top 16 and be required to qualify unless he pulls
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Duffy targets 'quieter' battle as Morton hunt down Championship title
Morton boss Jim Duffy was only concentrating on football ahead of his second-placed side’s trip to Dumbarton today. The midweek stramash with Hibs manager Neil Lennon was pushed to the back of Duffy’s mind as he wants to concentrate only on getting another
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Moffat vows to halt Hibs' march to title glory
Dunfermline striker Michael Moffat insists the Pars aim to do their utmost to delay Hibs’ march towards the Championship title.The Fife side still has work to do itself to confirm its place in the second tier for next season, with ninth-place Ayr Untied
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Inverness banking on teenage talent McCart's winning run
AS DEBATE rages over Scotland’s "Nando’s generation", Jamie McCart strikes you more as a superfood salad kind of lad.Grim warnings from the likes of SFA performance director Malky Mackay and PFA Scotland chairman John Rankin over half-committed
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Cummins aims to strike it lucky against Hamilton
STRIKER Graham Cummins admits he has big boots to fill.Plastic is far from fantastic for veteran Perth top gun Steven MacLean so the Irishman is ready to step up to the plate at Hamilton.And while he’s found goals hard to come by this season, Cummins
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Levein won't be in dressing room for Celtic game, insists Cathro
IAN CATHRO has guaranteed that Craig Levein will not be in the dressing room when Celtic visit Tynecastle tomorrow as he sought to end the controversy surrounding the director of football’s role once and for all. The debate regarding Levein’s position
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Darren Fletcher: I left Manchester United too soon
DARREN FLETCHER, the Scotland captain, admits he still harbours regrets about the way his Manchester United career ended. The experienced midfielder brought the curtain down on his 20-year stint at Old Trafford when he joined West Bromwich Albion in January
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Too much at stake in basement battle, says Money
FORMER St Mirren keeper and Ayr boss Campbell Money is bodyswerving today's nerve-shredding dogfight between his old clubs.Money stressed that he cannot choose between his ex-teams and was unable to watch the basement battle in Paisley.He said: "
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United aim to sparkle in promotion battle after Irn-Bru win
Jamie Robson insists Dundee United are back in the promotion groove - and it's all down to their Irn-Bru Cup triumph.Ray McKinnon's men finally got back to winning ways in the Championship thanks to Tuesday night's last-gasp 2-1 victory over
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Ross County defender shoots down false claims and turns focus on Thistle showdown
Kenny van der Weg, the Ross County defender, is determined to use what he insists were malicious claims of his unhappiness at the club as extra motivation for today’s crucial trip to face Partick Thistle.The Dutchman shook with anger as he reacted to
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Lee Hodson: Helping Rangers qualify for the Europa League group stages is more important than an extended summer break
LEE Hodson has, despite distinguishing himself in two games against Celtic, not been a regular starter for Rangers this season so he will have no great concern about having to cut short his summer break to prepare for Europa League qualifiers next season
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Long wait to return to big time over for Murdoch at key time in Olympic cycle
When two time world champion Dave Murdoch finally won an Olympic medal at the third time of asking he could have been forgiven for deciding that his life’s work as a curler was complete and those who only follow the sport when the major championships
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Glasgow Warriors poised for biggest ever challenge
TWO years on from their greatest triumph to date, Glasgow face an even greater challenge. Munster were tough but very familiar opponents in the 2015 PRO12 final: Saracens, who the Warriors meet in tomorrow’s Champions Cup quarter-final, are a significantly
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Dundee 0 Aberdeen 7: Dons make Celtic wait and give Rangers manager food for thought
If the Celtic players were round at Leigh Griffiths’s house last night with the alcopops on ice a la Leicester City at Jamie Vardy’s, then they would have had the caps back on the WKD in quick-smart fashion. At least Aberdeen had the decency not to leave
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Pound pushes higher in wake of official start of the Brexit process
The pound pushed higher on Friday as investors moved back into UK currency just days after the trigger of Article 50.Sterling edged up by 0.6% against the US dollar to 1.254, and climbed 0.4% versus the euro to 1.172.The currency was on the rise as pessimistic
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Police name lorry driver killed in Balfron road crash
A man who died in a road crash near Balfron has been named by police. Gary McEachran, 42, died after the tipper lorry he was driving came off the A81 near Ballat crossroads in Stirling Council area at 7.30am on Thursday. Mr McEachran, from Campbeltown
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JK Rowling's hand-written Sorting Hat song joins a new Harry Potter exhibition
A hand-written draft of the Sorting Hat’s song by JK Rowling has been added to an exhibition of previously unseen artefacts from the Harry Potter stories. The collection, which will go on display at the British Library in London, marks the 20th
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Co-op ham recalled after allergen labelling error discovered
Co-op has recalled a batch of ham with incorrect allergen labelling. Co-op Irresistible Scottish Breaded Ham (120g) contains wheat (gluten) which is not mentioned on the label. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) said the product is a possible health
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Serious data breach over Westminster staff details to be examined by MPs
MPS are to discuss the “very serious and concerning breach” of parliamentary data after a document containing confidential details about their staff was wrongly posted online.Ever since the murder last summer of Yorkshire MP Jo Cox, the concern about
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Acas talks on civilian strike at naval bases end without agreement
Talks to resolve a civilian strike at the Faslane and Coulport naval bases have ended without agreement. Industrial action started last week with members of the Unite union - who work in roles involving radiation monitoring, weapons support, cleaning
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Music review: Sir James MacMillan conducts BBC SSO, City Halls, Glasgow
MusicBBC SSOCity Halls, GlasgowKeith Brucefour starsIT is partly a consequence of the BBC Scottish being a broadcasting orchestra that it has taken over a year and a half for Sir James MacMillan's Symphony No.4 to be heard at its City Hall home. Commissioned
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EU leaders attacked over "shameful" Brexit talks move to give Spain veto over Gibraltar's future
EUROPEAN Union leaders have been attacked by MPs for their “shameful” behaviour as they were accused of trying to give Spain a veto on the future of Gibraltar as part of the Brexit talks.One Conservative backbencher insisted there would be “no sell-out
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Peppa Pig owner cheers rising revenues as it delivers strong merchandise sales
The owner of Peppa Pig has cheered rising revenues as the children's cartoon character delivered strong merchandise sales in the United States.Entertainment One (eOne) said group reported revenue saw strong growth for the year ending in March, as
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SPFL confirm date for final Old Firm fixture of the season at Ibrox
THE Old Firm will go head-to-head twice in six days after the SPFL confirmed the date for the final derby clash of the campaign. The Glasgow giants will meet at Hampden next month in the Scottish Cup semi-finals in what will be the fifth fixture
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Chancellor to sell £11.8bn of Bradford & Bingley loans
Chancellor Philip Hammond has triggered the sale of £11.8 billion worth of Bradford & Bingley loans acquired during the financial crisis.The Government said the funds would be sold to Prudential and Blackstone and delivered "value for money"
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Gregor Townsend aware of challenge facing Glasgow when they take on Saracens
GLASGOW will have to put on the performance of their lives if they are to prolong their European adventure, Gregor Townsend has confessed. Warriors are looking forward to their first Champions Cup quarter-final against reigning champions Saracens
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Video: Barrier lifted on Queen Street Station redevelopment
THE total overhaul of one of Scotland's busiest railway stations has been given the formal green light, a move expected to trigger major city centre development. Glasgow's £100million-plus Queen Street Station revamp had been hit with
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Shamed striker David Goodwillie joins Clyde until the end of the season
FORMER Aberdeen and Dundee United striker David Goodwillie has joined Clyde until the end of the season. The 27-year-old was released by Plymouth Argyle after he was convicted of rape by a civil court in January following a high profile case.
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Beating Hearts would cap remarkable first season at Celtic - Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers believes a Celtic title win against Hearts on Sunday would bookend a "remarkable" first Ladbrokes Premiership season, which began with a 2-1 win at Tynecastle. New signing Scott Sinclair stepped off the bench to score a late debut winner
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Football on TV: Where to watch Dundee v Aberdeen, Hearts v Celtic and more this weekend
CELTIC can wrap up the league title this weekend by beating Hearts at Tynecastle, although the Hoops could be named champions before then if Hearts are beaten at Dens Park on Friday. Both games will be televised live, with the action from Dundee
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Watch: Bryan Hunsaker from United States breaks record for lifting the famous Dinnie Stones
Bryan Hunsaker from the United States has broken the record for lifting the famous Dinnie Stones after holding the 733lbs (332kg) boulders at Potarch in Aberdeenshire for 33.9 seconds - beating the record of 31 seconds. The lifts took place in
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Fettercairn Jewel bought for the nation
A MYSTERIOUS jewel found in a closet at one of Scotland's great stately homes has been saved for the nation after being bought by National Museums Scotland for more than £230,000The Fettercairn Jewel was part of a treasure trove meticulously collected
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First child abuse inquiry sessions to hear from faith-based organisations
The first sessions of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry will hear evidence from faith-based organisations and residential and foster care providers. Expert witnesses, the Scottish Government and survivor groups will also give evidence at the hearings
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Lost Glasgow: Going back in time to Bath Street
Sign of the times… This workman had time on his hands when he climbed out onto the giant clock outside the old Glasgow Corporation Transport Offices, in Bath Street, to fit it with new, neon lights. Perched high above the hubbub of trams and pedestrians
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Rangers must believe we can catch Aberdeen, says Lee Hodson
Lee Hodson says Rangers will need to keep the faith if they are to catch Aberdeen and finish second. Rangers trail the Dons by nine points in the race to finish as Ladbrokes Premiership runners-up behind runaway leaders Celtic. But as Pedro
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Mother and boy, 13, stabbed to death in horrifying attack had 'taken homeless man in at Christmas'
A 13-year-old schoolboy and his mother have died after beingstabbed in a "horrifying" attack at their home. Tracey Wilkinson, her husband Peter and her son Pierce, were found stabbed in Stourbridge at about 8am on Thursday. A man in his 20s
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Glasgow bin lorry crash driver's daughter forced to move home after receiving death threats
The daughter of the driver of a bin lorry which crashed killing six people received death threats along with her father in the wake of the tragedy, a court has heard. Harry Clarke's lawyer told Glasgow Sheriff Court that the pair were threatened
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Full text of letter sent by Nicola Sturgeon to Theresa May revealed
A full text of the letter sent by the First Minister to the Prime Minister: Dear Theresa When we met in Glasgow on Monday, I wished you well for the negotiations that lie ahead now that you have formally invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty
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Independence referendum powers request letter delivered to Downing Street
NICOLA Sturgeon has formally asked Theresa May to grant Holyrood the power to hold a second independence referendum, in line with a recent majority vote of MSPs. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Sturgeon said she felt frustrated that the voices
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National 5 qualification changes aim to cut teacher workload
Changes to the National 5 qualification to help reduce teacher workload and over-assessment of pupils have been announced. Education Secretary John Swinney confirmed mandatory unit assessments will be removed in 2017/18 while the course assessments
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Naked support for naturist group
IT is a pastime where the only stipulation is that adherents display their bare essentials. And now the practice of naturism has been given the backing of national tourist agency VisitScotland as devotees of holidaying without clothes prepare to gather
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22-year-old injured after car deliberately driven at men in Paisley
A 22-year-old has suffered serious injuries after a car was deliberately driven at two men in an attack which police are treating as attempted murder. The victim was taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley after being targeted by a dark-coloured
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Pamela Anderson tells of 'love' for Julian Assange
Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has spoken of her “love” for Julian Assange. The ex-Playboy model, 49, is rumoured to be dating the WikiLeaks founder, 45, who has been living under political asylum for almost five years at London’s Ecuadorian
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Accused Scots breast surgeon tells court surgery was 'the patients's choice'
A Scots breast surgeon accused of carrying out unnecessary operations has told a court that surgery was "the patient's choice". Glasgow-born Ian Paterson said he laid out "all the options" for Joanne Lowson before carrying out a second operation
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Two hundred years of deadly duels, scandals and celebrity
By George Mair IT WAS the Scottish magazine that scandalised society, sparked pistol duels and was so popular that it could reject works from literary luminaries such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson. The esteem in which Blackwood
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Glasgow bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke avoids jail for motoring offence
The driver of a bin lorry which crashed killing six people has avoided jail after admitting culpable and reckless driving on a separate occasion just nine months after the tragedy. Harry Clarke, 60, admitted driving a car in Glasgow on September
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Johanna Konta beats Venus Williams again to reach Miami Open final
Johanna Konta's stranglehold over Venus Williams continues as she became the first British woman to reach the Miami Open final. Konta was just six years old when Williams first won this tournament 19 years ago and has cited the seven-time grand
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Inverleith House show among Edinburgh Art Festival exhibitions for 2017
A collection of Scotland's and the world's leading artists will be shown at 45 exhibitions at this year's Edinburgh Art Festival.The festival (EAF) and partners will present the shows across 35 venues.The EAF will also include a new show at
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Fife MBE award winner is a child abuser
A “UPSTANDING citizen” MAN given an MBE for services to a Fife town has been exposed as a child abuser who battered and sexually attacked youngsters in his care at a notorious children’s home. Trevor Francis was given the honour in the 2012 Queen
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Stealth osprey makes a splash at Scottish Nature Awards
A STARTLING photograph of a young osprey rising from a loch has been named the overall winner of the Scottish Nature Awards 2016. Gordon Rae, from Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway, dubbed the image Undercover Osprey as he thought it looked as though
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Trade negotiations could begin by the autumn, says Donald Tusk
Negotiations on future trade relations between the UK and EU could begin as early as this autumn, European Council president Donald Tusk has indicated. But the move, much desired by Downing Street, will only take place once "sufficient progress" has
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Out of contract XI: The best Scottish Premiership stars heading for the exit this summer
WITH less than two months to go until the end of the Ladbrokes Premiership season, there are dozens of players whose futures remain far from certain. Inverness lost midfielder Greg Tansey to rivals Aberdeen on a pre-contract agreement on Wednesday
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Cosmetic clinics offering Botox and dermal fillers must be registered from today
PRIVATE clinics offering treatments such as Botox injections and dermal fillers must be registered with the healthcare watchdog from today. New regulations mean any clinic that fails to register with Healthcare Improvement Scotland will be committing
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Owner of car stolen from garage finds bill for police recovery is same as cost of vehicle
A DRIVER has been hit with a police bill demanding as much as the car stolen from him is worth after it was found by officers. Robert Hunter had bought a 14-year-old Vauxhall Corsa for his wife for £500. He then took it to Zico’s Garage, Edinburgh
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Hibs fan who tried to punch Rangers star Lee Wallace avoids jail
A HIBERNIAN fan has narrowly avoided jail after trying to punch Rangers player Lee Wallace during the pitch invasion after last year’s Scottish Cup final. Dale Pryde climbed over fencing, ran towards the defender, acted aggressively and tried to
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People rubbishing his chances isn’t rubbing Motherwell's Stephen Robinson up wrong way
THE Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson isn’t worried about his side being written off ahead of their visit to Ibrox tomorrow, because he has been proving people wrong his entire career. And, although he knows that everyone will be expecting
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Chancellor to sell £11.8bn of Bradford & Bingley loans
Chancellor Philip Hammond has triggered the sale of £11.8 billion worth of Bradford & Bingley loans acquired during the financial crisis. The Government said the funds would be sold to Prudential and Blackstone and delivered "value for money" for
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Celtic dominate as our football writers name their award winners in Scottish football this season
IT IS that time of the year when the votes are tallied up as the journalists and players themselves choose their stars of the season. As a public service, our writers reveal who they are going to vote for in the manager, player and young player of
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Video: Former Trump aide Michael Flynn ‘wants immunity’ in exchange for Russia evidence
Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn is in discussions with the House and Senate intelligence committees about speaking to their probe into links with Russia in exchange for immunity, his lawyer has said. Robert Kelner
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Foster couple set to launch legal battle that could help carers across Scotland
A FOSTER couple are set to launch a landmark legal battle that could see carers across Scotland receive workers’ entitlements including sick pay, pensions and holiday pay. It comes as carers, who look after some of society’s most in-need children
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Michael J Fox 'can't stop laughing' at his Parkinson's disease symptoms
Michael J Fox has revealed he often “can’t stop laughing” at his symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The Back To The Future actor, who was diagnosed with the illness 26 years ago, said he regularly sees the funny side of his inability to perform basic
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Netflix comedy shows more popular in Scotland than anywhere else in UK
NETFLIX comedy shows are more popular in Scotland than anywhere else in the country, according to the first UK data released by the streaming service. Shows that have proved popular north of the Border include Glaswegian hit Still Game, Orange Is The
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Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie welcomes a team-mate and loses rent money...
ABERDEEN captain Graeme Shinnie yesterday gained a new team-mate and lost a lodger.Some explaining is perhaps required. The Pittodrie club announced that after an 18 month and botched attempt, the finally have signed on a pre-contract Greg Tansey from
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As Aberdeen prepare to lose four key players in the summer how can Scotland's second best team hope to progress?
LET’S play devil’s advocate, shall we. How do you think Brendan Rodgers would get on next season if he were to lose four of his first-team players? Not only that but he would also watch them walk away without any transfer money coming in, meaning he
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Neil Lennon's biggest worry isn't another trip to the SFA - it's that his Hibernian squad needs strengthened
THERE will be ramifications following the Easter Road rammy but Neil Lennon has far more important things to consider after a draw with Morton which, more or less, ensured Hibernian will win the Ladbrokes Championship meaning they will play in the
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Russian vodka billionaire buys £25 million Scottish estate
A HIGHLAND sporting estate has become what is thought to be the most expensive sold in Scotland after being bought by a Russian vodka billionaire. The Tulchan Estate, which had been owned by the Litchfield family, had an asking price of more than
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Michelle Mone to be star witness in trial of former employee accused of a £75,000 fraud
TORY peer Michelle Mone is set to be a star witness in the trial of a former employee accused of a £75,000 fraud. Adele Mitchell, 43, is alleged to have carried out various frauds while working at Mone’s former lingerie company MJM International between
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Gerry Braiden Inside Track: Town hall chiefs exodus as SNP prepares local takeover
TO borrow TS Eliot’s well-worn line from the Hollow Men, the familiar world of Scotland’s town halls this week came to an end not with a bang but a whimper. With the triggering of Article 50 and Holyrood’s referendum debate monopolising the agenda,
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Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha cuts short Ibrox squad's summer holiday
PEDRO Caixinha yesterday informed his Rangers players they will only get 10 days holiday this summer - because he is keen for them to be properly prepared for their return to European football next season. Rangers will, if they finish second or
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Ex-rugby star Simon Danielli found guilty of punching wife's alleged lover
By Paul Higgins A FORMER Scottish rugby World Cup star has been fined after being convicted of assaulting his wife’s alleged lover. Simon Danielli, 37, was found guilty of punching Michael Browne, but the father-of-three was cleared of assaulting
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Sturgeon letter requesting second independence referendum due at No 10
A letter formally requesting a second Scottish independence referendum signed by Nicola Sturgeon and dispatched to Theresa May is expected to arrive at Downing Street later. The Scottish Government tweeted a picture of the First Minister with her
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Glasgow bin lorry crash driver Harry Clarke arrives at court to be sentenced for separate motoring offence
The driver of a bin lorry which crashed killing six people is due to be sentenced for culpable and reckless driving on a separate occasion just nine months after the tragedy. Harry Clarke, 60, admitted driving a car in Glasgow on September 20 2015
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Steven Thompson: Celtic will be deserved champions but to become legends they must complete the lot
CELTIC will almost certainly be crowned champions at some point this weekend and deservedly so. They have been the best team in the country by a mile and have already managed so much. But a lot of what they have achieved was probably expected at
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Camley's Cartoon on Friday, March 31
Here is award-winning cartoonist Steven Camley's latest cartoon. To see more of Steven Camley's cartoons or to buy, go here.
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A guide to windowsill growing
You don't need a vegetable patch to start growing – just a sunny windowsill.So says Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticultural Adviser, who is joining his colleagues in trying to encourage newcomers to grow plants during National Gardening Week.So, what
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Why involving children is the right recipe for healthy eating
By Jeananne Craig If you want an honest answer, ask a toddler. They'll make their feelings known, loud and clear - which means product tasting sessions at baby food brand Ella's Kitchen can get pretty messy. "If they love it
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Herald View: Pressure to deliver on jobs without use of sanctions
THE Scottish Government has regularly been strongly critical of the use of benefit sanctions by the Department for Work and Pensions against those deemed to have failed to comply with job-seeking requirements or to fulfil employability placements.
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Recipe of the Day: Pea shoot, Lanark white and black pudding salad
Pea Shoot, Lanark White & Black Pudding Salad by Carina Contini of Cannonball Restaurant in Edinburgh Brought up in a Scots-Italian family on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Carina Contini is extremely passionate about food. Opening her first restaurant
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Poem of the Day: Homecoming by Jim Carruth
Glasgow’s official poet Jim Carruth grew up on his family’s farm near Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, and his poetry is deeply engaged in that pastoral inheritance. Here is the opening poem from his new collection Black Cart (Freight Books, £9.99). Homecoming
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LIVES IN BRIEF. This week: actress known for Town Without Pity, heroic soldier who became victim of racism, and the star of What's Eating Gilbert Grape
This week: actress known for Town Without Pity, heroic soldier who became victim of racism, and the star of What's Eating Gilbert GrapeCHRISTINE Kaufmann, who has died aged 72, was an actress who won a Golden Globe for her 1961 Hollywood debut, Town
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'I hated...I hate being gay' – Terence Davies on celibacy and his new film A Quiet Passion
TODAY'S turn-up for the books. Terence Davies tells me that he has in fact watched one whole episode of Sex and the City. Yes, that Terence Davies. The director of Sunset Song and The Long Day Closes and a handful of other perfectly cut jewels
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Herald View: Brexit power grab must be challenged
IT could be seen as a classic bait and switch. Theresa May’s letter triggering Article 50, we were told this week, was a historic moment. The culmination of the hopes of Ukip and Brexiters, the cause of dismay for those who wished to remain in the
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Bog off: Call to close legal loophole which allows peat to be extracted from Scots estate
A LEGAL loophole has meant plans to remove millions of cubic metres of peat for compost from a Scots landowner's estate have been given the go-ahead despite objections from some of Scotland's leading conservation agencies. A procedural hiccup means
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Doctors say people need to wake up to tackling bowel cancer
Nearly 98 per cent of people will survive bowel cancer if it's detected at stage 1, a figure that drops to 10 per cent if diagnosed at stage 4.Awareness campaigns, plus the NHS screening programmes for people aged 55 and 60-plus, mean generally, the
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Ian McConnell: Tory Brexit plan makes Dastardly and Baldrick look like class acts
PERHAPS the only things the UK Government has not been lacking as it lumbers shambolically towards Brexit are hare-brained schemes. The Government has, on many occasions since the UK electorate’s vote to leave the European Union last June, made Baldrick
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Free vitamins for all pregnant women in Scotland from tomorrow
ALL pregnant women in Scotland will receive free vitamins on the NHS from tomorrow [Sat] as Scotland becomes the first nation in the UK to switch to universal provision. The scheme means all expectant mothers will be prescribed the recommended dosages
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Gerry Braiden Inside Track: Town hall chiefs exodus as SNP prepares local takeover
TO borrow TS Eliot’s well-worn line from the Hollow Men, the familiar world of Scotland’s town halls this week came to an end not with a bang but a whimper. With the triggering of Article 50 and Holyrood’s referendum debate monopolising the agenda
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North-east shows signs of recovery from steep decline
SCOTTISH firms are facing strong inflationary pressures and have achieved only modest growth, while falling investment has raised concerns that Brexit is weighing on them, but the oil sector-induced downturn in the north-east appears to have troughed.This
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A hidden gem among our golf courses but beware the terrifying 15th
WHILST enjoying Nick Rodger’s excellent nostalgic piece on the re-scheduling of the Scottish Boys’ Golf Championship, I wonder whether the young Stromness club hopeful he mentioned as having made the trek to West Kilbride only to lose 8&7 actually existed
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Yes, there is an easy way to improve ScotRail’s disjointed networks
SCOTRAIL’S claim that total transformation of Scotland’s railway will be achieved by 2019 is misleading without a government commitment to complete Scotland’s missing link, easily achieved by upgrading/electrification of 1.8 miles of Glasgow’s City Union
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MSPs and the flouting of rules
I AM indebted to Tom Gordon for bringing attention to the contempt with which Kenneth Gibson MSP treated the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life and the Parliamentary Standards Committee (“MSP under fire for his failure to speak out on landlord
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Letters Special: Upcoming generations robbed by an insular view of the world
ARTICLE 50 has been triggered meaning that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union after 44 years (“The beginning of the end”, The Herald, March 30). This was a very sad day for me and a very disappointing and retrograde step for Scotland
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Brexit climbdown as minister says claim of 'exact same benefits' is an 'ambition'
The Conservative Government has staged a climbdown over Brexit less than 24 hours after serving the European Union with divorce papers. Brexit Secretary David Davis was forced to beat a retreat on his claim that the UK's exit deal would deliver the
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Most Scots say Holyrood should decide on referendum
MOST Scots think Holyrood, not Westminster, should have the right to decide whether to hold a second independence referendum, according to a new poll.The Survation survey, conducted after Theresa May ruled out a referendum for at least two years, found
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Job seekers will not be compelled to take part in back to work courses
JOBLESS Scots will not be compelled to take part in training courses or volunteering in a major break with UK welfare rules following transfer of powers to Holyrood. The use of benefit sanctions against those who fail to comply with preparation-for-work
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Royal London shrugs off rate cut
ROYAL London has shrugged off the cut in interest rates and a “turbulent year in markets and politics” to increase pre-tax profits by 16 per cent to £282 million. The company reported new life and pensions business up 28 per cent to £8.7 billion, with
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Frontier IP makes progress
EDINBURGH-based Frontier IP, which invests in firms that spin out from universities, said the fair value of its portfolio increased 15 per cent in first half, to £5.4 million at 31 December from £4.7m at 30 June. The company added a spin out from the
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Lord Wallace is the latest heavy-hitter to join ICAS
LORD Wallace of Tankerness, the former deputy first minister and Advocate General, has been appointed by ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland) to its regulation board. The former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and leader
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The ugly side of pantos that got everyone in the audience laughing
MEN dressed as women in Glasgow? Well it must have been pantomime time, and here is Rikki Fulton and Walter Carr appearing as the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella. The note with the photograph says 1986, but it was probably 1987 when they appeared at the King
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Album review: The Magnetic Fields, 50 Song Memoir (Nonesuch)
The Magnetic Fields50 Song MemoirNonesuchSINCE Stephin Merritt's five-disc set of year-by-year songcraft to mark his half-century was released earlier this month, the Edinburgh International Festival has announced that he and a Magnetic Fields septet
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Free Fire: Return to form for Wheatley in violent, grubby but funny shoot 'em up
Free Fire (15) Four stars Dir: Ben Wheatley With: Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson Runtime: 91 minutes AMONG the many qualities of British director Ben Wheatley is his love of good old-fashioned grubbiness. If you want
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Visual Art: Ilana Halperin, Geologic Intimacy (Yu no hana), Peacock Visual Arts, Aberdeen
ILANA Halperin, whose work is based around creating a connection between geological time and human time, first became “obsessed” with the Japanese city of Beppu some twenty years ago when living in her native New York. Set amongst mountains – volcanoes
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DVD Reviews: Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; The Proud Valley; Paterson
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (15)BFI, £19.99TWICE nominated for an Oscar for The Last Picture Show and The Exorcist, Ellen Burstyn finally bagged a gong for her role as the titular Alice in Martin Scorsese's bittersweet road movie, one of the
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Writer and photographer Bill Hayes on losing his lover Dr Oliver Sacks
Jackie McGloneIF New York were a patient, it would be diagnosed with Agrypnia excitata, “a rare genetic condition characterised by insomnia, nervous energy, constant twitching, and dream enactment – an apt description of a city that never sleeps”. It
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'1980s satire is curiously mild' - Review: Billionaire’s Banquet, by Ron Butlin
Billionaire’s BanquetRon ButlinSalt, £8.99Review by Richard StrachanRON Butlin’s fifth novel is split into two roughly equal parts, the first covering the summer of 1985, the second accounting for the summer of 2005. In the first part, a group of students
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Sigma Capital to launch REIT
EDINBURGH property finance business Sigma Capital has unveiled plans to launch a real estate investment trust (REIT) to use as a long-term holding vehicle for its private rented sector assets.The firm, which partners with local authorities and housebuilders
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Tories failing at the first hurdle
AS local councillor for the area I am sure I have talked to many more residents of Craiglockhart in Edinburgh than John McLellan over the past five years.I know residents can spot a Tory ploy when they see one. Urging people to vote in council elections
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The sickness in health service
YOUR report on the effect of staff shortages on cancer care (“Health chiefs blame staff shortage for worst cancer waiting times”, The Herald, March 29), coupled with the BBC’s report on the use of jargon in the NHS, highlight why we are experiencing the
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Undergraduates in Edinburgh
ONE reference in Iain Macwhirter’s column on triggering Brexit (March 30) should give pause for thought: “Ask universities like Edinburgh which are finding that students and staff just don’t want to come here any more.” Given that Edinburgh University
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Sturgeon threatens to torpedo Brexit legislation to avert Westminster "power grab"
NICOLA Sturgeon has dramatically threatened to derail the legislation needed to put Brexit into effect, saying it appeared to be a “power grab” that would strip Holyrood of its authority. The First Minister said the Great Repeal Bill would see powers
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David Pratt: IS is in retreat but it leaves behind a legacy that is deadly
EVERY profession has certain rules of thumb. Over the last few days in the devastated Iraqi city of Mosul, a bomb disposal expert told me of the all-important ones in his own line of work: “Presence of the abnormal, absence of the normal”, was how
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Sturgeon told: choose between "separation or education"
NICOLA Sturgeon has been told to choose between “separation or education”, after the Scottish Tories published new figures showing a sharp decline in supply teacher numbers.Ruth Davidson claimed the data exemplified falling standards in schools under
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Royal names Cook HR chief
ROYAL Bank of Scotland has appointed Helen Cook as its chief HR officer, reporting directly to chief executive Ross McEwan. Ms Cook, who will be responsible for all aspects of human resources at the state-backed bank, has held a number of senior HR roles
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Food for thought as I can be what I eat
AS outspoken persons do, the actress Emma Thompson has spoken out. Her topic was the pressure on actresses to be thin, which she said was “evil”.Though far from a lardbucket herself, Ms Thompson added that one of the reasons she never moved to Los Angeles
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Agenda: It is risky to play fast and loose with security in the Brexit negotiations
Professor Peter Jackson, Chair of Global Security (History), the University of Glasgow THERESA May’s letter to European Council President Donald Tusk to formally trigger Article 50 attempts to link UK security co-operation with the rest of Europe
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Hart hits back on leaving Bowleven
OUTGOING Bowleven chief executive Kevin Hart has defended the performance of the company in his ten years in charge noting it found a lot of oil and gas off Cameroon but was frustrated by geopolitical factors.Speaking after Edinburgh-based Bowleven said
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Profits dip at pool firm Barr + Wray
BARR + WRAY, the luxury swimming pool specialist, has reported an 18 per cent fall in profits in its last financial year – in line with company forecasts, writes Scott Wright.New accounts show the Glasgow-based firm, which has subsidiaries in the United
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Andrew Grieg, Mike Heron and the exotic enchantments of 1960s Edinburgh
Graeme ThomsonHAVE YOU heard the one about the writer who always wanted to be a musician, and the musician who yearned to write a book? The hefty punchline comes in the form of You Know What You Could Be, a “double-headed memoir” composed – separately
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ScottishPower deploys lasers as part of investment to protect overhead lines
SCOTT WRIGHTSCOTTISHPOWER has revealed it is deploying lasers as part of efforts to minimise power cuts caused by trees and branches falling on overhead lines during storms.The utility giant’s networks arm has developed a 3D aerial mapping database of
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Barrhead Travel launches drive for 120 staff
BARRHEAD Travel has unveiled plans to take on 120 staff, in roles such as sales, web development and marketing, as it rolls out its expansion strategy this year.The family-owned travel agent said it is looking to fill the roles in its branches in Glasgow
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Plexus highlights impact of North Sea downturn
OIL and gas engineering firm Plexus Holdings has highlighted continued tough conditions in the North Sea as the company announced a sharp fall in first half sales.Aberdeen-based Plexus had £3.77 million revenues in the six months to 31 December, down
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Taste the riches of the new season's music while you still can
ROUND my way they are re-turfing the swing park and installing new windows in some council houses, while a main shopping street in central Glasgow is acquiring fancy new kerbs and paving, outside units now occupied by an electronic cigarette emporium
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Album review: Alec Frank-Gemmill and Alasdair Beatson, A Noble and Melancholy Instrument (Bis)
Alec Frank-Gemmill and Alasdair BeatsonA Noble and Melancholy InstrumentBisIT was the French composer, and writer of some style and no shortage of opinions, Hector Berlioz who described the horn as "a noble and melancholy instrument", an identification
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Album review: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Damage and Joy (ADA/Warner Music)
The Jesus and Mary ChainDamage and JoyADA/Warner MusicTHE first album of the 21st century from East Kilbride's battling brothers finds them sounding much as they did last millennium, as everyone hoped it would. The opening tale of lost love, Amputation
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Album review: The Fretless, Bird’s Nest (own label)
The FretlessBird’s Nest(own label)CANADIAN foursome The Fretless have won several prestigious awards at home for an approach to music that puts them broadly in the same virtuosic, searching "folk on the cusp of chamber music" camp as Scottish
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Visual Art: Black and White at The Fine Art Society, Edinburgh
Black and WhiteThe Fine Art Society, Edinburgh, until April 15fasedinburgh.comHERBERT Ponting’s photographs and film footage for Captain Scott’s British Antarctic expedition 1910 -1913 are his most famous surviving works. Iconic, immeasurably evocative
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Alison Rowat film reviews: Graduation, and The Age of Shadows
Graduation (15)Four starsDir: Cristian MungiuWith: Adrian Titieni, Maria-Victoria DragusRuntime: 128 minutesCRISTIAN Mungiu, director of the harrowing 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, is back with another riveting drama that won’t have the Romanian tourist
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'Dunn’s storytelling skills remain a delight'. Review: The Bagpiping People, Douglas Dunn
The Bagpiping PeopleDouglas Dunn Turnpike, £10Alastair MabbottDouglas Dunn, a 74-year-old Renfrewshire native, is rightly revered as one of Scotland’s finest poets. But it wouldn’t do for his poetic achievements to completely overshadow his short story
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Beyond the 'black legend' of Borgias. Review: In the Name of the Family, by Sarah Dunant
In the Name of the FamilySarah DunantVirago, £16.99Review by David RobinsonBORINGLY, historians point out that the Borgias weren’t actually that bad, and that they mainly get such a bad rap because they were foreigners and only in power for a short time
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Herald Diary: Tony Blair on the golf-course, where his leg ended up, and Jim Duffy's reaction
A reader chips inGOLFER Bill Lothian writes: "The reference to a Nicola Sturgeon being an awkward five footer in golf putting terms was funny to me as both a golfer and SNP member. However, in interests of balance, when golfing my pals and I identify
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Government should delay complex digital tax plans
The UK's four farming unions are calling on Government to delay the new Making Tax Digital scheme for farm businesses, many of whom will find it almost impossible to access.Following a joint consultation response on the Making Tax Digital draft legislation
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Susan Egelstaff: Nike taking giant leaps when it comes to technology in elite sport
It is hardly breaking news that Nike is at the forefront of sporting development, but their announcement earlier this month about their new running shoe was intriguing. The biggest sports manufacturer in the world is currently part of a project which
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UK Government condemned for giving itself "sweeping powers" to bypass proper scrutiny of Brexit
THERESA May’s Government has been accused of seeking to give itself “sweeping powers” to bypass proper parliamentary scrutiny as it transfers thousands of EU laws onto the UK Statute Book in preparation for Brexit.As a 37-page White Paper was published
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SNP veteran couple to contest same seat after wife axed by party
A VETERAN SNP husband and wife team will contest the same council ward against each other after she was de-selected in a bid to improve the party's chance of power in Lanarkshire. Michael and Agnes Coyle are at the centre of the so-called 'Monklands
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More than £900,000 for arts, literature and creative industry ideas revealed
More than forty artists, musicians, dancers, festivals and companies have been given more than £900,000 in funding from Creative Scotland.The funds, the majority of it in National Lottery Funding, includes Open Project funds for the Boswell Book Festival
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SSE on track for profits boost but bumps ahead
ENERGY giant SSE is expected to report earnings ahead of target, driven in part by an increase in operating profits in its wholesale division.But the group has warned its networks division would see operating profits fall by about £100 million in the
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White Paper says new Brexit Bill will give Scottish ministers power to change legislation to "correct" EU law
THE Great Repeal Bill will give Scottish ministers powers to change legislation at Holyrood to “correct” EU law in line with similar powers to be used by UK ministers, the White Paper on the forthcoming Brexit Bill says.The planned new legislation, which
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Dundee confirms bid for European Capital of Culture for 2023
Dundee has confirmed it will press ahead with plans to bid for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2023.Despite the disruption of the Brexit process, city planners are determined to press ahead with the bid and will formally submit a stage one
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Funeral directors welcome regulations
NEW regulations aimed at funeral directors will enhance trust in the industry and benefit bereaved families, a conference will be told.Three-quarters of funeral directors have backed the introduction of regulation as a way of ensuring the highest standards
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BBC's new regulator Ofcom wants spending in Scotland increased, will enforce new rule
THE BBC has been told it needs to spend millions of pounds more making programmes in Scotland.The broadcaster's new regulator, Ofcom, said it wants the corporation to spend the same on programmes, per head, in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern