:00:00. > :00:00.military activity in the area tonight. That is all from us,
:00:00. > :00:09.Tonight on Reporting Scotland: the boss of British Airways says he's
:00:10. > :00:12.not worried about the possibility of a Yes vote in the independence
:00:13. > :00:15.referendum. A murder investigation is launched
:00:16. > :00:19.after this woman's body is discovered in a flat in the north of
:00:20. > :00:22.Glasgow. The notorious A9 - a new campaign to
:00:23. > :00:27.urge drivers to think twice before overtaking.
:00:28. > :00:29.And the spectacular northern lights put on one of their best shows for
:00:30. > :00:50.decades. The Chief Executive of the company
:00:51. > :00:53.that owns British Airways says he's not concerned about the prospect of
:00:54. > :00:56.Scottish independence. Willie Walsh says a yes vote might even be
:00:57. > :00:59."marginally positive" for his business because the Scottish
:01:00. > :01:01.Government wants to abolish air passenger duty. At present BA flies
:01:02. > :01:05.to London from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It operates a total of
:01:06. > :01:15.110 flights each day from Scottish airports. And it directly employs
:01:16. > :01:22.1300 staff in Scotland. Here's our political correspondent Tim Reid. It
:01:23. > :01:28.is one of the world's most successful airlines, flying the
:01:29. > :01:32.British flag around the globe. It is the latest company to show its
:01:33. > :01:38.corporate view on part of Britain going its own way.
:01:39. > :01:40.We will continue to fly to Scotland. If anything, it might be positive
:01:41. > :01:43.because I suspect the Scottish Government will abolish air
:01:44. > :01:46.passenger duty and recognise the huge impact that tax has on the
:01:47. > :01:52.economy. It would probably be a positive development. Do you have
:01:53. > :01:58.any views on air passenger duty? I think it should be scrapped.
:01:59. > :02:03.His views on air passenger duty are well-known.
:02:04. > :02:09.It is gratifying to see somebody in charge of a huge business in the
:02:10. > :02:16.world saying that independence presents real opportunities for
:02:17. > :02:20.Scotland. You have to pay your passenger duty
:02:21. > :02:26.on almost every flight although those in the Highlands and Islands
:02:27. > :02:32.are exempt. For example, if you were to fly from Edinburgh to London, you
:02:33. > :02:37.then click on the taxes and you can see you're being charged ?26 for the
:02:38. > :02:43.Treasury. For long-haul flights it can be double that. The referendum
:02:44. > :02:52.White Paper states that as an early priority for action following
:02:53. > :02:59.independence, they would reduce this. They believe these taxes
:03:00. > :03:02.discourage tourists. This view is being played down by the Treasury
:03:03. > :03:08.today. It also questions how Scotland could afford to scrap this
:03:09. > :03:13.tax. Many more businesses in Scotland are in fact concerned about
:03:14. > :03:16.Alexander's lack of a plan on currency. That is why more
:03:17. > :03:21.businesses are coming to the view that we are better together.
:03:22. > :03:27.British Airways has given the Yes campaign something of a boost.
:03:28. > :03:31.A murder investigation is under way following the discovery of a woman's
:03:32. > :03:33.body in a flat in the Barmulloch area of Glasgow. 48-year-old Angela
:03:34. > :03:40.Humphrey was found by her daughters after they became concerned because
:03:41. > :03:46.she hadn't been in touch. Tributes for Angela, known as Angie Humphrey.
:03:47. > :03:52.She lived alone in this flat in Barmulloch. This was where she was
:03:53. > :03:56.found dead on Wednesday afternoon. She socialised in bars in the East
:03:57. > :04:01.End of the city and was seen here in this street at 1am last Friday
:04:02. > :04:06.afternoon -- 1pm last Friday afternoon. Angie's family were
:04:07. > :04:09.concerned when they had not heard from her at the beginning of the
:04:10. > :04:16.week. Her two daughters came here to her flat and found her body inside.
:04:17. > :04:20.Police say she died a violent death. Police still guard the crime scene
:04:21. > :04:28.and are trying to piece together were Angie was and what happened to
:04:29. > :04:32.her. People out there may have seen something and may think it is
:04:33. > :04:37.insignificant. If they have seen Angie over the weekend then please
:04:38. > :04:42.come forward. We'll treat it in confidence.
:04:43. > :04:48.This was Angie on her wedding day in 2010. She was 48 years old when she
:04:49. > :04:56.was killed. A daughter, a mother, grandmother. Police have not yet
:04:57. > :04:59.spoken to her partner but want to speak to him to get a better picture
:05:00. > :05:04.of her lifestyle. She had only moved to this flat a few weeks ago to be
:05:05. > :05:11.closer to her family. Now they need answers about what happened.
:05:12. > :05:14.A new campaign is launched today urging drivers on the notorious A9
:05:15. > :05:17.to think twice before overtaking. It's part of a renewed effort to
:05:18. > :05:25.reduce accidents on the route, dubbed the most dangerous road in
:05:26. > :05:31.Scotland. Craig Anderson reports. It can be a frustrating drive but here
:05:32. > :05:36.is a sobering statistic. 40% of accidents on single carriageway
:05:37. > :05:39.sections of this road are going to miss judged overtaking. Today, the
:05:40. > :05:44.launch of an advertising campaign to warn drivers of the dangers.
:05:45. > :05:48.You're sharing the same lane at the same time so you really need to be
:05:49. > :05:52.more aware of the risks that exists beyond the vehicle in front. What
:05:53. > :05:55.they cannot see, what they might reasonably expect, and be sure that
:05:56. > :05:59.it is safe to do so. If you're not sure, do not risk it.
:06:00. > :06:03.No one could argue against improving safety on this road, but the idea of
:06:04. > :06:07.installing a network of speed cameras provoked a backlash, with
:06:08. > :06:13.the Government and its safety advisers could not have dissipated.
:06:14. > :06:19.The issues on the road are more enforcement, visibility along the
:06:20. > :06:23.route, and driving in appropriate conditions. The only way we seek a
:06:24. > :06:29.target that is to actually have police on the roads.
:06:30. > :06:34.The first of a series of public exhibitions of the cameras didn't
:06:35. > :06:37.place in Inverness today. Over three months last summer, 4000 drivers
:06:38. > :06:46.were booked for road traffic offences on the A9. Almost all were
:06:47. > :06:50.for speeding. There are a lot of views but we are using these
:06:51. > :06:55.exhibitions to show that the average speed cameras have consistently
:06:56. > :07:01.produced serious accidents. We want to see those benefits on this road.
:07:02. > :07:07.Some critics may never be convinced of the benefits of the cameras, but
:07:08. > :07:16.it cuts out the carnage on this road, it may be introduced.
:07:17. > :07:19.You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on
:07:20. > :07:23.tonight's programme: five years since home reports were brought in
:07:24. > :07:26.-we look at whether those buying and selling think they've done the job.
:07:27. > :07:30.In sport, a new world champion. Cyclist Katie Archibald takes gold
:07:31. > :07:32.with Team GB. She's out to do it all again for Scotland at the
:07:33. > :07:35.Commonwealth Games. And we meet a man of extraordinary
:07:36. > :07:38.strength. Powerlifter Micky Yule is preparing to represent Scotland at
:07:39. > :07:46.Glasgow 2014 after his life was changed forever in Afghanistan.
:07:47. > :07:51.How much damage do footballers' brains suffer when they head the
:07:52. > :07:53.ball, and could there be a connection with conditions like
:07:54. > :07:57.Alzheimer's? Doctors are now calling for more investigation into the long
:07:58. > :08:00.term effects. Julie Peacock has been to meet one former Dundee United
:08:01. > :08:10.footballer who's suffering from dementia.
:08:11. > :08:21.Two Dundee United fans, this man is a living legend, best known for the
:08:22. > :08:25.school against Anderlecht in 1979. His career saw him play against
:08:26. > :08:35.United and Blackburn Rovers. It may ultimately have led to his dementia.
:08:36. > :08:44.Was the heading of the bowls? The leather balls?
:08:45. > :08:47.Doctors cannot say for certain what caused this condition but the
:08:48. > :08:51.old-style footballs have been linked to a form of dementia caused by head
:08:52. > :08:56.injuries. It has been found in boxers and more recently it has been
:08:57. > :09:00.found by doctors in Scotland in rugby players. This week, doctors in
:09:01. > :09:04.the US confirmed the first case in a 29-year-old footballer who had only
:09:05. > :09:08.ever used one of the new lightweight footballs. Work has already been
:09:09. > :09:12.done to protect rugby players from the effects of head injuries, but
:09:13. > :09:17.doctors say that footballers need to know they are also at risk.
:09:18. > :09:23.Football has not had the same attention as other sports. But any
:09:24. > :09:30.sport where head injuries are featured really have to look now at
:09:31. > :09:33.how they manage those. There's no cure for Frank, but his
:09:34. > :09:37.wife wants to see more done to protect players. She wants more
:09:38. > :09:43.money invested in research. I do not want people to have to go
:09:44. > :09:47.through this dreadful disease and it is terminal. There was no hope of a
:09:48. > :09:52.cure at the moment. She said that Frank loved football
:09:53. > :09:57.and the fans loved him back. You chose to go into that career,
:09:58. > :10:03.never thinking this would happen. Who would have ever thought that
:10:04. > :10:14.knocks to the head like that in your job could lead to this?
:10:15. > :10:17.As the housing market shows signs of revival, the Government is reviewing
:10:18. > :10:20.a new system of valuing property it brought in just as house prices
:10:21. > :10:23.collapsed. It's five years since Home Reports were introduced, and
:10:24. > :10:25.there seems to be agreement that they've done a good job in difficult
:10:26. > :10:39.conditions. One of the first thing she would
:10:40. > :10:42.look at... Compiling a home report this survey
:10:43. > :10:45.says the system is much better than the way the house market used to
:10:46. > :10:49.operate. Surveyors would provide if they had
:10:50. > :10:55.been asked to undertake a valuation report, a copy to another person.
:10:56. > :11:00.They did not like that process and it was not one of their best days.
:11:01. > :11:05.The introduction of the home report has addressed all of that.
:11:06. > :11:08.Sellers pay for surveys. In the past, buyers need one for each house
:11:09. > :11:16.that they were bidding for. If they were unsuccessful it aided cash for
:11:17. > :11:20.improvements. Still unpacking a month after moving into her new
:11:21. > :11:26.home. This woman says that home reports made house-hunting much
:11:27. > :11:35.easier. She says that she and her partner would be happy to fork out
:11:36. > :11:38.for the survey. You can see that the roof has just been looked at and
:11:39. > :11:42.there is no internal damage, and that may be an incentive to come and
:11:43. > :11:49.view the house and perhaps Putin and offers. It is a cost that should be
:11:50. > :11:55.met. Ministers say they are largely
:11:56. > :12:00.accepting the system. The English version did not include
:12:01. > :12:06.a survey or in an evaluation. The Scottish home report is about giving
:12:07. > :12:15.people information on the condition and state of repair of the property.
:12:16. > :12:21.These are quite different reports. House sales are now beginning to
:12:22. > :12:23.recover. Home reports are helping as every purchase now knows exactly
:12:24. > :12:32.what they are getting for their money.
:12:33. > :12:37.A look at some other stories from across Scotland this Friday evening.
:12:38. > :12:42.And Aberdeen man has been jailed for posting a comment about burning down
:12:43. > :12:45.a mosque. 46-year-old Derek then posted the comment about Edinburgh
:12:46. > :12:49.Central Mosque because he believed the soldiers killers were being
:12:50. > :12:59.protected by the authorities. At the Sheriff Court, the man was jailed
:13:00. > :13:06.for 12 months. An oil worker has now been named. This man from shops in
:13:07. > :13:13.North Lanarkshire fell from a platform. He was pulled from the sea
:13:14. > :13:20.and flown to Shetland but could not be saved. Glasgow City Council is
:13:21. > :13:43.poised to announce next week that it is quitting Koestler. -- COSLA. It
:13:44. > :13:48.has been claimed that thousands of drivers find for speeding could have
:13:49. > :13:53.their convictions overturned. The authorities insist their convictions
:13:54. > :13:55.are enforceable. Some cases have been abandoned because legislation
:13:56. > :13:59.affecting roads had not been updated.
:14:00. > :14:01.I think it would depend on the effect it has had on people because
:14:02. > :14:07.penalty points being imposed may have resulted in people losing their
:14:08. > :14:15.licence. They may have lost their livelihood.
:14:16. > :14:19.Thousands of free ferry tickets have been given away to encourage more
:14:20. > :14:21.people to visit Scotland's Islands. The year of homecoming will see 8000
:14:22. > :14:27.tickets becoming available through online ballots during March. The
:14:28. > :14:37.scheme is a partnership between visit Scotland and Caledonian rain.
:14:38. > :14:40.A new national curling centre is to be established in Stirling. The
:14:41. > :14:43.announcement of the multi million pound facility comes as the
:14:44. > :14:46.Paralympic squad prepare to head for Sochi - hoping to emulate last
:14:47. > :14:54.week's medal success. Laura Maxwell reports.
:14:55. > :15:01.The final training session for the wheelchair curling team. These
:15:02. > :15:09.players have two play set with great timing and precision. They have got
:15:10. > :15:14.a tough act to follow. Pressure is what you put on yourself. It is
:15:15. > :15:18.about doing that in that environment. It will be the team
:15:19. > :15:22.that is the most consistent over the whole competition. If we play to our
:15:23. > :15:27.potential we hope to be going for a medal.
:15:28. > :15:36.And here is inspiration if any were needed.
:15:37. > :15:49.Just when you thought there could not be any more curling excitement
:15:50. > :16:00.the Paralympian 's are taking to the rank -- to the rink. There is enough
:16:01. > :16:20.ice there for everyone to come and dry curling and also have fun.
:16:21. > :16:31.Curling has never enjoyed such a high profile. For now all eyes are
:16:32. > :16:34.on the Paralympian 's. At the age of just 19, Scottish
:16:35. > :16:39.cyclist, Katie Archibald has become world champion. She took gold in the
:16:40. > :16:44.team pursuit at the World Track Cycling Championships in Colombia.
:16:45. > :16:47.Archibald only began competitive cycling two years ago with hopes of
:16:48. > :16:58.success with Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014. Here's our Games
:16:59. > :17:02.reporter Lisa Summers. Katie Archibald in second place. A
:17:03. > :17:08.brilliant final. There is nothing in it.
:17:09. > :17:20.It was the sixth world title out of seven and a first for Katie
:17:21. > :17:38.Archibald. It was very special. It took a bit
:17:39. > :17:50.of getting used to. We are world champions now. She likes to make a
:17:51. > :17:55.statement with her here colour. Cycling was not her first sport. It
:17:56. > :18:02.was simply a means to get her to the swimming room. She joined the
:18:03. > :18:07.British women's squad last year. In the summer she will ride for
:18:08. > :18:11.Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. She has a world record and is now a
:18:12. > :18:15.world champion. What can she do next?
:18:16. > :18:19.The Celtic manager Neil Lennon says Fergus McCann will go down as one of
:18:20. > :18:22.the great figures in the club's history. The league leaders are
:18:23. > :18:25.honouring him at Celtic Park tomorrow to mark the 20th
:18:26. > :18:31.anniversary of McCann's takeover which saved the club from going out
:18:32. > :18:37.of business. It was a very critical time in the
:18:38. > :18:41.future of the club. He stabilised the club and to get forward and
:18:42. > :18:47.built a magnificent stadium stop we appreciate that. We are thankful for
:18:48. > :18:51.that. He has left the fantastic legacy.
:18:52. > :18:59.Now, a look at what else is happening across Scottish sport.
:19:00. > :19:07.It was a noisy and confrontational -- a noisy and confrontational way
:19:08. > :19:15.end. Andy Murray is through to the
:19:16. > :19:25.semifinals of the Acapulco open. He will also take part in a new event
:19:26. > :19:31.at the end of the regular season. He led the winning Ryder Cup team.
:19:32. > :19:41.Tonight there is more lonely for a golfer Bernard Gallacher IC will
:19:42. > :19:53.achieve -- as he well receive a lifetime Lord. -- a lifetime award.
:19:54. > :19:56.You do not expect things like this. There is a controversial new league
:19:57. > :20:07.structure as the shanty season begins tomorrow. Newtonmore
:20:08. > :20:21.dominated last season. -- as the shinty season begins tomorrow.
:20:22. > :20:26.Motivation is never an issue. And there are more sports stories on
:20:27. > :20:31.the website. Now for a story of extraordinary
:20:32. > :20:34.strength - in more ways than one. Powerlifter Micky Yule is preparing
:20:35. > :20:37.to represent Scotland at Glasgow 2014 just a few short years after
:20:38. > :20:47.his life was changed forever in service in Afghanistan.
:20:48. > :20:54.It was another normal day in Afghanistan for me. I was trying to
:20:55. > :21:04.locate improvised explosive devices and get rid of them. I was blown up
:21:05. > :21:17.instantaneously, losing my left leg and damaging my right leg. I used to
:21:18. > :21:22.do body power lifting. I had done a few national competitions. Once I
:21:23. > :21:29.got injured and lost my legs I did not see a way of getting back in to
:21:30. > :21:38.doing powerlifting. I was enthusiastic when I found I could do
:21:39. > :21:42.the bench press. I am confident that I can achieve
:21:43. > :21:47.everything I have planned in Glasgow. I am going there to try and
:21:48. > :22:02.get a medal. I have to keep training hard. It would be like closing the
:22:03. > :22:05.door on that day in August. And to find out more about Micky
:22:06. > :22:09.Yule see Sport14. That's on Sunday at 6.20pm on BBC Two Scotland.
:22:10. > :22:11.There's also a look back at one of the great nostalgic moments from
:22:12. > :22:21.Scottish athletics at the Commonwealth Games in 1970.
:22:22. > :22:25.If you were outside last night you may have been lucky enough to catch
:22:26. > :22:28.one of the best displays in years of the Northern Lights. They're caused
:22:29. > :22:31.by charged atomic particles from The Sun colliding with the earth's
:22:32. > :22:33.atmosphere. Kevin Keane has been looking at some of the pictures
:22:34. > :22:47.you've taken. You do not need to be an astronomer
:22:48. > :22:54.to appreciate this display of the skies magnificence. Last night many
:22:55. > :23:01.thousands of people stepped into the cold night air to marvel at the
:23:02. > :23:12.moving lights. It created unique backdrop is. The morning after
:23:13. > :23:18.photographers everywhere still cannot quite believe what they
:23:19. > :23:26.captured. It is a rare occurrence. To see it so clear year made it even
:23:27. > :23:34.more special. It was a special moment.
:23:35. > :23:43.Across Scotland from East Lothian to the north Coast the Aurora Borealis
:23:44. > :23:49.impressed its watchers. Even in Shetland where the displays are most
:23:50. > :23:56.common stargazers were stunned. I saw an awesome display. I could see
:23:57. > :24:02.whites from the horizon to above my head. They were dancing all over the
:24:03. > :24:12.place. An amazing display of the Northern light.
:24:13. > :24:16.The sky was clear last night. Experts say enjoy it while you can
:24:17. > :24:24.because it is not likely to be this dramatic gain for many years. At the
:24:25. > :24:33.moment The Sun is very active. There are lots of storms sending plasma
:24:34. > :24:41.out into space. This will soon ease off and erupt again in 2035. Regular
:24:42. > :24:49.watchers say this was one of the most stunning light shows in recent
:24:50. > :24:53.times. You told us yesterday to look out
:24:54. > :25:01.for them. Not so likely tonight. Tomorrow will
:25:02. > :25:06.herald the start of the meteorological spring and there is
:25:07. > :25:12.the hint that into next week we might see springlike weather.
:25:13. > :25:21.Tonight we will seek showers become confined to the far West. Elsewhere
:25:22. > :25:34.it becomes dry. One clear spells. -- long clear spells. Temperatures
:25:35. > :25:53.around freezing. Tomorrow starts on a cold and frosty start. Taking a
:25:54. > :25:56.closer look tomorrow afternoon, some showers tomorrow afternoon across
:25:57. > :26:02.parts of the South and into the central belt. They will continue
:26:03. > :26:05.into the Western Isles. The best of the weather will be reserved for
:26:06. > :26:17.more Eastern areas into the Northeast. A south-westerly breeze.
:26:18. > :26:19.If you are going hill walking to moral for them or Northwestern
:26:20. > :26:28.ranges you can expect to see heavy snow showers and risk south-westerly
:26:29. > :26:45.winds. Temperatures of minus four Celsius on the summit. A moderate to
:26:46. > :26:49.fresh south-westerly winds. If you are going skiing tomorrow you can
:26:50. > :27:01.expect risk south-westerly winds across the Rangers. -- across the
:27:02. > :27:16.mountains. Close the killing from the West. -- cloud thickening from
:27:17. > :27:19.the West. Into Sunday morning we expect things
:27:20. > :27:27.to stage I for a time although this next weather front will move in
:27:28. > :27:30.through the course of the day. Strengthening winds elsewhere.
:27:31. > :27:37.Now, a reminder of tonight's main news.
:27:38. > :27:40.The chief executive of the company that owns British Airways says he's
:27:41. > :27:46.not concerned about the prospect of Scottish independence. Willie Walsh
:27:47. > :27:48.says a Yes vote might be positive for his business, because the
:27:49. > :27:51.Scottish Government wants to abolish air passenger duty.
:27:52. > :27:54.Tension is mounting in Ukraine as the ousted President has resurfaced
:27:55. > :27:57.in Russia and is vowing to fight against what he cold a coup. The
:27:58. > :28:00.interim Ukrainian Government has accused Russia of an armed invasion
:28:01. > :28:03.and occupation as gunmen carrying Russian naval flags have begun
:28:04. > :28:05.patrolling airports in the region of Crimea.
:28:06. > :28:07.And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll be back with the headlines at eight
:28:08. > :28:08.and the