Day: March 16, 2025

Varsity American Football Game 2025

A highlight of the Scottish student sporting calendar, the Varsity American football game has been played annually since 2012 and returns to Meggetland Stadium on Wednesday.

The Knights play traditional rivals the University of Edinburgh Mavericks, as both teams fight it out for the most spectacular trophy in UK American Football.

This year’s game is held on a mid-week evening under the floodlights at Meggetland Stadium, Wednesday 19th March, with a 7pm Kickoff.

With all the usual on and off-field family friendly entertainment including live music and the Canalside Bar will be open throughout with hot food available. 

Last years game produced fireworks during, on and off the field, with the Edinburgh Mavericks edging the game in a 14-6 victory.

Meggetland sports complex features a seated stand for watching the action.

Join us under the lights for the city’s biggest American Football fixture of the season!

Tickets are Adults £5, Students £3, and U-16’s Free Entry and can be purchased in advance online or on the gate. Gates open from 6pm, with a 7pm kickoff.

Head Coach of the Knights, Pete Laird, explained why he was looking forward to the game: “This has been an incredible season for the Knights as we claimed the Scottish Division and advanced all the way to the UK Northern Final.

“Now we have an opportunity to finish the season with one last game, a true Cup Final, against our biggest rivals in an Edinburgh Derby match’

 ‘The mid-week Varsity game is such a fantastic event for all those who attend. A bumper crowd of all ages really seem to enjoy watching American Football under the floodlights.

“There’s so much noise, colour, and entertainment on offer, and the players all rise to the occasion to put on a great performance. It’s sure to be another fantastic evening, and with free entry for kids I’m sure the stadium will be jumping again!”

Ticket Link:  Napier Knights Varsity Match

‘Coalition of the Willing’: The world needs action, says Starmer

PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT FOLLOWING LEADERS’ MEETING

This morning I convened the largest, strongest group of countries yet behind a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. 

Now a huge amount has happened since I brought leaders together at Lancaster House here in London, just two weeks ago. 

President Zelenskyy has shown once again, and beyond any doubt, that Ukraine is the party of peace. Volodymyr has committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

But Putin is trying to delay – saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place. 

Well, the world needs action. Not a study, not empty words and conditions. So my message is very clear. Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table. 

So, this is the moment, let the guns fall silent, let the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, stop and agree to a ceasefire now.

And let’s be clear why this is so important – Russia’s appetite for conflict and chaos undermines our security back here at home.

It drives up the cost of living. It drives up energy costs.

So this matters deeply to the United Kingdom. 

That is why now is the time to engage in discussions on a mechanism to manage and monitor a full ceasefire and agree to serious negotiations towards not just a pause but a lasting peace, backed by strong security arrangements through our Coalition of the Willing.  

And we won’t sit back and wait for Putin to act. 

Instead we will keep pushing forward. 

So the group I convened today is more important than ever.

It brings together partners from across Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with backing from others too – including Japan. 

We agreed we will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine and keep tightening the restrictions on Russia’s economy to weaken Putin’s war machine and bring him to the table. 

And we agreed to accelerate our practical work to support a potential deal. 

So we will now move into an operational phase.

Our militaries will meet on Thursday this week here in the UK to put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security.

President Trump has offered Putin the way forward to a lasting peace. Now we must make this a reality.

So this is the moment to keep driving towards the outcome we want to see, to end the killing. A just and lasting peace in Ukraine and lasting security for all of us. 

Man convicted of Leith Street murder

A 25-year-old man has been convicted of murder and an attempted murder in Edinburgh in 2023.

On Friday, 2 June 2023, police were called to attend a report of a disturbance on Leith Street near to the junction with Greenside Row. Peter Mullen, aged 30, was found with serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he died a short time later.

Officers subsequently arrested and charged Dylan Curran in connection with the death, and on Friday (14 March, 2025), he was convicted of murder following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Dylan Curran

Curran was also convicted of the attempted murder of a 43-year-old man during the same incident. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson said: “Our thoughts remain with Peter’s family and friends as they come to terms with what happened to him. I hope this verdict will bring some sense of justice for them.

“Dylan Curran will now face the consequences of his deplorable actions.

“Thankfully violent crimes like these in public places are rare in our communities. When such incidents take place, we will use all resources necessary to carry out thorough, rigorous inquiries to ensure we track down those responsible to bring them to justice.

“I would like to thank those members of the public who assisted with our enquiries.”

Holyrood to host regional Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference

Conference to look at the importance of women in politics

The Scottish Parliament will host the 11th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians conference for the British Islands and Mediterranean Region.

The event, held from March 16-18, is titled ‘A parliament for all: the importance of women in politics’ and brings together elected female representatives, officials, campaigners and academics.

Delegates will discuss how Parliaments can become more inclusive, the barriers women face to entering and staying in politics and what more can be done to increase the number of women in politics. They will consider how best to implement recommendations from gender sensitive audit reports and how gender equality networks, working groups and caucuses can be used to influence positive change.

MSPs taking part include Acting Chair of the CWP BIMR Steering Committee, Sarah Boyack MSP; Roz McCall MSP, Member of the CWP BIMR Steering Committee; Michelle Thomson MSP; and Natalie Don MSP, Minister for Children and Young People.

Other speakers include the Swedish Parliament’s First Deputy Speaker, Kenneth G Forslund; Hon. Devina Sammut Hili, Parliament of Malta; Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, States Assembly, Jersey; Hon Joelle Ladislaus MP, Gibraltar Parliament; Savia Orphanidou MP, House of Representatives, Cyprus; Sioned Williams MS, Member of the Senedd Cymru.

Meryl Kenny, Professor of Gender and Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Talat Yaqoob, writer and campaigner and Co-founder of Women 50:50, are also speaking.

Delegates will be joined by young women from across the region discussing what more can be done to encourage young women to go into politics.

The Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament said: “I care passionately about equal representation and participation in politics and it’s a privilege to host this conference.

“The conference brings together parliamentarians and experts to discuss what more can be done to make our politics more inclusive, and to celebrate the role of women in the political sphere.

“It’s clear that many barriers still exist which can limit equal participation in politics. This conference aims to discuss what more can be done to encourage women to get involved in politics and stay involved.

“I’m excited to welcome brilliant politicians, officials and thinkers from across the British Islands and Mediterranean Region, each with their own unique perspective on how we can make our Parliaments truly representative of the communities we serve.”