Nowhere at all among the 40 plus reports featured on the BBC Scotland website and absent from the newspaper front pages: Angela Constance, the Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs said, thanked those involved in negotiations for working to achieve the deal “Our police officers perform an essential role keeping Scotland’s communities safe and this fair pay deal recognises the hard work and valuable contribution they make daily as well as this Government’s commitment to investing in policing,” she said. “Police Scotland is a vital service, which is why, despite difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government … Continue reading Only STV report Police Scotland officers accept 7% deal

In the Guardian today: Former Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years over US Capitol attack Sentencing of Enrique Tarrio caps one of the most significant prosecutions in the investigation into the January 6 attack The former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Tuesday for his part in the failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the 2020 election. More than 1,100 people have been charged in relation to the Capitol attack. More than 600 have been sentenced, more than half receiving prison terms. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/enrique-tarrio-proud-boys-sentenced-jan-6-attack There’s much to be concerned about regarding the … Continue reading ‘Now you don’t talk so loud, now you don’t seem so proud’

From BBC Tyne & Wear four days ago but nowhere on the BBC Scotland site: Skeletons found near Durham Cathedral were those of 17th Century Scottish prisoners of war, tests have revealed. Between 17 and 29 sets of remains were found in a mass grave in 2013 during work on a university library. The bodies appeared to have been tipped into ground, all jumbled together and without signs of ceremony. Following detailed study, experts from the university have dated them to 1650, and believe them to be soldiers captured during the Battle of Dunbar. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-34116842 Reading this, I was reminded … Continue reading ‘Bodies appeared to have been tipped into ground, all jumbled together and without signs of ceremony’

Headed Humza Yousaf announces new childcare, poverty and housing plans (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-66710264/page/3), in more than 40 short reports over three online pages, BBC Scotland misses out this one entirely: Speaking in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, Humza Yousaf said his government would introduce a major new housing bill to introduce new regulations for landlords as well as cash for housebuilding. The First Minister said the bill would include rent controls and create new rights for tenants. Aditi Jehangir, secretary of tenants’ union Living Rent, welcomed the move and urged the Government to “make sure this legislation delivers for tenants”. She said: … Continue reading Thousands in Rutherglen and Hamilton West will be protected by new SNP rent controls that Labour will not support and that BBC Scotland hide from them

From Public Health Scotland today: During July 2023, there were 21,919 operations planned to take place across NHSScotland. This represents a decrease of 10.3% compared to the 24,435 planned for June 2023 but is 11.3% higher than the number planned a year previously in July 2022 (19,685). Of all planned operations during July 2023, for NHSScotland, 653 (3.0%) were cancelled by the hospital based on clinical reasons, 678 (3.1%) were cancelled by the patient, 317 (1.4%) were cancelled by the hospital due to capacity or non-clinical reasons, and 84 (0.4%) were cancelled due to other reasons. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/cancelled-planned-operations/cancelled-planned-operations-month-ending-31-july-2023 So planned operations … Continue reading NHS Scotland staffed and equipped for nearly 99% of ops as planned despite increasing demand and NHS England has 74% more cancellations