GLASGOW TIMES 
‘I welcome it’: Glasgow SNP MSPs facing selection contests accept the challenge
TWO long-serving Glasgow MSPs are facing a challenge to being selected as candidates for next year’s Holyrood election. SNP rule changes have made it easier for sitting MSPs to be challenged in a bid to increase diversity among election candidates.
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THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN
Rector candidate Junaid Ashraf to stand in Scottish Parliamentary election
Junaid Ashraf has confirmed that he will be seeking to stand in next year’s Scottish parliamentary election. The University of Glasgow graduate, candidate for Rector and Scottish National Party (SNP) councillor Junaid Ashraf has declared his intention to stand for selection for the SNP in the Glasgow Cathcart constituency for the 2021 Scottish parliamentary election.
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THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN 
Rector candidate Junaid Ashraf says University has fallen short to support students
Ashraf released a video statement on Facebook advising students to support one another and collect through the student bodies and societies. Candidate for Rector Junaid Ashraf has released a statement accusing the University of Glasgow of “falling short” to support students during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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THE NATIONAL 
SNP hopeful Junaid Ashraf seeks double win in 2021
A HOLYROOD 2021 hopeful who aims to take the SNP ticket from a sitting MSP could run two elections next year as he bids for a university role. Councillor Junaid Ashraf was amongst the five candidates standing in the race to become Glasgow University rector this year before that was put off for 12 months due to the pandemic.
Read the article on thenational.scot >

THE NATIONAL 
Challengers emerge to take on sitting SNP MSPs as selection entries close
TWO long-serving SNP MSPs face selection contests for their seats as challengers emerged. James Dornan has represented Glasgow Cathcart since 2011, while colleague Kenneth Gibson has held his Cunninghame North constituency since 2007. Now both must go through a selection race after rivals told the party they want to run in 2021 instead.
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THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN 
North Lanarkshire Council unanimously supports Black Lives Matter
The motion has been put forward by deputy council leader Paul Kelly and University of Glasgow Rector candidate Junaid Ashraf. Councillors in the Glasgow suburb of North Lanarkshire have passed a unanimous decision to support the Black Lives Matter movement and review the process of decolonising education.
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DAILY RECORD 
Councillors agree history pupils should be taught about ‘reality of the former British Empire’
North Lanarkshire councillors have agreed to ensure pupils learning history are informed of negative issues such as slavery and imperialism. A motion put forward by the SNP – based on input from academics, educators and politicians – gained cross-party support, with the exception of the Conservatives who unsuccessfully proposed an amendment when it was presented at a full council meeting last week.
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DAILY RECORD 
North Lanarkshire bins to have electronic tags to monitor recycling
Thousands of bins across North Lanarkshire are to have new electronic tags installed to monitor recycling rates. Radio-frequency ID devices will be put onto the multiple wheelie bins of 5000 properties in the local authority area – and three bin lorries will then have smart technology installed to weigh the amounts of mixed recycling, food and garden, and residual waste being collected.
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DAILY RECORD 
North Lanarkshire political parties come together to support Black Lives Matter
Labour and the SNP’s motion will see the council establish a Cross Party Working Group to understand how North Lanarkshire Council and its partners can better deliver an environment where all residents are able to live their lives free from racism and discrimination
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THE NATIONAL 
Council set to launch first Scots bid to ‘eliminate racial injustice’
A COUNCIL will this week take “the biggest anti-racism step in Scotland” as it moves to bring in measures to ensure all residents live “free from discrimination”. Ruling Labour councillors and the SNP opposition in North Lanarkshire are expected to vote together this week on motions to “eliminate racial injustice and discrimination” and teach pupils “the full legacy of our history” including the atrocities of slavery and imperialism.
Read the article on thenational.scot >

THE NATIONAL 
‘Scotland’s biggest anti-racism step’ given the green light
A LOCAL authority’s bid to take “the biggest anti-racism step in Scotland” moved forward after members passed new rules for the council and classrooms. Two separate motions aimed at eliminating “racial injustice and discrimination” were put before North Lanarkshire Council’s latest full meeting.
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THE NATIONAL 
The Scots Independent: Promoting indy for more than 90 years
IT’S been a lot of fun being the propaganda rag of the independence movement for nearly a century now, the “Tartan Pravda” of the SNP Politburo since, well, before the SNP was born. The Scots Independent, or SI as it has been commonly referred to within the independence movement, was the first and only continuously published newspaper in support of the national movement.
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THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN 
Your rector nominees interviewed
This month, The Glasgow Guardian interviewed all five rector nominees to find out where they stand on campus issues, and a little more about their manifesto pledges. Rector Hustings will take place on Tuesday 17 March at 6pm in Bute Hall, giving you a chance to speak directly to the candidates and ask questions.
Read the article on glasgowguardian.co.uk >

THE GLASGOW GUARDIAN
Glasgow students protest against ‘hypocrite’ University involved in arms trade
Student activists are protesting once again to put pressure on the University to divest from the arms trade and ask why the University has not made a commitment to divestment yet.
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THE NATIONAL 
Muslim SNP councillor: ‘The silence around racism will only get worse under Boris Johnson’
HE’S one of Scotland’s youngest councillors, he’s amongst our few Asian politicians and he’s starring in a new BBC Scotland documentary. Junaid Ashraf is amongst the three figures featured in Young, Asian And Scots, which screens at 10pm on Tuesday night and explores Asian Scottish identity.
Read the article on thenational.scot >

THE SCOTTISH SUN 
Schoolkids refusing to eat in Cumbernauld school after fly infestation
SCHOOLKIDS are refusing to eat in the canteen of a Cumbernauld secondary school that has been infested with flies, it has been claimed. Horrified parents and pupils have slammed Greenfaulds High School for the infestation. And they allege it has happened due to toilet sanitary bins not being cleaned or emptied.
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DAILY RECORD 
Council warns climate change is doing as much damage as 500,000 atomic explosions each day
A doom-laden council meeting was warned that climate change is doing as much damage as 500,000 atomic explosions going off every day. Councillors were told that the polar ice caps are melting at a rate of 10,000 tonnes every second amid ominous talk of an “existential threat” and “extinction”.
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YES JUNAID ASHRAF
Our system is not fit for purpose – independence will let us change that – Yes
Often the UK is described as a family of nations, but I think it’s time for Scotland to move out and go our own way. We need to stand tall on our own two feet and decide the direction in life we want…
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CUMBERNAULD-NEWS
Refugees share their experiences of Syria
Syrian refugees who have settled in North Lanarkshire shared their experiences with S2 pupils at Greenfaulds High. They told the pupils about the torture and suffering they had endured and reminded them about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
Read the article on cumbernauld-news.co.uk >

THE NATIONAL
Cumbernauld councillor joins young Christian and Muslim leaders to learn in Rwanda
THE youngest councillor in Cumbernauld is among a group of ten young Christians and Muslims from across Scotland spending a week in Rwanda learning to build relationships across different races, religions and cultures.
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CUMBERNAULD-NEWS
Election a family affair for SNP
It’s a real family affair for the SNP in Cumbernauld who are toasting success in the North Lanarkshire Council elections. Tom Johnston, who was the party’s depute leader on the council, was returned safely in Cumbernauld East and he is now joined in the chamber by his wife, Cathie.
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THETIMES WILL HUMPHRIES
Muslims are more likely to study and run a business
Muslims in Scotland are more likely to be in higher education or self-employed than the rest of the population, a study shows. The number of Muslims educated to degree level or above rose from 22 per cent in 2001 to 38 per cent in 2011, more than the general population at 27 per cent.
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CUMBERNAULD-NEWS
Junaid puts the case for youth votes
A kilt-wearing Cumbernauld politician took the floor of the House of Commons to make a powerful case for 16 and 17 year-olds being able to vote. Junaid Ashraf, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth’s Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) was elected the Debate Lead for Scotland, and had the task of creating and delivering a speech advocating voting rights at 16 for all elections and referenda.
Read the article on cumbernauld-news.co.uk >