News
Scotland’s chip shops targeted in surge of used cooking oil thefts
In Scotland, a total of 178 incidents involving the theft of cooking oil were recorded by law enforcement authorities over a six-month period, from April to October of the previous year.
According to Police Scotland, organised crime groups have been targeting establishments that serve food, including chip shops, takeaways, and restaurants, to steal their used cooking oil.
The oil, which is often stored in containers outside these premises, is recycled into biodiesel, a renewable fuel used to power vehicles such as buses and tractors.
Between April and October of last year, a total of 178 incidents of cooking oil theft were reported to the authorities in Scotland.
Grant Cranston, owner of an Inverness chip shop, expressed surprise at the brazen nature of the thieves who targeted his business, noting that the theft occurred during the day when people were present.
UK government statistics indicate that approximately 70% of the country's biodiesel production is derived from used cooking oil.
The price paid to catering establishments for their used oil varies depending on the quantity and quality of the oil, but restaurants can typically expect to receive around 30p per litre.
The theft of used cooking oil results in an estimated annual loss of £25m in duty revenue for the UK Treasury.
Similar incidents of cooking oil theft have been reported in other parts of the UK, including Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.
Police Scotland reported that the total value of the stolen oil in the incidents recorded last year was approximately £20,000, resulting in lost revenue for catering businesses.
Ch Insp Craig Still, area commander for Inverness, where around 20 thefts were reported between April and October, noted that these incidents can cause multiple problems for catering establishments.
Still explained that the thefts can lead to inconvenience, potential damage to premises, and financial losses for the affected businesses.
Police believe that organised crime groups are involved in the theft of used cooking oil, which is often sold to legitimate recyclers.
The stolen oil is then used to produce biodiesel, a fuel that has become more prevalent with advancements in technology.
A container of used cooking oil was stolen from outside the Hilton Chip Shop in Inverness.

Co-owner Grant Cranston stated that the thefts are an additional challenge for his industry, which is already struggling with rising costs.
Cranston noted that the fish and chip industry is facing difficulties due to increasing costs, including VAT, making it harder for businesses to operate.
He added that the industry is attempting to responsibly dispose of used oil, which is collected for recycling.
Cranston expressed his intention to contribute to environmental efforts by ensuring the proper disposal of used oil.
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, stated that some UK chip shops have been repeatedly targeted by thieves.
Crook estimated that the theft of a single drum of oil can result in a loss of £30-40, which can be a significant income for those involved in the thefts.
He noted that if multiple shops are targeted regularly, the thieves can generate a substantial income.
Crook cited an example of a shop that lost thousands of pounds due to the repeated theft of oil, which was collected by distributors for recycling.
The shop's credits for the recycled oil were lost as a result of the thefts, which occurred over a period of nine months.
This had a significant impact on the business, highlighting the need for establishments to take measures to secure their used oil.
Police Scotland advised businesses to store their used oil in a secure, well-lit location and to consider installing CCTV cameras to monitor the area.
Ch Insp Craig Still offered the assistance of the police prevention and interventions team to provide guidance on enhancing the safety and security of premises.
News
Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches
A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.
A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.
The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.
The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.
Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.
A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.
With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.
As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.
Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.
During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.
Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.
Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.
Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.
Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.
Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.
The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.
Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.
Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.
Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.
With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.
Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.
Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.
This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.
Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.
Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.
Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.
Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.
Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.
Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.
Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.
Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.
Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.
McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.
Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.
Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.
Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.
News
GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.
Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.
A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.
Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.
However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.
Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.
"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.
With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.
The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.
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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.
With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.
However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.
The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.
Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.
Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.
The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.
"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.
News
Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.
The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.
Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.
In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.
Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.
He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.
A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.
The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.
The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.
Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.
The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.
The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.
The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.
Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.
The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.
The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.
The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.
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