Catch up on Representing Border Wednesday 25th June 2025
The Scottish government apologises to the family of a Borders teenager who took his own life after being treated in an adult psychiatric ward.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
31 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Dan Sheehan captain, Henry Pollock starts, in British and Irish Lions side v Western Force
Medical marvel Dan Sheehan has been announced as the shock new British & Irish Lions captain, while wonder kid Henry Pollock will make his first start for the touring side against the Western Force on Saturday. Sheehan replaces skipper Maro Itoje, who is not in the 23-man squad, in a remarkable turn of events for the Irish hooker just 12 months after he feared his Lions dreams were over when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in a Test against South Africa. The 26-year-old shocked medical experts by returning to play just six months after his knee surgery, with most similar cases having a nine to 12 month comeback time frame. Sheehan captain the Lions' first game in Australia, leading a vastly different side to the one that lost 28-24 to Argentina last weekend in Dublin. Pollock, the youngest member of the squad, starts at No.8, while Scottish maestro Finn Russell is the new five-eighth. Irish stars Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Joe McCarthy and Josh van Der Flier have all been put straight into the starting side for the clash at Optus Stadium. A further four players are set to make their Lions debuts off the bench - England and Leicester Tigers lock Ollie Chessum, Scotland and Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones, Ireland and Leinster Rugby prop Andrew Porter and England and Bath Rugby prop Will Stuart. 'We have had a good week of training and all of the travel and time zone changes have been managed really well, so we are good to go,' Farrell said. 'Dan Sheehan gets the opportunity to lead the side against Western Force, which is a great honour for him and his family - so congratulations to Dan as he captains the side on his Lions debut. 'We know the quality and experience the Force have and the opportunity to play against the Lions always brings out special performances from the Super Rugby sides, so we expect them to be at their best.' On the 2013 Tour, the Lions ran out 69-17 winners at the Subiaco Oval. Current assistant coach Johnny Sexton got the Lions off the mark with an early try while Leigh Halfpenny converted all nine Lions tries.
STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Rail passengers set to benefit as deal struck to eliminate mobile blackspots
Rail passengers in Scotland are set for a major connectivity boost, as a new UK Government deal aims to eliminate mobile signal blackspots on some of Britain's busiest train routes. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander announced the landmark agreement – entitled Project Reach – on Thursday. It will upgrade digital infrastructure across the network, with Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley among 12 major stations to receive new 4G and 5G coverage. The move comes as millions of rail users regularly face dropped calls and patchy signal on routes including the East Coast and West Coast main lines. Scottish travellers heading south or across the central belt often experience long stretches without mobile data or call signal, particularly in tunnels and rural sections of track. Network Rail, working with telecoms partners Neos Networks and Freshwave, will begin installing over 1,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable, with ambitions to expand to 5,000 kilometres. The project will also tackle 57 signal blackspots in tunnels – equivalent to nearly 50 kilometres of coverage improvements. Work is due to start in 2026 and be completed by 2028. Alexander said the upgrades would 'revolutionise journeys from Edinburgh to Euston and beyond, boosting connectivity, improving reliability and helping to grow the economy.' She added: 'By boosting connectivity and tackling signal blackspots, we are also ensuring a more reliable and efficient service. 'This means better journeys for passengers while supporting our broader Plan for Change goals of economic growth and digital innovation.' Freshwave will focus on improving signal in notoriously poor areas, including long tunnels, while Neos Networks will lead the fibre infrastructure rollout. The partnership between government and private firms is expected to save taxpayers around £300m. The enhanced telecoms network will also improve train operations, helping staff monitor assets in real time and introducing new safety features. It forms part of a wider effort to modernise Britain's railways ahead of the transition to Great British Railways, a unified national rail body. Jeremy Westlake, Network Rail's chief financial officer, said the deal 'delivers better value for taxpayers while supporting a data-driven, more reliable railway.' The announcement builds on previous government plans to introduce satellite internet access on mainline trains – part of a broader effort to improve Wi-Fi speeds and availability across the rail network. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Industrial strategy is turning point for Scotland's economy
Electricity costs for energy-intensive firms will be cut by up to 25% (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire) This week the Labour Government launched the ten-year Industrial Strategy, a new, whole-of-government approach to the economy which holds brilliant opportunities for Scotland. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Advanced manufacturing, clean energy, the creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences and professional and business services; Scotland excels at them all. But we can do more to help these industries thrive. That's exactly the aim of Labour's new industrial strategy, which will back Scotland's strengths and has ambitious plans for these eight high-growth sectors. As a ten-year plan, it's a turning point for Scotland's economy, marking a clear departure from the short-termism of previous governments north and south of the border. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A key part of the strategy is the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which, from 2027, will slash industrial electricity costs for energy-intensive firms by up to 25 per cent, benefitting hundreds of businesses in Scotland and up to 7000 across the whole UK. Tackling energy costs has been the single biggest ask of us from businesses; we've listened, and now we're taking action. The new strategy also means billions in innovation funding and business finance, new initiatives to improve skills, a new taskforce to attract talent from across the world, planning reforms, a landmark commitment to £725 billion on infrastructure over ten years, and improvements to digital infrastructure, including £41 million to improve the speed and availability of Wi-Fi on mainline trains. This will ensure the industries that make Scotland great can thrive, boosting our economy and creating well-paid jobs, putting more money in people's pockets and delivering on this government's Plan for Change. While the strategy will lift living standards in all parts of the country, Scotland in particular stands to derive unique advantages. Scottish clean energy industries will benefit from development funding of around £200m to advance the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project, capitalising on expertise in the oil and gas sector in the North East and guaranteeing the future of this vital pillar of Scotland's economy. Meanwhile, Scotland's universities, which are driving innovation across quantum, clean energy and life sciences, will get to take full advantage of the recently announced £750m investment in the UK's largest supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh, which sets a marker for our ambition for further growth in digital and technologies. Scotland's advanced manufacturing also stands to benefit. The sector, which employs 195,000 people across Scotland, will receive investment of £4.3bn, including up to £2.8bn in research and development funding over the next five years, supporting this vital part of Scotland's industrial past and guaranteeing a bright future for it. It's an increasingly tumultuous time for the world economy, and this new strategy delivers the long-term certainty, stability and direction Scottish businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people's pockets. This is the way to deliver improved living standards right across the country. Scotland has a proud industrial heritage, and with this new strategy we can extend that long into the future. I launched the Industrial Strategy in Scotland this week at the old Cockenzie power station site in East Lothian. The potential there is huge. The challenge is now to grasp all these wonderful opportunities and deliver thousands of new jobs in Scotland. Ian Murray is MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland
