The Herald

Benefits of Fish Oils Still Lost On Public

IT is an easy way of protecting against heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and some forms of cancer yet the public is generally unaware of it. Scottish Food and Drink carried out research into the health giving properties of Omega-3 oils. The results were encouraging, but the lack of awareness was not.

Anthrax Plot Warning Grounds Scottish Flight to Los Angeles; Six Planes Are Stopped Over Fears of New Al Qaeda Attack

A US intelligence warning of a fresh al Qaeda plot, perhaps involving anthrax or smallpox, yesterday forced the cancellation of Scotland's only year-round direct transatlantic service from Glasgow to America. Continental called off flight 17, due to leave for Los Angeles at 12.15pm, after intelligence officials said they believed that possible threats could include releasing a biological or chemical agent on a plane so those aboard would spread the infection without knowing it.

Safety Is the Top Priority, but Pilots Are Suspicious of American Motives

OBLIQUE and understated, the weekend warnings of an imminent al Qaeda attack have arguably raised more questions than they did answers. Few passengers dared to dispute suggestions of a "specific and credible threat" to their disrupted flights.

Terrorism and Health Fears Hurt Tourism Worldwide

Terrorism and health fears resulted in world tourism suffering its biggest annual fall in visitor numbers last year. International tourism arrivals fell 1.2% to 694 million in 2003, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) said.

Mother, 22, Dies After House Fire

A YOUNG mother has died after a tea towel caught fire in the kitchen of her Midlothian home. Andrina Watson was found slumped in the house in Gorebridge after being overcome by smoke soon after 3am on Saturday.

Fishing Leaders Hint at Softer Line As Curbs Come Into Force

SCOTTISH fishing skippers who threatened to defy new European regulations and break the law signalled a softer stance yesterday. An industry leader said they would "probably" be able to fish within the new rules for the next few months in the hope of using that time to convince Brussels of the merit of their case.

The Science and the Ethical Debate

A LIVER transplant is a major operation, but usually successful, with around 90% of patients surviving a year after the procedure. Surgery generally takes between five and 10 hours, although it can last longer.

Patient Who Waits for the Call of Hope; Liver Damage Takes Its Toll As Woman Worries About Her Family's Future

JILL Christian has lived with a damaged liver for nearly 30 years, but only now is her condition taking its toll. Mrs Christian, 43, and David, her husband, have had to change their lives completely to cope with the disease: Mr Christian cut short a high- flying career in the navy when his wife became unwell and the pair have now taken over a newsagent's in Crail.

Web Makes Toffeethehighland Cow Top of the Class in Japan

THE Scottish diaspora has seen millions of ex-pats make their mark all over the world. But by far the strangest is about to stamp an imprint on Japan. Toffee, the Highland cow, a children's character created by Marghanita Hughes, from Perthshire, is about to shine in the land of the rising sun after having his website pages translated into Japanese. Toffee has also been invited to star in the Kobe highland games.

Blunkett Plans Secret Trials to Fight Terror; Civil Liberties Groups Outraged Over Move

David Blunkett, the home secretary, aims to bring in anti- terrorism laws introducing pre-emptive trials for Britons suspected of international terrorism. The threat from suicide bombers was now so great that the burden of proof in British courts may have to be lowered in terrorism cases so extremists can be tried before they succeed in mounting an attack, he said.

Dyke Reveals the Bbc Board Considered Resigning En Masse

THE entire BBC board of governors considered resigning in the wake of the Hutton report, Greg Dyke revealed yesterday. The former director general, who was one of three people to leave as a result of the law lord's devastating criticisms of the corporation's editorial standards, said: "(The governors) discussed whether they should all go. I urged them not to all go. You can't have a BBC with nobody there."

Forget Tv and Talk to Your Children, Parents Told

PARENTS yesterday were urged to spend more time talking with their children after a poll revealed that nine out of 10 nursery workers believe youngsters' verbal skills are becoming worse. The survey, conducted by speech therapy charity I CAN, showed 96% of nursery staff questioned had at least one child with "communication difficulties" in their class, and 92% blamed lack of conversation between adults and children.

Melton Piemakers Take Name Battle to Europe

Stilton cheese has it, champagne producers fiercely protect theirs, and now the humble Melton Mowbray pork pie is one step closer to getting one too. Campaigners claim the only true Melton Mowbray pies are made in and around the Leicestershire town using the correct ingredients and by the traditional method, and want the name protected by law.

Uk Officers in Immigration Checks at French Terminals

BRITISH immigration officers were stationed at ferry terminals in France yesterday to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the UK. They began checking all British-bound passengers travelling from Calais and Dunkirk before travel. Passengers without the right papers will be refused permission to set off for Dover.

Bush 'On Brink of Agreeing Wmd Inquiry'; Us Reports Pile the Pressure On Blair

TONY Blair last night was under intense pressure to order an independent inquiry into the intelligence on WMD after US reports claimed George W Bush had privately agreed to one in America. The dramatic move by the president came as the prime minister prepared to appear before MPs tomorrow when he will be asked bluntly: "Are you the last person to believe the intelligence on WMD?"

Twin Suicide Bomb Attacks Leave 56 Dead; Explosions at Start of Muslim Holiday

Two suicide bombers struck the offices of two US-backed Kurdish parties in Arbil in near-simultaneous attacks yesterday as hundreds of Iraqis gathered to celebrate a Muslim holiday. At least 56 people were killed and more than 235 were wounded. One Kurdish minister said the death toll could exceed 100.

Pilgrims' Panic Creates Deadly Stampede; Victims Include Unauthorised Worshippers at Annual Haj

NEARLY 250 Muslims were trampled to death and almost as many were injured in a stampede yesterday at the annual Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. An estimated two million white-robed pilgrims, chanting "God is greatest", were crossing the Jamarat bridge in Mena to throw stones at pillars representing the devil when several people in the crowd collapsed, causing panic.

Satanic Trial of Prophet Enacted

THE stone-throwing rituals are an integral part of the Haj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. The journey follows that taken by the prophet Ibrahim, according to the Koran, and the stone-throwing is in memory of one of the most testing trials God set for the prophet.

Opera the Marriage of Figaro, Rsamd, Glasgow 4/5 Stars; Dressed to Impress

There are basically two ways into The Marriage of Figaro, one of them sexual, the other political. Reconciling these is harder than it seems but the RSAMD has done it in a captivating new production which, launched in Glasgow last week, moves to Edinburgh Festival Theatre on Thursday. While Mozart's music speaks for itself, this is a staging brave enough to let Beaumarchais, in Da Ponte's adaptation, deliver his message in original period style. It gets to the truth of the piece, through havi...

Celtic Connections Afro Celts, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow 3/5 Stars

Two groups sharing a common central component, rhythm, featured on Celtic Connections' final Friday. Although yet to forge a sound marking them out as major league contenders, Danny award-winning quartet Beneche play mainly Scottish and Irish tunes with a certain brio and togetherness, guitarist Sean O'Donnell and bodhran player Martin O'Neill's uncanny understanding punctuating and driving the melodies along good-o. No longer a Sound System, with the ascendance of real drums over percussion ...