The Scotsman

Currency Woes Hit Profit Forecasts for Axis-Shield

ANALYSTS pared back forecasts for medical testing kit maker Axis- Shield yesterday, warning that the company faced strong currency head winds. The warnings came despite the company, , which makes medical testing kits used in physicians' offices and laboratories, maintaining that trading since the August had been in line with expectations.

Between the Lines: Here's Hoping Glasnost Helps Ensure Rbs Survival

THIS writer once observed that the board of the Royal Bank of Scotland, assembled for the group's annual general meeting, resembled the politburo of the old Soviet Union. There the apparachiks sat, grim-faced and serious, as the general secretary of the party - otherwise known as chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin - launched into a ten-hour speech on the benefits of the RBS five-year plan.

Jurassic Park Creator Crichton Dies

MICHAEL Crichton, the best-selling US author and director who wrote Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain and co- created the popular TV medical drama ER, has died. He was 66. His death was announced in a statement on his official website, which said he died on Tuesday following "a courageous and private battle against cancer".

'Real Step Backwards' As Meps Press Ahead with Pesticides Ban

THE cost of major foods in the European Union could rise by as much as 30 per cent following yesterday's decision by the environment committee of the European Parliament to seek a ban on many of the most widely used crop protection chemicals. Alyn Smith MEP, the sole Scottish representative on the parliament's agriculture committee, clearly feels that the long- term consequences of this move, which has been driven by the green lobby, have not been given enough consideration.

Record Turnover for Ringlink

THIS year's cereal harvest was greatly delayed in many parts of Scotland. However, the vast majority of farmers have caught up with the backlog of work, frequently with the help of machinery ring.

Commuter Traffic and Subsidy Help Lift First Scotrail Profits

FIRST ScotRail is proving resilient to the economic gloom, helped by robust commuter traffic between Edinburgh and Glasgow and a GBP 138 million subsidy. The extra passengers and the boost from the government's coffers helped revenues jump 8.6 per cent to GBP 259 million in the six months to end-September.

Business Gazetteer

YOU BETTER YOU BETTER YOU BET Punters can repeat winning odds for 2012 election

Inside Health: End This Confusion On Patient 'Top-Ups'

ASKING a patient whether they want to pay for a drug to help prolong their life is never going to be easy for doctors. But, with the announcement that people in England will now be able to top up with private treatment without losing NHS care, doctors may be increasingly in this position.

Clamour for Whole-Point Cut After Latest Grim Figures

There are wide calls for the Bank of England to cut rates by at least one point Picture: Getty PRESSURE mounted last night for the biggest cut in interest rates in nearly 16 years as storm clouds gathered over Britain's manufacturing and service sectors.

Tv Chef Calls for Gbp 6bn to Combat Obesity Epidemic

JAMIE Oliver has blamed Britain's obesity crisis on working mothers being too busy to pass on cooking advice to their families. The TV chef warned that the UK would end up like America in a decade unless radical action was taken to improve diets, and he called for a GBP 6 billion investment in school meals and cookery lessons.

Global Warming, Not Mass Suicides Curbs the Lemming Population

IT IS a widely held myth that lemmings share a death wish that drives them to throw themselves from cliff tops in an act of mass suicide. Now a far more real threat has been discovered by scientists, who say climate change is having an impact on numbers of the toothy rodents.

It's Time to Freshen Up and Start Again with Some New Blood

SO, WHAT else will change in America? Here's an imagined view of the post-Obama victory landscape: Political structures

Highland Home Could Offer Lonely Mercedes a Brand New Lease of Life

SHE has been at Edinburgh Zoo for more than two decades - but Mercedes the polar bear could soon be on the move to a new home. Mercedes, the only polar bear kept in a zoo in the UK, may be moved to the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig. The announcement has been welcomed by animal rights groups, which say the location will be more suitable for her needs.

First Among Equals

Barack Obama's victory was built on the power and charisma of the man himself. But how could you ignore the presence of the woman by his side on the road to the White House? You couldn't, but Emma Cowing asks what kind of First Lady Michelle will be HER FAVOURITE dish is macaroni cheese, she claims to shop at discount chain Target for loo paper, calls her husband "buddy", and loves a boogie to the music of Stevie Wonder. Welcome to the world of the First Lady Elect, Michelle LaVaughn Obama.

Review: Oasis

MUSIC, OASIS, SECC, GLASGOW *** THERE has been a lot of excitable talk recently about a reinvigorated Oasis - there always is - but, for once, it is fair to say that their present live incarnation is far from sluggish, thanks to the athletic input of new drummer Chris Sharrock, who has previously played with The Icicle Works, The Las and Robbie Williams. However, energy and conviction can only elevate the mediocre material from new album Dig Out Your Soul so far.

'Oil Will Soon Head Back to Dollars 100'

LOWER oil prices may provide welcome relief for the economy and consumers, but they are not here to stay. According to the head of one of Scotland's largest oil companies, the price of crude oil will soon be moving back towards dollars 100 a barrel. Since peaking at dollars 147 a barrel in July, the price of crude has more than halved, trading briefly below dollars 60 a barrel in London at the end of October and averaging below dollars 70 since.

Raploch's Young Maestros Make a Big Noise - with Help From Venezuela

SIX months ago the children of Raploch estate in Stirling would not have dreamed they could form an orchestra and play to rapturous applause at the Queen's Hall in Edinburgh. But thanks to a revolutionary teaching method imported from Venezuela 15 young performers took to the stage this week for the debut performance of the Raploch Big Noise Youth Orchestra.

Police Target Poachers and Hare Coursing

EFFORTS to tackle poaching and hare coursing are to be stepped up with a campaign calling on people to report such crimes. Police believe organised gangs travel across the country targeting deer and salmon, which they sell, and setting dogs on hares for gambling purposes.

Threat to Tv News As Firms Feel Advertising Cash Drain

TV VIEWERS in Scotland may soon be unable to watch news and current affairs programmes on STV that are dedicated to Scotland, the head of broadcasting regulator Ofcom warned yesterday. Ed Richards said a financial crisis in commercial TV was so serious that broadcasters could be tempted to axe programmes such as Scotland Today once their licences expire in 2014.

Snp Call to Scrap Nuclear Defence Plans

NATIONALISTS called yesterday for the UK government to abandon the Trident replacement programme after a new report warned that it would be very difficult to deliver the project on time and in budget. The National Audit Office (NAO) said the replacement of Britain's nuclear deterrent on time and within budget presented the government with "considerable challenges".