Rosyth Ferry

Scotland’s only direct ferry link to the continent started again today, less than a year after it was axed

The ferry service, which runs from Rosyth to Zeebrugge in the Netherlands, will now be run by Norfolkline after it was dropped by Superfast in September.

James Lackie of VisitScotland welcomed the relaunch in an interview with Caledonian news.

Speaker Stands Down

Speaker Michael Martin announced to a packed House that he intends to stand down on 21 June.

This means he will be the first Commons Speaker in 300 years to be effectively forced out of office.

Mr Martin’s successor is to be elected by MPs on 22 June, a day after he leaves the post.

The Speaker, who is also expected to resign from his post as MP, has faced unprecedented criticism over his handling of the MP expenses issue.

Many people in his own constituency, Glasgow North East, believe Mr Martin to have been made a scapegoat for those Commons MPs who have been ‘fiddling’ expenses.

Michael Martin held his position as MP for 30 years, and has been Speaker for nine years.

After a very brief announcement, the Speaker called for Commons business to continue, to which David Milliband concurred – saying tributes would come at a later date.

However independent MP Bob Spink, who asked the first question, then paid ‘the warmest possible tribute’ to Mr Martin, to sounds of ‘hear hear’ from fellow MPs.

South East Asian leaders are ‘concerned’ about Burma trial

South East Asian leaders have expressed ‘grave concern’ in their first official response to the trial of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Asean, a group of ten nations which includes Burma, has released a statement calling for proper medical care for Ms Suu Kyi.

Ms Suu Kyi is 63 years old, and her condition is said to be frail.

Asean warned the ‘honour and credibility’ of Burma’s government were at stake.

Ms Suu Kyi is facing her second day of trial at Rangoon’s Insein prison, where she is charged with breaking the terms of her house arrest.

The statement, issued by current chair of the bloc, Thailand, says that as a member of Asean, Burma “has the responsibility to protect and promote human rights.”

“With the eyes of the international community on Myanmar (Burma) at present, the honour and the credibility of the government are at stake,” it added.

The statement is said to be particularly strong for Asean, which has traditionally refrained from criticising the internal affairs of its members.

The closed-door trial of Aung San Suu Kyi began on Monday amid tight security.

Even though all foreign journalists are barred from Burma, undercover reporters say dozens of supporters have gathered near the jail in quiet protest.

Riot police have responded to the protestors by setting up barbed wire barricades to prevent them getting too close, and using plain-clothes officers to film them.

Ms Suu Kyi and her two female assistants are on trial for violating the terms of her house arrest after American man, John Yettaw, swam to her lakeside home earlier this month.

Mr Yettaw is also facing charges.

According to Burma’s constitution, Ms Suu Kyi’s latest period of detention was to expire on 27 May, and many critics believe the case to be a pretext to ensure she will be in jail during next year’s elections.

She has already spent 13 of the past 19 years either in jail or under house arrest, and faces a further three to five years’ imprisonment if found guilty of these latest charges.

It is unclear how long the trial will take, but  as the government is expected to summon 22 witnesses to support its claim, estimates range from days to weeks.

Condemntation by Western governments is thought unlikely to influence Burma’s generals.

Analysts suggest China, Burma’s biggest trading partner, is potentially the only country that can influence it.

The EU plans to ask Premier Wen Jiabao to speak out on behalf of the detained opposition leader – but hopes are not high as China is unlikely to break its customary silence.

Subway Festival pulls into the station

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glasgow’s Underground passengers are in for a treat this weekend when the second annual Subway Festival kicks off. 

 

Running from 10am-8pm on Saturday and 10am -5pm on Sunday, the event will see more than 300 performers from all areas of the arts entertaining the public as they travel around the city. 

 

The festival aims to show just how easy, efficient and cost effective it is to get round the city and soak up the culture by using the Underground.

 

SPT Chief Executive Ron Culley said: “The Glasgow Subway Festival is a truly special concept and, most importantly, it’s a great day out for all the family to see the best of what the city has to offer and it is great value for money.

“We had an amazing turnout over the festival weekend last year and we’ve worked hard to ensure this year’s offering is even better.”

 

 

 

There is plenty going on to keep passengers of all ages and interests amused.  On the trains themselves, there will be a performance on the last carriage of every train. Theatre acts covering everything from monologues to miniature soap-operas will keep passengers entertained, while DJs, folk singers and live bands will brave the shaking of the train to bring Glasgow’s newest sounds to the Subway.  There will also be comedy acts, cabaret and dancing girls to liven up the journeys.    

 

There will be family fun in the shape of storytelling from the likes of Alasdair McHaggis and Boo & Friends, as well as magic performances from Alexander the Great and music from The Tiger Minstrels.

 

Around the city, there is plenty more to keep the kids entertained.  There are screenings of family favourites Hotel for Dogs and Bambi at the GFT, and a petting zoo in Kinning Park.  Kelvinbridge car park is hosting the Underground Fairground, featuring waltzers, dodgems and teacups to take a whirl in.

 

Dowanhill Primary School is home to the Festival Market for the weekend, with fresh local produce at Scotland’s largest farmers market.  On Sunday the Subway Fashion Fayre will have the best in design, craft and vintage on offer. 

 

For those looking for a night on the town, the Starlight Dinner Cabaret on Saturday at Sloan’s is a dinner with variety and burlesque performances from Daiquiri Dusk, Leggy P, Miss Hells Belle and Cat Aclysmic.  On Sunday, Sloan’s is hosting Rockwork Orange in association with Rock Radio – a night of three floors of rock alongside entertainment from Rockaburley Burlesque. 

Anyone looking for more details on the festival can call 0141 222 2266 or visit their nearest station to pick up a brochure.  

 

 

 

 

 

Graduates face recession fears

Final-year students are becoming increasingly worried about their futures as they prepare to graduate this summer.  A survey has found that 36% do not expect to find a job this year. 

More than twenty five percent of final year students at top UK universities are planning to stay on for further study as the recession bites.

However, Higher Education Minister David Lammy believes graduates are still less likely to be unemployed than other people.   

Kirsty Beaton, a third year student at Glasgow Caledonian University, has found it very difficult to find a job. 

Research by High Fliers found that fifty two percent thought the prospects for new graduates were very limited and thirty six percent did not expect to get a graduate job this year.

The UK government has announced that it will support unemployed graduates who are having to take unpaid work placements.

But measures like these are not enough to quell the concerns of these students.

With the financial crisis deepening, it seems there are no easy answers to students concerns.

Stirling Highland Games suffers in recession

Stirling Tourism Association has announced that the annual Stirling Highland Games will be cancelled this year.

 

They say the cancellation is the result of economic uncertainty and successive changes of the venue.

 

Each year the games attract thousands of visitors and hundreds or performers to the area to participate in dancing and piping competitions. 

 

Local MSP Bruce Crawford has said he will meet with the games’ committee to ensure the cancellation is a one-off, and that they will return next year. 

 

Mr Crawford said: “Tourism plays a vital part in the local economy of the Stirling area, and I am determined that despite the recession, Stirling must send out the message that it remains open for business and is a must-visit destination for visitors from across the world.”

 

Troops withdraw from Iraq

The UK has officially ended all combat operations in Iraq, after a ceremony today in Basra. A memorial service was held to remember the one hundred and seventy nine soldiers who have died while on duty, attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton.   

 

Many tears have been shed by the servicemen and women in Basra – tears of joy for the chance to leave Iraq once and for all, but also tears of sadness for those who’ve been lost in the past six years of conflict. Yet Brigadier Tom Beckett says the troops are confident they’ve left a lasting legacy.

 

Only time will tell how successful the operation here was, but for now the forces are just looking forward to spending time with their families.

 

Later today, the forces will officially handover control of the region to American soldiers, a month ahead of schedule.  The soldiers are expected to arrive back in Britain within the next few days.

See a video of the ceremony at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/apr/30/iraq-military

Swine flu epidemic continues

Football Round-up

Celtic will look to extend their one-point lead at the top of the SPL when they travel to Aberdeen on Saturday. Rangers face a tough tie at home to Hearts on Sunday. They know that they have to win to stay in the title race.

At the other end of the table Falkirk host Motherwell. The Bairns will be hoping to reduce the four-point gap on second-bottom Inverness who are away to St Mirren.

It’s a big weekend in the First Division. St Johnstone will win the league if they beat Morton at home. Second placed Partick need to beat relegation threatened Airdrie at home and hope that St Johnstone slip up. Partick will be up against it however; Airdrie need to beat them if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the play-offs. They will be up for the challenge.

The race for the second division title could also reach its final stage this weekend. Raith are top of the league, two points clear of second place Ayr United. Raith would win the league if they beat Queen’s Park and Ayr lose to Alloa. It’s been a roller-coaster ride for both teams and whoever wins the league will truly have deserved it.

It’s a similar situation in the Third Division where Dumbarton will be crowned champions if they win and Cowdenbeath lose. The league is perhaps the most open in Scotland however. Should Dumbarton lose both Cowdenbeath and East Stirling have the chance to take the title.

The high street goes haute

By Nicola Paul

Two of the high streets top retailers are going into a head-on battle today as they simultaneously launch designer collaborations.

 

 

Matthew Williamson’s hotly anticipated summer range for H&M hits the shops today, while Giles Deacon’s seventh collection for New Look is also now up for grabs.

Matthew Williamson at H&M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shoppers were already queuing outside H&M’s flagship London store at 6.30am this morning, and both collections look set to sell out fast.

Katy Perry in Matthew Williamson

Ginnifer Goodwin in Matthew Williamson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can buy Giles Deacon’s range online at http://www.newlook.co.uk/women/gold_giles_deacon/ProductList.aspx, while you’ll need to head to the shops to get hold of Matthew Williamson’s range.

Watch the crowds running to bag themselves a Matthew Williamson bargain below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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