Month: January 2025

Are Humans Unique? Heriot-Watt Chaplaincy explores faith with neuroscience

Neuroscience will be used to explore the relationship between faith and science at this year’s Annual Public Lecture by Heriot-Watt University’s Chaplaincy in Edinburgh.

Dr Sharon Dirckx, an author, international speaker and former brain imaging scientist, will deliver the free lecture, entitled Are Humans Unique?, on Monday 3 February, from 7pm-8.30pm at the James Watt Centre on the University’s Riccarton campus.

Dr Dirckx studied biochemistry before moving into research in the area of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging [FMRI], a type of scanning that enables scientists to look inside the brain – without cutting into it – at its structure and activity, in all kinds of situations.

“I became fascinated with this technique and studied for a PhD at the University of Cambridge, before conducting postdoctoral research into the brain networks involved in human cocaine abuse at the Medical College of Wisconsin in the United States,” Dr Dirckx explained.

She describes her lecture at Heriot-Watt University Chaplaincy as a ‘neuroscientific exploration of mind, soul and consciousness.’

“I’ll consider different philosophical and scientific approaches to the essence of humanity,” she said. “By taking a materialist approach to mind, soul and consciousness, I’ll show that matter is not all you need to explain everything about understanding humans. I’ll also show how clinical neuroscience and theological considerations create a complex picture.”

Each year, the Chaplaincy’s Annual Public Lecture explores the relationship between science and faith through a current issue or scientific development. Are they mutually exclusive, or might they combine to offer deeper insights into the world as we know it?

The Reverend Jane Howitt, Chaplain of Heriot-Watt University, said: “We are delighted that Dr Dirckx is presenting our annual public lecture and look forward to hearing her insights into science and theology.” 

Dr Dirckx will also be the guest preacher on Sunday 2 February at Heriot-Watt University’s 58th annual Anniversary Service. This celebrates the University receiving a Royal Charter in 1966 and will take place at 10.30am in Currie Kirk parish church in Currie on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Dr Dirckx’s career includes working for 12 years as a lecturer and tutor at the Oxford Christian Centre for Apologetics (OCCA), a charity that works with local churches to help people respond to difficult questions and objections to Christianity in workplaces, schools, the media and the arts.

Her books include Broken Planet (IVP Books, 2023), which asks why God allows natural disasters and diseases and was longlisted for the International Society for Science and Religion book Prize 2024; Am I just my brain? (The Good Book Company, 2019), which explores human consciousness and identity; and an award-winning book on suffering, entitled Why?: Looking at God, evil and personal suffering (IVP Books, 2013).

The Chaplaincy on Heriot-Watt’s Edinburgh Campus exists to promote spiritual and social wellbeing. It is open to everyone – both students and staff – from all backgrounds and cultures. People of all faiths and no religious faith are welcome.

The Chaplaincy Annual Public Lecture is one of the main events in the Heriot-Watt University calendar. 

The lecture is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served from 1815.

This lecture will be interpreted into British Sign Language (BSL)

To attend this event in person, please register via Eventbrite by Thursday 30 January 2025:

Register on Eventbrite

“There must be a point where we go beyond analysis and accept that this is a serious problem that needs urgent political action”

RCEM responds to new ONS research into deaths linked to long A&E stays

Comprehensive new statistical analysis of the link between long stays in A&E and the associated risk of dying, confirms the huge threat to life the issue creates – and must be a catalyst for political action.  

That’s the call from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine following the release of a defining new study by the Office for National Statistics – the UK’s official statistical authority – which was published yesterday (17 January 2025).  

The research examined the cohort of people who required non-immediate care and were treated, admitted or discharged alive from an A&E in England between 21 March 2021 and 30 April 2022.  

It concludes that patients who wait in A&E for more than two hours are exposed to an increasing risk of death.  

And by the time a patient reaches a stay of more than 12 hours in an Emergency Department, they are twice as likely to die within 30 days as those treated, admitted or discharged within two hours.  

This is even after accounting for differences in case mix and other important factors such as age.  

ONS 1

Although using different methodology, and looking at different patient groups, the ONS data supports the conclusion of the Jones and Moulton Study from 2023.  

Using that research, it can be calculated that in 2023 there were almost 14,000 deaths associated with long ED stays before admission.  

Dr Adrian Boyle, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “This is a seminal piece of work by the ONS, the authoritative national voice of data, which validates and reinforces what we know; long waits in the ED are extremely dangerous and a significant threat to patient safety. We thank the ONS team for their hard work and diligence.  

“Hundreds of deaths each week are associated with long waits in A&E – each one someone’s loved one – mums, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents. 

“We focus on the four-hour target for admission, treatment or discharge – but we have to acknowledge that this standard was put in place before 12, 24 and even 48 hour stays became common. Things have deteriorated significantly, and the system must accept that and respond to it.   

“There must be a point where we go beyond analysis and accept that this is a serious problem that needs urgent political action. 

“This data is too compelling to ignore and must be the catalyst for change.”   

The ONS study comes just a day after the Royal College of Nursing published its own harrowing findings detailing the reality of corridor care in our health care, including the horrifying testimonies of more than 5,000 frontline nurses.

There’s plenty for fans of South Asian film to enjoy this month at Vue Edinburgh Ocean

As the appetite for South Asian content continues to grow across the UK, Vue Edinburgh Ocean is proud to be showcasing films from across the region throughout the year.

This month alone, Vue is screening four titles, kickstarting with Sky Force, a gripping story inspired by extraordinary true events surrounding one of the deadliest air strikes between India and Pakistan, and Deva (from 31 January) which follows a brilliant yet rebellious police officer who uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal while investigating a high-profile case.

Malayalam movie Praavinkoodu Shappu will be arriving at Vue next week (24 January). Set after hours at a toddy shop, it follows 11 people who have stayed inside, playing cards and drinking all night. When the owner of the shop is found hanging dead in the middle of the shop, SI Santhosh finds himself caught up in a web of mysterious and strange suspects.

Also arriving this month is the Tamil crime drama Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 (from 31 January), following a loving husband and father drawn into a dangerous crime network.

Ian Chester, General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Ocean, said: “The appetite for South Asian films continues to soar and Vue is proud to champion this brilliant content.

“Dedicated film festivals and cultural events celebrating South Asia’s vibrant storytelling, coupled with increasing global recognition and growing audience demand, have helped shine a spotlight on this incredible industry.

“We’re proud to call ourselves home to so many brilliant South Asian titles this year.”

Edinburgh moves another step closer to a Tourist Tax

Councillors have agreed to adopt Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme, subject to further officer advice on the transition period and final approval by Council next week.

The final proposals for the scheme, updated to take account the findings of the 12-week public consultation, were presented by officers at a special meeting of the Policy & Sustainability Committee yesterday (17 January).

The final decision will be made by Council on Friday, 24 January.

Responding to the decision (which is set out in full below), Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Today represented yet another important milestone in our journey towards securing a visitor levy for Edinburgh – and to realising a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest tens of millions of pounds towards enhancing and sustaining the things that make our city such a great place to visit – and live in – all year round.

“At all stages of this process, we’ve listened to and taken account of the views of residents, industry and other stakeholders – and we mustn’t lose sight of just how much positivity there is for the scheme across all of these groups.

“It’s in this spirit that we’re considering the further submissions received from the wider tourism sector this week, ensuring we’re as well informed as we can be ahead of taking a decision next Friday.

“I remain focused on delivering a scheme that will be both fit for purpose and workable – and that will benefit our city, our residents and our visitors for many years to come.”

The full webcast of yesterday’s meeting along with the committee report is available on the council’s website. 

Committee decision in full:

To approve the following adjusted Motion by Councillor Meagher:

1)       To note the outcome of the consultation on the draft Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme.

2)       To agree to adopt the final Visitor Levy for Edinburgh scheme, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report by the Interim Executive Director of Place, with the exception of the proposed three-month transition period and note this would be subject to further officer advice ahead of the decision of Council, and with the following change:

At 7. Participatory budgeting (£2m over 3 years). The following wording be added “with appropriate audit checks in place to ensure that these funds are spent on facilitating the achievement of the scheme’s objectives.”

3)       To agree to begin the recruitment for the Chair of the Visitor Levy Forum immediately, with the appointment subject to the approval of the Council.

4)       To agree in principle the use of the Spend to Save fund to support preparatory work for the Edinburgh Visitor Levy scheme as well as its implementation.

5)       To refer the report to the Council meeting on 24 January 2025 for approval and ratification of the scheme and the use of Spend to Save funding.

6)       To agree to defer the following items in Appendix 6 to the report by the Interim Executive Director of Place as individual reports to each relevant executive committee for discussion / approval.

                     2. Mitigation of Tourism on Housing

                     5. City Operations and Infrastructure

6. Culture, Heritage and Events

7. Destination and Visitor Management.

7)      To note that, should Council approve the scheme, each investment theme would be presented to the relevant executive committee for approval, and to agree to reaffirm previously agreed principles, namely that spending should:

a)       prioritise additionality in terms of investment in services and improvement projects, and,

b)       wherever possible and in a way that was consistent with the statutory requirements, be used to benefit communities across Edinburgh and not just the core city centre.

8)     To agree that the development of projects under the TVL themes for investment should also demonstrate their adherence to existing Council strategies where applicable.

9)     To agree that the Visitor Levy Forum should contain an equal number of representatives from community and business organisation and recommend that at least 40% of the representatives must be women.

10)    To note that an initial decision on how housing funds would be spent would come to Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee in May 2025 and to request that this report should set out what options were legally possible across different housing tenures including social housing.

Change of date for Walled Garden Wassailing celebrations

Due to illness we are having to reschedule our Wassailing celebrations to next Sunday, 26 January, 1-3 pm.

We are very sorry for the late notice change. We will still be open this Sunday and will have a reduced amount of drinks and cakes available but our main celebrations will now be taking place on 26 January.

#grantoncastlewalledgarden

#grantoncastle

#grantoncommunity

#granton

#wassailing

#changeofplans

#rescheduling

FAI into deaths at Polmont YOI

Justice Secretary responds to written determination of Fatal Accident Inquiry

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has responded to the published determination of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the deaths at Polmont YOI of Katie Allan and William Lindsay (also known – and referred to in the determination – as William Brown).

Ms Constance said: “My deepest sympathies and condolences are with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay who have lost a child and sibling. I am deeply sorry about their deaths and that their families have had to wait so long for the conclusion of this process.

“I fully appreciate that this has been an arduous process and will have compounded the trauma and distress of the families.

“Deaths from suicide in custody are as tragic as they are preventable, and the deaths of these two young people should not have happened whilst they were in the care of the state.

“I thank Sheriff Collins for his detailed determination which has highlighted a number of reasonable precautions that should have been taken and systemic failures that must be addressed to help prevent other deaths in custody. His recommendations will be given very careful and detailed consideration.

“Work has been carried out since Katie Allan and William Lindsay’s deaths in 2018 to reduce the instances happening again, including action by the Scottish Prison Service to remove ligature points in cells. However, there is clearly more to be done and this must be done at pace. It is absolutely crucial that both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service  make the systemic changes required to prevent and reduce suicides in custody based on these recommendations.”

INQUEST director Deborah Coles said: “(I am) full of respect and admiration for these families who have fought for truth for 6 years.

“The emotional toll placed on them is often overlooked and how others bereaved after state violence and neglect feel their pain as they see deaths repeated and no accountability or change.”

New regulations under the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force on 28 August last year which means that no under-18s will be detained in a Young Offenders Institution but instead in suitable settings such as secure care.

The Cabinet Secretary intends to make a statement to Parliament next week.

Man and woman charged following enquiries to locate family

A 32-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman have been arrested and charged following enquiries to locate a family in Edinburgh.

​The family, last seen in the Captain’s Road area yesterday – Thursday, 16 January, 2025 – were traced safe and well.​

The man and woman are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 20 January, 2025.

Man jailed for robbery and attempted robbery with imitation firearm in Glasgow and Edinburgh

A man has been jailed in connection with a robbery in Glasgow and an attempted robbery in Edinburgh that happened in February 2024.

Issa Mohamed, 30, was sentenced to four years and eight months at the High Court in Kilmarnock on Thursday, 16 January, 2025, after being found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024.

The first incident happened on Tuesday, 13 February, 2024,  Mohamed threatened a 37-year-old woman with an imitation firearm at a property on St Vincent Street, Glasgow, stealing her phone and a quantity of cash. 

The second happened on Saturday, 17 February, 2024, he threatened a 60-year-old woman with an imitation firearm and attempted to rob her at an address on Powderhall Rigg, Edinburgh.  Both victims were left shaken but unhurt. 

Detective Constable Gary Lipscombe said: “Mohamed’s actions were calculated and deeply distressing for the two women involved.

“His conviction reflects the seriousness of his crimes and demonstrates our determination to hold offenders accountable.

“Violence has no place in our society, and we will continue working to bring those responsible to justice and keep our communities safe.”

Chancellor calls on watchdog bosses to tear down regulatory barriers that hold back growth

  • Chancellor pledges to work with regulators to develop ambitious reforms.    
  • Today’s summit marks the first in a series of meetings with the regulators ahead of publishing action plan.
  • Reeves welcomes initial ideas from regulators to boost innovation and investment, but pushes for more ambition.

The CEOs of key regulators were urged to ‘tear down regulatory barriers’ that hold back economic growth at a summit in the Treasury yesterday.    

In a meeting hosted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade, chief executives at watchdogs covering sectors including railways, water, energy, aviation were told that economic growth is the absolute top priority for the government, as part of the Plan for Change for put more money in people’s pockets.    

The meeting was the first in a series following a joint letter from the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Business and Trade in December, in which the government asked the regulators to each propose five reforms to support growth in the coming year. Over the coming weeks, 17 regulators will be called in to have their proposals scrutinised as the government leaves no stone unturned to deliver growth.    

At yesterday’s meeting, the Chancellor told the regulators that they would have a key role to play in delivering growth by helping to create a regulatory environment that unlocks innovation and investment, supports businesses to thrive and allows much needed infrastructure to be built.    

The regulators agreed with the Chancellor that they have a role to play in driving growth but highlighted that there are some barriers, including the need to balance growth with their other legal responsibilities.    

The Chancellor noted that the regulators’ responsibilities had accumulated over time and said she was open to hearing about where this was preventing them from taking clear, consistent and balance actions to drive growth.

She emphasised the importance of leadership to deliver a mindset shift on regulation, calling on each of the CEOs in the room to institute cultural change based on helping to deliver growth instead of excessively focusing on risk. 

The Chancellor also promised that the government would work with them to develop and deliver important reforms by playing its part, including by making time for legislation where it is needed or using the upcoming Spending Review, and noted the Prime Minister’s promise to rip up regulation that blocks investment to make the regulatory regime fit for the modern age.    

The Chancellor was clear that while some of the proposals already put forward were promising, she wanted to see greater ambition and urgency to drive economic growth. She emphasised that fresh ideas were needed and noted that the Government will also ask industry to come forward with their own ideas to deliver a more growth supportive regulatory environment.    

She highlighted some specific and promising ideas she had heard from the regulators today. These included: driving greater responsiveness to business demands, particularly on planning and license applications; grant funding administered by Ofwat to drive innovation in the water sector supply chain; energy tariff reform; increasing access to rail operator efficiency data and innovative drone solutions which would unlock growth in the public sector.   

The regulators agreed to continue working with the government on their proposals reform ahead of publishing an action plan in Spring, and welcomed today’s strategic discussion. 

The Chancellor finished the meeting by reiterating that leadership matters, noting that every regulator would have to play their part to improve living standards across the country.    

Following the meeting, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “There’s no substitute for growth. It’s the only way to create more jobs and put more money in people’s pockets, which is why it’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.     

“Every regulator, no matter what sector, has a part to play by tearing down the regulatory barriers that hold back growth. I want to see this mission woven into the very fabric of our regulators through a cultural shift from excessively focusing on risk to helping drive growth.”