The Herald

Breast Cancer Lottery: The 9-Month Wait for Treatment Charities Protest at Hospital Delays

PATIENTS with breast cancer are having to wait for up to nine months for treatment in Scotland. Figures published today show the full true extent of the postcode lottery facing women with the disease.

Flights and Rights

Sharon to Stay in Hospital After Stroke

ARIEL Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, was taken to hospital in Jerusalem last night after suffering a mild stroke. The portly 77-year-old, who has been prime minister since 2001, had just finished a meeting with government officials when he felt weak. He was immediately taken to Hadassah University Hospital, where a security cordon was put into place.

Scots Soldiers for Iraq

THE Ministry of Defence last night confirmed that more than 500 Scottish soldiers are to be deployed to Iraq soon after the new year. The 530-strong 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots, based at Dreghorn Barracks, will replace the Royal Irish Regiment in a six- month deployment beginning early next month.

Magic Broom Brushes Up a Storm

Not since Harry Potter picked up his sturdy Nimbus 2000 to play Quidditch has a broom been so admired. But the latest technological innovation to hit curling has brought its own allegations of sorcery. The Sweep Ergometer has been hailed as a "secret weapon"which may give Scotland's gold-winning female curlers a crucial edge at next year's Winter Olympics.

Schools Row for Blair

John Prescott, the deputy prime minister, has sparked fresh concerns about Tony Blair's authority by challenging his flagship policy of creating independent state schools in England. In row that saw simmering internal political tensions burst into the public arena, Mr Prescott questioned whether the reforms, which the prime minister has backed in the teeth of stiff opposition from Labour backbenchers, were necessary.

Prescott Deals a Blow to Schools Reforms Deputy Undermines Blair

TONY Blair's authority was dealt a devastating blow last night when his deputy openly challenged his flagship policy to create more independent state schools in England. In an extraordinary move that made private concerns public, John Prescott said he feared poorer children would get left behind in a "first class/second class" schools system reminiscent of the old 11plus, and even doubted there was any need for serious reform.

Child's Despair Captured in Photo of the Year

HER name was Yana. She was 13, a street child in the Ukrainian city of Odessa. She died last Christmas, shortly after this photograph was taken. She was addicted to drugs and infected with the HIV virus. The haunting picture of despair, taken by David Gillanders as part of a series published in The Herald Magazine in January, puts a face to the childhood Aids catastrophe which is the shame of Eastern Europe.

Dismay As 530 Scots Soldiers Head for Iraq

A SHADOW has been cast over the Christmas celebrations of the families of more than 500 Scottish soldiers after they received unexpected news that they are to be sent to Iraq within the next few weeks. The 530-strong 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots, based at Dreghorn, near Edinburgh, have been told they might be flying to Iraq in the first few days of January.

Western Isles Votes to Ban Gay Wedding Ceremonies

THE Western Isles is to become the only region in Britain to ban gay wedding ceremonies, it emerged yesterday. Councillors in Stornoway have expressed support for the islands' registrars who are refusing to perform civil partnership ceremonies, which can be held across Scotland from tomorrow.

Huntsman Facing Second Charge

The Queue to Save Women's Lives Why Breast Cancer Patients Face Variations in Waiting Times Why Breast Cancer Patients Face Variations in Waiting Times Analysis

EVERY year 3500 women in Scotland are told they have breast cancer. For each one, the experience will be different, but Scottish Executive targets suggest that each should be able to expect a similar standard of care.

Protest at Scottish Airports Over Alleged Torture Flights

MORE than 150 human rights campaigners yesterday staged protests at three airports against alleged secret CIA "torture flights". MSPs joined groups such as Stop the War Coalition at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick to demonstrate over claims by Amnesty International that so-called extraordinary rendition flights have landed on Scottish soil.

Jackson Could Lose Neverland Over Gbp152m Debt Payment

MICHAEL Jackson could lose his Neverland Ranch and his share of the Beatles song catalogue this week unless he pays some of the money that he owes to a firm of "distressed debt" specialists. It has been reported that Fortress Investments, based in New York, will move against the singer's assets tomorrow unless he comes up with repayments to cover a loan worth GBP152m it acquired from Bank of America last May after he failed to make a dollars-350,000 repayment, the equivalent of nearly GBP200,...

Scots Curling Team Criticised for Wielding 'Magic' Broom Claims That Brush Is Against Spirit of Sport

SCOTLAND'S gold medalwinning female curlers have been accused of dirty tricks over a new "magic broom" which could give them a crucial edge at next year's Winter Olympics. The "sweep ergometer" is being hailed as Britain's secret weapon for the 2006 Games in Turin.

Fishing Crew Lifted to Safety

The crew of a fishing boat were rescued by an RAF helicopter after their vessel ran aground yesterday. The Sovereign hit rocks off north-east Scotland at about 1.20am, Aberdeen Coastguard reported. Lifeboats were unable to rescue the five men from Cairnbulg Point, a quarter of a mile offshore near Fraserburgh, because of a dangerous heavy swell. The steel hull of the 25-metre Banff- registered vessel was torn open by the impact of the grounding.

Two Arrested After Body Find

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found beside a busy road. The discovery was made by a local man walking home along Carlibar Road, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, at 2.30am on Saturday.

Mystery Over Double Deaths

Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out today on the bodies of a man and woman dragged from the River Clyde in Glasgow city centre after an apparent double suicide. Police were alerted just before 9am on Friday after clothing was found on the walkway at the suspension bridge in Clyde Street.

Sheepdog Win for Mcconnell

Jack McConnell's brother was part of a Scottish team crowned champions of the BBC2's One Man and His Dog national sheepdog trials at the weekend. Iain McConnell, taking time out from his job as the manager of a fish farm in Fort William, was part of a threeman team who beat Ireland in the final of the 30th series of the programme, which was aired on Saturday.

Crews Tackle Factory Blaze

Firefighters spent seven hours tackling a blaze that swept through a metal bearings factory. Officers used thermal imaging equipment and four hoses to tackle the blaze.