Latest news with #Edinburgh-based
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Waverley's Game store to close as Ashley pulls back from high street
Mike Ashley, pictured, whose Frasers Group has closed a number of Game stores across the UK recently Good news, and not so good news, at Waverley Market this week. Notices have gone up in the windows of GAME that they will be closing in September. This was a surprise to me as the shop always seemed busy and had very knowledgeable staff. 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... If what I have heard is true the only stand alone GAME that will be left in Scotland will be in Glasgow, and while the Edinburgh shop located within Sports Direct will remain open, they will continue without any staff dedicated to GAME sales. It is a great shop unit just along from Avalanche and I doubt it will be empty for long once they leave, but I've always felt they were a good fit with what we do along with Anime Republic and Damaged Society. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Unlike record shops, which managed to outlast the threat of downloads and then streaming computer games, shops are now trying to trade in a world were the vast majority of games are downloaded. While they have done well to keep going by selling related merchandise clearly GAME's owners – Mike Ashley's Frasers Group – have decided to not completely throw in the towel but certainly pull back from having a strong high street presence. It is maybe telling that the closure notice does not ask customers to visit the remaining Edinburgh shop but instead suggests they visit the GAME website. In better news the old Body Shop unit in the centre has been transformed into a glittering jewellery shop by the Edinburgh-based business Fairy Made and while I can give no judgement on their wares it is good to see a local business giving it a go in these tough times for most retailers. Due to open very soon they were beaten to the post by a gents barbers opening on Thursday. While not located in a shop unit but in one of the two pop-up spaces opposite the Waverley Bridge entrance, they are I am told not a pop-up business and intend to be there permanently much like the Beauty Boutique and Mobile Plus are in the centre of Waverley Market. Again I have no idea what the demand might be for a barbers like this though I have always said the centre needed a hairdressers shop as well as a shop offering tattoos and piercings, so while this is maybe a scaled down version of what I was thinking, this is not their first venture and they have already been successful in other shopping centres so only time will tell. One thing I always warn potential businesses about when looking to move into the centre is that Waverley Market is not like other shopping centres, and I feel that is an advantage it has so long as the businesses are right for the footfall, which includes a lot of families visiting both from the UK and abroad and couples visiting Edinburgh for a long weekend. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As I was getting the train home on Thursday a headline in this very paper caught my eye. 'Shock in Edinburgh as sudden closure sees Evans Cycles vanish from Fountainbridge'. It seemed odd as the owners were blaming their landlord who had served notice for them to close. Odd that is until I saw the owners were Mike Ashley's Frasers Group.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Gangland clan the Lyons mocked in footage filmed from behind bars
The video was posted just two days after the joint funeral of Lyons mob lieutenants, Eddie Lyons and Ross Monaghan, who were gunned down in the Spanish city of Fuengirola Footage has emerged of gangland family the Lyons being mocked by supporters of rival gangsters from behind bars. A video, which is believed to have been filmed within Edinburgh's Saughton Prison, was posted online on Sunday, July 6, showing six caged hoods with their faces masked. The 14-second-long clip was captioned "F*** the L mob haha keeman" and showed the unidentified crooks in it making hand gestures to the camera and shouting. Laughs and chants of "yes" could be heard, while the person believed to be filming the video shouted: "Haha. F*** the L mob! F*** that Lyons mob!". The video was posted just two days after the joint funeral of Lyons mob lieutenants, Eddie Lyons and Ross Monaghan, who were gunned down in the Spanish city of Fuengirola in May, after watching the Champions League final together. The account that posted the footage, which we have chosen not to identify, has posted a number of videos in support of the so-called A Team - the group claiming to work for the Daniel crime clan and Edinburgh-based associate Mark Richardson, who is currently behind bars himself. Jail bosses have refused to say whether the video is being investigated, but it's understood a probe is underway to identify those on the footage - and who filmed it. A Scottish Prison Service Spokesperson said: "Whilst we do not comment on individuals, we are aware of a video that has been posted to social media. ' Our staff work extremely hard to tackle the introduction of illicit articles, and we are continuously working to reduce their availability and supply across the prison estate.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Yesterday it emerged that the extradition hearing for Michael Riley, the man accused of gunning down the Scottish gangsters in a Spanish pub, has been delayed. The 44-year-old has been charged over the double assassination, which took place at Monaghan's Irish Bar in the Costa del Sol city of Fuengirola. The Spanish authorities are trying to extradite him to Spain so he can go on trial over the killings, which were carried out on the evening of Saturday, May 31, 2025. Riley, of Huyton, Liverpool, is remanded in custody at Wandsworth Prison and was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on October 9 for his extradition hearing. But today the court heard that the hearing is now expected to take place at the same court on November 20, five weeks later than originally planned. Another hearing is due to take place in August. The Lyons crime gang has been at war with the rival Daniel mob for a quarter of a century, with the feud starting in the early 2000s when the Lyons gang were blamed after cocaine belonging to the Daniels was swiped from a safe house during a party. What followed was decades of tit-for-tat shootings, ambushes and knife attacks. Spanish police said Riley was a member of the Daniel gang, but Police Scotland have denied a link between the murders and their lengthy feud.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Scottish firms embrace AI with ‘Open Arms' as 52% of businesses believe adoption will drive local growth
Scotland is in the midst of an AI revolution if current adoption rates and optimism surrounding the technology are to be sustained. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... According to data published by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, 52% of Scottish businesses believe greater AI adoption will be a major driver of local economic growth. The figures show that of the 61% of businesses already utilising artificial intelligence, 81% have seen an increase in productivity as a result, while 79% claim that it has improved their profitability. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The AI boom is already sweeping through different Scottish industries at a rapid pace. Recently, Stephen Goldie, managing partner of Edinburgh-based law firm Brodies, claimed that his firm is welcoming the technology with 'open arms.' Dunrobin Castle, Golspie Meanwhile, in the healthcare sector, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, and AI evaluation company Aival have begun testing a £1 million AI integration project designed to integrate with existing clinical systems and workflows. Additionally, a study conducted by Henderson Loggie spanning the Scottish legal sector found that while more than 60% of firms aren't currently using AI tools, many expect to trial or adopt the technology in the near future. Building Scotland's AI Infrastructure Huge infrastructural initiatives are set to drive Scotland's adoption of artificial intelligence in the years to come. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One major catalyst for future growth stems from the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, which aims to create a series of AI Growth Zones across the country, with a particular focus on post-industrial towns and coastal areas in Scotland. Thanks to significant energy resources that will help supply power to AI data centres in Scotland, the project, which has already attracted £25 billion in investment, could help position many Scottish towns and cities as artificial intelligence hubs. Scotland's role in AI has been bolstered further by the recent news that Edinburgh is set to host the UK's most powerful supercomputer, which will cost £750 million to build at the University of Edinburgh. The supercomputer is expected to help strengthen the United Kingdom's push to become an AI leader, with the potential to drive innovations and discoveries that could benefit businesses across Scotland. With the potential to scale up the country's AI computational power by a factor of 20, Edinburgh could be at the centre of a technological revolution. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Boosting Scottish Employment It's expected that AI innovations in Scotland can help to tackle unemployment by opening thousands of new roles for local workers. In recent months, Scotland has boasted lower unemployment rates than the rest of the United Kingdom. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the unemployment rate for those aged 16 and over in Scotland in Q2 2025 fell 0.5% on the previous quarter to 3.7%, well below the UK average of 4.7%. Scotland's growing relationship with artificial intelligence could help to lower unemployment rates further, thanks to the expected job growth that the technology will bring. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to McKinsey data, the AI boom could see overall spending on technology increase by more than 50% between 2015 and 2030, helping to significantly increase jobs related to developing and deploying new technologies. As a result, forecasts suggest that this trend could create between 20 million and 50 million new jobs worldwide, and Scotland's leading role in AI research and development is likely to see a higher concentration of new vacancies. We're already seeing early signs of this trend emerging. Plans by a renewable energy developer to transform a former steelworks in Ravenscraig to become a major national data centre in a £3.9 billion proposal are expected to generate 2,400 jobs nationwide, with 1,044 becoming permanent North Lanarkshire roles and 440 to be predominantly based on-site. Unlocking Productivity Surveys also show that more small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland are upping their AI investments as a means of enhancing their productivity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As much as 88% of firms believe that artificial intelligence will lift productivity levels within their organisations, with 90% intending to invest in the technology. With the ability to automate workflows and remove instances of human error from repetitive processes through AI management systems, more businesses believe that artificial intelligence can support their scaling strategies. The technology is even transforming marketing strategies, with businesses capable of introducing promotions and competition across multiple channels with automated payouts to customers. With the AI in marketing market set to grow at a CAGR of 26.7% between now and 2034, we can expect businesses to transform not only their own productivity but also how they interact with their customers at scale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Future of AI Artificial intelligence will play an intrinsic role in the growth of Scottish businesses. With expectations for a seismic infrastructure plan sky-high, cities like Edinburgh will become hubs for technological growth and innovation. While it remains to be seen how the technology will transform employment in Scotland, it's expected that AI will be a driving force for job creation throughout many sectors, which could open the door to more opportunities and chances for the existing workforce to upskill accordingly.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Meet the thriller writer who thought he was in a Beano adventure
The other day he was on a train when he assumed that he had slipped into an alternative reality; one governed by the rules of children's comic books. Liam concluded that he must be starring in an anarchic Bash Street Kids strip in the Beano, after he thought he heard over the Tannoy: 'Please be advised that peashooters are not permitted on trains.' Being a master of mystery fiction, he quickly solved the curious comic conundrum. 'Peashooters?' mused Liam. 'E-scooters!' Goldfish variations The Diary mentioned that most awe-inspiring of ferocious beasties, notorious for its starring role in a Spielberg movie… And, no, we weren't discussing E.T. We were talking about the great white shark, that toothy tearaway who picnicked on people in Jaws. Reader Chris Hanley proudly boasts that he's not intimidated by great whites. 'I looked them up in the dictionary,' he says, 'and was disappointed to discover that they're members of a species called the 'mackerel shark'. 'So it's just a mackerel, I thought. That's not much scarier than being chased through the salty brine by an oversize goldfish.' 'I was sort of hoping it was going to be champagne,' says ever-optimistic reader Chris Robertson (Image: Contributed) Roll with it Edinburgh-based stand-up comedian Jo Caulfield has been answering a questionnaire which asked: 'Which single battle do you think changed the course of history the most?' Most people would probably suggest the Battle of Hastings, Bannockburn, Agincourt or Waterloo. That's not the conclusion Jo arrives at, for she authoritatively says: 'Blur versus Oasis, AD 1995.' Blockhead Our correspondents are the fittest newspaper perusers in the land, possibly even the world. That's why we're not surprised when Grant Robertson from Falkirk announces: 'I got up this morning and ran around the block five times. Then I got tired, so I picked up the block and put it back in the toy box.' Art attack The Diary has been praising the colourful mural of TV's Still Game gang that recently materialised on Paisley Road West. Alas, as we pointed out, not everyone is a fan of the image. On social media one harsh art critic states: 'To be fair, it looks not bad from a distance. If the distance is Paisley.' Another person has this pithy response: 'Game over.' Burnt offering Culinary expert Rose Bayley gets in touch with us to point out: 'Forgetting that you left Alphabetti Spaghetti on the stove could spell disaster.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HSBC executive's fraud conviction voided by US appeals court
By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Thursday voided the 2017 fraud conviction of a former HSBC executive who spent two years in prison for "front-running" a British oil and gas exploration company's $3.5 billion currency trade. In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said Mark Johnson's conviction was tainted because the Supreme Court in an unrelated case later repudiated a fraud theory that underlay it. The appeals court also expressed "grave doubt" Johnson could have been convicted under an alternative theory that he defrauded HSBC client Cairn Energy, now known as Capricorn Energy. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn declined to comment. "We are delighted that justice has finally been achieved for Mark Johnson," his lawyer Alexandra Shapiro said in a statement. "Mr. Johnson carried out the Cairn transaction consistent with industry practice and in violation of no law or rule." Johnson, a British father of six in his late 50s, had been the head of HSBC's global foreign exchange cash trading desk. He was the first banker tried in the United States on currency rigging charges, following global probes into the multitrillion-dollar per day currency market. According to prosecutors, Cairn had retained Johnson and another former HSBC executive in 2011 to convert $3.5 billion into British pounds sterling as it prepared to sell an Indian subsidiary. Prosecutors said the executives quietly bought pounds for HSBC's own accounts before completing Edinburgh-based Cairn's trade, reaping a profit of about $7 million, court papers show. A jury convicted Johnson of wire fraud and conspiracy after a four-week trial. The appeals court upheld the conviction in 2019. But on Thursday, the appeals court said a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, Ciminelli v U.S., meant Johnson could not be convicted of denying Cairn a right to control its assets by reneging on a promise not to ramp up the pound's price. Circuit Judge Guido Calabresi also said evidence that Johnson breached duties to Cairn by misappropriating its confidential information for his own benefit was "weak," and it was unlikely a jury would convict Johnson on that basis alone. "We find ourselves--at the very least--in 'virtual equipoise' as to whether any jury, presented only with the misappropriation theory, would convict Johnson," Calabresi wrote. "That is more than enough to leave us with grave doubt." The appeals court returned the case to U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who oversaw the trial. The case is Johnson v. U.S., 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-1221.
