EDINBURGH trashed Russians Krasny Yar Krasnoyarsk 78-0 at Murrayfield to also make it four straight wins.The Scots ran in some 10 tries and Blair Kinghorn kicked five conversions during the first half.Assistant coach Roddy Grant said: “It’s quite difficult
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has attacked the FBI leadership while proclaiming loyalty and support for law enforcement in an address at the agency’s training academy.“It’s a shame what’s happened” with the FBI, the president said as he departed the White House
THE former economics minister of Russia has been handed an eight-year prison sentence after he was convicted of accepting a $2 million (£1.5m) bribe from President Vladimir Putin’s top associate. The high-profile trial of Alexei Ulyukayev has been
AN entrepreneur who has pioneered a ‘comedy and confidence’ course to help people with their social skills has won the first-ever Creative EDGE award.Anna Devitt, who was expelled from three schools before becoming an award-winning comedian, was awarded
DIAGEO is celebrating its 20th anniversary tomorrow.The world’s biggest Scotch producer and Guinness brewer’s milestone is being celebrated around the world by the company’s 30,400 employees. Created on 17 December 1997, Diageo has become a global leader
I WOULD like to comment on behalf of the Church of Scotland on Lesley Riddoch’s article about the Church and the community right to buy. The Church supports Community Right to Buy legislation and, whenever we have to dispose of a building, we encourage
YOU quote a Scottish Government spokeswoman as saying: “We are limited in what we can do, but that’s no reason not to use the powers we do have” (Think tank issues warning over income tax hike, The National, December 11). This remark points to the
AN Australian inquiry into child abuse has recommended the Catholic Church stop demanding clergy be celibate and said there were “catastrophic failures of leadership” within it for decades.It also says priests should be prosecuted for failing to report
★★★★☆ CONTROVERSIAL Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei brings us a sobering, harrowing and utterly essential look at the global refugee crisis and the devastating effects it’s having not just for the people forced to leave their homes but the
ROLLS Royce has teamed up with young Glasgow engineers to create the world’s first functional 3D printed jet engine model.Finalist of 3D Hubs Student Grant, JetX are a team of aerospace engineering students at Glasgow University working with Rolls Royce
★★★☆☆ WHEN we first see Salim Shaheen, the most prolific filmmaker in Afghanistan, and focus of this eccentric documentary, he is standing among a group of people whipping them up into a frenzy of admiration for both him and the very idea of making
IN 1999, John Swinney’s SNP manifesto promised to use the tax varying powers to raise “a penny for Scotland”. I said it was nuts but was told “no, the polls show it’s a very popular policy”. “Yes” I replied, “people will support it in a survey but
A SNP MP has raised concerns about the threat to the availability of free to use ATMs in West Dumbartonshire. Martin Docherty-Hughes MP has written to the UK Treasury Secretary on behalf of local businesses warning a decrease in the number of ATMs
NOTHING makes you feel old like reading a story you’ve been told “everyone” can “totally” relate to ... and then realising “everyone” actually means those whose entire adulthood has featured broadband, emojis and hundreds of free texts. Or rather,
Like many others I have observed recent events in Catalonia with a growing sense of concern. I am struck by the international response because it seems to me some basic human rights are in question. For example, the United Nations Declaration of Human
THE SWEET MAKERS: A CHRISTMAS TREAT, BBC2, 9pm WE look back at how the Victorians celebrated Christmas, focusing on the rich, sweet, sugary recipes the families would indulge in. However, the programme starts with a reminder that it was Prince
INDUSTRIALISATION meant increasing the concentration of the population of Scotland in cities throughout the 19th century, particularly in Glasgow and Dundee. This had a deep and lasting legacy in terms of modern national self-representation. The rate
JOHN Bercow’s decision to not hold David Davis in contempt of Parliament over the release of Brexit impact assessments is “clearly unsatisfactory”, according to the SNP. Peter Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, went on to accuse the UK
THE driver of a school bus involved in a serious three-vehicle accident in Aberdeenshire has died. The collision happened around 7.40am on Friday close to the Maryculter Bridge on the South Deeside Road (B979), outside Aberdeen, also involving
DEREK Mackay has one of the most challenging jobs in politics. He has to construct a Budget which not only balances the books, but defends against Tory austerity and meets rising demand for public services. He has to respond to the competing demands
★★★★☆ BOLSTERED by the glory of a fantastic franchise reinvigoration with The Force Awakens and subsequent grittier prequel Rogue One, The Last Jedi is a thrilling and visually spectacular new episode that feels confident in direction and style
ALMOST 1000 people in Scotland sought help to stop themselves or another viewing child abuse images online in just three months, it has emerged. Just under 560 people visited the Get Help website run by specialist prevention project Stop it Now
TOP tourism officials have urged visitors to get “castle-bagging” after research revealed almost half of British people have never visited a Scottish castle. A VisitScotland poll revealed Edinburgh Castle is the best known castle (80 per cent)
THE Rucker makes a cogent argument for keeping BT Murrayfield a rugby stadium (Murrayfield might make sense but less must be more, The National, December 13). I feel that I must stand up for the retention of Hampden as Scotland’s national football
CONSERVATIVE MSP Annie Wells stormed on to Twitter to launch an attack on the Scottish Government's draft budget announcement - only to end up insulting everyone. Wells tweeted "A message from @theSNP to the 1 million Scots who are to pay more
MOTHERWELL manager Stephen Robinson hopes to have four key players back for tomorrow’s visit of Dundee, but he feels his options have increased during an injury-hit spell.Chris Cadden returned to training on Tuesday after a hamstring problem and joined
EUROPEAN leaders have told “under pressure” Theresa May that her Government must “make up its mind” over Brexit.Representatives from the EU27 arrived in Brussels yesterday for a major European Council summit at which phase two of discussions surrounding
THE Scottish Budget turned out pretty much as expected, but I think this means that by the time of the next one in December 2018 we will be more or less where we are now, assuming we can survive the somewhat greater risk of falling into recession.
LIKE it or lump it, Derek Mackay’s Scottish Budget was bold and innovative. And in sharp contrast to his trademark dry delivery. There was even a firework at the end: the announcement of an initial £340 million over two years to capitalise the new
JOHN Swinney has said education funding in the Scottish Budget will help create a “transformative difference in the lives of our young people” but college and student organisations warn it does not go far enough.The Education Secretary said: “Education
THE VAT which the UK Government has finally agreed to stop collecting from Scotland’s police and fire and rescue services will go into their budgets in full, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay pledged yesterday.As agreed by Chancellor Philip Hammond, Police
FEARS of a bonfire of the arts in yesterday’s draft Scottish Government Budget proved groundless when Finance Secretary Derek Mackay announced that the overall culture budget for next year will be £166.8 million, an increase of almost 10 per cent on
COUNCILS body Cosla says “really difficult times” for local authorities will continue despite Scottish Government Budget pledges.The umbrella body represents all 32 councils and said plans unveiled by Finance Secretary Derek Mackay yesterday represent
PRIVATE schools will lose their eligibility for rates relief, Derek Mackay has confirmed.In August, the Barclay Review recommended that the Scottish Government end the “inequality” between independent and state schools by ensuring fee-paying establishments
DEREK Mackay unveiled a package of measures to boost the economy north of the Border after warnings it faced a slower rate of growth over the next five years than the UK’s overall.The Finance Secretary said the moves — which included £4 billion for infrastructure
PROCUREMENT on Scottish Government plans to connect all homes and business to superfast broadband by 2021 has begun, Derek Mackay said yesterday.The draft budget commits £600 million to the infrastructure project over the next four financial years.The
IRISH premier Leo Varadkar has said Brexiteers must acknowledge that they created the difficulties surrounding the Northern Ireland border.The Taoiseach said that he is trying to resolve the issue and ensure that Northern Ireland can retain the “peace
CONOR Sammon admitted his first goal for Partick Thistle was a “huge” moment after he helped seal victory over Motherwell.The on-loan Hearts striker scored Thistle’s third goal in the 28th minute and they held off a Motherwell comeback to record a 3-2
WHILE Scotland shivers with temperatures of minus seven and we go about our daily life wrapped up from head to toe trying to keep warm, I am aware of a group of people who probably haven’t noticed the cold weather at all as they are totally focused on
BRITISH No 1 Johanna Konta believes her new coach Michael Joyce can help restore her mental toughness and steer her closer to winning a first grand slam.Joyce, best known for coaching Maria Sharapova, began working with Konta in November before the American
DESPITE Glasgow Warriors’s breakthrough to the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup last year, their failure again this year is allowing some to question what the Scots bring to the tournament. That, however, is all the motivation the players
IT is never easy watching a grown man cry.Especially when said teary adult is someone, and we’re talking about Graeme Murty here, who you’ve come to genuinely like.This happened a couple of weeks back, a half hour or so after Rangers had put in a quite
A NEW children’s picture book that introduces its readers to environmentalism, empowerment, inventing and science through use of “amazing alliteration and sensational silliness” is to be launched.Marvellous Machines and Mini Mimi is written by Ali Currie
BUDGET day is rarely easy for Finance Ministers and this year would have been no different for Derek Mackay. Yet another year of austerity has eroded the Scottish budget by several hundred million pounds whilst at the same time placed higher demands
LABOUR MSPs were called “disgraceful” yesterday for refusing to sit next to Kezia Dugdale for First Minister’s Questions. The former leader sat two desks away from anybody else, ostracised by party colleagues after returning from an unauthorised
SCOTLAND is the fairest taxed part of UK, Derek Mackay signalled as he set out a new five band system of income tax that will see those on modest wages pay less, the better off pay more and generate an extra £164 million for public services.Under the
AN attempt to try and guarantee some work for redundancy-threatened Rosyth naval base staff looks set to fail because the crew of a Royal Navy ship don’t want to come to Scotland. The news has emerged a week after the Rosyth operators Babcock warned
DOES anyone remember a young footballer by the name of James Forrest?He was that Celtic winger in over one game in six looked an absolute world beater and for the rest of the time couldn’t beat a man for love nor money.When in the mood, this was a kid
FOUR-TIME world time trial champion Tony Martin has called the decision not to suspend Team Sky leader Chris Froome immediately for his adverse drugs test a “scandal”.In a post on his Facebook page, the 32-year-old German wrote he was “totally angry”
DAWID Malan enjoyed every minute of the Australia pace barrage he had to withstand on his way to a maiden hundred which has breathed new belief into England’s Ashes campaign.Malan’s parents travelled from South Africa to watch him at the WACA and he was
LOUIS Moult has revealed his decision to move from Motherwell to Preston was to take his career path on an upward trajectory.The 25-year-old striker will join the English Championship club on January 1 after the clubs agreed a fee understood to be around
KILMARNOCK manager Steve Clarke was heartened by the strength of his squad after losing half of his defence in Tuesday’s draw with Ross County.Centre-back Scott Boyd came on for his first Ladbrokes Premiership appearance of the season after Gordon Greer
A MAXIMUM points haul from their first three matches has entitled Edinburgh to change their European Challenge Cup priorities with head coach Richard Cockerill now targeting home advantage in the quarter-finals.Merely getting through to the knockout stages
BROADCASTING giant Sky is set for new ownership after Walt Disney launched a $52.4 billion (£39 billion) takeover of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets. In a major industry shake-up, Disney has swooped for a large slice of Rupert Murdoch’s
BRAVE dementia sufferers in Edinburgh have opened up their lives to university students, who created documentary evidence about how people live with the disease.Students from Edinburgh Napier’s Photography, TV and Music courses have been working with
SCIENTISTS in Glasgow and Edinburgh revealed major medical developments that could help in the treatment of asthma, cancer and other diseases – but if you a reading this over breakfast you may wish to avert your eyes, as one of the new areas of study
FIVE hundred more police officers are to undergo Taser training after a rise in the number of assaults on cops. Almost 970 attacks on officers have been recorded so far this year, compared with 760 in 2016. Police Scotland said the number of
