COMPLAINTS about holidays have overtaken job concerns as the number one issue for hundreds of Scots contacting two independent national advice services every day during the coronavirus crisis.

IT'S the day after May Day and perhaps you’re feeling you’ve missed out on a good, sweaty Scottish pagan spring ritual of the type done particularly well at Beltane on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill, though not in a year of quarantine. Never fear. There are still ways of channelling the fertility rites of spring, the chief one being, of course, the folk horror classic The Wicker Man. Put on a goat mask, get in touch with your inner Wicker – or even Wicca – and revel in a bit of self-isolation

IT’S not everyone who’s given the chance to design their own tartan so when the opportunity arose, Vixy Rae didn’t need to give it a second thought.

Alan Scott, creative director at Johnstons of Elgin

Beth Pearson, author of The Coorie Home

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Ingrid Newkirk isn’t sure exactly how many times she has been arrested. “Definitely a few dozen,” she’ll say, if you ask. I’ve just done exactly that, so right now the British-born founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is running me through a sort of greatest hits of her law-baiting exploits and the jailtime they have brought her in the name of animal rights.

It was the highest catwalk show on earth, 300 metres above Everest Base Camp - and the Herald was the only paper in Britain to have a front row seat.

This season's colours and cuts mix up the wardrobe-staple trench, says Prudence Wade.

The Reserve Bank bought R11.4 billion worth of government bonds from the secondary market during April, as part of its measures to introduce liquidity to the market.

Joblessness now stands at the most since the Great Depression era of the 1930s after the coronavirus pandemic brought the US economy to a standstill.

Australia's central bank has predicted that the country is facing its biggest economic contraction on record.

The budget for Census 2021 is ringfenced and won't be compromised as Treasury seeks funds to fight Covid-19, says Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke.

State adviser says government was sympathetic to the economic difficulties caused by the on-going lockdown but growth in infections in areas such as the Western Cape are biggest risk to the faster reopening of the economy.

The head of the International Monetary Fund said Friday that previous estimates for the world economy to contract by three percent this year were too optimistic.

SA faces its gravest test in over 70 years, to rebuild an economy that was already in a protracted slump after the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, one could be forgiven for believing there's a wedge between the state's main actors tasked with the job of resurrecting a country that may see its jobless rate rise as high as 50%.

Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, the tourism industry will probably find that older, more affluent travellers are more hesitant to do so.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that institutional investors in South Africa and across the globe are starting to take their ownership rights more seriously.

Profile of a veteran driver with OM EAST

OM EAST - Just before Easter 2010, the Hitchings travelled to Serbia with Simon (OM EAST) to deliver 1200 copies of "My First Bible" in Arli to the Arli church...

During Easter, the oldest town in Austria celebrated the life of Jesus and furthered the dream of planting a church.

God provides for OM EAST’s Bosnia Schoolbags Project this year in special and surprising ways.

OM EAST produces a new booklet that brings a message of hope to women working in prostitution.

OM sees spiritual breakthrough when the University of Music and Performing Arts hosts an evangelistic concert – something not thought possible a few years ago.

OM EAST develop new booklet for red light ministries.

Thousands of individuals throughout Eurasia are given tools to make good decisions in their lives and given the offer to choose Christ.

On 26 June, students from Austria Training Centre’s first year completed training in church planting, evangelism and discipleship.

One team member's impressions from the 2015 Salamu Aleikum outreach to Muslim tourists in Zell am See.

The OM Austria Building Bridges team gains valuable experience during a short term trip to Turkey.

Thirteen participants in a weeklong outreach recently interacted with refugees, supporting OM’s refugee work in Linz.

Short-termer Elizabeth from the USA shares some of her experiences working with the Building Bridges Team in Linz, Austria for a month.

“It is wonderful and we are very grateful to God that we can live here,” Javid said. “Finally we have found a place where we can live our faith in Jesus in peace."

"The Lord gave me a verse out of Isaiah 50:5...I started to understand that I had a lot to give, and that God’s ways for me might lead me differently than I had thought," said OMer Evelyn.

SIR Andy Murray has sent a heartfelt message to NHS staff for their heroic work during the coronavirus crisis.

Andy Murray does not think getting the professional tennis circuit back up and running should be a priority any time soon.

We visit the Grassroots Football Show in Birmingham, England.

Willi Hink from the German Football Association tells us how the FIFA Women's World Cup will boost girls' football in Germany.

A look at how Swiss football is on the rise, from the grassroots upwards.

We follow Swindon Town Football in the Community Under-17 girls on their journey from England to the Gothia Cup in Sweden.

We find out how youngsters in Spain are taught a certain playing style from an early age.

We investigate a golden era of Spanish youth football.

We find out how football is offering hope for the homeless.

UEFA recognises the most notible contributions to grassroots football in 2011.

IT’S becoming a real bore that our main sporting authorities, particularly the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Professional Football League and the Scottish Rugby Union, continue to get in a fankle over the way to end the 2019-20 season.

THE irony that the recent weather would have been ideal for the start of the domestic cricket season is not lost on Kyle Coetzer.

WHILE almost every athlete has been affected by the global shutdown of sport, it is perhaps the old and the young who are feeling it the most.

SUCCESS in athletics can often be a family affair. Scots such as Callum Hawkins and Eilish McColgan have thrived under the tutelage of their parents, while track star Jake Wightman is another who has preferred to turn to his family to coach him to success on the track.

MAY is normally a busy month behind the scenes for Gareth Chalmers and the ongoing uncertainty around sport hasn’t changed that a huge amount.