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Scottish News

Scottish News Digest

Aug21

Scotswoman Fiona Watson was among 20 people killed when a suicide bomber drove a truck filled with explosives into the UN compound in Baghdad. Fiona came from the small town Pittenweem in Fife on Scotland's East Coast. It was her first day in a new post after transferring from the UN Oil and Food programme

Aug22

The cost of the new Scottish Parliament building is set to reach £400M; the projected cost has been reduced by almost £5m, due to an agreement to cap the fees of consultants. The original estimate was £40M.

Aug23

Glasgow man Rob Finlayson put his girlfriend Margaret Anne Todd up for sale on e-bay, claiming he was tired of her constant nagging. Margaret was snapped up by local newspaper the Daily Record, who arranged to have her wined, dined and pampered by handsome hunk Ross Valance. However, Margaret returned to Rob, to make dinner before he started on late shift at work. Rob claimed it had all been in jest.

Football/Soccer
Scottish Premier League

Aberdeen 1 Dunfermilne 2
Dundee 2 Livingston 1
Hearts 3 Dundee Utd 0
Motherwell 2 Kilmarnock 1
Partick Th 1 Celtic 2
Rangers 5 Hibernian 2

Table

Pos P Pts
1 Rangers 3 9
2 Celtic 3 7
3 Dunfermilne 3 7
4 Hearts 3 6
5 Dundee 3 6
6 Hibernian 3 6
7 Livingston 3 4
8 Motherwell 3 3
9 Kilmarnock 3 3
10 Partick Th 3 1
11 Aberdeen 3 0
12 Dundee Utd 3 0

Rugby World Cup Warm Up match

Scotland 47 Italy 15

12, 000 people attended this year's Lonach Highland game in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. Chieftain of the games was comedian Billy Connolly, with special guests Sean Connery and wife Micheline, US actor/comedian Steve Martin, actress Judi Dench and chat show king Michael Parkinson amongst others.

Aug24

New York Comedian Demetri Martin won the 23rd Annual Perrier Comedy award at the Edinburgh Festival.

Human skeletal remains were found in St Andrews as workmen started work to refurbish a public library. It is thought it is the site of a medieval graveyard, so far 60 skeletons closely packed together gave been found. The library refurbishment has been delayed.

15 Hospital Boards are refusing to provide the Atkins diet to patients. This follows the recent report that criticised as being nutritionally unbalanced and could lead people in the long term to damage their health. The move has been described by Atkins supporters as unfair.

Rugby authorities say that Scotland's national Rugby Stadium at Murray field Edinburgh will remain an alcohol free zone, despite recommendations to liberalise licensing laws.

A 45,000 crowd watched Glasgow's Gig on the Green at Glasgow Green. Headlining the gig the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, also playing Of Fighters. Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Billy Talent and Electric Six.

Aug25

A Scottish Lord, Michael Dudgeon, wants to open a naturist beach on his estate, and wants Steve Gough, the naked rambler who has been trying to walk through Scotland in recent weeks to perform the opening ceremony. The beach runs through part of his estate, near Helmsdale, Sutherland, overlooking the freezing North Sea. The public part of the beach is already popular with tourists, but naturists will be restricted to a site out of site of a nearby road and railway track.

Meanwhile, Steve Gough the naked rambler is in Porterfield Prison, Inverness, he appears in court next Tuesday.

Aug26

Playing the bagpipes can ruin your health. A survey by Piper and Drum magazine revealed that is a threat to marriages could drive you to drink and "cause deafness". 84% of Pipers suffer one or all three of the main problems to some extent or other.

Naked rambler Steve Gough was released on bail from prison, after promising the Sheriff he would not commit any more offences. Then, out of court vowed to continue on his nude stroll to John O'Groats. Mr Gouge says he is campaigning for naturist and human rights.

Aug27

Football/Soccer

Super night in Europe for Scottish teams Celtic and Rangers as they both qualify for the cash rich group stages of the Champions League. Celtic's game was a formality as they one the away tie 4-0 in Budapest and in Glasgow they completed the job by beating MTK Hungaria 1-0, a goal by Chris Sutton, in what was a dull match.
However, Rangers overcame FC Copenhagen in Denmark by winning 2-1, with a goal with 2 minutes to go by Shota Alverladze.

Art thieves have stolen a Da Vinci painting worth £50M (US$75M) from a Scottish castle. The smartly dressed thieves stole "Madonna with Yarn winder from Drumlanrig castle in Dumfriesshire. It was part of a collection worth £400M. The thieves escaped in a Volkswagen Beetle.

Aug28

Several personalities have had to step in to finance 50 war veterans pilgrimage to visit war graves in Europe after the National Lottery fund refused a grant. Sean Connery, Jackie Stewart and Rangers chairman David Murray stepped in to bridge the gap. The members of the 44th Lowland Brigade will travel to France and Holland shortly.

Football/Soccer

The draw for the Champions League was made in Monaco, and brought glamorous ties for both Scottish Clubs. Celtic are Group A along with Bayern Munich, Lyon and Anderleccht (Belgium).
Meanwhile, Rangers drew the prime tie in Group E with Manchester United, also Stuttgart and Pannathanaikos (Greece).

Dundee beat Vllaznia 4-0, in the 2nd leg of their UEFA Cup qualifying, they won the first game 2-0 in Albania, and qualify on the 1st rd proper. The UEFA Cup is the No2 Euro trophy after the Champions League.

Aug29

Football/Soccer

Ranger's captain Barry Ferguson was transferred to Blackburn Rovers in England for a fee of around £7M.
Despite qualifying for the Champions League, Barry felt he wanted a higher standard of Football. Rangers have brought in Brazilian Emerson on a £20K, per week pay as you play contract.

Insurers have offered a £200K award for the recovery of the Ad Vinci painting stolen from Drumlanrig castle.

Scots soldier Russell Beeston became the 50th British soldier to die in Iraq, he was shot while assisting on controlling an armed mob. His family who live in Glasgow are reported to be devastated.

A retired librarian Marjorie Kennedy, who died last November, has been revealed to be a millionaire in her will. Marjorie who never married and lived in a modest flat in Edinburgh left £1.5M in her will. She was a codebraker during WW2, and worked as a University librarian, the estate will be shared by friends and relatives.

Aug29

Naked rambler Steve Gough is back in jail after continuing to defy the court. Bail was refused and he goes on trial on October 3rd.

An elderly English tourist died when he was attacked while walking along a path near the village of Plockton. The village is best known as the setting for BBC TV Series Hamish Mc Beth. The cows are allowed to roam free due to a township scheme set up in 1957. However, restrictions are now being considered.

Aug30

Guests have been arriving on the Scottish Island of Butte for the wedding of fashion designer Stella McCartney (daughter of Paul McCartney) and Alasdhair Willis. Guests include Liv Tyler, Madonna, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The happy couple is set to wed on a secluded beach, followed by a reception at the Mount Stewart Estate.

Football/Soccer

In the draw for the UEFA Cup 1st Rd Proper, both Scottish teams face testing ties. Edinburgh team Hearts face Zeljeznicar of Bosnia and Dundee face Perugia of Italy, one of Perugia's players is Al Saadi Gadaffi, son of Libya's Col. Gadaffi.

Aug31

Scotland's fattest man has been told to lose 25St (350 pounds) or die. Stewart Brunston is currently 40St (560 pounds). Stewart got this dubious honour of fattest man after previous record holder Peter Sim, who was 28 pounds heavier, died aged 27. Stewart decided on the action after he suffered a heart attack 6 weeks ago. He could not fit in the ambulance and was treated on his doorstep, crowds gathered to watch and he felt humiliated. He has not had a proper job since 1983, and the weight piled on, he has been assigned a 24-hour team of helpers to police his diet.

Football/Soccer

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE 30/31 August 2003

Celtic 5 Livingston 1
Dundee Utd 1 Rangers 3
Hearts 1 Dunfermilne 0
Hibernian 1 Aberdeen 1
Kilmarnock 1 Dundee 1
Motherwell 2 Partick Th 2

League Table

Pos Team Pl Pts

1 Rangers 4 12
2 Celtic 4 10
3 Hearts 4 9
4 Dundee 4 7
5 Dunfermilne 4 7
6 Hibernian 4 7
7 Motherwell 4 4
8 Kilmarnock 4 4
9 Livingston 4 3
10 Partick Th 4 2
11 Aberdeen 4 1
12 Dundee Utd 4 0

Scottish News Digest

Sept 1

The Rolling Stones played their first concert in Glasgow for 13 years at the Scottish Exhibition Centre; this was in the more intimate Hall 4 with 9000 seats. Last time they played Hampden Park, the National Soccer Stadium with 50,000 fans watching.

Football/Soccer

Motherwell's James Mc Fadden was transferred to English club Everton for £1.5M, to beat the transfer deadline. This follows the transfer of Rangers captain Barry Ferguson to Blackburn. Both players reported for international duty as Scotland prepare for two vital European Championship qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Isles.

Sept 2

Extra Police had to be called to control queues at Ibrox Stadium, home of Glasgow Rangers as fans waited to purchase tickets for the forthcoming Champions League matches. Many fans that had queued all night received nothing as accusations of queue jumping and poor ticket allocation by the club lead to angry exchanges between some fans. Many fans complained they should have followed the same system as rivals Celtic, were season ticket holders can apply by post, and the balance will go on public sale shortly before the games.

A woman who made 37 false emergency calls escaped jail, and her sentence was deferred for 6 months to prove her good behaviour. Joanna Lesiuk believed she had psychic powers and was foreseeing tragedies, but police and other emergency services that were called out never found anything wrong.

Sept 3

The Glasgow Science Centre took delivery of the bearings, which will hopefully mean the reopening of the Glasgow Tower, capable of rotating 360 degrees with a marvellous view of the city. The Tower has been closed to visitors since October 2001.

A Turkish man Daimi Akyuz went on trial today for the murder of 2-year-old Alastair Grimmason of East Kilbride, just outside Glasgow. Alastair was killed in cross fire in a gun battle between Turkish gangsters where his parents were holidaying in Turkey two months ago.

Sept 4

Rabbits, which burrow near the Dounreay nuclear station in Caithness, have been given the all clear in radiation tests. The fears were raised about people trapping and eating the rabbits.
Dounreay is currently being decommissioned.

Sept 5

BBC TV Scotland programme Monarch of the Glen is returning for a fifth series. The highly popular series is shown in 24 countries, and regularly captured top slot the Sunday night British TV Ratings

The Buttery restaurant in Glasgow has been named Scotland's Restaurant of the year. The restaurant closed 18 months ago after being in business since 1856, but was reopened just over a year ago, by new owner Ian Fleming. He quickly restored its reputation for quality food.

Rangers Football Club has revealed debts of £68M in their annual accounts. This year has seen a cutback in players and wages, and sale of Rangers captain Barry Ferguson to Blackburn.
Ranger's deadly rivals Celtic published debts of £18M in their annual accounts a month ago.

Liverpool footballer Hadji Diouf was fined for assaulting a Celtic fan by spitting on him at a match in the UEFA Cup in Glasgow in March. Celtic won the tie 3-1.

Sept 6

The inhabitants of the islands of Barra and Vatersay in the Western Isles are to own their own islands. The McNeil family who have owned the Islands for over 100 years are to transfer the Islands into public ownership.

Funding has been approved for Shetlands first commercial distillery. Grants from Shetland Enterprise and European Regional fund will enable work to begin with the remaining funding from private enterprise. The first whisky from the distillery will be available in 2007.

Joyce Bell a pensioner from Renfrewshire was reunited with her pet cockatiel due to its ability to whistle the Laurel and Hardy theme tune from the 1920's and 30's films. The bird escaped and flew 70 miles to Fife, where he ended up in a Pet Rescue centre. He was bought by a Trevor Montgomery after he heard the tune, but a friend, who had seen Mrs Bell's lost and found ad, pointed it out and soon the cockatiel named Simon (after the PopIdol judge Simon Cowell)was quickly reunited with Mrs Bell.

Football/Soccer

Scotland beat the Faroe Isles 3-1 at Hampden Park in front of 42,000 fans to keep themselves in with a chance of qualifying for the European Championship Finals in Portugal next year.

Sept 7

Over 10,000 runners took part in today's Great Scottish Run, the course was run through the streets of Glasgow, and encompassed a half marathon, a 0K race and a Junior Run. Peter Kiprotech of Kenya won the Men's half marathon, Caroline Kwambai of Kenya won the Women's half marathon. Stephen Hepples from North Eat England won the men's 10K, Scotswoman Jill Knowles from Greenock won the women's 10K, 16 year old Ross Toole from Kilbarchan won the Boy's Junior Run and 12 year old Eilish McColgan from Dundee won the girl's junior race.

Rugby

Ireland beat Scotland 29-16 at Murrayfield in the final Rugby World Cup warm up game.
Scots Coach Ian McGeechan was not satisfied with his team's performance. The World Cup squad is to be announced shortly. Attendance 36,500.

Sept 8

Continental Airlines announced that they were opening up new route from Edinburgh to New York.
The airline already runs a daily service between Glasgow and New York, the frequency of the service is yet to be decided and there were concerns in Glasgow that it may compromise the Glasgow service as the airports are just 50 miles apart.

Scots actor Rory McCann has landed a role in Oliver Stone's film on Alexander the Great, playing Alexander's right hand man. Rory, a strapping feet 6 inches tall, is well known in Scotland for two particular roles, in Channel 4's surprise hit "The Book Group", he plays wheel chair bound Kenny, the show about an American woman living in Glasgow, who makes friends by starting a Book Group. Also, as a kilt wearing shopkeeper in an amusing ad for Scots Porridge Oats, when a queue of woman ask for a box of Oats from the top shelf, and attempt to look up his kilt. His agent described it as a massive break for him.
The film stars Colin Farrell as Alexander, with Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins.

Sept 9

It was announced that the historic College of Piping in Otago Street in Glasgow is to reopen after a £500, 000 renovation. The building will have 8 practise rooms (sound proofed probably), a museum and performance space. The Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, an accomplished piper will give a performance.

Sept 10

Plans have been unveiled to turn Glasgow's George Square into a continental style piazza. 5 years ago George Square was turned into "Red Square", bit it has caused a public outcry. The square stages many events which hide the Red design, the annual Hogmany Party, Celtic Connections folk festival, Jazz Festival, and a party at last years European Champions League Final.

Football/Soccer

Germany beat Scotland 2-1, in the penultimate European Championship qualifying match in Dortmund in front of 73, 000 fans, including 10,000 Scots supporters. Germany are now favourites to win the group and qualify automatically, Scotland must beat Lithuania in Glasgow next month, and hope Germany beat or tie with Iceland in Germany next month to qualify for a play off place.

Sept 11

Historic Scotland, a government agency, was duped into allowing raves to be held at a Scottish Castle.
Dundonald Castle built in the 14th Century by the grandson of Robert the Bruce. They believed it was being used for Birthday and retirement parties. The castle can be hired for as little as £220 a night.
(Editor: This is a small castle, partially restored, I visited twice, but no party invites)

The Scotch Whisky Association has sent a delegation to the World Trade Organisation summit in Mexico to protest and call for action against cheap and poor quality imitations, also to protest against tariffs as high as 166 percent.

Sept 12

More teachers, police officers and health spending, as well as a National Theatre for Scotland were promised in the spending plans for the forthcoming year by the Scottish Executive, an extra £900M is to be spent over the next 3 years. But critics have pointed out that £394m of this comes from an "underspend" this year.

The theft of a £50M Da Vinci masterpiece from a Scottish castle is to be re-enacted of BBC TV's Crimewatch programme later this month. the gang got away unchallenged claiming they were police.

A shelter for ferry passengers on the isle of Tiree is shortlisted for a British Architectural award. The An Thuras terminal is one of six new building nominated for the Stirling Prize for Architecture awarded by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

A new marine research facility at the University of Aberdeen's Lighthouse field station is to be opened today by local MP Charles Kennedy. The centre based at old lighthouse keepers cottage on the Black Isle was refurbished at a cosset of £145,000. It will study the environmental effect of Dolphins in the area.

Sept 13

The first production in the new National Theatre of Scotland will be in 2005. The theatre, which will be based in Glasgow, will be built with a £7.5M grant from the Scottish Executive.

The road leading to the Isle of Skye, has been voted the most beautiful in Britain in a survey . The A87 from Invergary to Skye has lots of breathtaking lochs and hills, including the ,Five Sisters of Kintail, along the route as well as the famous Eilean Donan Castle.
(Editor:I have driven this road, it is as gorgeous as suggested)

Two Scots oil rig workers died while helpless colleagues looked on they had climbed 150 feet down the leg of Shell's Brent Bravo rig to do a routine check, but died when poisonous gas leaked from a damaged pipe.
Sean McCue 22, from Glenrothes in Fife was due to be married next year. And, Keith Moncrieff , 44 from Dundee died a few hours before the birth of his first grand daughter.

Football/Soccer

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE 13 September 2003

Aberdeen 2 Partick Th 1
Dundee 0 Celtic 1
Hibernian 0 Motherwell 2
Kilmarnock 0 Hearts 2
Livingston 0 Dundee Utd 0
Rangers 4 Dunfermilne 0

League Table

Pos Team Pl Pts

1 Rangers 5 15
2 Celtic 5 13
3 Hearts 5 12
4 Dundee 5 7
5 Dunfermilne 5 7
6 Hibernian 5 7
7 Motherwell 5 6
8 Kilmarnock 5 4
9 Livingston 5 4
11 Aberdeen 5 3
10 Partick Th 5 2
12 Dundee Utd 5 1

Martin
Glasgow

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Page Updated Tue Sep 16, 2003 4:18pm EDT