Talk of the Town: Spell-binding site set to reveal secret

WITH no more books - at least according to the author - and only one more film to go, Harry Potter fans must have been getting concerned about just what they would do with themselves.

Thankfully the crafty JK Rowling has set their hearts racing again with her mystery Pottermore project.

Ahead of an announcement today on what the mysterious owl-populated website is all about, speculation was reaching quite ridiculous levels online. Suggestions that it could be an online dictionary of all things Potter, or even a Potter-based MMORG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) quickly fell by the wayside in favour of a much more interesting idea.

The smart money is on Pottermore being the starting point for a real-life treasure hunt, leading to the location of an unspecified number of magic wands hidden around the world.

Release shows Swinney's not really on the ball

AN eye-catching press release was issued by the Scottish Government today entitled "Swinney comments on Gers 2009-10".

What, we wondered, did the Finance Secretary have to say about Rangers' performance of two seasons ago?

It turns out he was actually commenting on the rather more dry topic of the Government and Expenditure Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures for 2009-10.

Sturgeon's city limits

EXPLAINING her new role as Cities Minister - in addition to her other jobs as Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary - Nicola Sturgeon was keen to stress the limits of her remit.

Just in case anyone should think of trying to drag her into the trams controversy, she told the National Economic Forum at Dynamic Earth: "I'm not responsible for everything that happens in any of our cities, thankfully."

Not so merry men

IT may be the maxim of Sherwood Forest's favourite outlaw, but it appears most Scots would be happy to see the banks face some vigilante justice.

A new study by Oxfam Scotland revealed 62 per cent of those asked wanted to see a tax on transactions between financial institutions - the so-called Robin Hood Tax.

The findings were revealed ahead of EU leaders congregating at a European Council meeting tomorrow.

Is it any wonder that in a city that is home to Fred the Shred and built on banking, the locals are getting restless?