Day: June 14, 2024

EUROS 2024: Scotland has the most streamed national anthem

With the 2024 European Championships around the corner, a new report by leading online betting and gaming brand Betway has revealed that Scotland’s “Flower of Scotland” is the most popular national anthem of all time in Europe.

The Euros 2024 guide, produced by the bookmaker, scoured through every team’s national anthem to understand which national anthem takes the top spot in fan’s hearts as the most streamed on Spotify. 

In first place, Scotland’s national anthem “Flower of Scotland” by The Corries had almost 5 million streams on Spotify.  An estimated 200,000 Scottish fans are expected to be proudly singing their national anthem at the Euros this summer as they initially take on Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in their group matches.

In second place is the French’s “Marseillaise”, with 4.2 million streams, while Italy’s “Il Canto degli Italiani” came in third place with 3.4 million streams.

England’s traditional “God save the King” came in 4th place with just over 1.5 million streams, while the Euros host country Germany came in 5th place, with 1.3 million streams for “Deutsche Nationalhymme”.

At the other end, Poland and Spain ranked in 9th and 10th place, with 525,613 and 502,656 streams respectively. 

The 10 most-streamed national anthems

RankCountryTitleArtistSpotify streams
1ScotlandFlower of ScotlandThe Corries                      4,823,383 
2FranceMarseillaiseClaude Joseph Rouget de Lisle                      4,246,923 
3ItalyIl Canto degli ItalianiNational Anthem Band                      3,440,658 
4EnglandGod save the kingTraditional                      1,566,902 
5GermanyDeutsche Nationalhymne (Lied der Deutschen, nur dritte Strophe)Nationalhymne Deutschland                      1,353,505 
6NetherlandsHet WilhelmusUniversal Band                      1,034,824 
7SwitzerlandSchweizerpsalmKpm National Anthems                          687,498 
8Turkeyİstiklâl MarşıOssi Orkestrasi                          680,498 
9PolandMazurek DąbrowskiegoKrakowski Chor Kameralny/ Polish Chamber Choir                          525,613 
10SpainMarcha RealJose Angel Tello                          502,656

Chad Yeomans, spokesperson at Betway, said: “The Scottish Government may not have officially adopted Flower of Scotland yet, but our research shows there’s no more popular national anthem in Europe!

“National anthems sung before a fixture kicks off have the power to unite travelling fans like nothing else can.

“One thing is for sure, when Scotland faces Germany in the opening match of the Euros the Tartan Army will be in full voice and are sure to produce a rousing and goosebump-inducing rendition of the famous song.”

For more information about the research and about the UEFA Euro 2024, please visit: https://blog.betway.com/football/the-complete-guide-to-euro-2024-in-germany/ 

Two arrested and charged following Wester Drylaw drugs raid

Class A drugs with a potential street value of over £37,000 have been recovered in North Edinburgh.

Today – Friday, 14 June, 2024 – police searched a premises under warrant on Wester Drylaw Drive, after intelligence was recieved that the property was involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

A substantial quantity of cocaine was sezied and a six figure sum of cash was also recovered from the property.

A 27-year-old man and a 28-year-old were arrested and charged in connection with drug offences. They were released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.

Police Scotland is committed to the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce and the country’s Serious Organised Crime Strategy, and will continue to remove illegal substances from communities.​

Anyone with concerns about drugs in their community can contact us via 101, or calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Edinburgh young people invited to take part in life-changing CashBack Summer Programme

  • Run by leading creative engagement charity Impact Arts, the free Summer programme will take over space at Edinburgh’s City Arts Centre in July and August
  • Young participants will work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors before a celebratory showcase at the beginning of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Edinburgh young people aged 14 – 24 are being invited to explore their creativity and boost their confidence this summer break, as creative engagement charity Impact Arts gets set to bring its successful CashBack Summer programme to the city once again. 

CashBack to the Future offers a completely free 5-week summer programme, giving young people the chance to work with professional artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors on invigorating creative projects. Young participants will have the chance to learn new skills, improve their physical and mental health, make friends, build their confidence, and have fun. 

Designed to help increase creative confidence, as well as offering the chance to gain SQA qualifications or a dynamic youth award, CashBack to the Future has been run in the city by Impact Arts for the last six years.

Over the years hundreds of young people across Scotland have been supported by the project, which is designed to benefit participants who find school tricky; struggle with mental health; are care experienced; or are new to Scotland. It is funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative, which backs projects helping disadvantaged young people. 

CashBack Summer will take place at The City Art Centre from 8 July – 7 August, running Mondays to Wednesdays.

It will culminate in a showcase on 07 August, during the first week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, celebrating the participants’ work and their achievements for friends, family, and the public to attend.

At the same time as the Edinburgh groups, Impact Arts will also run parallel CashBack groups in both Glasgow and North Ayrshire over the same five weeks this Summer.  

More information on the CashBack Summer programme can be found at:

https://www.impactarts.co.uk/project/cashback-summer 

Hourglass pushes for Safer Ageing election agenda with OATH Campaign

With an extra NINE MILLION older people, a population the size of London, set to populate the UK by 2050, Hourglass is calling on all Westminster hopefuls to underline their Safer Ageing plans – and take the OATH, a new campaign to increase awareness of the social care timebomb.

Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse and neglect of older people, has launched its own manifesto entitled ‘A Safer Ageing Society by 2050’ and is urging the political elite and general public alike to sign up to support it HERE:  

The campaign, OATH (Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope) is a pledge to support their 2050 target and to work alongside older people, the age sector and Hourglass itself in raising the profile of this often-unspoken issue. 

The charity points to the creation of a London-sized city, full of over sixties by 2050. That’s 9.6 million more older people in the UK. And, they say, for the first time they’ll be more over 60s than under 16s. The charity underlines that this is a social care timebomb waiting to explode. 

As the charity’s Policy Director and Deputy CEO, Veronica Gray, illustrates, Hourglass’s big ask isn’t quite as unreachable as it first appears: “Let’s think about it from the opposite perspective.

“If we knew there was to be nine million extra bouncing babies in the next twenty-five years, governments across the UK would be planning now.  There would be a strategy to accommodate and ensure their safe arrival into the world. 

“There would be new schools, nurseries, perhaps maternity hospitals and safeguarding teams. Early years planning, investment into midwives and ante-natal units would be on the horizon. Our parliamentary representatives would be falling over themselves to promise a safe future for the impending influx of babies. Not just kissing them for the cameras.

“This is unquestionably a population boom – just at the other end of the spectrum. This ageing population needs to be celebrated, safe, independent and free from abuse. This seems like a fairly obvious step and worthy of support and understanding. Hence the Hourglass target of creating a Safer Ageing Society by 2050.”

Therefore, Hourglass is also scrutinising what plans the political parties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have outlined in their manifesto. And so far, in terms of protecting older people from abuse, harm, exploitation and neglect, the charity believes there has been precious little forward planning at all. 

Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, explains: “Hourglass believes, with the impending older population surge and 2.5 million people affected by the abuse of older people annually, we need as many active voices as possible to make the case. The political dial now needs to move to address this significant upsurge and the social care needs of this population shift. 

“We are working to analyse, with a variety of indicators, how seriously each political party is taking the notion of a Safer Ageing future. We will be announcing the results next Friday (21st June) and this, Election Safer Ageing Index, will also be used to scrutinise performance as the new parliamentary term takes shape.”

Hourglass, which has been working to support older-victims of abuse and neglect since 1994, has a unique 24/7 helpline, instant messenger and Knowledge Bank service. These services are already under threat due to delayed decision-making on future funding mechanisms.

Richard Robinson continues: “Whoever comes to power after 4th July, has to urgently secure service provision and agree funding for charities like Hourglass. This will go some distance in paving the way for a Safer Ageing future – but this is the bare minimum.

“The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) commitments, whilst inspirational and much-needed, need to be replicated for older victim-survivors. This is another key consideration for the next Downing Street resident.”

The charity was recently in the headlines for working to develop and script the story of Yolande Trueman, in BBCs EastEnders. This, along with many other factors has seen the charity’s calls hit over 700 a week and with a likely 50,000 contacts per year.  

Funding commitments show UK as ‘force for global good’ at G7 Summit

SUNAK’S LAST STAND ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE?

The Prime Minister will make the case for a world economy that is more peaceful, stable, and prosperous and for bold reforms to global governance to make it more inclusive and responsive to citizens as he attends the second day of the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy today (Friday 14 June).

  • PM to call for peaceful, stable, prosperous world economy at G7. 
  • Millions of development funding to help tackle climate change in Africa. 
  • New programme to fund safe and responsible AI projects across the globe.

During a global outreach session focused on Artificial Intelligence and Energy, and Africa and the Mediterranean, he will argue that this means reforming the international financial system to unlock the finance we need to accelerate progress against the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the voices of the most vulnerable at the top table of international politics. 

He will outline the importance of supporting countries in delivering their own clean energy transitions, and in harnessing the opportunities presented by AI.

To support this he will announce multi-year ODA funding which could exceed £100m, including several high-impact African projects and a £20m expansion of the AI for Development programme into Asia – building on £38m the UK is already investing in Africa.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The UK is committed to driving a more effective international system that improves lives for people across the globe and at home. 

“The green transition and the development of AI are key components of this, and the funding announced today will help ensure that these seismic changes happen in a way that works for all.”

The AI for Development programme, was launched at the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit in November 2023 to fund safe and responsible AI projects for development around the world, beginning in Africa.  

The UK-Canada partnership, with support from the US, Australia, and other partners, will help ensure this ground-breaking technology is accessible to as many people as possible across the globe as well as deliver new AI labs to train the next generation of developers, policymakers and thought leaders, to drive responsible and inclusive AI policy. 

The funding outlined today includes £57m of ODA to the Climate Compatible Growth Programme, which will accelerate the roll-out of improved, climate resilient infrastructure in developing countries. It will provide even more countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia with the UK expertise needed to support improved, climate resilient infrastructure. 

The multi-year ODA funding will include up to £35 million into the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa will catalyse greater investment into sustainable infrastructure projects across the continent. The finance will help to bridge Africa’s infrastructure deficit, by accelerating investment at scale into new green infrastructure.  

Partnering with the World Bank and the EU to support African regional electricity transmission and strengthen climate resilience, £15m will contribute to the Zambian side of the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector as part of a $300m project that will link the Southern and East African Power Pools.

Leading with our development partners to invest in energy infrastructure in Zambia will aid the country to access clean energy. This is vital for poverty reduction and economic development.  

This investment, alongside a £300,000 contribution for mapping by the British Geological Survey in Angola, will be crucial in supporting the economic development along the length of the Lobito Corridor. 

The funding also includes £500,000 for an initiative to support planning, prioritisation and implementation of green infrastructure initiatives between the UK, the Government of Kenya and the wider G7.

Focusing on transport projects selected from the Africa Green Industrialisation Initiative (AGII), this innovative partnership will lead to closer cooperation with the Kenyan Government on strategic infrastructure and investment and is the first partnership between the G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and AGII.

All very impressive – and lots of nice pictures for the family album – but is it enough to save the Tory government and Rishi Sunak’s job?

Mappin & Webb opens it’s largest Scottish showroom on Multrees Walk

Mappin & Webb, renowned for their exquisite watches and jewellery, is pleased to announce the opening of their new showroom in the heart of the luxury retail quarter on Multrees Walk.

The double-storey showroom offers a truly luxurious experience for customers looking for the perfect timepiece or piece of jewellery.

On the ground floor, customers will find dedicated brand areas for Cartier, the renowned luxury Maison has a dedicated space to present its most iconic timepieces, where clients will be invited to explore collections including Tank, Santos de Cartier, and Ballon Bleu de Cartier. In addition to the latest iterations of Panthère de Cartier, Tank Normale, and Baignoire.

There are branded areas featuring TUDOR watches which showcases the brand’s iconic collections, including the Black Bay, Pelagos, and Royal. A Breitling branded area which is renowned for its casual, inclusive, and sustainable approach to luxury.

Plus, a Girard-Perregaux area, known for its impeccable craftsmanship and features the Watches of Switzerland centenary exclusive Laureato timepiece. Each brand area showcases the latest collections and offers a personalised shopping experience for customers looking for the perfect watch.

On the first floor of the showroom, customers can browse a stunning selection of jewellery and receive expert advice on choosing the perfect piece for any occasion, including jewellery offerings from Pasquale Bruni, and Mappin and Webb’s limited edition diamond jewellery. It also offers a dedicated area for the Watches of Switzerland pre-owned timepieces, and a dedicated after sales area.

In addition to the impressive selection of watches and jewellery, clients can also relax in the elegant surroundings of the bar/hospitality area. Whether they are shopping for a special occasion or simply treating themselves, customers can enjoy a drink whilst browsing the showroom’s offerings.

Craig Bolton, President of The Watches of Switzerland Group UK & Europe said; “We are delighted to be opening a double-storey Mappin & Webb showroom in the heart of the luxury retail quarter on Multrees Walk.

“This is our largest Mappin and Webb showroom in Scotland, with two-floors of the finest Swiss timepieces and luxury jewellery collections available to our clients. There is a large Cartier area on the ground floor with further watch brand areas from TUDOR, Breitling, Girard-Perregaux and a new Watches of Switzerland Pre-Owned area on the first floor.

“We are also delighted to be the first retailer in Edinburgh to offer our clients the latest collections for luxury jeweller Pasquale Bruni, alongside the Mappin & Webb own brand jewellery on the first floor. We look forward to welcoming new and existing clients to this fantastic new showroom.”

Commenting on the new store, Adam Stone, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at Nuveen said: “The arrival of Mappin & Webb is extremely exciting, and we are delighted that the retailer has chosen Multrees Walk Edinburgh for their latest and largest boutique in Scotland.

“With designated watch and jewellery areas, a private hospitality and VIP area, pre-owned watch gallery plus a large after-sales area, the new store will enrich the Multrees Walk luxury shopping experience even further.”

Volunteer opportunity with Vintage Vibes

Do you love playing the piano and a good sing along? Our over 60s singing group, Vocal Vibes is looking for a fabulous volunteer to join them on piano.

The group brings together isolated older people to build confidence and connections through the shared love of singing!

As a volunteer you will accompany the song leader in the sessions and performances and collaborate with the group to select songs from throughout the decades. Fab piano and musical skills are needed and experience working with singing groups would be great but not essential.

This is an in-person volunteering role. Vocal Vibes meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 11am -1pm in an accessible city centre venue close to several transport links.

If you think you can help, please get in touch at hello@vintagevibes.org.uk or visit vintagevibes.org.uk/help-us/get-involved/.

UNISON members overwhelmingly reject council pay offer

SUMMER STRIKES LOOMING

Council and school workers in Scotland belonging to UNISON have voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay offer from local government employers, says the union today (Friday).

Thousands of staff employed by councils indicated they were unhappy with the pay proposal put forward by COSLA with 91% of those balloted choosing to reject, UNISON says.

The workers were made a two-stage offer which would operate over an 18-month period. It gives a 2.2% increase for the first six months and an additional 2% for a further 12 months of the deal, ending in September next year.

UNISON will now begin the process of formally balloting groups of workers about selective strike action over the coming weeks.

UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Colette Hunter said: “This result must be a wake-up call for COSLA that council workers need to be fairly rewarded for the essential services they provide. Staff have experienced years of cuts to their pay levels and a reversal has to begin.

“The last thing anyone wants to do is go on strike, but local government workers deserve a fair increase to stop their pay lagging further behind inflation, and the wage increases being given to other sectors of the economy.

“Workers have seen the value of their pay fall over the past ten years, often while being asked to do even more. They provide vital services to their communities by caring for the most vulnerable, educating children, waste and recycling and keeping people safe. Council workers deserve better.”

Exonerations for wrongly convicted sub-postmasters

Post Office Horizon law comes into force

Sub-postmasters in Scotland who were wrongly convicted as a result of the Post Office Horizon scandal will be automatically exonerated today.

The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent yesterday (13 June 2024) and comes into force today (Friday 14 June).

The legislation was passed in the Scottish Parliament on 30 May 2024 to deliver justice to victims as swiftly as possible and enable them to access the UK Government financial redress scheme.

Working with the Crown Office, the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission and the Post Office, the Scottish Government will notify those affected and ensure police and court records are amended. There is also a route for victims to bring their cases to the attention of Ministers.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has written an open letter to sub-postmasters setting out next steps.

The Justice Secretary said: “This legislation automatically exonerates sub-postmasters who were convicted of crimes of dishonesty that they did not commit due to the Post Office’s faulty Horizon IT system, meaning they are eligible to access the redress scheme.

“Of course, no amount of compensation can fully mend the lives that were torn apart by this miscarriage of justice. I do hope, however, that this legislation goes some way to righting the terrible wrongs of the past.

“I will be writing to those affected to tell them their convictions have been quashed and ensuring court records are changed, so the victims of this scandal can have their good names restored as quickly as possible. They have already waited too long for justice.”

The Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Act automatically exonerates convicted sub-postmasters where the following criteria are met:

  • the conviction was for embezzlement, fraud, theft, uttering or an ancillary offence committed between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018
  • the person was carrying on a Post Office business, or working in a Post Office for the purpose of a Post Office business
  • the conviction was in connection with carrying on, or working for the purpose of the Post Office business
  • the Horizon system was being used for the purposes of the Post Office business in the relevant Post Office

Those who meet the criteria and whose appeals were refused in the High Court will also be exonerated.

Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice Secretary’s open letter to postmasters

Sub-postmasters can make the Scottish Government aware of any convictions by emailing PostOfficeConvictions@gov.scot or by writing to:

Post Office Convictions

Room GW14

Saint Andrew’s House

1 Regent Road

Edinburgh

EH1 3DG

Appeal for witnesses following serious crash on the A701 Liberton Road

Road policing officers are appealing for information following a serious crash on the A701 Liberton Road in Edinburgh.

The crash, involving a black Honda CBR 650 motorbike and a blue Skoda Octavia, happened around 12.35pm on Wednesday afternoon (12 June, 2024).

Emergency services attended and the 29-year-old male rider of the motorbike was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.

The driver and passenger of the car were not injured.

Two pedestrians, a 59-year-old woman and a 61-year-old man who were injured as a result of the incident were also taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

The road was closed to allow for investigations to be carried out and re-opened around 6.30pm.

Sergeant Birrell said: “Our enquiries are ongoing and I am appealing for anyone who has any information to contact us.

“I would particularly appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and who witnessed the crash or who has dash cam footage which may assist to get in touch.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1568 of 12 June, 2024.