Wrestling demons: Bouncer converts to reverend

by Mark Ranken

An Aberdeen bouncer has taken changing career to a whole new level by becoming a reverend.

Reverend Candy, teaching at Sunday school. (Image courtesy of aberdeen.anglican.org)

Badminton teams battle it out

by Ben Philip

The Scottish University Badminton Tournament will be held this weekend.

The annual event is being hosted by holders Edinburgh University where 700 participants will battle it out. 

RGU's badminton team and hope of victory at the championships.

What Cosmo teaches woman

by Philippa Gerrard

The magazine aisle is a minefield.

Is it too much to ask for a publication which not only intelligently covers current affairs, but includes a few features, an interview – with someone who is not Katie Price – and maybe a technology, fashion or cookery section?

Cosmo, offering advice to ladies on everything from fashion to celebrities. (image courtesy of BP blog)

Unemployment falls in Scotland

by Jeni Fraser

Youth unemployment rates in Scotland have fallen to 17% compared with 20.6% for the whole of the UK, according to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics.

Labour councillors defend newspaper boycott

by Joe Sutherland

Furious Labour councillors have defended a move to boycott a city newspaper.

Aberdeen City Council's finance convener Willie Young says his party is outraged over a report claiming a convicted drug dealer was a Labour activist.

Willie Young has defended his party's decision to boycott the paper. (Image courtesy of ACC)

Macaron Day's north-east debut

by Mark Ranken and Liam Duncan

An Aberdeen family are bringing a little taste of Paris to the city today with their homemade macarons.

Susan, Suzanne, and Jenni Williamson of Almondine Homemade Macarons are celebrating National macaron day in style at the Academy Shopping centre.

Suzanne (left), Susan (center) and Jenni (right) with a table full of the sweet treats.

Parking permit cost hike abandoned

by Ben Philip and Philippa Gerrard

Councillors have voted to ditch proposals for a 25% increase in the cost of parking permits for residents across Aberdeen.

Members of the city council's emterprise, planning and infrastructure committee also agreed for officials to carry out a "complete re-appraisal" of all parking charges in the city and report back at a later date.

Parking is a big issue for both drivers and the council. (Image by Joe Sutherland)

Fresh faces flock to applicants' day

by Emily Smith

University. Thousands of teenagers leaving school are faced with the decision of where to study, what to study, where are friends going and more importantly, what is the approximate distance from the parents. An applicants' day provides the opportunity for some of these questions to be answered.

Today's applicants' day provides prospective students with an insight to life at RGU.

Bus-ted: First announce fare changes

by Emily Smith

First Bus will hike up the cost of bus travel for students next month.

The cost of a student day ticket is set to increase by 30 pence to £3.50.

The new charges will come into effect on Sunday, March 31.

Most fares have been frozen, but some have dramatically increased. (Image by Emily Smith)

Minimum price on alcohol still looms

by Jeni Fraser

An Aberdeen news trader today said Scotland’s minimum pricing on alcohol will have no effect on the city’s newsagents.

Scottish retailers may soon face a 50p minimum price per unit of alcohol.

Wilson's Newsagent on King Street

No day like a news day

by Emily Smith

Everyone has an opinion on journalists. Everyone has an opinion on students. Robert Gordon University certainly has an opinion. Journalism students are kept underground. In a room with no windows, questionable music and worst of all, the phones have broken.

One of many news sources exhausted by the end of the day. (Image by Andy McLaren)

Leisure jobs under threat

by Philippa Gerrard

Leisure staff today are facing the loss of their jobs amid a pay shake-up.

Employees of Sport Aberdeen have until next Friday to sign up to new terms and conditions.

Employees at Sport Aberdeen's Beach Leisure Centre have a week to agree teams. (Image by Hope Webb and Jeni Fraser)

Cold reality

by Emily Smith

In the middle of March, all across the UK, the day begins with the inevitable snow. Snow not only blankets the country but the newspaper headlines. Broadcasters send reporters out to the most remote locations and leave them there to inform the country that the white dots falling from the sky are in fact snow.

Snow brings with it decidedly mixed reception. (Image by Ben Philip)

Forres Can Can move ground

by Mark Ranken

A Moray councillor has urged Highland League football team Forres Mechanics to consider relocating to a new ground.

Ann Skene hopes a new stadium will benefit the champions. (Image courtesy of forres-gazette)

"Resurfacing" swallows majority of £4m roads budget

by Joe Sutherland

Aberdeen City Council will plough more than half of its £4m roads and infrastructure budget into resurfacing city roads and pavements.

The Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee were in no disagreement about where to allocate the funds, and will pour just over £2m into weather-ravaged carriageways.

Potholes are a major cause of gripe for Aberdeen drivers. (Image by Joe Sutherland)

Golf club dug out from sand trap

by Liam Duncan

An Aberdeenshire golfing resort has been saved from closure by a local family business.

Inchmarlo golf course was placed in provisional liquidation last month and an accountant firm was put in place to oversee the facility’s affairs.

Inchmarlo golf course has been saved from closure (image courtesy of pinnacleworldwide.com)

Man and wife, I pronounce you: Jedi "could soon perform marriages"

by Hope Webb

Suggested changes to marriage would allow Star Wars Jedi to perform ceremonies, a church has said.

The Free Church of Scotland has stated that the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill would allow groups to marry couples.

The church is concerned that this may be the new face of ministers. (Image courtesy of Monogappy) 

Snow change in north-east weather

by Philippa Gerrard

Winter is showing no signs of leaving the north-east, forecasters today revealed.

The cold bite is expected to last right through into next week, with snow showers and gale-force winds on the way.

Osborne the Reaper: Budget expected to feature heavy cuts

by Mark Ranken

Chancellor George Osborne is expected to announce wide cuts to Whitehall spending in his budget address to parliament this afternoon.

Osborne intends to cut department budgets by 2% to save £2.5 billion which will be invested in programs designed to boost growth.

Osbourne's budget will be unveiled after Prime Minister's questions at lunchtime. (Image courtesy of The Telegraph)

The empty lane on the left

by Emily Smith

Drivers all across the UK can agree that bus lanes are just too tempting. Let’s face it, we all have important things to do in life and we just don’t have time for traffic.

Bus lanes can prove too tempting for drivers looking to beat the morning rush. (Image by Emily Smith)

"Teenage" joyriders flip stolen car

by Ben Philip

Joyriders are being hunted by police after crashing a stolen car into a tree and flipping it on its side.

A young male crashed the black Toyota Prius on Cummings Park Circle in Northfield, yesterday afternoon.

The crash occurred at lunchtime yesterday.

Murder of passion: Accused were "having affair"

by Jeni Fraser

Two women accused of murdering a 38-year-old mother in Aberdeen were having a secret affair, it was revealed in court yesterday.

Catrina Robb, who saw Amanda Leiper shortly before she died on July 10 last year, gave evidence at a High Court Trial.

The trail continues at the Sheriff Court in Aberdeen. (Image courtesy of STV)

Council unveils option to replace two city schools

by Philippa Gerrard

The favoured site for a new school to replace two academies in Aberdeen has been revealed.

Calder Park in Cove has been recommended by city council officers as the "preferred" site for a new £30m secondary school.

The new school would "merge" Torry Academy, above, and Kincorth Academy. (Image courtesy Bill Harrison)

Former Buddy appointed to Dons role

by Liam Duncan

Aberdeen FC has today announced the appointment of a senior SFA community coach.

Steven Sweeney has been introduced into the role.

Landmarks to vanish this weekend

by Jeni Fraser

Landmarks in Aberdeen will be plunged into darkness this weekend to show support for this year's Earth Hour.

The Wallace monument near His Majesty's Theatre is one of the landmarks to have its lights turned off this weekend. (Image courtesy of Axis12002)

Stress, coffee and newspapers

by Philippa Gerrard

According to a report by CareerCast, journalism is ranked as the fifth worst job to have in this financial year. It ranks being a reporter for magazine, newspaper or television companies even lower than being a dishwasher, and only slightly higher than putting your life on the line every day in the armed forces. They are swift to blame the combination of high stress and scarce career opportunities.

Italian restaurant chain to take slice of shopping centre

by Mark Ranken

A celebrity chef's restaurant chain will create 35 city jobs when it opens in an Aberdeen shopping centre.

London-based Italian restaurant Antonio Carluccio’s is the latest company to claim a slot in Union Square on Guild Street.

The restaurant will be the twenty-fifth eatery in Union Square. (Image courtesy of Stephen McKay)

Culture secretary seeks clarification on Scots media regulation

by Hope Webb

Scotland's culture secretary has said the government will seek agreement over the regulation of press in the country.

Fiona Hyslop told MSPs that ministers favoured a self-regulatory approach.

Fiona Hyslop seeks clarification on what new regulation laws could mean for Scotland. (Image courtesy of The Guardian)

Trump thinks windfarm proposal will blow over

by Ben Philip

Trump International has claimed the Aberdeen Bay windfarm project will never be built.

It comes amid reports of financial problems affecting the scheme’s backers.

The golf development near Balmedie has proven controversial since its opening in July 2012.

Former Highland League 'stopper is safe pair of hands

by Andy McLaren

Former Elgin City goalkeeper John Calder has no regrets about leaving the Scottish Football League to play for amateur side RGU.

John, now the football president for Robert Gordon University, has also played for Inverness Caley Thistle, Nairn and Fraserburgh and admitted he turned down an offer to return to the Highland League in January.

From left: Richard Taylor, goalkeeper John Calder and player-manager Ian Campbell.