NO EXCUSES: Statement on xAI’s Grok image generation and editing tool

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall calls for swift action after reports xAI’s Grok tool continues to allow generation of intimate deepfake images

The Technology Secretary has commented on the changes xAI has implemented to its chatbot overnight, and government action to stamp out this form of abuse.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Sexually manipulating images of women and children is despicable and abhorrent. It is an insult and totally unacceptable for Grok to still allow this if you’re willing to pay for it. I expect Ofcom to use the full legal powers Parliament has given them.

“I, and more importantly the public – would expect to see Ofcom update on next steps in days not weeks.

“I would remind xAI that the Online Safety Act includes the power to block services from being accessed in the UK, if they refuse to comply with UK law. If Ofcom decide to use those powers they will have our full support.

“We will be banning nudification apps in the Crime and Policing Bill which is in parliament now.

“We are in the coming weeks bringing in to force powers to criminalise the creation of intimate images without consent.

“I expect all platforms to abide by Ofcom’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) guidance and if they do not, I am prepared to go further.

“We are as determined to ensure women and girls are safe online as we are to ensure they are safe in the real world. No excuses.”

Resident Doctors’ strike action averted in Scotland

Unions consider revised pay and contract reform offer

Resident Doctors have called off proposed strike action across Scotland after the British Medical Association (BMA) Scottish Resident Doctors Committee agreed to ballot members on an offer of 4.25% in 2025-26 and 3.75% in 2026-27.

The committee is recommending that their members accept the two-year pay deal offered by the Scottish Government – that matches one already accepted by nurses and other healthcare staff – alongside a separate package of contractual reform.

The combined offer will see an 8.16% cumulative pay uplift over two years and an additional investment in contractual reform over the same period.

The total investment in the offer for both pay and contract reform over the two-year period will be £133 million. The BMA will now consult their members on the deal with planned industrial action on 13 January no longer going ahead.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It is great news that we have reached an agreement that has allowed next week’s industrial action to be halted.

“This avoids the cancelled operations and disruption to patient care that no one, including resident doctors, wanted to see. Days of intensive and constructive talks have got us here and I thank the BMA, and my team, for getting us to this point.

“The combined offer will see the same pay deal which nurses and NHS support staff agreed. It also includes additional investment in contractual reform over the same period, providing a total investment of £133 million over this time.

“It further underlines our commitment to the 2023 pay and contract reform agreement. I hope Resident Doctors will now vote to accept.”

Man convicted following sexual assault during flight

A 45-year-old man who sexually assaulted a woman on an Easyjet flight from Naples to Edinburgh has been convicted.

Image shows a man. He has short dark grey hair and beard. He has tanned skin. He is wearing a grey jumper and looking directly at the camera.

Nicola Cristiano was found guilty of attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. He will be sentenced at a later date.

He moved seats to be next to the woman during the flight that left Naples on Tuesday, 13 May, 2025. When he moved to another area of the plane she alerted cabin crew about what had happened and Cristiano was arrested when the flight landed at Edinburgh airport.

Detective Chief Inspector Steph Garnett, from Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit, said: “Cristiano will now face the consequences of his despicable actions and I hope this brings comfort to his victim.

“He deliberately approached a woman travelling alone on a flight and sexually assaulted her. Fortunately she had an opportunity to alert a member of the cabin crew and she was taken to another part of the plane where she was safe.

“I also hope this conviction gives confidence to anyone who is the victim of sexual crime to come forward. We will thoroughly investigate reports made to us and we have specially trained officers to provide support.

“Anyone wishing to report a sexual crime can do so via 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Edinburgh artist sees boom in commissions following Portrait Artist of the Year appearance

Talented local Edinburgh artist Joe Capps has seen a significant surge in commissions following his recent appearance on the prestigious Sky Arts competition, Portrait Artist of the Year.

Joe, whose distinctive style captured the attention of viewers nationwide, participated in Series 12 of the hit show, where he was tasked with painting the acclaimed singer and songwriter Jacob Collier.

Competing in the high pressure environment of the studio in front of a live audience, Joe produced a striking portrait of Collier within the four hour time limit. While he did not progress to the final rounds, the response from the judges and the public alike has been overwhelmingly positive. Since the episode aired, Joe has seen a record number of enquiries, leaving the artist inundated with new commissions.

Joe commented: “The response to the show has been incredible. Participating in Portrait Artist of the Year was such an intense but rewarding experience.

“Painting someone as creative as Jacob Collier in just four hours was a massive challenge, but the feedback I’ve received from the public since then has been really heart warming.

“I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received, and I’m looking forward to an incredibly exciting 2026.”

Joe’s rise in the art world is particularly notable given his background. A self taught artist, his formal art education ended after school. However, his career has been defined by a dedicated period of stylistic refinement. This journey led to his 2019 debut solo show, Atlas, in Kendal, and a 2021 showcase for Around The House Productions.

The momentum continued into 2025; alongside his television appearance, Joe’s piece Artemis was long-listed for the prestigious Jackson’s Art Prize. He is currently in the process of devising his second solo exhibition, further cementing his reputation as a rising talent in the contemporary Scottish art scene.

As his profile continues to grow, Joe remains committed to his commission work. He offers a diverse range of bespoke services, including personal portraits, celebrity studies, wedding portraits, and pet portraits.

For more information on Joe’s work, to view his portfolio, or to enquire about future commission availability, visit: https://www.joecappsart.com/.

Easy Read Consultation: Have your say about access to NHS 24 services

Do you have a sensory or speech impairment? Please share your views and experiences of accessing NHS 24 services to help improve them.

The consultation closes on Friday 30 January 2026.

Take part in the survey: https://tinyurl.com/yfs9n39d

Easy Read version: https://tinyurl.com/au4vdp2z

We are proud that our team has produced this Easy Read version, helping more people have their voices heard.

Scottish Ensemble spotlights future string stars with Musical Encounters

Scottish Ensemble begins an exciting 2026 with the return of our Young Artist programme, helping to develop the next generation of Scotland’s young string players.

Delivered in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, each year a group of RCS string students are selected to take part in a week-long side-by-side project with Scottish Ensemble musicians.

The week sees mentorship meet music-making in its most dynamic form, with the group working on a broad range of string repertoire, extended playing techniques, programme curation and how to communicate with audiences.

This year the development week will culminate in Musical Encounters, an electrifying collaborative performance that sees the young RCS players bring fresh energy to the stage alongside Scottish Ensemble, for afternoon concerts in Glasgow (RCS, 16 January) and Edinburgh’s Queens Hall (17 January).

Following the project two young musicians will be selected to be Scottish Ensemble’s Young Artists for 2026. They will benefit from a year-long programme of paid opportunities and development experiences designed to broaden their skills as professional musicians.

This will include joining the Ensemble for tours and performances as well as Music for Wellbeing workshops in schools and at Scotland’s Maggie’s Centres, alongside office days with the management team to gain insights into programming, fundraising, and marketing.

James Hardie, Chief Executive at Scottish Ensemble, said: “At Scottish Ensemble, we are always looking to the future of our artform, and nurturing the next generation of musicians is central to that mission.

“Our annual Young Artists week at the RCS is a highlight of the year, giving us the chance to work with a new cohort of passionate, energetic young string players.”

Listings Information

Friday 16 January, 1pm

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow

Tickets £5 – £13

Booking: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/whats-on/fridays-at-one-scottish-ensemble-side-by-side-with-rcs-strings/book/598806/

Saturday 17 January, 3pm

The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Tickets £13, Free for Under-16s

Booking: https://www.thequeenshall.net/book/266801

Musical Encounters programme

Jessie Montgomery Starburst

Henryk Górecki Three Pieces in Old Style

Witold Lutosławski Five Folk Melodies (No.2 and No.3)

Elizabeth Maconchy Music for Strings (Mvmt II: Scherzo)

Tōru Takemitsu Music of Training and Rest, from José Torres

Caroline Shaw Plan & Elevation (Mvmt V: The Beech Tree)

Hans Abrahamson 10 Preludes (No.2)

Thomas Ades Arcadiana (O Albion)

Philip Glass 1957. Award Montage from String Quartet no3 ‘Mishima’

Olli Mustonen Nonet II

Scottish Budget: Carers Can’t Wait!

STATEMENT from NATIONAL CARERS ORGANISATIONS

On Tuesday 13 January, the Scottish budget will be announced.

Right now, unpaid carers and local carer organisations are under huge pressure. Cuts to services mean carers are caring for longer and more intensively, often while living in poverty.

This cannot continue.

The National Carer Organisations are calling on the Scottish Government to:

Provide secure, long‑term funding for local carer organisations

Properly fund the Right to a Break so carers can take time to rest

Take real action to reduce carer poverty and improve health and wellbeing

Read the statement from the National Carer Organisations in full:

National Carer Organisation’s Statement on the Scottish Budget

The Scottish Budget will be announced on Tuesday 13^th January 2026. Unpaid carers and local carer organisations are facing considerable challenges as the pressure on our health and social care system mounts.

Cuts to budgets and services mean more unpaid carers are caring for longer and more intensively, often while living in poverty.

The National Carer Organisations urge the Scottish Government to ensure the upcoming budget provides secure and sufficient funding to support both unpaid carers and local carer organisations. This support must include sufficient funding to support the implementation of the right to a break, as well as targeted measures to alleviate poverty and improve health and wellbeing.

Unpaid carers, including young carers, encounter a range of complex and diverse challenges that affect many aspects of their lives. The estimated value of unpaid care in Scotland is £15.9 billion annually. It is imperative that no unpaid carer experiences poverty due to their caring responsibilities.

The National Carer Organisations believe that the Scottish Government has a significant opportunity through the Scottish Budget to take decisive action, reinforce its commitment to recognising unpaid carers, and address some of the primary challenges they face.

We are calling on the Scottish Government in its budget to:

Invest to ensure unpaid carers can have a break from caring, including in developing the Right to a Break from Caring and by increasing voluntary sector short break funding.
Invest in support for unpaid carers by sustaining local carer organisations, in particular compensating for the extra costs they face from increased employer National Insurance Contributions and the forthcoming rise in the Real Living Wage from April 2026.
Invest in reducing poverty amongst unpaid carers and those they care for by delivering on commitments to improve Carer Support Payment, introducing a new payment for older adult unpaid carers, and making meaningful progress towards abolishing social care charges.

About the National Care Organisations

The National Carer Organisations in Scotland are Carers Trust Scotland, Carers Scotland, Coalition of Carers in Scotland, MECOPP, Shared Care Scotland and the Scottish Young Carers Services Alliance.

Together we have a shared vision that all Scotland’s unpaid carers will feel valued, included and supported as equal partners in the provision of care. We aim to achieve this through the representation of unpaid carers and giving them a voice at a national level.

We believe we can deliver more for unpaid carers by working together to share our knowledge and experience, and by focusing our collective efforts on achieving improvements in areas of policy and practice that are of greatest concern to unpaid carers.

https://www.carersnet.org/national-carer-organisations…/

Return to Middle-earth as The Lord of The Rings Trilogy celebrates it’s 25th anniversary at Vue

One of the most iconic and beloved fantasy trilogies of all time, The Lord of The Rings, is returning to the big screen at Vue venues in Edinburgh – marking a quarter of a century since audiences fell in love with the epic adventures of Frodo and the fellowship.

Based on the legendary book series by J.R.R. Tolkien, the extended editions of this epic saga will be shown at Vue, giving fans the chance to experience the trilogy as it was meant to be seen.

Directed by Peter Jackson, the trilogy received a combined total of 30 Academy Award nominations and won 17 Oscars upon its original release, cementing its place as one of the most celebrated achievements in cinematic history.

Set in the realm of Middle-earth, Frodo Baggins leads a group of hobbits, who find themselves tasked with a quest to destroy the One Ring, a perilous mission that could determine the fate of the world and stop the dark forces of Mordor, led by the Dark Lord Sauron.

Joined by the wizard Gandalf, the human ranger Aragorn and other unforgettable characters such as Legolas and Gimli, audiences are invited to follow this motley crew across treacherous terrain and epic cinematic battles in one of cinema’s most beloved and ambitious stories.

Robert Smith, General Manager of Vue Edinburgh Omni, said: “The Lord of the Rings trilogy is simply made to be seen on the big screen so, to mark 25 years since its release, we’re thrilled to return to Middle-Earth at Vue.

“Whether you’ve simply walked to Mordor many times before or are venturing into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien for the first time, we’re excited to welcome audiences to enjoy this iconic trilogy at Vue.”

To find out more, visit myvue.com

The Lord of the Rings – 25^th Anniversary screenings take place on:

The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended) – From 16 – 29 January

The Two Towers (Extended) – From 18 – 27 January

The Return of the King (Extended) – From 25 January – 4 February

Burns Night Community Ceilidh at Royston Wardieburn

SATURDAY 24 JANUARY from 5 – 8.30pm

Excited to announce our 11th annual Burns Night Community Ceilidh! Always a highlight of the Winter!

Tickets now on sale from Royston Wardieburn Community Centre reception (weekdays, cash only), and Granton Garden Bakery (Saturdays 10-1, cash or card). All tickets £4. Under 10s free.

If you’d like to volunteer to help at the event, or to offer a short performance (a turn) please contact tom@grantoncommunitygardeners.org

All volunteers and performers get a free ticket.

With Ama-zing Harmonies, musicians from Tinderbox Collective, and the Granton Primary School poets. Pilton Community Health Project, Granton Youth.

Scottish Ambulance Service staff face daily violence and abuse

Staff at the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) continue to face unacceptable levels of violence and verbal abuse, with new concerning figures revealing that every day a staff member is assaulted or abused.

In the year 2024/2025, 369 SAS staff were physically assaulted or verbally abused, an increase of 11% compared to 2023/2024.

Nearly 200 staff members were physically hurt while on shift and with the majority of incidents happening in the East and West of the country.

These include staff being spat on, kicked, punched and threatened with weapons.

Gillian Sommerville, Technician at Leven Station, Fife, said she was with her work partner on a nightshift when they received a call at 2am to attend an unconscious male.

She said: “When we arrived, there were also three other males in their mid-teens who appeared to be under the influence of unknown alcohol or drugs and were confrontational. Due to the freezing temperatures, we quickly lifted the patient in the vehicle. The three friends then started shouting and banging on the ambulance and rocking the vehicle.

“Minutes later, the back door and side door were opened and two of the friends jumped in shouting at us. I was wedged at the top of the trolley as the third friend tried to grab me through the window. I tried to continually push him off. My partner was stuck between two of the friends near the back of the vehicle and they were shouting in her face.”

Gillian said as the patient woke up, his friends tried to drag him off the trolley. She then phoned for urgent police assistance. Gillian, who suffered an injury to her arm and spent several months undergoing physiotherapy, said three of the men were arrested and the patient subsequently assaulted a police officer while in hospital.

SAS Chief Executive Michael Dickson said: “The fact that our staff face daily violence, verbal abuse or aggression is completely unacceptable.

“These incidents can have a significant and lasting impact on our people, sometimes even leading them to leave the ambulance service.

“They have the right to carry out their work helping patients and saving lives without fear of assault or abuse and we will continue to work with Police Scotland, like we have done on this occasion, to take action against perpetrators.”

The figures are from December 2024 – 30 November 2025. 192 SAS staff were physically assaulted while 177 were verbally abused