18 h. ago Ayrshire apprentices to compete in national competition next week

Chantelle Muir and Frankie O'Dea will compete for top titles.

Politics

8 d. ago Model encourages others to 'empower in every step' as she aims for Miss Great Britain Edinburgh crown

Pageant hopeful Jennifer Winter is encouraging others to take a step out of their comfort zone and try something new, as she prepares to compete for a major national beauty pageant title.

Politics

8 d. ago National Spelling Bee finals: nine finalists compete for orthographic glory – live updates

Nine finalists compete for $50,000 top prize at 8pm ETHow ‘womyn’ dragged the Bee into the US culture warsSpelling Bee quiz: can you beat the past years’ winners?Reach Bryan on Bluesky at @BryanAGraham or emailIt’s time! The nine finalists have taken the stage. Esha Marupudi is first and she nails isopag, an equiglacial line on a map or chart that connects the points where ice is present for approximately the same number of days in winter. Next up is Oliver Halkett and he confidently spells corbicula. Sarvadnya Kadam has no problems with dolabrate. Now it’s Sarv Dharavane, the 11-year-old who is the youngest of the nine finalists. His word is ethology, defined as the scientific and objective study of animal behavior especially under natural conditions. After a few questions for head pronouncer Dr Jacques Bailly, he coolly drills it. Four up, four down: a roaring start heading into the first commercial break.The majority of entrants in the National Spelling Bee are from the US, haili...

Politics

9 d. ago Revealed: The breathtaking winners of the 2025 National Geographic Traveller Photography Competition

From a 'chance encounter' between an eagle and a fox to a spellbinding glacial lake, these incredible images showcase the best of global travel in 2025.

Culture

1 week ago Anger as National Spelling Bee introduces new words to mix up competition

For those who might find the new words unfair, Scripps has a message: Study harder

Politics

1 week ago The Spin | The summer of 2005 without Pietersen? Imagining World Test finals of the past

Ahead of next month’s match at Lord’s, we work out who would have reached previous finals and how history may have been alteredThis, dear reader, is the 1,126th edition of The Spin. For the past 23 years it has been a weekly source of news, views and automated data about the unread message count in the deleted items folder. As such it is hard to find new journalistic frontiers. But, in the face of some molten competition, this week’s Spin stands alone as the nerdiest, the most anal, the one grounded furthest from reality.We say this not to boast, only to flag that it may not be for everyone, and that we feel for those unfortunates whose neurological disposition means they have precisely no interest in imagining what a World Test Championship final might have looked like in May 1989. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago AP PHOTOS: Top young spellers compete in 100th Scripps National Spelling Bee

The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Culture

1 week ago Scripps National Spelling Bee guide: How to watch, who the notable spellers are, rules and prizes

The best young spellers in the English language are set to compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year

Politics

1 week ago Brits stripping for naked for tournament in UK beauty spot playing wild street game

The British Naturism national Petanque competition is on, where competitors can strip off for a battle of boules, and then party at a casino night where they are invited to BYO body paint

Politics

2 w. ago Ruben Amorim says Europa League glory "not a big thing" for Man Utd before Spurs final

Ruben Amorim has poured water on potential Europa League success this week and maintains winning such competitions should not be a big deal for Manchester United

Sport

2 w. ago Was Eurovision FIXED? Major TV networks demand probe after Israel came second

The national broadcasters for Spain and Belgium have complained to the competition's organisers after Israel came second and won the public vote by a landslide.

Politics

2 w. ago Scotland's 2026 Six Nations fixtures revealed as huge Valentine's Day clash lined up amid competition changes

Scotland discover their Six Nations campaign and tournament starts on Thursday

Politics

2 w. ago Eurovision 2025: Why do Australia compete in the European song contest?

Eurovision 2025 is taking place in Basel and will see 26 nations from across Europe compete to win the song contest - but why can Australia also compete when the country is not in Europe?

Culture

2 w. ago Eurovision 2025 live updates as excitement builds ahead of grand final

Twenty-six acts will compete in this evening's live Eurovision final before the national juries and public decide this year's winner

Politics

3 w. ago Tommy Fury told he has gone 'wrong way' after boxing comeback

After nearly two years away from the boxing ring, Fury returned to competitive action last week, but many were left unconvinced by his performance

Politics

3 w. ago Young Stirling joker secures ticket to Holyrood after quip earns spot in final

His top gag earned him a spot in the national competition where a pupil from each of the 32 council areas will compete for the crown.

Sport

4 w. ago Henry Pollock vows to be himself as Lions pick sparks comparison to Luke Littler

Pollock has been selected just three months after competing in the Under-20 Six Nations for England.

Politics

4 w. ago Young athlete, 24, dies in middle of a CrossFit competition as horrified spectators watch

Nayeli Clemente, 24, tragically died after she collapsed at a CrossFit competition in Mexico last week but some spectators questioned the competition and the number of medics on-site

Events

4 w. ago Manx Liberty’s wildcards deliver in style to regain British team chess crown

The Isle of Man team enlisted two young English stars to help regain the 4NCL title that they won in 2022 and 2023The Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) is a bedrock of British chess. Staged over 11 rounds and five weekends from October to May at ­Midlands hotels, with teams of eight in the top division and six in divisions two to four, it attracts players from club level to grandmaster, many of whom do not compete in any other national event. Its organisation, by the ­English Chess Federation chief executive, Mike Truran, and a ­hardworking team of arbiters, is consistently excellent.As expected, the 2024-25 season ended last Monday with a close 11th round match between the favourites and defending champions, Wood Green, and the winners for the two previous years, Manx Liberty. The outcome was a ­rarity. All eight games were drawn for a 4-4 scoreline, although most were hard fought and Manx missed a winning endgame chance. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Ayrshire pupils making laughs on way to national joke telling competition final

Ayrshire pupils have been named among the finalists by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Sport