Edinburgh, April 30 : Two communities in Tanzania have gained appreciation for making bagpipes from ethical sources of wood for the first time.

All Highland bagpipes and many other traditional Scottish pipes are made from African blackwood, which comes from the rare and threatened mpingo tree found only in certain parts of Africa.

Now, according to a report in The Scotsman, two communities in Tanzania have been awarded certification for managing their forests sustainably.

Edinburgh (Scotland), Mar. 19 : The Guinness Book of World Records has officially recognized the Old Golf Course at Musselburgh Links as the oldest in the world.

According to the Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, the earliest game played on Musselburgh Links took place on March 2, 1672. He also mentions that "Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played here in 1567".

This documentary evidence was included in The Golf Book Of East Lothian, published in 1896 and written by John Kerr, the minister of Dirleton.

The Old Golf Course, which is now managed by SportPlus on behalf of East Lothian Council, was originally a seven-hole course. The eighth and ninth holes were added in 1838 and 1870 respectively.

Edinburgh, Feb 17 : Dee Caffari, a British sailor, has become the first woman in history to sail round the world solo in both directions.

According to a report in the Scotsman, after spending 99 days at sea, Dee Caffari crossed the finishing line of the Vendee Globe yacht race in sixth place on February 16.

She subsequently entered the record books as the first female to sail round the world solo in both directions.

"My goal was to set the double world first and I have done it. It's quite a numb feeling now but here I am - the first woman to sail solo, non-stop both ways around the world. You can't buy a feeling like this," said Dee Caffari.

Edinburgh, Feb. 15 : Several Islamic clerics will join police and youth workers in an innovative new scheme to wean young Muslims away from trouble.

According to The Scotsman, the imams, most of them Scottish-born, will take to the streets starting this week, targeting a dozen teenagers believed to be on the edge of the embryonic Asian gang culture on Glasgow''s Southside.

Their allies, including workers from Youth Counselling Services Agency (YCSA), a support group for young Asians, reckon the clerics will be able to command more respect from youngsters than other professionals, including the police.

Edinburgh, Jan 26 : Scientists from Scotland are all set to use data from new carbon-hunting satellites to map levels of greenhouse gases around the world for the first time.

The Earth is thought to be absorbing about 50 per cent of the carbon dioxide we put out, but little is known about exactly where it is soaked up.

Edinburgh, Nov. 15 : An Edinburgh-based company, Canongate Books, has won the right to publish Barack Obama''s latest book – “Change We Can Believe In”.

Canongate Books will release the book on December 11.

The firm already publishes Obama’s memoir – “Dreams from My Father”, and his political manifesto, “The Audacity of Hope”.

The new book outlines Obama''s vision for the US and features his ideas on how to tackle key issues such as the economy, healthcare, energy, and America''s image abroad.