Fast food, Chariots Of Fire and sales of ivory

DRIVE-THRUS APPROVED

Burger King and Starbucks will open new drive-thru restaurants in Perth after plans were approved by councillors.

The chains will occupy two new units next to the Broxden roundabout.

Councillors also approved 14 business units, electric vehicle charging places and a three-storey office block.

It’s likely to become the new base for Perth construction company Algo.

The works are planned for scrubland next to the existing Broxden services area.

It already boasts a McDonalds, a Travelodge, a Harvester, a petrol station with a Subway restaurant inside and a busy park and ride site, with a Costa coffee outlet nearby.

This will be Perth’s first Burger King while an existing local Starbucks franchisee is said to be interested in the site.

ST ANDREWS SCHOOL PUPILS TO HONOUR ERIC LIDDELL’S OLYMPIC CENTENARY

It’s 100 years since Scots runner Eric Liddell set a world record at the Paris Olympics.

And the devout Christian, who refused to run on a Sunday, will forever be associated with St Andrews thanks to the iconic opening scene of Oscarwinning Chariots Of Fire, set on the West Sands.

Now a group of school pupils from the town are preparing to honour Liddell’s legacy by taking part in a gruelling challenge in his name.

Six youngsters from St Leonards School will run 680 miles from the French capital to St Andrews, culminating in a sprint along the beach used in the 1981 movie.

They will be joined by pupils from Liddell’s old school, Eltham College.

Organised to coincide with the return of the Olympics to Paris this summer, the aim is to raise as much cash as possible for local charities, all of which support young people.

More than £15,000 has been raised already.

DUNDEE WOMAN MADE THOUSANDS SELLING ILLEGAL IVORY JEWELLERY

A Dundee woman has admitted raking in thousands of pounds in the international sale of elephant ivory jewellery. Self-proclaimed collector Joyce Bell used eBay to sell necklaces from her home to customers from as far afield as China.

The 67-year-old claimed the items were “bovine bone”, but a specialist at the National Museum of Scotland confirmed they were made of ivory. Bell was snared after Border Force agents managed to intercept parcels sent from eBay, which bans the sale of ivory.

Reports have been ordered after Bell pled guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court to evading export duty costs and dealing in ivory between 2016 and 2022.

T h e conviction is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland.

SWINNEY BECOMES FIRST MINISTER

An emotional John Swinney praised the strength of his wife as she watched him become first minister of Scotland.

Elizabeth Quigley has multiple sclerosis and: “much to her frustration”, has to rely on her husband for support, he told parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

It was a personal moment of reflection in a speech otherwise focused on marking his new job as first minister, following a vote moments earlier which endorsed his position at Holyrood.

O n Wednesday, Kate Forbes became Scotland’s youngest deputy first minister as John Swinney announced a largely unchanged cabinet team.

Ms Forbes, 34, a former Holyrood finance secretary, was also given responsibility for the economy and Gaelic.

Neil Gray, who was appointed health secretary earlier this year, stays in the post, while Angus Robertson remains constitution, external affairs and culture secretary.

Shona Robison, who had been deputy first minister under Mr Yousaf, loses that position but remains in the cabinet – keeping her finance brief and also taking on responsibility for local government.

NOKIA 3210 RELAUNCHED TO MARK HANDSET’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

A popular early mobile phone – the Nokia 3210 – has been relaunched to mark the device’s 25th anniversary.

Human Mobile Devices, the maker of Nokia phones, said it had relaunched the “cultural icon” as demand for simpler devices as part of a digital detox was rising.

The revamped 3210 includes a two-megapixel camera, supports 4G calling and will still include the classic mobile game Snake.

The device is priced at £74.99.

British author and journalist Dame Shirley Conran has died aged 91. Her son, designer Jasper Conran, wrote on Instagram on Thursday: “Shirl girl has flown away, a lark ascending.”

Last week, Dame Shirley, known for her best-selling books including Superwoman and Lace, received a damehood in her hospital bed in London for her services to mathematics education, having founded the Maths Anxiety Trust.

Mr Conran thanked the “wonderful doctors and nurses” at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington in his Instagram post.

Dame Shirley began writing books after she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in her late 30s and could no longer work full time.

In 1975, she wrote acclaimed non-fiction book Superwoman, recognised as a feminist practical guidebook.

Her first novel, titled Lace, was published in 1982 and later turned into a TV miniseries in the US.

Her other novels include Savages, Crimson and Tiger Eyes.

Former prime minister Liz Truss, who made the author a dame in her resignation honours list at the end of 2023, paid tribute on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “She was a life force, incredibly generous and a dedicated campaigner for maths education. I am very grateful for all the encouragement and support she gave me.”

Last week, Sir Kenneth Olisa, the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, presented Dame Shirley with the honour in hospital.

Sharing two pictures from the ceremony, he wrote on social media: “Yesterday @ImperialNHS, surrounded by her family & staff of the Manvers Acute Respiratory Unit, I was privileged, on behalf of His Majesty, to invest Dame

Shirley Conran as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to mathematics education.”

‘FLOWN AWAY’: Dame Shirley Conran has died at 91.