In first, China buys salmon from Scotland

Scottish salmon leaps into China
Is GM salmon swimming against the tide? China is to open its kitchens to Scottish salmon it has emerged. In agreement between the Scottish and Chinese governments, exports are to be allowed into the Asian giant's market for the first time. The move, for AQSIQ, a Chinese Food safety agency to approve a range of products, is being seen as a big boost to Scotland's fish farming industry. It already supports 6,000 jobs in Scotland, worth £500m to The Economy, with exports worth nearly...

Giant pandas from China help seal new business deals with UK
Scotland's cultural and external affairs minister Fiona Hyslop stands next to a picture of Tian Tian, one of a breeding pair of Giant Pandas who will be coming to Edinburgh Zoo. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA A total of £2.6bn worth of business deals were struck between the UK and China today with agreements of Chinese funding to secure the future of Scotland's biggest mainland Oil Refinery. It was also announced that China will send the first Giant Pandas to the UK for 17 years, to Edi...

Shops call for cuts in red tape
A body which represents Retailers has called for the Scottish Government to support shopkeepers. In its manifesto ahead of the Holyrood election, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) urged politicians to limit Regulation. It said nearly 250,000 people were employed in retail in Scotland and sales amounted to £25bn. Ministers hoped to raise £30m from the biggest shops. However opposition parties have said the levy would hit big names in Scotland's high streets - and they look set ...

EU students 'cost Scotland 75m'
The cost of European Students studying in Scotland has quadrupled in nearly a decade, with the Holyrood government having to pick up the bill. A record number of EU students, 15,930, are now attending Scots institutions, costing the Taxpayer £75m a year. Education Secretary Mike Russell is seeking an end to what is seen as a cheap option for Europeans who would have to pay for education at home. European law means the Scottish Government is obliged to pay the fees of Students living in non...

Schools minister rejects 'smear'
Education secretary Mike Russell has rejected claims he interfered in a school closures programme in Argyll. The South of Scotland MSP, who hopes to win the Argyll and Bute seat in May's election, accused political opponents of "attempting to smear" him. He said he was right to meet parents and councillors and acted only in his capacity as an election Candidate. The local council has shelved consultation on the possible closure of up to 25 Primary Schools in the area. Labour, the ...

Teacher literacy tests called for
A government commissioned report into teaching standards in Scotland has recommended trainees undergo basic literacy and numeracy tests. The report, by former chief inspector of education Graham Donaldson, is due to be published on Thursday. However, the BBC understands it suggests prospective teachers should face reading and writing tests as part of their training. It comes amid concern that incompetent staff are entering the profession. In February last year the Scottish Government asked Mr Do...

Scottish exports go into reverse
Between April and June, overseas sales had recorded a modest rise. The annual figure was a little more optimistic showing an increase of 0.7% over the year. The Scottish Government said the figures demonstrated the "fragility of the recovery" and highlighted the difficulties faced by Scottish firms. However, the Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather, pointed to a series of "top level deals" with China this week. He said: "It's been an exceptional week for Scotland on a gl...

Scots flu deaths increase by 17
Scotland has seen a large rise in the number of people dying from the flu virus, according to the Scottish Government's latest figures. A further 17 people have been reported to have died in the last week, bringing the total number of fatalities to 27. The number admitted to Hospitals in Scotland has increased by 55 - almost doubling the total to 116 people. However, the chief medical officer, Dr Harry Burns, said the figures were not out of line with expectations. Health officials have...

Pandas for Scotland? Is China having a laugh?
Apparently the gift of two pandas is a sign of China’s esteem for the British people. To receive such a potent symbol of Chinese identity should reassure us of the high regard with which the UK is held in Beijing. The gushing reaction to this signal honour suggests the British side is pleased as punch at the award of such munificence from the People’s Republic. It’s put the visit of Li Keqiang into the headlines. The vice premier is the coming man of the Politburo, and his vi...

China animal rights groups protest seal meat deal (AFP)
Beijing (AFP) – More than 40 Chinese Animal Rights groups on Thursday hit out at Canada for turning China into a "dumping ground" for its seal meat and oils, after the products were banned in the European Union. The agreement to allow the imports into China was reached during a visit to Beijing by Canadian Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, and follows a EU ban on seal product imports imposed after an Activist outcry over commercial seal hunting. "'Do not give to others wha...

US wants Japan to upgrade as China tests stealth fighter
TOKYO: Japan should buy a fleet of F-35 stealth jet fighters to boost its Air Force, the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, has said, a day after China unveiled its own version of the radar-dodging Aircraft. Mr Gates spoke after a three-day visit to Beijing, during which he was treated to the Maiden Flight of the Chinese J-20 and a view inside the country's nuclear missile command centre. Mr Gates queried the timing of the display, but the Chinese Government said it had not intended to stage a ...

Minister rejects school closures
Scottish ministers have stepped in over plans to close schools in Shetland and the Western Isles. Four closures in the Western Isles have been rejected, the first time powers under the new Schools Consultation Act have been used to prevent shutdowns. The proposed closure of the secondary department of Scalloway School in Shetland has also been called in for further ministerial consideration. But consent was given to Moray Council to close Cabrach Primary School. The Schools Consultation Act esta...

Atmel AT32UC3L Wins 2010 Top Products Award From China's AET Magazine
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel® Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML), a leader in microcontroller and touch solutions, today announced that the Atmel AT32UC3L 32-bit AVR® microcontroller has won the Application of Electronic Technique (AET) 2010 Top Product Awards in the Embedded / Microcontroller Systems category. The AET 2010 Top Product Awards are selected by readers of AET, a widely recognized electronics/IT magazine in China. "We are honored that AET and its readers ...

NIW 'looking into' embezzlement
Laurence MacKenzie resigned from his role as head of NI Water last week. NI Water is deciding what course of action to take following the revelation that its former chief executive was convicted of embezzling £2,000 pounds from a Church of Scotland in 1982. Laurence Mackenzie resigned following the recent water crisis. In a statement, Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said he had been advised that NI Water was looking into the issue. "He is advised by NI Water, as the emplo...

FA in Vauxhall sponsorship deal
Expensive bike = faster ride? The Football Association has unveiled a new three-and-a-half year sponsorship deal with carmaker Vauxhall. The multi-million pound deal comes six months after Nationwide building society ended its 11-year FA deal. The car firm is also set to complete further deals with the national associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the next week. And BBC Sport says Vauxhall is understood to be keen to revive the Home International championship. The contest...

Scots police merger plan expected
Justice Secretary Kenny Macaskill is announcing proposals for police reforms, amid growing political consensus for a single Scottish force. With the Scots Budget facing a £1bn cut, the SNP has already said it would back cuts to the eight forces, rather than Compromise frontline policing. Labour and the Conservatives both support a single police force, but the Liberal Democrats remain opposed. The Association of Chief Police Officers is split on the issue. Mr MacAskill will also outline plan...

'Queensland is going to need a lot of help later'
TO HELP put the scale of this disaster into perspective, Brisbane has a population of two million people and has an area that is 35 times the size of Glasgow. It is technically the world's biggest city, in terms of the massive area it covers. Queensland is going to need a lot of help when the flood levels drop so anything that can make others aware of the situation here is vital. I live in the Ferny Hills area, morth-west of Brisbane's central business district. I'm married with a 12- ADVERTIS...

Scotland shinty player in top 40 music bid
Scotland's shinty squad captain and his band are aiming to have the first Scottish Gaelic hit of the 21st Century in the UK top 40. Accordian-playing Gary Innes and his group, Manran, hope to repeat the chart success Runrig and Capercaillie had with Gaelic songs in the 1990s. Runrig song An Ubhal as Airde reached number 18 in the charts in 1995. Manran will launch their debut single Latha Math on 16 January during the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. Mr Innes said the band wanted to ...

Random YouTubery: Way Back Home
Danny MacAskill, Scottish bikerobat* genius. Video Description: A young white man on a bicycle performs all kinds of amazing stunts in front of various beautiful backdrops in Scotland. When I sent Liss the link last night, she described it as "like watching someone do free-running on a bicycle," which is a pretty good description for something I'm finding pretty indescribable. * Bike + Acrobat. Coined by Liss, of course. Danny MacAskill, Scottish bikerobat* genius. Video Description: A young wh...

Scotland's hills offer cash worries 'escape'
Access to Scotland's hills should be an election issue because they offer "an escape from financial concerns", a mountaineering body has said. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) has warned against any cuts to public funding that ensures responsible access to upland areas. It said the hills were even more relevant during times of Austerity. The MCofS has launched a manifesto in the run up to the Scottish Parliament's Elections in May. It calls for the newly-elected...

Motorists urged to plan journeys
Drivers have been urged to plan journeys and keep up to date with police advice as severe weather is forecast for parts of Scotland. The Met Office issued flash warnings of heavy snow in the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, and Stirling. Rain and snow is expected to spread across the county overnight making drivng conditions difficult. Up to 15cm (6in) of snow could fall in some areas over 300m (984ft). However, the Met Office advised that Snowfall wo...

Bioengineered Salmon: California State Bill Seeks Clear Label
© Rich Pedroncelli / AP Assemblyman Jared Huffman on his bill: "This is not a new issue." Assemblyman Jared Huffman isn't taking any chances. If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves a bid to allow the human consumption of genetically engineered Atlantic salmon, the San Rafael Democrat wants every Californian to know what he or she is getting at the checkout aisle. Consumers have the right to know if their food comes from the wild or was bioengineered , said Huffman, who introd...

Second time's the charm for The Green Onion II
The Green Onion II opened its doors in November 2009 in the refurbished Burger King in Virginia Beach's Great Neck Village Shopping Center. A recent Friday night visit shows the restaurant needs to work harder on its food and service. A second visit was better. On the first visit, I reserved a table for 8 p.m. to coincide with the live entertainment offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 8 to 11. We were seated in a stylish round booth and read menus for the 15 minutes it took ou...

How About A Nice Glass Of Snake Wine?
This is a very special wine.  Snake Wine. From zuzafun.com Snake wine is a Vietnamese alcoholic beverage that includes a whole venomous snake in the bottle. The snakes, preferably venomous ones, are not usually preserved for their meat but to have the snake poison dissolved in the liquor. However, the snake venom is denatured by the Ethanol and therefore inactivated. In many countries in the Far East, snakes are believed to possess medicinal qualities and the wine is often advertised to cure ...

Panel is unanimous: Don't tear down Waterside
NORFOLK Instead of tearing down Waterside, the city should refurbish the downtown landmark and hire a private developer to manage it, according to a five-person group tasked with studying the struggling marketplace. Three influential groups - the Downtown Norfolk Council, the Greater Norfolk Corp., and the visitors and convention bureau - urged Mayor Paul Fraim and the City Council in September to tear down the facility, saying it had outlived its usefulness. Since opening in 1983, Waterside has...