The Scotsman

British Troops 'Let Down' by Nato Allies in Afghanistan

UK MINISTERS are to repeat calls for European allies to send more troops to Afghanistan after a report by MPs concluded that Britain's own efforts have been spread too thinly and undermined by "mission creep". The Foreign Affairs Committee slammed the UK effort since the toppling of the Taleban in 2001, saying that the effect had been dissipated as troops sought to secure the peace, reduce drug cultivation, help human rights and build up the state.

Royal Guards Hurt in Land Rover Pile-Up Near Balmoral

FOUR soldiers from the Scots Guards unit dedicated to protecting the Queen were injured in a road accident near her Balmoral estate yesterday. Three army Land Rovers were involved in a collision as the soldiers drove from the castle, where the Queen is in residence, to nearby Ballater, police said. Two of the vehicles were seriously damaged.

Album Review: Pop

FRANKMUSIK: COMPLETE ME *** ISLAND, GBP 10.76

Streetwise

A Glasgow project is leading the way in the fight against violent crime. Tonight, in a TV report, Cherie Booth argues it should be rolled out across Britain, writes Emma Cowing SHE is standing on the windswept balcony of a Glasgow tower block, trying to control her hairdo. "Glasgow is streets ahead of the rest of us," she informs the camera, as her fringe flaps wildly in the breeze. "Yet it's had more than its fair share of violence."

Sex Without a Condom Is Good for You, Says Professor

HAVING sex without a condom is good for your mental health, according to controversial research conducted by a leading Scottish psychologist. Professor Stuart Brody concludes that unprotected heterosexual sex can significantly boost men and women's mental wellbeing.

Crimefighting Faces Cuts As Biggest Police Force Is Hit by Gbp 35m Deficit

SCOTLAND'S largest police force is facing a near-GBP 35 million black hole in its budget and a "dire financial situation" over the next four years which could severely impact on frontline services, its ruling board will warn this week. Strathclyde Police Authority, the body responsible for monitoring the force's finances, is concerned about significant budget deficits that stand to accumulate in the years ahead unless drastic efficiency savings can be made alongside additional funding from th...

Critic's Choice: 4th August 2009

Hanzel Und Gretyl Classic Grand, Glasgow, tomorrow

Playing the Smart Card

Christopher Mackie asks Ian Smart about the future of the Law Society and the profession generally IN THE midst of a fermenting rebellion ahead of the Law Society AGM in May, a former BBC lawyer, Alistair Bonnington, penned an incendiary internet opinion piece that accused the society's council of, among other things, kowtowing to the Scottish Government and failing adequately to represent its own members' interests.

Rogue Dna Is Linked to Ovarian Cancer

A GENETIC defect uniquely linked to ovarian cancer has been found for the first time. Scientists have discovered a patch of DNA containing a change in the genetic code that can increase the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer by 40 per cent.

Task Force to Meet Minister Over Rocket Range Jobs Fear

A TASK force fighting plans to scale back a weapons testing range in the Outer Hebrides, with the loss of 125 jobs, will put its case to defence minister Quentin Davies this week. In June, the defence contractor QinetiQ and the Ministry of Defence announced a restructuring of the Hebrides Range in South Uist, Benbecula and St Kilda.

Government Spends Gbp 2k On Cat Lovers' Code

THE Scottish Government is spending GBP 2,000 of taxpayers' money to tell cat lovers how to look after their pets. Among the advice contained in the Draft Cat Welfare Code of Practice is: "Your cat should have somewhere suitable to toilet."

Cameron: I'm Honest About Need for Cuts

DAVID Cameron last night laid out his claim for the moral high ground in the battle over public spending cuts, saying he was being more honest with voters about the scale of the crisis than any opposition leader in recent history. The Conservative leader said he would draw lessons from supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's which, he said, had managed to cut costs while improving their products.

Labour Clings to Slim Advantage Over Snp

Nationalists still two points behind and Cameron fails to make impact on Scots voters SCOTTISH Labour is clinging on to a marginal lead in Scotland ahead of the next general election, as a new analysis of voting intentions suggests that SNP hopes of claiming 20 seats across the country will be dashed.

Scottish Screen Accused of Wasting Millions

SCOTLAND'S film development agency has been accused of wasting public money by repeatedly backing projects that have failed to materialise. Industry insiders claim that the way the funding system is geared has seen some companies receive hundreds of thousands of pounds without putting out finished films.

Scientists Discover How to Knit Severed Spinal Cords Back Together

SCIENTISTS have taken a major step towards helping people paralysed by spinal injuries by reconnecting the severed nerves of rats with broken backs. A team has shown that regenerating nerve fibres can reform connections in the spine after being guided to the right targets.

Television Review: Harold Wilson's Excellent Idea

Happy Birthday OU - 40 Years Of The Open University, BBC4 THE story of the Open University, promised Lenny Henry - one of its graduates - was "much more than a story of kipper ties and post- pub TV". And so it proved, in this affectionate little 40th anniversary tribute to the unique British institution that has educated millions and become the butt of millions more jokes about the fashion sense on show in its televised tutorials.

Ba Set to Resume Union Pay Talks

Willie Walsh: Hopeful BRITISH Airways is moving towards an agreement with cabin crew unions that have threatened to strike in a dispute over the airline's cost-cutting plans.

Barclays Turns to Scott to Fill Gap Left by Weir

BARCLAYS has moved to fill the vacancy left by Derek Weir in its commercial division in Scotland with the appointment of dealmaker Ally Scott. The firm was dealt a blow in May when Weir, one of the country's most senior corporate bankers, left after speculation he had been frustrated that he had to go through Barclays' London office on big decisions and deals.

Confidence On the Comeback As British Firms Expect Growth

David Lonsdale: 'Harshest period may well be behind us' OPTIMISM among British businesses is returning, according to a new survey, with a growing number expecting orders will increase in the coming months.

Tesco to Create 800 Jobs at New Scottish Office

TESCO PERSONAL Finance (TPF) is close to finalising a deal to set up a large insurance office in Glasgow that will create over 800 jobs. It follows recent developments at TPF, which is building a bank in Edinburgh under chief executive Benny Higgins and has poached high-level personnel from rivals.