Scotland trending: Today’s most talked-about stories

TODAY’s top stories on social media from Scotland and beyond, including Ian Bell, Arnold Peralta and the Forth bridge.

Peralta signed for Rangers in June 2013, making 29 appearances over an 18-month spell with the Ibrox outfit. Picture: Getty

Ian Bell, award-winning Scots journalist, dies at 59

The award-winning Scottish journalist and author, has died at the age of 59.

Following stints at The Scotsman, as well as the Daily Record, Observer and The Times Literary Supplement, he joined The Herald & Times Group in Glasgow, writing for both The Herald and Sunday Herald.

Named Columnist of the Year on many occasions, he also won the Orwell Prize for political journalism in 1997.

Ex-Rangers player Arnold Peralta shot dead

The 26-year-old was found dead in the car park of a shopping centre in the town of La Ceiba, where he lived, according to a statement from the Honduran government’s Ministry of Security.

The Ladbrokes Championship club confirmed a minute’s silence will be held before Saturday’s league meeting with Morton, while Mark Warburton’s side will don black armbands as a mark of respect.

Baby otter found ‘crying’ on doorstep in Kirkcudbright

A baby otter found “crying on a doorstep” after becoming separated from his mother during Storm Desmond was today in the safe hands of staff at Scotland’s national wildlife rescue centre.

The Kirkcudbrightshire cub has been nicknamed Buddy by centre staff.

Mr Seddon said that Buddy was currently being bottle-fed milk and hand-fed fish.

Ministers gambled on Forth Bridge ‘patch up’

The operator of the Forth Road Bridge warned ministers in 2013 about the impact of repair budget cuts on the “long-term structural integrity” of the crossing, MSPs heard yesterday.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said minutes from a Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) meeting in October 2013 pointed out that Scottish Government cuts had resulted in a 58 per cent reduction in its budget.

Rangers ‘have not repaid’ £5m Mike Ashley loan

Lawyers from Sports Direct addressed the court on the second day of proceedings in the legal battle between the two parties.

During the hearing, Rangers lawyer William McCormick QC stated that Rangers had repaid the £5 million loan granted to the club by Mike Ashley.

However, David Quest QC, representing Sports Direct, said those claims had been investigation and found not to be entirely accurate.

He told Justice Peter Smith: “Yesterday it was said the £5m loan had been repaid, which was something that came as a surprise to me.”