The Scotsman

Interview with legend behind the "Panenka" penalty kick

“ASMR not only helps me to relax but it also provides an opportunity for me to escape from the stress and reality life can bring."

Belarussian regime survivor pleads with Scotland to oppose tyranny in his homeland A survivor of Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus, Europe’s last surviving dictatorship, has pleaded with Scotland to open its eyes to the ‘tragedy’ befalling his homeland. But now, after 26 years of autocratic rule by the former Communist-era politician, he and others want to break their silence to highlight the ongoing stranglehold he has had on their country for a generation.

How a fictional pen pal has helped Scottish men to lose weight More than 100 Scottish men took part in a weight-loss study where they received random text messages five times a week from a fictional character called Slim. The aim of the ‘Game of Stones’ study was to explore how digital storytelling could aid in managing obesity.

Corruption has always been a feature of politics, but a new book from Peter Geoghegan shows just how all-pervasive it has become in recent years. Review by Elsa Maishman Peter Geoghegan’s Democracy for Sale is a damning insight into the dark money which underpins huge areas of global politics. From law-bending to lawbreaking, via loopholes, shady deals and revolving doors, Geoghegan guides us through the ugly side of modern politics – or indeed, politics full-stop, as political corruption is ha

Book review: Donald Trump And His Assault On The Truth, by The Washington Post Fact Checker Staff Donald Trump And His Assault On The Truth is well-named. In the first three years of his presidency, Trump launched an incessant and unprecedented attack on the truth, pummelling it with more than 16,000 falsehoods by the count of the Washington Post’s Fact Checker team. While politicians have lied since the dawn of time – as the authors of this book are quick to point out – no American president

It is being planned to open when lockdown restrictions ease. The Edinburgh Corn Exchange has revealed plans for the city’s ‘biggest beer garden’ as soon as lockdown restrictions allow. The beer garden, which is still in the planning stage, will be opened in the car park of the venue. Strict social distancing guidelines will be in place, and there will be limits on numbers at any one time. The Corn Exchange is planning to host Edinburgh's largest beer garden. Picture: Edinburgh Corn Exchange

'She nearly popped out at Barnton Junction' - Woman drove to ERI in labour to avoid taking ambulance time during pandemic Her partner was ‘braced’ to deliver the baby at the side of the road. With five children already Sharon Fergie, from Edinburgh, was feeling calm about her upcoming delivery in March, despite the baby being six days overdue. But when she went into labour in the early hours of March 25 she did not want to risk getting a taxi or asking for a ride from a friend due to the pote

As Michael Jordan won Chicago its sixth championship in 1998, Scotland’s own Bulls’ dynasty were celebrating. The Midlothian Bulls had won ten straight titles.

Midlothian WWII veteran and former POW celebrates 100th birthday with socially distant street party He was a POW in Poland for five years. George joined the Royal Scots in 1937 at just 17, and sailed to Cherbourg as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. George Simpson celebrated his 100th birthday with his wife Betty. Copyright: JPIMedia He was wounded at Le Paradis in May 1940 while the Royal Scots were ordered to delay the enemy in order for the evacuation of other troops at Dun

'We wanted to forget' - veteran who was one of first female RAF engineers kept WW2 role secret for 30 years Vera Clachers was one of the first female electrical engineers in the RAF. But she did not imagine this could have been because both her parents had served in the RAF in WWII, until 1991 when she was in her thirties and looking through old photographs. “I was just having a rummage through the cupboards at Mum and Dad’s house one day clearing out old things, and I got the magnifying glas

'No one is invincible' - ERI Covid-19 patient, 25, tells people to stay inside after 'worst week of his life' Calum Wishart is in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Calum Wishart is currently in the ERI. Copyright: User (UGC) He has issued a plea to young people in particular to take the threat seriously and not believe the virus will only affect the elderly or vulnerable, or that it will be similar to a cold or vomiting bug. “Everyone needs to do their part and start taking this seriously. I do

Book review: The Only Gaijin in the Village, by Iain Maloney In 2016, Iain Maloney moved from urban to rural Japan in search of space, greenery and solitude to echo his memories of growing up in rural Aberdeenshire. This memoir of his first year after the move is a classic tale of city mouse turned country bumpkin, kept fresh by Maloney’s skill for characterisation, his appealing sense of humour and his reflections on the state of the world. Maloney had lived in Japan for more than a decade be

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Book review: A House In The Mountains, by Catherine Moorehead In 1943, with two more years of the Second World War still to run, Italy changed sides, shortly after Benito Mussolini was ousted from power. Germany, the country’s former ally, soon became its occupier as it invaded what was now enemy territory. Throughout Italy ordinary people rose up to rebel against the German invaders, their Fascist Italian collaborators, and – in the case of the women documented in Caroline Moorehead’s A House

Book review: Hostile Environment: How Immigrants Become Scapegoats, by Maya Goodfellow Maya Goodfellow’s study appears as the recent deaths of 39 immigrants in a refrigerated lorry continue to stir horror and outrage. But, as evidenced by the countless examples of atrocity that Goodfellow cites which have been overlooked or forgotten, it is only a matter of time before the public outcry dissipates. Her thorough and even-handed book will leave readers both unsurprised at the suffering of yet mor

A documentary following the rags-to-riches story of Donald Trump’s Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, airs on BBC Alba tonight (Tuesday 17 September). It documents how Mary, born into a poverty-stricken family on the Isle of Lewis, emigrated to New York City and married into one of the wealthiest property development families in the state. But who was Mary Anne MacLeod Trump and what influence did she have on her son, Donald? Here’s everything you need to know about the woman behind the most powerful man in the world.

A new five-part drama is coming to BBC One starring Line of Duty’s Martin Compston and written by BAFTA award-winning Nicole Taylor. Exploring the consequences of a pact between a wealthy couple and a teenage girl, which changes all of their lives forever, it looks set to be the next Scottish hit drama for the BBC.

It may be hard to imagine now but there was a time, not so long ago, when the whole of Glasgow would virtually shut down for the last two weeks of July. It was known as the Glasgow Fair Fortnight, and in times gone by, factories, shipyards and businesses would close down completely, heralding a mass exodus of the city as workers and their families headed to the seaside to enjoy some well-earned time off.

Deep in the heart of Scandinavia lies a classic British country house, as Laura Millar discovers

One of Malaysia’s most beautiful islands brings nature into focus; and more wildlife can be found in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, finds Laura Millar

Budget hotel chain Travelodge has launched a campaign to recruit unemployed parents to hundreds of new roles after Brexit. The firm hopes to attract parents to 400 new Scottish jobs, in a bid to counter a decline in applications from EU nationals since the vote to leave the European Union. Under the new initiative jobs will come with working conditions tailored to parents, including flexible hours to fit around the school run, a work buddy to mentor new employees, and access to management trai

Japan’s compelling capital has always seemed like a blend of futuristic and ancient, as Laura Millar discovers on a visit to Tokyo

Ski novice Laura Millar finds guaranteed snow and Michelin-starred meals at a stylish Swiss resort in the heart of Graubunden...

One’s hip and artsy, the other’s steeped in history; here’s why Montreal and Quebec City make the perfect break, writes Laura Millar