05/12/2011 Reporting Scotland

Welcome to Reporting Scotland. Tonight on your national news:

The first major snow of the winter causes travel disruption and closes

schools across the country. Also in the programme tonight:

Settling in to their new home at Edinburgh zoo - but the pandas are

still a little jetlagged. The two Scots artists who are in

the running for the controversial Turner Prize presented tonight.

And a year after he took over, Aberdeen are back at the bottom of

the league. But Craig Brown tells Scotland got its first real taste

of winter disruption today as snow brought chaos to parts of the

country. Drivers were stuck for more than three hours on the M74

when a lorry jackknifed. In Lanarkshire, some schools and

nurseries were closed, and there were problems on the A9 in the

Highlands and in Perth and Kinross. Steven Godden reports. Up early

December and people are once again reaching for their shovels. The

Scottish winter has impeccable timing. In South Lanark Show, the

snow-covered primary-school was one of 26 quotas across the country.

Across the roads as well there was destruction. Perhaps I saw

something. It took three hours to get traffic on their M74 moving

after a lorry jack-knifed. On surrounding roads, up more problems.

There is a fallen tree. The weight of the snow has brought it down. I

had to take a four mile detour. a traffic control centre, at the

transport minister watched closely. Memories of last year's chaos

enough to ensure quick, high- profile responses at the first hint

of trouble. Last night we had 130 gritters out and snowploughs as

well. Sometimes it took treatments on trunk roads. Also going out this

morning. A lot of work went in to making trunk roads remained open.

It has made life difficult for some but the first significant snowfall

of the year is not on the same scale as 12 months ago. Winter is a

long season and with more wintry weather forecast, the advice is to

be prepared. At this Glasgow Garden Centre, signs that message is

getting through. Snow shovels have been an our top 10 since September.

People have been prepared. With icy temperatures set to reinforce the

opening salvo of snow, practical necessity will help keeping these

festive tills ringing. A teenager who died in Easter Ross

at the weekend may have accidentally stabbed himself as he

tried to cut off an electronic tag with a knife. Nickolas Bowes was at

a party near his home in the town of Alness when the emergency

services were called but paramedics couldn't save his life. Craig

Anderson reports. The balloons and bunting are still here, a former

law and a reminder of a Saturday night party that should have been

full of fun but turned into tragedy. 18-year-old Nickolas Bowes was at a

birthday celebration at where it is thought he suffered a fatal wind.

Police and ambulance crews arrived and he was rushed to hospital, but

died from his injuries. Local people are shocked. He was nice, he

was sure average teenager. He had been end a little bit of bother

about a year ago and after his mum had died he had made a real effort

to get back on track and had been working really hard with the youth

workers in the town and other people and he had tried to get back

into the workplace and was making a real effort to put things back

together again. It has been reported that Nickolas Bowes was

fatally injured as he tried to cut off a curfew tag he had been forced

to wear after an assault conviction. Police will not confirm that,

insisting that his death is unexplained. 48 hours on, the house

for the party took place remains a crime scene. Police have

interviewed other youngsters at the party but say they are not looking

to trace anyone else. A post-mortem is due tomorrow. Dozens of tributes

have been posted on social networking sites and in a statement,

the family said that they were devastated. They thanked neighbours

and friends for their support. You're watching Reporting Scotland

from the BBC. Still to come on the programme:

Alex Salmond signs new cultural ties with China allowing Scottish

specialists to investigate an ancient chinese monument.

And calls for more accommodation for homeless people with pets.

In Sport, Craig Brown is bullish despite his side languishing at the

bottom of the SPL, Hearts players receive some but not all wages,

plus there's much better to come from Andy Murray, according to a

The two giant pandas which are right from China yesterday are

settling into their new home. They are said to be very well after

their nine hour flight. They will gradually be introduced to their

outdoor enclosure, before being put on display to the public later this

month. A little bit jet lag, but otherwise

it is happy days. The pandas are settling into their new home. It

has been a long journey, but every moment has been meticulously

planned. At this said goodbye to China yesterday morning, to

touching down in Edinburgh at on a specially chartered jet, every

detail has been thought through, right down to the crowds that

turned out to meet them. Even fortune fluttered, a dusting of

snow to make them feel more at home. They are really different. One is

much more it sweet and relaxed. She likes to spend more time away from

the keepers. The other at one it is a ray of sunshine, and huge panda.

He is very impressive. He takes a lot of time -- spent a lot of time

eating. He is gregarious and I know he is going to be popular with

visitors. It will be another two weeks before members of the public

can step out onto the Panda trail and catch a glimpse of the passing

creatures for themselves. The Sioux is hoping that they will bring in

at least one million visitors. -- the zoo. We are really excited. I

am but in to see them on Saturday the 17th. It is because they are

endangered. I am excited, I have never seen pandas. The zoo is being

over �600,000 a year for the pandas, so the other gamble is, well they

mate? That will be down to them. The First Minister has found to

China for lending the two pandas. He passed on his appreciation when

he met the vice-premier in Beijing. He has also signed cultural

agreements, one of which allows specialists from the start Scotland

and Glasgow School of Art to digitally map one of China's major

ancient monuments. Ash Road of smog at some mystery to

these ancient tombs near Beijing. This World Heritage site is to be

digitally documented by a Scottish team as part of a wider cultural

agreement the First Minister has signed with China. It demonstrates

our commitment to share history and heritage, mutual understanding, but

it is also a demonstration of Scottish technology. We want to

display that to the world. We want Scotland to be known as a high-tech

country. It is a high-tech way of preserving this monument for future

generations. These ancient tombs sprawl over 15 square kilometres

and the sight is the final resting place of China's last ruling

dynasty. These echoing chambers are described by the UN as a

masterpiece of human creative genius. The walls are rich with

decoration for the imaging team to catch up. We use different types of

laser scanner. This works by planning a laser beam of light

against the surface which returns the to the device and the

triangular it that to create a 3 D point in space. We could millions

of these together which gives us the form of the shape,. This was

the team gathering data on St Colder, one of the Fide world

heritage sites in Scotland they have matter. -- 5. Meant Rushmore

is one of five international sides in the project and these are the

images produced. But on a similar map of these tombs will start next

year. TRANSLATION, it is very meaningful. These buildings have

lasted two for thousands of years and are fading. But the digital

Tombs will never fade and should insure China's history shines on

for centuries. Police in Stornoway have confirmed

they are treating the death of a 16-year-old youth as murder. The

body of Liam Aitcheson was discovered in a derelict building

last week. It is the first murder in the Western Isles in more than

40 years. Angus Macdonald is in Stornoway for us tonight. Angus,

what more do we know about the circumstances of Liam Aitcheson's

death? According to details issued by

police, Liam was last seen a week last Tuesday. Police were notified

he was missing and they gave his details to the media last Monday.

At 2 o'clock last Tuesday, a body was found on the outskirts of

stored away. That was subsequently identified a few days later as the

body of Liam Aitcheson. He had been in Stornoway for a couple of months

after being born and brought up in South fewest. Since then, at the

police have said that they are treating this as a merger inquiry

and they are very keen for people to get in touch with them with

anything they think might be helpful for the inquiry.

And this is a big investigation for an island force, is it not?

Absolutely. Reinforcements have been brought over from the mainland.

A very strong forensic team has been carrying out Sir -- searches

around the derelict building. Our own reporters have also seen them

at other buildings around the town and at people's houses, and reports

are coming in through various -- from various places that they have

been seen. This is a big shock to a small community like this. The last

murder here was in 1968 and people are not used to this kind of event

in the islands. There are of course, -- there are of course the usual

incidents of violence, but nothing on this scale and for a person so

young it is doubly shocking for the community. Thank you very much.

Some of the other stories across Scotland this Monday. A woman has

told a court how she saw two rottweiler dog struck a girl from a

pipe and savagely attacked her. The woman said the girl was covered in

blood when she reached her. Sarah Kerr and David Adam denied being in

charge of the docks. People who are caught drink-driving

or taking drugs will face a criminal record, a driving ban and

having their vehicles seized. These chemicals -- outings will be

targeted at people over the legal limit and those who refuse to

provide a sample. Glasgow is to host the World Pipe

Band Championships until 2015. The City has been associated with the

event for more than 60 years, and was already confirmed as the host

for the 2012 championships. Now the world to -- Pipe Band Association

has confirmed it will close them until the middle of the decade.

It is one of the most trusted his prizes for up contemporary art, and

probably one of the most controversial. To date, the Turner

Prize will be handed over at a It used to produce flour, now the

Baltic Centre is showcasing art, art made from every possible

substance, paint, powder, cellophane. With the Turner Prize

anything-goes, but is it art? allows people to come in and let

them decide. The viewer comes in and makes up their own mind and

they are given the opportunity to say, you can challenge us. Scottish

artists are leading the charge. Since the prize was first staged in

1984, a record number of artists trained are living in Scotland have

been nominated. Several, like Susan Phillips, have gone on to win.

think we will look back on this and see this is a pivotal moment. We

have a melancholy painter, two sculptors, a video artist who is

different from one we might have had in the last 10 years. These are

artists with a keen sensibility and an attention to detail. This year

there are two Scots nominees, Martin Boyce and Carla Clarke, both

trained at Glasgow School of Art, which has produced 28% of nominees.

That, says its director is down to teachers who are artists themselves

and careful selection of the best students. You put those things

together and look at the wider context of a city that is full of

artists, a great community and it is hugely supportive and a city

council that is trying to create spaces to work, places to exhibit.

That is part of the formula for it. Whether it is the winning formula

this year, we will have to wait to find out. The winner is promised

�25,000 and the media attention for one of the biggest prizes in the

arts calendar. An animal charity is calling for

more hostels for the home has to offer accommodation to people with

pets. The charity One Kind says homeless people often end up on the

streets because they do not want to be separated from their animals.

The Christmas rush may be under way, but Scotland's rough sleepers have

little to celebrate, often forced to choose between having a bed for

the night or abandoning their animals. Homeless people say it is

a choice they should not have to make. I think a lot of people are

sitting on the street with a blanket over their dogs, but I feel

sorry for that person. A lot of people love their dogs that they

would sleep on the street with their dog. This hostel welcomes pet

owners and even has its own regular vet clinic. Our consultations can

take up to an hour and often the animal is like a foil in some ways.

The people speak a lot about their lives and our validated by their

relationship with their animal. Campaigners argue animals can help

keep spirits high and are not necessarily disruptive. There is

lots of evidence that they do not disrupt or cause any problems

within their shelters when the animals are there. In fact, they

play a big part in helping these people put their lives back

together. Hostel workers say the priority must be to help the

vulnerable people regardless of their circumstances. If there are

barriers there, whether it be Algol or substance misuse issues, we need

to break down those barriers and get people in the dark and then

they can turn their lives around. That should help ensure a happier

Christmas for homeless people and their animals.

Let's get the latest sports news. The Aberdeen manager Craig Brown

believes his club will move up the league given time and better

fortunes. They find themselves bottom of the SPL, exactly where

they were 12 months ago. One former player reckons he knows why they

have fallen behind so-called smaller clubs. Pittodrie may have

been the scene of some wonderful football over the years, but

nowadays the lot of an Aberdeen supporter is somewhat different.

Saturday's defeat by Kilmarnock left to the Dons bottom of the late.

The manager says it is cause for positivity. We are working hard to

improve the team and ensure we do make a team that will give pride

back to the City of Aberdeen. They see a Solidarity about the side and

a competitiveness in the side. What we need is a break and a full team,

or near one than we have been able to produce so far. Only two-and-a-

half years ago Jimmy Calderwood guided the club to a fourth-place

finish. But under his displacement they finished 9th the following

season. Mark McGhee was sacked this time last year with the club at the

foot of the SPL and Brown helped lift them tonight. But almost 12

months on, they are back where they started. Where does the problem

lie? The squad Aberdeen have got, for me I would much rather have the

Kilmarnock scored. I would much rather have the St Johnstone squad.

They have embraced the philosophy of football. I do not feel there is

a philosophy of football at Pittodrie that the players are

embracing, or the fans are embracing. Their philosophy the

club would most like to embrace is a winning one and the manager will

be given more time to try to implement that.

Celtic have been cleared of breaching a Scottish Premier League

rule after their fans were reported singing broke IRA songs on 29th

October. The SPL stated it is not disputed a small number of fans

engaged in singing and chanting in support of the higher rate. Such

behaviour is unacceptable and unwelcome. It is noted as Celtic FC

has condemned such activity publicly on many occasions.

Hearts have paid �1,000 to their squad members as an interim payment

for those who have been waiting a fortnight for wages. The fans were

generated a Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to St Johnstone. Ubig will

have to release and the rest. Andy Murray enjoyed his best ever

season this year, but 2012 could be better according to the six times

Grand Slam winner Boris Becker. He believes Murray only has to alter

his mind set in order to achieve the Grand Slam success that has so

far eluded him. What a year for Andy Murray. Five

titles, the semi-finals of every grand slam, as well as occupying

Number Three in the world rankings. In Australia he had another chance

to break his major duck. But he found the Serbian coming into the

form of his light. Novak Djokovic is the champion. Despite the long

season, there is little time for him to rest. Four weeks from now he

will start all over again and some believe he could be entering a

great here. He has a great opportunity to win his first major.

I do not believe Novak Djokovic will be able to repeat win in 10

events. Raphael will be the favourites for the French Open, but

he has not had a fantastic year. Roger Federer is still hungry to

win more titles. It looks like they might be a little leeway to sneak

his first major. If he does not do it in 2012, it gets harder and

harder easier. One man who knows about winning Grand Slams believes

that the biggest change he must make is in his mind. I think it is

a question of confidence and attitude. He has been there so many

times and he knows exactly what to do, the question is can he followed

through? Can he put it on the court what he knows what to do? I

honestly believe one of these days he will win a major. I really hope

so for him. You can see that Peter, plus find out about Eric Anderson's

plan to knock Phil Taylor off the darts number one spot on Sport

Nation tomorrow night at 10pm. Congratulations to Paul di Resta

and who was awarded Autosport International Rookie of the Year

after his debut season in Formula One.

Our money expect Fergus Muirhead will be here on Wednesday lunchtime.

He will be looking at financial issues in the run-up to Christmas.

After today's snow falls let's get the all important weather forecast.

We knew it was coming, but it We see snow light is at this type

of the year. It is a cold snap, not like last year, but that cold

weather will be here for the next 24 hours. We will see further snow

showers over the main man, but it will die away. The Met Office have

a weather warning, a yellow warning, for ice. That will be the main

problem this evening, tonight and into tomorrow morning. Ice is on

untreated roads and services. That is what caused most of the

accidents earlier on today. This evening, plenty of wintry showers

across Western and Central Scotland to start with. Further

accumulations over high ground. The yellow warnings are still in place.

But they will become defined to western coastal areas. But look at

the showers across the far north. It is affecting the Orkney Isles

and Shetland and there are also strong, gale-force winds as well.

It is really miserable up there. Snow showers, but a lot of dry

weather across the mainland. It is a cold night and temperatures could

fall below freezing. Tomorrow it will be a largely dry start to the

day, but a cold and frosty start to the day. The ayes will be a risk

right through the rush hour. One or two showers in Western areas, but

not the snow we saw earlier today. Tomorrow a lot more in the way of

dry weather. Any showers receipt will tend to be light. Some of them

in land may fall as snow over the hills. A better day for Glasgow.

Some showers in the Outer Hebrides. We will see that when she makes of

showers across Orkney and set land. -- that winter remix of showers.

The temperatures inland are not getting above freezing very much.

During the course of the afternoon we will see those showers pull away

and the winds will ease as well. However, cloud is beginning in the

West. On Wednesday at cloudy, showery day and when the as well.

The best of any brightness will be further east. We are looking at a

lot of rain and strong winds coming our way on Thursday.

Tonight's main stories: Scotland got its first real taste of winter

disruption today as snow brought chaos to parts of the country.

Drivers were stuck for more than three hours on the M74. Some

schools and nurseries were closed and there were problems in the

Highlands and Perth and Kinross. The leaders of France and Germany

are under intense pressure to solve the euro-zone debt crisis and say

they will push for a new treaty. Countries that run up huge deficits

will face punishment from Brussels. Nicholas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel

say they would like Britain to be part of the treaty.

A teenager who died in Easter Ross at the weekend may have

accidentally stabbed himself as he tried to cut off an electronic tag

with a night. The emergency services were called, but

paramedics could not save his life. HSBC has been fined �10.5 million

for mis-selling products to elderly customers. Investments were made to

help for a care home costs. But hundreds of those who bought into