Nick Forbes

Banshee Labyrinth admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that it unlawfully discriminated against Jewish comedian Philip Simon by cancelling his 2025 Edinburgh Fringe show after objecting to views he had expressed about the Gaza conflict. Simon said the cancellation amounted to being targeted because he was Jewish and pursued legal action under equality law. The venue conceded liability immediately before the hearing, after defending the case for more than a year. The court found that it had acted unreasonably and awarded Simon preparation costs at a higher rate, while damages will be decided at a later hearing. Simon and Jewish advocacy organizations welcomed the ruling but criticized the venue for failing to settle earlier and described the case as part of a wider pattern of discrimination against Jewish performers.

Aaron Strachan was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh to an order for lifelong restriction, with a minimum of five years in custody, after pleading guilty to abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl and carrying out two unprovoked assaults. The judge described the rape as predatory and exceptionally serious, while noting Strachan’s extensive criminal record and warning that he might never be released. Strachan had also escaped while being taken to a prison van after an earlier hearing but was recaptured several hours later.

Aaron Strachan was sentenced to an order for lifelong restriction, with a minimum of five years in custody, after admitting the rape and abduction of a 15-year-old girl in Edinburgh and two unprovoked assaults on men. He had stalked and threatened the girl with a knife before taking her to a basement, and separately stabbed one man and struck another with a hammer, causing serious head injuries. Strachan also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice after escaping from a prison van and being recaptured several hours later.

Former River City actor Iain Robertson, 45, was found guilty at Glasgow High Court of five offences against several women committed between 2004 and 2019, including rape during 2018–2019. He denied wrongdoing, while one woman testified that he had sex with her despite her clear lack of consent. Robertson is due to be sentenced at Edinburgh High Court on 23 July and faces a nine-year prison sentence.

A major wildfire near Nethy Bridge in Scotland’s Cairngorms has burned approximately four square kilometres of heathland and forced the evacuation of homes, businesses, campsites and ski resorts around Glenmore Forest Park. More than 50 firefighters, nine appliances and a helicopter carrying out water-bombing operations are working to contain the blaze, which officials say is relatively controlled but remains a protracted incident. A public cordon is in place amid very high wildfire risk across parts of Scotland, while separate fires are being dealt with in West Lothian and Fife.

A Scottish study led by Scottish Brain Sciences will offer Alzheimer’s blood tests through more than 50 GP surgeries to up to 500 patients. The BriDGe project will assess whether p-tau181 and p-tau217 tests can help GPs diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier and more accurately than existing memory tests or scans. Researchers and clinicians say earlier diagnosis could improve access to support, enable planning and prepare healthcare services for future treatments, while the study will also examine how practical and reliable the tests are in routine primary care.

The BriDGe study, led by Scottish Brain Sciences and involving more than 50 GP surgeries across central and northern Scotland, will offer suspected Alzheimer’s patients blood tests through their GPs. Using Roche Diagnostics’ p-tau181 and p-tau217 tests, the initiative aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, speed referrals, and provide earlier access to support and treatment. Earlier diagnosis could also help patients make lifestyle changes and plan for the future.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh identified a distinct androgen hormone profile in people with endometriosis, including elevated 11-ketotestosterone. In a study of 159 women with confirmed endometriosis and 57 without the condition, the hormone signature correctly identified more than 95% of participants with the disease. The findings could support a non-invasive blood test and provide new therapeutic targets, potentially reducing diagnosis times in the UK, which currently average more than nine years. Researchers are seeking industry partners, while Endometriosis UK welcomed the early results but stressed that larger trials are needed to validate them.

A University of Edinburgh study identified a distinctive hormonal signature in people with endometriosis, including elevated levels of 11-ketotestosterone. The findings enabled researchers to identify more than 95 percent of patients in the trial and could lead to a non-invasive blood test, potentially reducing the current average nine-year diagnosis time in the UK. Researchers are seeking industry partners to develop the test and investigate new treatment targets.

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University are developing oleogels made from lower-saturated-fat liquid oils such as sunflower or rapeseed oil to replace solid fats in laminated pastry. The aim is to preserve the flaky texture of sausage rolls while reducing their saturated-fat content, potentially benefiting other pastries and vegan cheese alternatives. The UK-funded, 10-month project involves New Food Innovation and AB Mauri and will examine taste, consumer acceptance, environmental impact and whether the new fats can reduce the need for repeated chilling during production.

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are developing oleogels that could replace solid, saturated-fat-rich pastry fats with healthier liquid oils such as sunflower or rapeseed oil. The 10-month project aims to preserve the flaky texture of sausage rolls while potentially reducing chilling requirements during production. Working with New Food Innovation and AB Mauri and funded by UKRI EPSRC, the team will test the modified pastry with consumers and may apply the technology to other laminated pastries and vegan cheese alternatives.

Researchers from the universities of Dundee and Warwick have identified a more active role for oxygen in the charging and discharging of batteries. Computer modelling and laboratory experiments comparing phosphate and layered-oxide lithium-ion cathodes found significant electron extraction from oxygen in layered oxides, challenging the view that oxygen is largely passive. The findings could support the development of batteries that charge faster, last longer and are safer for portable electronics and electric vehicles.

Scottish rugby figures, British and Irish Lions teammates, friends and family gathered at George Watson’s College in Edinburgh to celebrate the life of Scott Hastings, who died aged 61 following complications from cancer treatment. His brother Gavin described him as an exceptionally generous and respected person, while Scottish Rugby Union president Keith Wallace praised his playing career, commentary work, loyalty to Watsonians and charity efforts. The event drew former international players from Scotland, England, Wales and France, highlighting Hastings’s broad impact on the rugby community.

Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, died at 38 in a US hospital after discontinuing treatment for an existing medical condition. He had been serving a Utah sentence for raping two women in 2008 after being extradited from the UK in January 2024. Rossi was arrested in Glasgow in 2021 when hospital staff recognised his tattoos from an Interpol notice; he had denied being Rossi and claimed to be an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, but a Scottish judge rejected his claims.

Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, died in a Utah hospital from complications of an existing medical condition after discontinuing treatment. Rossi had been serving a sentence for the rape of two women and had fled to the UK after an obituary claimed he died in 2020. Arrested in Glasgow in 2021 after hospital staff recognised his tattoos, he denied being Rossi and claimed to be Irish orphan Arthur Knight, but Scottish courts confirmed his identity and he was extradited to Utah in 2024.

Scotland fans are preparing to fill pubs, bars and fan zones across the country for the decisive World Cup group match against five-time champions Brazil. Thousands of Tartan Army supporters have travelled to Miami, while large crowds are expected at Glasgow’s OVO Hydro and Edinburgh’s The Pitt. First Minister John Swinney has backed Steve Clarke’s team to reach the knockout stages for the first time. Scotland must recover from a 1-0 loss to Morocco; a win would guarantee historic qualification, while a draw would almost certainly be enough, despite Brazil’s status as strong favourites.

Actor Iain Robertson, 45, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of five offences against women committed between 2004 and 2019, including rape during 2018–2019. He denied wrongdoing and said he believed there was consent. Sentencing is scheduled at the High Court in Edinburgh on 23 July.

Former River City actor Iain Robertson, 45, was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of rape and four other offences against several women committed between 2004 and 2019. The rape occurred between 2018 and 2019; the complainant said he had sex with her despite her lack of consent. Robertson denied wrongdoing, but the jury convicted him. He is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 23.

Lewis Hawkes, 36, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with five counts of attempted murder, along with assault and robbery, breach of the peace, and culpable and reckless conduct. All charges are aggravated by an alleged terrorist connection. The attacks across Sighthill, Telford Road and Leith Walk injured five men, several of whom were reportedly Muslim; three required hospital treatment, although none suffered life-threatening injuries. Hawkes did not enter a plea, was remanded in custody and is due to appear again within eight days. Counter-terrorism officers are investigating a suspected anti-Muslim motivation, while Police Scotland and Scottish First Minister John Swinney have pledged support and protection for affected communities.

Lewis Hawkes, 36, has been charged with five counts of attempted murder aggravated by an alleged terrorist connection, along with assault, robbery, breach of the peace, and culpable and reckless conduct. The charges follow attacks across Edinburgh that injured five people, three of whom required hospital treatment; several victims were Muslim. Counter-terrorism officers are investigating a suspected anti-Muslim motive. Hawkes did not enter a plea at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody pending a further hearing.

Actor Iain Robertson denies eight charges covering alleged offences against four women between 2004 and 2020. At his trial before the High Court in Glasgow, two women described alleged controlling and abusive behaviour, including threats, physical aggression, an alleged assault involving dragging one woman by her hair, and another incident in which wine was poured over a woman and her papers. Robertson’s lawyer disputed the allegations and offered alternative accounts. The trial continues.

A study led by the University of Glasgow found that the asteroid impact which created Mexico’s Chicxulub crater 66 million years ago generated a subterranean hydrothermal system capable of supporting microbial life for about eight million years. Analysis of crater samples using argon-argon dating showed the system persisted from roughly 66 to 58 million years ago, longer than earlier computer models had estimated. Researchers attribute its longevity to impact-generated heat, permeable fractured rock and geothermal conditions. The findings offer insights into how life may have emerged on early Earth and could help identify impact craters on Mars and other planets that may once have supported life.

Sephora will open its first Scottish stores at Edinburgh’s St James Quarter on July 9 and Glasgow’s Silverburn Shopping Centre on August 13. The stores will offer global beauty brands including rhode, Haus Labs and Makeup by Mario, Sephora UK exclusives, personalised recommendations through beauty scan technology, and launch events featuring entertainment, food and queue experiences. The expansion follows Sephora’s first UK store opening in London three years earlier and will coincide with new small-format boutiques in London.

Three British men from the same family admitted involvement in the death of Canadian restaurant owner Sharif Rahman in Owen Sound, Ontario, following a dispute over an unpaid bill. Robert Evans pleaded guilty to manslaughter after allegedly striking Rahman outside The Curry House; Rahman died in hospital a week later. Evans's father, Robert Busby Evans, and uncle, Barry Evans, admitted being accessories after the fact and each received 21-month jail sentences. The men were extradited from Scotland to Canada, where Evans is due to be sentenced.

A study proposes that Stonehenge’s six-tonne altar stone originated in north-east Scotland and was transported partway by glaciers to Doggerland or Dogger Bank during the last Ice Age. Neolithic communities may then have moved it hundreds of kilometres by land, river or coastal routes to Salisbury Plain, possibly in response to rising sea levels. The findings suggest the stone had cultural significance before its incorporation into Stonehenge and demonstrate substantial planning and cooperation among prehistoric communities.

Former care worker Robert Wilson was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two vulnerable women, including Yvonne Carnie at an East Lothian residential home between August 2022 and February 2023. He had also raped another woman in Tranent in 2013. Carnie died in 2025 before the trial, and her family said Wilson had stolen the dignity of her final years. Prosecutors and Police Scotland described a pattern of grooming, manipulation and abuse of power, while Carnie’s family raised concerns about systemic failures that allowed the abuse to occur.

Former care worker Robert Wilson, 53, was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting two vulnerable women in East Lothian. He attacked Yvonne Carnie at a residential home between August 2022 and February 2023, but she died in 2025 before seeing him brought to justice. Wilson was also convicted of raping another woman in Tranent in 2013. Carnie’s family said he showed a calculated, predatory disregard for her dignity, while police and prosecutors described a pattern of exploiting vulnerable women through trust and his position of power.

Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband, oversaw the party’s expansion from 1999 until his resignation in 2023 amid disputes over membership figures and financial transparency. He was later arrested and pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between 2010 and 2022. The case followed Police Scotland’s investigation into party finances, including searches of Murrell and Sturgeon’s home and the SNP headquarters. Murrell and Sturgeon announced in 2025 that they were ending their marriage.

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell pleaded guilty at Edinburgh High Court to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. A 126-page indictment details hundreds of purchases made with the funds, including a £124,550 motorhome, vehicles, a robotic lawnmower, a £3,500 silver wine coaster, an expensive coffee machine, a telescope and household goods. Evidence and photographs of the items were released by Scotland's Crown Office.

Business confidence in Scotland rose two points to 50% in May, exceeding the UK-wide figure of 47%, according to Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer. Confidence in firms’ own trading prospects increased to 62%, although optimism about the wider economy fell to 38%. Stronger customer demand and expected new contracts were the main drivers. Nearly a third of Scottish businesses expect to increase staffing over the next year, while leading growth priorities include staff training, new technology such as AI and automation, and new products or services. Confidence increased across seven UK regions and nations, with the North East and West Midlands among the strongest performers.

Former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022. The charges include allegations that he used £124,550 in SNP funds to buy a motorhome for personal use. Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband, was arrested in 2023 and charged in 2024 following a police investigation into the party’s finances.

Scottish military instructor Ross David Cutmore was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by a court in Odesa after pleading guilty to spying for Russia. Recruited by a Russian special-services operative, he provided information on Ukrainian military units, training areas, personnel and facilities in exchange for payment. He also illegally possessed a Makarov pistol and ammunition and discussed the potential use of explosives.

Scottish military instructor Ross David Cutmore was sentenced in Odesa to eight years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to spying for Russia. Prosecutors said he transmitted coordinates of Ukrainian military units, photographs of training facilities and information that could identify service personnel, receiving at least $6,000 for one task. He also collected data on Odesa facilities, discussed possible explosives use, sought access to military commanders and illegally possessed a Makarov pistol and ammunition. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said it was providing consular assistance.

Jamie Muir, 33, sexually assaulted two women on a crowded train travelling from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh, using congestion linked to a rugby match to conceal his actions. After one victim confronted him, passengers intervened and persuaded him to leave the train at North Queensferry. The women reported the incidents to British Transport Police, and Muir later pleaded guilty. Dunfermline Sheriff Court sentenced him to nine months in prison and ordered him to remain on the sex-offender register for ten years.

An eight-year, £4 million study led by the University of Dundee with the Max Planck Institute will investigate phosphorylation-dephosphorylation dynamics, rapid chemical signals that switch proteins on and off during cell division. Researchers aim to decode this “biological morse code” to understand how cell division becomes abnormal in cancer and potentially inform more effective treatments.

Researchers at the University of Dundee, working with Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, are beginning an eight-year, £4 million Wellcome-funded study of phosphorylation–dephosphorylation dynamics in cells. The project will investigate how rapid chemical on-off signals regulate cell division and why these signals malfunction in cancer. By decoding the timing of these cellular “light switches,” scientists hope to improve understanding of cancer development, treatment resistance and potential future therapies.

Four-year-old Jessica Macrae from Bearsden underwent surgery at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children after doctors discovered a brain tumour following symptoms including headaches, sickness and balance problems. The operation initially left her unable to move, speak or eat, but after a 12-week neurorehabilitation programme involving daily physiotherapy, she regained the ability to speak, eat independently and walk with improved stability. Her parents expressed gratitude to the medical teams.

Four-year-old Jessica Macrae from Bearsden underwent emergency surgery at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children after a brain tumour was discovered following worsening headaches, nausea, balance problems and coordination difficulties. She initially lost the ability to move, speak and eat, but regained these abilities through 13 weeks of intensive neurorehabilitation, including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and assistance with daily movement. Her parents credit the neurosurgical and rehabilitation teams with saving her life, while physiotherapist Fiona Norval praised Jessica’s determination and the support of her family.

A Redwater Insights report says urgent action to decommission ageing North Sea oil and gas infrastructure could create up to 25,000 jobs, attract £25.6 billion in operator investment and generate around £15 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic value. It calls for stronger powers for the North Sea Transition Authority, binding deadlines, partial pre-funding of decommissioning and support for workers moving into cleanup roles. More than 500 wells are already overdue for plugging and abandonment, while 1,700 more are due within six years. The report warns that delays could increase costs, worsen risks to marine environments and leave taxpayers liable if companies fail, while the UK Government says its broader North Sea clean-energy plans could create up to 40,000 jobs in Scotland by 2030.

Three baby rabbits apparently stowed away in a shipping container in Dundee, which traveled to Aberdeen and was loaded onto a vessel bound for the Cygnus gas field. Two rabbits were found running on the pipe deck of the Valaris Norway rig, while a third was discovered later inside a forklift pocket. The rig crew rescued all three, and they were reunited and taken to New Arc Wildlife Rescue near Ellon, Aberdeenshire, where they were reported to be doing well.

The University of Aberdeen has received Calleva Foundation funding for a five-year investigation of Wogan Cavern beneath Pembroke Castle in Wales. Excavations from 2021 to 2024 revealed intact sediments, evidence of human activity potentially spanning from early Homo sapiens to Neanderthals, and hippopotamus bones dating to roughly 120,000 years ago. Larger excavations beginning in late May will use dating, DNA and environmental techniques to investigate prehistoric people, extinct species and climate change over more than 100,000 years.

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have developed a vegan-cheese formulation using oleogelation to turn sustainably grown liquid oils such as rapeseed and sunflower oil into a solid-fat-like gel. The approach could reduce saturated fat from as much as 25% in some existing products to as little as 3%, while improving meltability and reducing reliance on coconut and palm oil. The recipe has so far been tested theoretically and in the laboratory; UK Research and Innovation funding will support kitchen production and tasting-panel tests within the next 10 months.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has been named the soft drinks partner for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and an official partner of Team Scotland. The partnership was announced at CCEP’s East Kilbride facility, highlighting the company’s local manufacturing roots, community involvement and sustainability commitments. Glasgow 2026 will run from July 23 to August 2, featuring 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories across 10 sports and six Para sports.

University of Edinburgh lecturers represented by the University and College Union voted overwhelmingly to authorize another year of potential strike action and other industrial measures amid a dispute over proposed £140 million budget cuts and possible losses of up to 1,800 jobs. The union says management has withdrawn from previous commitments and must rule out compulsory redundancies, while the university argues that further action could disrupt students and that cost reductions are necessary to protect its financial position and global standing.

Comedian Amanda Dwyer won the 2026 Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Award at the Glasgow Comedy Festival Gala. She was stunned by a personalised video message from Billy Connolly, describing it as the most surreal moment of her life. Dwyer was recognised for making difficult and traumatic subjects accessible through comedy and for founding Material, Girl, a monthly comedy show and podcast that supports female and non-binary performers.

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University are developing VisionRF, a low-power radar device that remotely monitors prisoners’ breathing, heart rate and movement without cameras, microphones or wearable equipment. The system is intended to alert staff to signs of medical crisis while reducing the distress and privacy concerns associated with physical checks and overnight observations. The project comes as prison deaths rise sharply, reaching 64 in Scotland in 2024/25 and 401 in England and Wales in the year to June 2025. Families Outside supports the technology’s potential to prevent deaths from suicide, substance misuse and natural causes. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the team plans wider applications in home care, nursing homes and community healthcare.

A study by researchers at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research suggests that immunity acquired through COVID-19 infection and vaccination may provide partial protection against other sarbecoviruses, including undiscovered viruses capable of causing future pandemics. Mathematical modelling indicates that existing COVID-19 vaccines could reduce the likelihood of sustained transmission if deployed soon after a novel virus is detected, while delays would lessen their effectiveness. The findings, published in Nature Communications, describe post-pandemic immunity as a potential biological barrier against future zoonotic coronavirus emergence.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have engineered E. coli bacteria to convert terephthalic acid derived from PET plastic waste into L-DOPA, a frontline treatment for Parkinson’s disease. The process could offer a more sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel-based pharmaceutical manufacturing and support a broader bio-upcycling industry producing medicines, chemicals, fragrances and other materials. Further work is needed to improve scalability and assess the technology’s environmental and economic performance.

Sephora will open its first Scottish stores this summer at Silverburn Shopping Centre in Glasgow and St James Quarter in Edinburgh, marking the retailer’s expansion into Scotland three years after entering the UK market. The Glasgow location will be the company’s largest UK store, while both sites will offer Sephora exclusives and brands including rhode, Haus Labs and Makeup by Mario. Executives from Sephora and the two shopping centres described the openings as a major and eagerly anticipated addition to Scotland’s beauty retail sector.

Scottish retail sales were flat year on year in February, marking a sharp slowdown after January’s 3.3% growth and an inflation-adjusted decline of 1.1%. Food sales rose 1.2%, while non-food sales fell 1.5%, with clothing, footwear and furniture underperforming despite stronger Valentine’s Day-related sales. The Scottish Retail Consortium warned that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could intensify household and business cost pressures, while KPMG highlighted limited consumer spending, efficiency drives and technological transformation as major factors shaping the sector.

Graham’s Family Dairy is investing £3.5 million to expand its Fife facility, increasing cottage cheese production by 50 per cent and creating 25 jobs. The expansion responds to sharply rising demand, which the company and Tesco attribute largely to TikTok recipes and younger consumers. UK cottage cheese volumes have nearly doubled since early 2023, while Graham’s says its demand has doubled and exports now reach markets including the Gulf States and Hong Kong.

Lecturers at the University of Edinburgh are being balloted on a fresh mandate for strike action over proposed £140 million budget cuts and the potential loss of up to 1,800 jobs. The University and College Union says the cuts are unprecedented and unnecessary given the university’s reported reserves of more than £3 billion, while management says cost reductions and increased income are needed to secure the institution’s future. Previous strikes led the university to rule out compulsory redundancies until the end of July 2026, but the union wants that commitment extended. A successful ballot would authorize industrial action for 12 months under changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Former gamekeeper David Campbell, 77, was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison for murdering his former colleague Brian Low, 65, near Pitilie in Perth and Kinross on 16 February 2024. Prosecutors said Campbell acted on a “festering grievance,” believing Low had framed him for illegally poisoning birds of prey. He disabled CCTV, travelled to the scene on his wife’s e-bike with a shotgun and later changed the bike’s tyres in an attempt to conceal his involvement. A High Court jury in Glasgow convicted him by majority verdict after a trial lasting nearly three weeks.

An Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit analysis estimates that the 2021–2024 energy crisis cost Scotland £11 billion, including £5.8 billion for households, £1.8 billion for industry, £2.6 billion for commercial, agricultural and public-sector organizations, and £800 million in non-domestic road-fuel costs. Households paid an average of £2,260 in excess energy costs, with lower-income areas disproportionately affected. The ECIU and University of Aberdeen argue that dependence on volatile imported oil and gas increased Scotland’s exposure to price shocks and that renewables, energy efficiency and reduced gas demand are needed for protection. Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba criticized the continued reliance on international fossil fuels, while energy minister Martin McCluskey highlighted clean-power auctions and the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan. Scottish Government energy secretary Gillian Martin called for greater powers, a targeted social tariff and further investment to tackle fuel poverty.

SSEN Distribution plans to invest up to £950 million upgrading 113 subsea electricity cables serving 60 Scottish islands. The project is expected to support more than 450 specialised jobs annually for up to eight years, equivalent to at least 3,500 fixed-term roles, while improving network resilience and capacity for electric-vehicle chargers, solar panels, heat pumps and renewable-energy exports. Energy Secretary Gillian Martin welcomed the investment as a contribution to Scotland’s net-zero goals. Five subsea contractors will deliver the work, with multiple companies operating during the limited summer installation window and a focus on local supply chains.

Lecturers at the University of Aberdeen and Heriot-Watt University have voted to support strike action and action short of a strike amid disputes over budget cuts and potential compulsory redundancies. At Aberdeen, 83% backed strikes on a 60% turnout, while 74% supported strikes at Heriot-Watt on a 70% turnout. The union says proposed changes could lead to at least 41 job losses at Heriot-Watt’s Scottish campuses and 10 more in Malaysia, while Aberdeen has already lost 40 staff through voluntary severance or retirement. UCU is urging both universities to negotiate and rule out compulsory redundancies; Aberdeen says sector-wide financial pressures make change necessary and warns that industrial action would harm students.

Research by Abertay University, based on an online survey of participants in the UK and Italy, suggests that what makes a good kiss depends less on technique than on imagination, fantasies and emotional context. People who frequently daydream about intimacy placed greater importance on physical contact and arousal, even after researchers accounted for creativity and sexual desire. The researchers say the findings could improve understanding of romantic behaviour and potentially inform a simple tool for couples therapy.

Scottish retail sales rose 3.3% year on year in January 2026, equivalent to a 1.7% real-terms increase, while footfall climbed 5.1%, the strongest performance among the UK’s regions. Edinburgh and Glasgow recorded increases of 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively, with shopping centres and retail parks also benefiting. Experts attributed the improvement partly to January discounting and comparisons with storm-disrupted activity in January 2025, cautioning that uncertain consumer confidence and value-conscious spending make sustained growth uncertain.

Defence Secretary John Healey announced a £453 million investment to install 40 European Common Radar System Mk2 radars on Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets. The upgrade is intended to improve the aircraft’s ability to detect, identify and track multiple targets amid concerns about Russian drone activity and wider pressure on NATO. BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will deliver the programme, which is expected to support up to 1,300 UK jobs, while following a separate £205 million Typhoon engineering-support contract.

The UK Government is set to award a £453 million contract to BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt to install 40 ECRS Mk2 radar systems on RAF Typhoon jets. The upgrade will provide improved multi-target detection, electronic surveillance and high-powered jamming capabilities, helping the aircraft operate in contested environments. The investment is expected to support up to 1,300 jobs, including positions in Edinburgh, Lancashire and Luton, within a wider Typhoon programme supporting more than 20,000 UK jobs. A separate £205 million QinetiQ engineering-support contract brings the week’s defence investment above £650 million, while the upgraded Typhoons are expected to protect British skies until at least the 2040s.

Stephanie Muirhead praised nurse Angela Howat for caring for both her and her son Andrew, 33 years apart, at NHS hospitals in Glasgow. Muirhead was treated for a spinal tumour in 1990, while Andrew underwent surgery, chemotherapy, proton therapy and rehabilitation for a medulloblastoma diagnosed in 2023. Andrew was declared cancer-free in 2024 and continues to receive regular scans, while the family credits the hospital’s multidisciplinary teams with supporting his recovery and return to school.

Aberdeen supporter David Gowans was sentenced to 18 months in prison after throwing a seat during a Scottish Premiership match at Tannadice, severely injuring Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie. Gowans admitted culpable and reckless conduct and received a 10-year football banning order, while Aberdeen Football Club imposed a lifetime ban. Sheriff Alastair Carmichael condemned the act as selfish, dangerous and irresponsible; Gowans's lawyer said he had been intoxicated and was deeply embarrassed.

Lecturers at Edinburgh Napier University have voted overwhelmingly to support possible strike action in opposition to proposed staff cuts. The Educational Institute of Scotland says the university could eliminate up to 70 posts, including 10 to 15 compulsory redundancies expected in early 2026, despite voluntary departures already producing significant savings. The union argues the university is financially stable and warns that further reductions would harm teaching quality, assessment turnaround and student support. The EIS-ULA executive will decide the next steps, while the university has been invited to comment.

STV journalists are walking out in Glasgow and Aberdeen over plans to replace the north of Scotland edition of its flagship News at 6 programme with a single Glasgow-produced broadcast. The proposed format would devote about 30% of the programme to northern coverage, and the dispute initially involved potential losses of up to 60 jobs. The NUJ says the changes would harm viewers and journalism, while STV says consultation has reduced the impact to 28 affected roles, most addressed through voluntary redundancy or redeployment. STV argues that Ofcom-approved changes are needed to maintain sustainable public-service news coverage and expand its digital service without public funding.

The King’s Foundation plans to open The King’s Hall, a 430-square-metre events extension at Dumfries House in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, in July 2027. Designed with traditional architectural techniques and locally sourced materials, the venue will host luxury weddings and private events for up to 200 guests, with sustainable heating and locally sourced organic food. Revenue will support Dumfries House conservation, education programmes and community initiatives, while increasing the estate’s capacity from one or two large events per week to five or six.

University and College Union members at Aberdeen, Stirling, Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde are voting on strike action and action short of a strike over proposed cuts, job losses and the possibility of compulsory redundancies. The universities cite financial pressures across the UK higher-education sector and say they are consulting unions and pursuing voluntary departure schemes where possible. Planned reductions include at least 41 jobs at Heriot-Watt, further cuts at Stirling, and 76 jobs and £35 million in savings at Strathclyde. The Scottish Government points to reduced international student numbers and increased employer national-insurance costs, while urging universities to negotiate constructively and use compulsory redundancies only as a last resort. Ballots close between February 9 and 17, and the union says industrial action could follow.

Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have developed “What Colour Is It?”, an online colour reference tool for describing sputum, urine and faeces. It provides standardized shades with unique hex codes to make clinical documentation more consistent, potentially supporting faster diagnoses, safer patient care and more effective remote consultations. The tool is also intended to help patients facing language or communication difficulties, and is already being used by about 225 healthcare professionals internationally.

Researchers at Edinburgh Napier University have developed “What Colour Is It?”, a free online colour-card tool that offers 13 or 15 standardised shades for describing sputum, urine and faeces. Each shade has a hex code that clinicians can record in patient notes, reducing ambiguity in diagnosis, treatment and communication. The tool may also help patients who find it embarrassing or difficult to describe bodily fluids, including children, people with language barriers and stroke patients with aphasia. Launched four weeks ago, it is reportedly being used by about 225 people across several countries and healthcare professions, with the developers hoping it becomes routine across healthcare.

Scottish councils recorded 19,752 rat complaints in 2024/25, a 35% increase from 2021/22, with Glasgow accounting for 10,840 reports and recording a 50% rise. Scottish Labour linked the increase to a 34% fall in street-cleaning expenditure since 2010/11 and accused the SNP of failing to maintain basic services. Labour spokesman Mark Griffin promised a fairer council-funding system, while Scottish public finance minister Ivan McKee rejected the claims, citing a record £15 billion in council funding and arguing that waste-service spending is a matter for local authorities.