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TODAY’S INSTALMENT (18 August) of the CommonSpace daily news roundup includes the US’s preparations to ‘hand over’ internet domain name system, the raising of Indyref two at First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s EU nationals meeting, and Scotland's first cheese toastie festival.
News: US prepares to ‘hand over’ internet naming system
The US is preparing to cede control of the DNS system to Icann
After a process that has taken almost 20 years, the US is preparing to give control of the domain naming system (DNS) to non-profit organisation the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann). The DNS is an important component of the internet that pairs easy to remember domains (eg. commonspace.scot) with relevant servers, allowing access to websites without having to type in complex IP addresses. The US will give control of the DNS system to Icann on 1 October.
Dozens hurt in French rail crash as train hits uprooted tree during storm
Eight people were seriously injured and dozens were hurt when a train collided with an uprooted tree during a hailstorm in France, the BBC reports. The crash happened at Saint-Aunes in the Herault region and left the line between Montpellier and Nimes completely blocked during the rush hour period. Emergency services confirmed that one person had been critically wounded and was airlifted to hospital from the scene.
‘Anti-imperialist’ military school to open in Bolivia to counter US influence
A new ‘anti-imperialist’ military school has been opened by Bolivian President Evo Morales, which will aim to counter US foreign policy and military influence in the region. Speaking to an audience that included the defense ministers of Venezuela and Nicaragua, Morales said: “We want to build anti-colonial and anti-capitalist thinking with this school that binds the armed forces to social movements”.
Politics: Independence thrown onto agenda by audience as Sturgeon meets with EU nationals
Nicola Sturgeon hosted a meeting with EU Nationals and her cabinet in Edinburgh yesterday
Scottish independence and the prospect of a second independence referndum were raised by members of the audience as FM Nicola Sturgeon hosted a meeting with EU Nationals and her cabinet in Edinburgh yesterday. In her opening remarks, Sturgeon highlighted that in the aftermath of Brexit, because immigration law is not devolved, she could not “do the one thing I really want to do which is give a cast iron guarantee that your right to stay here will be unaffected by the outcome of the referendum.”
North Lanarkshire Council planning to build 1,000 new homes
North Lanarkshire Council, which is the biggest local authority in Scotland, has pledged to build 1,000 new homes. Combined with previously announced plans, North Lanarkshire Council has committed to building 1,800 homes over the next decade. More than 12,000 people are on the council’s housing waiting list at the moment. The council has said that the investment in this project would be worth close to £160m.
Sport: Success for Celtic as they take first leg against Hapoel Be’er Sheva 5-2
Celtic won the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Celtic have won the first leg of their Champions League play off against Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva after a rollercoaster of goals on Wednesday. The Parkhead side were leading 3-0 before Hapoel Be’er Sheva scored two away goals. Celtic went on to score twice more, closing the match with a 5-2 victory.
Culture: Walking the Lights by Deborah Andrews shortlisted for Not the Booker Prize
Andrews’ novel is pubished by Scottish indy publishing house Freight Books
A novel published by Scottish indy publishing house Freight Books has been shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize. Described as a “feminist Withnail and I”, ‘Walking the Lights’ by Deborah Andrews is set in Glasgow in the 1990’s and follows the story of Maddie, a young actress.
Weather: Sunny while it lasted – clouds are back and could turn to rain by weekend
Cloud cover makes a comeback in time for the weekend
The run of good weather could be over, with cloud cover forecast for today and tomorrow, with the possibility of rain on the horizon for the weekend.
And another thing: Scotland’s first cheese toastie festival announced
We heard a mysterious rumour: @yelpglasgow are bringing a cheese toastie festival to Glasgow. Can it brie true? pic.twitter.com/3nZKbIED8a
— GlasgowLiving (@GlasgowLiving) August 16, 2016
After teasers on Twitter, Scotland’s first cheese toastie festival is coming to Glasgow
Thousands registered their interest to attend on Facebook and Twitter got itself into a real cheese twist when Scotland’s first cheese toastie festival was announced. The festival has been organised by Yelp! Glasgow and will take place at the Drygate in Glasgow on 9 October. Sounds like a gouda time!
Pictures courtesy of amika_san, PaulSh, Scottish Government, Twitter/Angela Haggerty, Christopher, Andrew Malone
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