A gunman who was filmed firing live rounds into a home in Edinburgh in the midst of a gangland war has been jailed for nine years.

Wed 14 Jan, 6.00 pm

Organisers of one of Aberdeen's most popular festivals say they've turned a challenge into an opportunity to showcase music in a more diverse mix of city spaces after losing its main venue.



For over 20 years, The Blue Lamp was the hub for the local Jazz Festival.



But the event was dealt a major blow when the venue closed in December.

Anne Smith

For over 20 years The Blue Lamp was the hub for the local Jazz Festival.

Jazz festival turns challenge into opportunity after venue loss

A non-profit company is raising miniature ponies for therapeutic sessions, offering special programmes for people of all ages and abilities.



Lunar Eclipse Therapy Horses was founded by 53-year-old Cherene Robertson, after one horse helped her recover from life-changing injuries following an assault at work.



It is now helping mum Linda Fish, who says the therapy helped her non-verbal autistic son speak for the first time.

Rahim Cham

Miniature ponies are helping people in Stirling from all backgrounds and abilities. 

Lunar Eclipse charity offers therapeutic pony sessions

There's a warning that higher costs in the North of Scotland are preventing more offshore wind projects being built.



Two Scottish developments, including the largest planned offshore wind farm in the world, were awarded contracts by the UK Government which guarantees a minimum price for electricity.



But according to one industry body, higher transmission costs in the North meant other developments missed out.

Steven Brown

The wind farm will be capable of generating clean energy to the equivalent of all of Scotland's households twice over.

Major offshore wind farm planned off Scottish coast

The First Minister says he's "deeply concerned" he learned about a seized oil tanker arriving in the Moray Firth from the media. 



The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel, was spotted on Tuesday alongside a US Coastguard boat.



It was captured by special forces in the North Atlantic a week ago.

Nicola McAlley

The vessel was spotted on Tuesday with a US Coastguard boat

First Minister ‘deeply concerned’ over seized tanker arrival in Moray Firth

A gunman who was filmed firing live rounds into a home in Edinburgh in the midst of a gangland war has been jailed for nine years. 



Nicky Robertson, 39, admitted firing three shots from a Glock handgun into the window of a property in Niddrie Marischal Crescent in March last year.



The incident was linked to an outbreak of gang related violence across the central belt.

Reporter

Vanessa Kennedy

Nicky Robertson admitted firing three rounds through a ground floor window in Edinburgh on March 20 last year.

Gunman jailed after firing live rounds into flat window

It was developed in Dundee 15 years ago and is now helping tens of thousands of people with diabetes across the country better manage the condition.



The "My Diabetes, My Way" technology allows people to directly access their health records.



With more people being diagnosed with the condition and the cost of treatment growing, the tech is helping to save the NHS money.

Lynne Rankin

My Diabetes, My Way is helping tens of thousands of people across the country to manage the condition.


Dundee-developed tech helps thousands manage diabetes

A convicted rapist has been recaptured by police, after escaping from custody at the High Court in Edinburgh. 



Aaron Strachan, 21, had been due to be sentenced on Tuesday for the attack on a teenage girl in the capital last year.

Senior Reporter

Gordon Chree

Aaron Strachan tried to escape from the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday. 

Rapist caught after escaping custody at Edinburgh court

A tax cut for lower earners, and an increase in financial help for some, with babies under the age of one. 



Those were some of the measures announced by the finance secretary as she set out the Scottish Government's tax and spending plans for the coming year - and the final one before May's election.



Shona Robison also said those living in houses worth more than £1m will pay more council tax. But opposition parties claim the proposals are cynical and fail to provide enough support for those who need it most.

Political Correspondent

Ewan Petrie

STV News looks at the winners and losers in the Scottish Government's latest tax and spending plans.

Low earners to get tax cut and extra help for new parents

It played a pivotal part in the survival of Ernest Shackleton and efforts first floated in Dundee to save a building on a South Atlantic Island are taking shape.



Shackleton used the now dilapidated Manager's Villa on South Georgia as a base to orchestrate the rescue of his men during the doomed Endurance Expedition in 1916.



Work will start within weeks to create a digital "twin" of the site so people can follow Shackleton's footsteps.

Work will start within weeks to create a digital 'twin' of the site so people can follow Shackleton's footsteps.

Plans emerge to save Shackleton’s South Georgia rescue base

There's an urgent plea for people to come forward to donate blood - after last week's snow caused many people to cancel appointments.



The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service says it badly needs supplies for six of the eight blood groups.



And they're encouraging people who've never donated to register and help save lives.

Oliver Wright

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service says it badly needs supplies for six of the eight blood groups. 

Urgent call for blood donors after snow disrupts appointments

A West Lothian mum whose daughter was born with cerebral palsy - and then suffered a stroke aged just four - is launching a charity to help support families like hers. 



Rebecca Elliott says Olivia, who is now five, inspired her to try to help others who have children with physical disabilities.

Lewis Michie

Rebecca Elliott says daughter Olivia inspired her to try to help others who have children with physical disabilities.

Mum launches charity to support families of children with cerebral palsy

Glasgow's famous Tall Ship is set to undergo restoration works.



For the first time in 30 years, the floating museum’s famous masts are being removed for essential conservation work.



The refurbishment marks the second phase of restoration. Internal works were completed last year.

The ship's famous masts are being removed from the floating museum for first time in 30 years.

Glasgow’s iconic Tall Ship to undergo restoration

By 2030 the Scottish Government wants to more than double the amount of meat produced by deer farms, to match global demand and reduce imports into the UK.



It published a plan in 2018 to help support the sector and grow the multi-million pound industry.



But seven years on, local producers say there are still challenges which need to be addressed.

Haley Bouma

Seven years on, deer farming faces hurdles despite growth plan.

Scottish deer farming aims to double meat output by 2030

Pregnant women going for private ultrasound scans are being urged to check their sonographer's qualifications, as experts say women and unborn babies are being put at risk by untrained practitioners in high street clinics.



The Society of Radiographers told STV News fetal abnormalities, complications and ectopic pregnancies are being missed and is calling for sonographer to be a protected title.

Political Reporter

Laura Alderman

Experts warn untrained practitioners in high street baby-scan clinics put mothers and babies at risk.

Experts urge caution over untrained sonographers in baby-scan clinics

The NHS has spent more than £20m on taxis taking patients to and from health appointments, as it failed to use community transport properly.



The Community Transport Association says health boards could have saved money by using the charity's free transport for vulnerable patients.

The Community Transport Association says health boards could have saved money by using the charity's free transport for vulnerable patients.

NHS spent £20m on taxis amid community transport failures

After more than week of snow and ice, a thaw means many parts of the North are now facing rising flood waters.



Residents living in parts of Aberdeenshire battled through the night to keep their homes and cars dry.



Drivers faced a difficult journey to work with two major routes blocked for a time, while 15 flood warnings and 12 alerts remain in place.



There's also a new yellow warning for ice.

Grainne NiGhreachain

SEPA warns heavy rain combined with melting snow could see flooding impact road and rail networks.

Landslides and flooding spark traffic chaos as heavy rain warning issued

A judge will consider if a judicial review of the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation can be considered under Scots Law. 



The UK Government argue the case shouldn't proceed, because it mirrors one already in process in the English court system.

Advocate Joanna Cherry KC told the Court of Session that a policy which led to the campaign group being proscribed was 'appalling'.

Court told ‘good people’ arrested on terror charges after Palestine Action ban

An Aberdeen football fan who left his own team's player with a "severe injury" after throwing part of a seat during a match, has been jailed for 18 months.



David Gowans struck Jack MacKenzie during a league match between Aberdeen and Dundee United at Tannadice in May.

David Gowans, 32, has also been banned from football matches for ten years after admitting culpable and reckless conduct.

Aberdeen fan who injured own player after throwing seat from stand jailed

A man who used a smashed bottle to try to kill a stranger on a train has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars. 



Thomas Craig had been drinking and taking drugs for hours when he carried out the attack, just ten minutes after he boarded the train to Perth at Glasgow Queen Street station.



Shocking CCTV footage showed him leaping from his seat armed with a glass bottle.

Vidushi Tiwari

Thomas Craig, who had been drinking and taking cocaine for six hours, described himself as a 'monster'.

Man who tried to murder stranger on train with glass bottle jailed

Charities are urging the Scottish Government to take bold action to tackle child poverty ahead of its budget. 



The finance secretary will set out her tax and spending plans for the next year at Holyrood.



Campaigners want to see the Scottish Child Payment increased to £40 per week to help those most in need.

The First Minister promised that the Budget will be focused on helping families with the cost of living crisis and providing 'strong investment' for the NHS.

Charities urge Scottish Government to act on child poverty

An invasive plant which is spreading across Scotland is increasing the risk of riverbank erosion, according to a new study.



In areas covered by dense growth of Himalayan Balsam, riverbank strength was found to have reduced by almost a third.

Susan Nicholson

Riverbank strength drops by nearly a third in areas overrun by dense Himalayan Balsam growth.

Study warns invasive species increases riverbank erosion risk

Scottish fish processors are raising concerns over new paperwork required to export their products to the EU.



The so-called "catch passport" is now in force, but the industry body claims some of its requirements are unworkable.



The UK Government says there's some flexibility with the information required, but processors say they're already seeing problems with the system.

The UK Government says there's some flexibility with the information required, but processors say they're already seeing problems. 

Scottish fish processors issue warning over new EU export paperwork

The "absolute heart of our family and our community, we miss her every day".



That's how the family of Margaret Allan described her, as the man who killed her in a car crash was jailed for nine years.



The 77-year-old was driving in Cumbernauld when Leigh Sutherland, a fantasist who posed online as a lawyer and police officer, hit her in a car with damaged brakes, before fleeing and denying he was involved.



He'd been banned from driving just a week before

Olly Dickinson

Leigh Sutherland, posed online as a lawyer and police officer, fled the scene and denied he was involved.

TikTok fantasist jailed after killing pensioner in car crash

This report contains details some people may find distressing.



Restricting someone's breathing is a chilling form of abuse that often signals escalating violence.



It is one year since calls were first made for non-fatal strangulation to be made a standalone offence in Scotland.



Campaigners believe the pace of progress is too slow and say urgent action is needed to reflect the gravity of the crime.



Prosecutors argue the change is not necessary.



MSPs have been told a public consultation is to look at whether existing laws go far enough.

Sharon Frew

They say urgent action is needed to reflect the gravity of the crime.

Campaigners call for non-fatal strangulation to be made specific offence

STV News at Six

News

Current Affairs

STV News at Six from Edinburgh and the East.

STV News - Edinburgh

Inside Marks and Spencer at New Year

A look behind the curtain at Marks and Spencer Food as the team develop health products.

A look behind the curtain at M&S Food as the team develop health products like brain-supporting snacks, high-protein meals and their new mushroom range.