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Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death

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From Tornos News yesterday: The passenger ferry “Aghia Theodora,” which ran aground earlier on Tuesday in waters about four nautical miles northwest of the port of Igoumenitsa was pulled free with the assistance of tugboats and has arrived safely at Igoumenitsa port, ANA reports.1 Only three years before, the MV Express Samina inter-island ferry sank with 530 on board In September 2023, highlighting ‘fears about the safety of some of the ageing vessels that ply Aegean waters.‘2 One year ago: A video that went viral showed 36-year-old Antonis Kargiotis running on to the loading ramp of the ferry in Athens … Continue reading Privatised Greek ferries described as ‘like being on a cross between the back of a floating lorry and a building site’ as another runs aground only three years after another sank with 530 onboard and one year after late arrival was pushed off to his death

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Another ‘Union Jack’ chosen by Labour to serve you on the Scottish Affairs committee

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By stewartb Speaking of Tories …. With the membership of the Scottish Affairs Committee in the House of Commons now announced (albeit one vacant place still to be formally allocated), it’s worth a moment getting to know better one member, namely Jack Rankin MP. For contest, recall the remit of this Committee: ‘The Scottish Affairs Committee scrutinises the expenditure, administration and policies of the Scotland Office, and its associated bodies. ‘The Committee also examines the wider UK Government, to assess policies and legislation that lead to direct impacts on Scotland.’ Given this, it’s relevant firstly to note that Mr Rankin is … Continue reading Another ‘Union Jack’ chosen by Labour to serve you on the Scottish Affairs committee

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Since SNP came to power, homicide down by more than half, plummeting among young men by more than three quarters and among young women by nearly four fifths

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From the Scottish Government’s Homicide in Scotland 2023-24 Statistical bulletin on crimes of homicide recorded by the police in Scotland in 2023-24, released yesterday, the above graph and: The number of homicide victims has shown a downward trend since 2004-05. In 2023-24, there were 57 victims of homicide, five more than in 2022-23. Despite this increase, the number of homicide victims in 2023-24 was the third lowest since comparable records began in 1976 (and lower than all years from that point to 2020-21 inclusive). In 2023-24, there were 44 male victims, representing 77% of all homicide victims. … Continue reading Since SNP came to power, homicide down by more than half, plummeting among young men by more than three quarters and among young women by nearly four fifths

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Labour deceit – England may be but Scotland is not, ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world’

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the Guardian today: Budget cuts mean farmers in England ‘must do more with less’ UK [sic] ‘among most nature-depleted countries in the world’ warns environment secretary’. Farmers and conservationists will have to “learn to do more with less” ahead of expected deep budget cuts to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the environment secretary has said. Steve Reed said that Labour would continue to prioritise the restoration of the nature in England, but acknowledged that the chancellor’s budget would be “difficult”. Typically conflating the UK and England, the claim, for Scotland, is wrong. … Continue reading Labour deceit – England may be but Scotland is not, ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world’

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Scottish Tory leader conflicted by ‘perfect happiness’ over no free prescriptions but ‘palpable anger’ at winter fuel allowance cut

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By Anonymous “Scots would be perfectly happy to see the end of universal free prescriptions from the NHS” says Tory leader (ITO) in Scotland. Meanwhile the same Tory leader (ITO) in Scotland was not “happy”, as in he was opposed to, Labour UK cutting the “Universal” Winter Fuel allowance for Pensioners, in fact neither were most of the people who lived in Scotland “happy” either. In fact Russell Findlay said “there was “palpable” anger at Labour across the UK” on this decision. Also he said that “Elderly folk who have slogged hard all their days feel absolutely betrayed.” Of course he condemned the Labour PM for “not carrying out … Continue reading Scottish Tory leader conflicted by ‘perfect happiness’ over no free prescriptions but ‘palpable anger’ at winter fuel allowance cut

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Steady fall in cardiac death rate over last 10 years

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland, today, the above graph, and: The rate of hospital discharges of patients with a heart attack has decreased by 20% in the past 10 years. In 2023/24, 94% of people survived 30 days or more following their first heart attack, which is largely unchanged over the past decade. The rate at which new cases of coronary heart disease occur (the incidence) has fallen by 12% over the last 10 years. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/scottish-cardiac-audit-programme-scap/scottish-cardiac-audit-programme-report-20232024/ Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/ The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s … Continue reading Steady fall in cardiac death rate over last 10 years

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26% improvement in dental care of Primary 1 children since 2007/2008

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today, the above graph. To be fair, this improving trend begins under Labour in 2003-2004 but is enhanced significantly and maintained by the SNP in government over the last 17 years. Source: https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/national-dental-inspection-programme/national-dental-inspection-programme-2024/ Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/ The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s self respect, previously awarded to Dr Philippa Whitford, Alex Salmond and Sean Connery: https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116 About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Brown_(Scottish_activis Continue reading 26% improvement in dental care of Primary 1 children since 2007/2008

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Good news – major fall in annual trends for suspected drug deaths, A&E and hospital admissions

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By Professor John Robertson OBA From Public Health Scotland today: Drug-related data can vary seasonally, so me comparing the same quarter, in this case June-August, gives a more accurate measure of trends. First, on drug deaths: In the latest period (3 June to 25 August 2024), the total number of suspected drug deaths was 225, averaging 19 per week. The total number of deaths was 10% lower than the previous quarter (249), 13% lower than the same period in 2022 (258) and 25% lower than in 2023 (301). A suspected drug death is a death where controlled drugs are suspected of being … Continue reading Good news – major fall in annual trends for suspected drug deaths, A&E and hospital admissions

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New Tasmania ferry stupidly bought from Finland nearly 18 000 miles away, and trapped by ice, must winter in the Sunshine on Leith

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(c) Visit Scotland There are around 10 major shipbuilders in Australia, including Incat which builds large catamaran ferries, yet the Tasmanian government has made things devilishly complicated by ordering 2 new ferries from Finland which, even after a wee break in Leith, will arrive two years before the new berths are completed and have to be leased to some other island – Iceland? According to ABC, today: A newly built Spirit of Tasmania ferry will be temporarily stored at a shipyard in Scotland while the Tasmanian government explores options to lease or charter the ship until a home berth can … Continue reading New Tasmania ferry stupidly bought from Finland nearly 18 000 miles away, and trapped by ice, must winter in the Sunshine on Leith

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Scottish Cons and Labour’s attack on free prescriptions could cost thousands of lives in the next pandemic

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By Professor John Robertson OBA In the National, yesterday: SCOTS would be “perfectly happy” to see the end of universal free prescriptions from the NHS, the Scottish Tory leader has claimed. As far back as 2012, Scottish Labour would not have protected free prescriptions – Labour leader Johann Lamont has signalled a policy shift by calling for an end to a “something for nothing” culture. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13074454.lamont-calls-end-something-nothing-culture/ In September 2024, The Trussell Trust reported: 68% of working households in receipt of Universal Credit having gone without essentials, such as basic toiletries and prescriptions, in the last six months. This is only slightly lower than the … Continue reading Scottish Cons and Labour’s attack on free prescriptions could cost thousands of lives in the next pandemic