Month: April 2026

‘We are appalled by the deteriorating trajectory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem’: UK statement at the UN Security Council

MORE FINE WORDS – BUT THE SLAUGHTER GOES ON

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East:

The United Kingdom strongly supports the important work of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, and we welcome the constructive discussion that recently took place in Brussels. 

Colleagues, as we’ve heard today, the region faces another period of crisis. But we must not be distracted from seizing this historic opportunity to implement the 20 Point Plan for Gaza, endorsed by this Council in resolution 2803, and map a pathway to realising a two state solution. 

Sir Tony’s briefing set out how we can do that.

I will make three points. 

First, it is vital that all parties fulfil their commitments, respect the ceasefire, and engage constructively to implement phase two of President Trump’s 20 Point Peace Plan. 

We need a stable and phased security transition. This must include the demilitarisation of Hamas and other armed groups, deployment of the International Stabilisation Force alongside a Palestinian-led police force, and the withdrawal of the IDF. 

The United Kingdom has been clear that Hamas can have no future in the governance of Gaza. We urge them to engage constructively with demilitarisation talks, which, as we’ve heard, are taking place right now. 

We also need the right transitional governance arrangements in place. 

The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority must work together to deliver for the Palestinian people’s immediate needs and support early recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

Second, President, the humanitarian situation in Palestine remains grave. 

The World Food Programme has warned that whilst famine has not returned to Gaza, the food and nutrition situation remains deeply concerning. 

The UN reports that in the first quarter of this year, aid into Gaza from the UN and its humanitarian partners declined by 37 per cent compared to the previous 3 months. 

This is not meeting the targets defined in the 20 Point Plan. 

And the Government of Israel’s de-registration measures for international NGOs continue to constrict the humanitarian space for critical assistance. 

This is unacceptable. 

The UN, including UNRWA, and other humanitarian partners, must be able to operate unimpeded, with unrestricted entry and functioning crossings. 

Israel must allow much-needed medical equipment, shelter items, and fuel in to support essential and lifesaving services. 

And third, we are appalled by the deteriorating trajectory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. 

Violence, including extremely troubling reports of sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, and illegal evictions, is surging. 

According to OCHA, Israeli forces and settlers killed 33 Palestinians and injured 790 others in the first few months of this year alone. 

And last week, two Palestinians, Jihad Abu Naim and Aws al-Naasan, were shot and killed by an Israeli settler in a school. 

Aws was just 14 years old. 

We deplore such egregious acts of settler violence. 

The Israeli Government has rightly condemned this violence and launched an investigation. 

But accountability for previous incidents has been severely lacking. 

Condemnation alone is not enough; it must be translated into concrete steps to prevent attacks against Palestinians, ensure protection of civilians in line with International Law and ensure accountability where crimes have been committed. 

We are also witnessing an unprecedented pace of illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank, as well as severe Israeli economic restrictions. 

These must stop. 

These actions undermine the 20 Point Plan and the very viability of the two state solution. 

Mr President, we stand at a historic juncture. We urge the parties to show courage, engage in good faith on the peace plan, and seize this opportunity for the benefit of Palestinians, Israelis, and the whole region.

NOTE: Despite these latest words and months of hand-wringing, the slaughter continues unchecked and the UK continues to supply weapons support to Israel.

More than 100 pro-Palestine activists staged a blockade outside Leonardo, an arms factory with links to Israel, at Crewe Toll yesterday – Ed.

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The Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme expands in Edinburgh

New research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day

The Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme hits more Edinburgh schools, as new research finds most children fall short of their five-a-day

  • Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children currently eat their recommended five-a-day, according to new research
  • Ambition to help one million school children across the UK access free fruit and vegetables through Tesco school and community programmes by July 2029
  • Tesco invites children to create fun fruit & veg-packed recipes, with winning dish served in over 1,500 schools to mark expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
  • To encourage children to be more adventurous with fruit & veg, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge. To find out more and how to enter, visit www.tescoplc.com/fruitandvegchallenge

Less than 1 in 10 Edinburgh children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, with 8.70% of parents saying their child only eats one piece of fruit and veg per day, according to new research from Tesco.

But the findings also show what does work when it comes to getting five a day into kids with more than half (73.91%) of Edinburgh parents and carers say their child is more likely to eat fruit and veg when they can choose it themselves, and making food fun or visually creative encourages their children to try more.

So, to help more children get more of their five-a-day and the nutritious food they need to learn, Tesco is doubling its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme from September, with the aim of doubling the programme again the following year. And the results to date speak for themselves, with 94% of teachers nationwide reporting improved behaviour among pupils taking part. 

The new research further highlights why schemes like Free Fruit & Veg for Schools matter. Children tend to stick to familiar favourites, with fruit far more common than vegetables in their diets, and many parents say repeated refusal shapes what they buy at home. Just over half of Edinburgh parents (56.52%) say they have stopped buying or serving certain fruit or vegetables after their child repeatedly refused them. By contrast, pupils taking part in Free Fruit & Veg for Schools have collectively sampled more than 100 different varieties of fruit and vegetables, helping to broaden tastes and encourage healthier choices.

To encourage and inspire children to be more adventurous with fruit and veg and to celebrate the expansion of its Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, Tesco is launching the Giant Fruit & Veg Challenge**. 

The competition invites children to dream up their own fruit and veg-packed dish, with the winning recipe shared on menus across the UK and in Tesco’s programme. The challenge is supported and judged by JLS star turned farmer JB Gill, and his son Ace, alongside a panel of experts and nutritionists.

Along with its Fruit & Veg Grants and Free Fruit for Kids in its stores, Tesco aims to support thousands more local children in getting more of the good stuff. Customers will be able to help grow the programme with Tesco donating every time customers buy fruit and veg at Tesco up until 24 May.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: <> during the Tesco Giant Fruit And Veg Challenge on April 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Tesco)

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “We’ve set out an ambition to help one million children get free fruit and veg through our school and community programmes, supporting the development of healthy habits.

“Schools have told us what a positive impact the Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools programme has already made, so we’re delighted to be able to double the number of schools receiving support from September.”

Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said:
“A significant number of children in the UK are growing up with diets that don’t support their health.

“Early food experiences matter, as they can help to shape children’s confidence, habits and long‑term health outcomes.

“By helping children enjoy and regularly eat fruit and vegetables from a young age, programmes like Tesco Free Fruit & Veg for Schools can help to make a lasting difference to diet and health now and in the future.”

For more information and to enter the Giant Fruit and Veg Challenge, visit:

www.tescopls.com/fruitandvegchallenge

Sight Scotland trains Polling Officers to deliver accessible voting for all

Ahead of Scotland’s Parliament elections on 7 May, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans partner with the Electoral Management Board for Scotland to deliver accessible voting training to all Returning Officers and more than 900 polling staff, ensuring visually impaired voters can cast their vote independently and in secret.

Visually impaired voters face a range of barriers at polling stations, with a lack of staff training and confidence consistently highlighted as a major issue. Voters report that polling station staff do not always know how best to support blind and partially sighted people, leading to inconsistent use of accessible voting aids and uncertainty about the support available.

This is compounded by physical barriers such as poor lighting, unclear signage and challenging layouts, as well as information about candidates and voting procedures not always being provided in accessible formats. Many visually impaired voters are also reluctant to ask for help if it risks compromising the secrecy or independence of their vote.

Working in partnership with the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, Sight Scotland has helped develop a training video for polling station staff, setting out the support they are required to provide to visually impaired voters. Members of Sight Scotland’s Policy Group and rehabilitation team played a central role in shaping the content, ensuring it reflects both lived experience and professional expertise.

Colette Walker, co-chair of Sight Scotland Policy Group, who is visually impaired and took part in the training video, comments: “As the election approaches in two weeks, Sight Scotland and the Electoral Commission are highlighting a major push to ensure every blind and partially sighted person can exercise their democratic right to a private, independent vote.

“Every adult has a democratic right to cast their vote in privacy. By breaking down these long-standing barriers, we are ensuring that visually impaired voters in our communities finally have the same say as everyone else. We hope to see a record turnout of blind and partially sighted voters in two weeks’ time, casting their vote, having their say in politics.”

Sight Scotland Policy Group member, Hussein Patwa, adds: “I was delighted to be involved in producing training videos that will be shown to polling station staff across Scotland before the parliamentary elections on 07 May.

“Featuring myself and other visually impaired people, they demonstrate, in real life, practical examples of the correct sighted guiding technique, how to assist with navigating around the polling station, providing clear explanations to aid with orientation and the procedure to be followed for those who wish the presiding officer to help mark the ballot paper on their behalf.

“I am positive this will make a real difference to visually impaired people’s experience at polling stations, encourage those who haven’t done so before to try voting in person and increase confidence for both voters and polling staff alike.”

Malcolm Burr, Convener of the Electoral Management Board and Returning Officer for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, comments: “Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers put in place a range of measures to support voters with visual impairment.

“We want everyone to be able to vote independently and in secret. We have large print ballot papers, magnifiers, additional lighting, tactile voting devices, audio versions of the ballot paper and can help the voter fill in the paper if necessary.

“Members of the visually impaired community told us that a fundamental problem was staff at polling stations did not know how best to support blind and partially sighted voters. The video we have filmed with the help of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans is being used by Returning Officers across Scotland to train their hundreds of polling staff showing how to greet, guide and offer suitable assistance.

“Our polling staff are the public face of the election and the lessons in this video will help them as they prepare to welcome voters with visual impairment into the polling places on 7 May.”

Watch the training video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frVyMRCI2E8

For more information visit sightscotland.org.uk

Scottish residents invited to nominate projects to receive £3,000 from Caremark’s Community Care Fund

Caremark, one of UK’s leading providers of home care, has opened nominations for its Community Care Fund – a new nationwide initiative designed to support local projects that make a positive difference to people’s lives.

The Community Care Fund invites members of the public, community groups and local not-for-profit organisations across Scotland to nominate projects in their area that they believe deserve funding.

This could be anything from a local park in need of some plants, a pre-school looking to revamp its play area, a community centre wanting to update its kitchen facilities, or a local charity hoping to brighten up its space with a new lick of paint or buy supplies for an arts club, etc. Any initiative will be considered, provided it delivers a clear benefit to its local community.

With three individual grants of £3,000 each available across the UK, the fund aims to shine a spotlight on grassroots projects that create meaningful, lasting impact. Nominations can be submitted online and require a short paragraph explaining what the local project is and how the grant would be used, along with a supporting photograph.

From the nominations received, one finalist will be shortlisted from each of Caremark’s 12 UK regions. The 12 finalists will be put forward to a public vote via Caremark’s website and social media channels to determine the three overall winners.

David Glover, CEO at Caremark, commented: “At Caremark, we see every day how powerful local projects can be in bringing people together and improving quality of life. The Community Care Fund is our way of recognising and empowering the ideas that can truly transform lives across the UK.

“It is also about giving communities a voice. We know there are many inspiring projects making a positive impact, often quietly behind the scenes, and we want to hear about them. By opening the fund to public nominations, we hope people will put forward the projects they care about and help them access funding that can make a meaningful difference.”

The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over.

To nominate a local project, visit www.caremark.co.uk/community-care-fund. 

The deadline for nominations is midnight on 31st May 2026.

Calendar Girls at Church Hill Theatre

With less than 5 weeks to go until opening night….have you got your tickets yet?! 👀🌻

Join us for CALENDAR GIRLS – a heartwarming, hilarious, and uplifting story you won’t want to miss. Expect laughter, friendship, and a few cheeky surprises along the way….! 😉

‘CALENDAR GIRLS’

📍Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh

🗓 27th ‐ 30th May 2026

⏰️ 7.30pm (Wed-Fri) / 2.30pm (Sat)

🎟www.ticketsource.co.uk/ept

Police: Read Between The Lies

POLICE Scotland is proud to support #TakeFiveWeek26, working with Take Five to Stop Fraud to help more people recognise the warning signs of scams.

This year, three best-selling crime authors have written short stories inspired by the tactics scammers use and reminding us that, just like in a good mystery, the clues are often there if you know where to look.

By taking a moment to stop and think like a detective, you could spot the clues and protect yourself from a scam.

Read the stories at https://orlo.uk/JAocL

#ReadBetweenTheLies

St Columba’s: Volunteers need for Stockbridge charity store

Our Stockbridge shop is in seriouis need of some volunteers to fill a few gaps in their staffing schedule!

Since opening a few years ago, the shop has become a well established part of Stockbridge life, attracting fantastic donations and bargain hunters from all over!

If you’re interested in volunteering with our team, please contact:

volunteer@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

Family History session at Edinburgh Central Library this Thursday

THURSDAY 30 APRIL from 2 – 3.30pm

Want to trace your family tree, but not sure where to start?

Come along to our beginners’ #FamilyHistory session at Edinburgh Central Library to find out about the free resources that can help you with your research.

We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries. The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.

The next session is on Thursday 30 April at 2pm.

Book your place by emailing informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk

Right to Buy overhaul to safeguard social housing in England

UK government has confirmed it will bring forward further reforms to Right to Buy

The Westminster government has today (Tuesday 28 April) confirmed it will bring forward further reforms to Right to Buy.

Right to Buy is a government scheme allowing eligible council tenants in England to buy their home at a discount.  

Last year the government published its consultation response to overhaul Right to Buy that will support councils to better protect and rebuild depleted housing stock while maintaining a responsible route into homeownership for longstanding tenants.  

New reforms to be brought forward will include: 

  • Increasing the minimum eligibility period from three to ten years before tenants can apply to buy their home.  
  • Amending discount rules so that discounts start at 5% of the property value and increase by 1% each year up to the maximum discount of 15% of the property value or the cash cap (whichever is lower).  
  • A 35-year new build exemption period so new social homes cannot be sold under Right to Buy for 35 years after they are built.  

Since the consultation, the government has also been undertaking further policy development and analysis to explore more effective fraud prevention to mitigate vulnerable tenants being pressured into buying and reviewing how the Right to Buy scheme applies in rural areas.

The government has already taken steps to give councils more confidence to ramp up the delivery of new social homes, including reducing maximum cash discounts to £16,000 – £38,000 depending on the area. Councils can also retain all of the receipts from sales and combine those receipts with grant funding to build and buy more homes. 

The ‘cost floor’ protection has been extended from 15 to 30 years, meaning landlords can limit discounts so that the sale price does not fall below the amount spent on building, repairing and maintaining the properties. The government has been exploring further reforms to the cost floor to better protect council investment in existing homes. 

The changes will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

Gavin Smart, CEO, Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “CIH welcomes the government’s continued focus on reforming Right to Buy and the clear recognition that change is needed to better protect and rebuild our social housing. The measures confirmed today are a positive step towards addressing the long-standing imbalance between homes sold and those replaced.

“We also welcome the further work on fraud prevention and the scheme’s impact in rural areas, both of which are crucial to ensuring Right to Buy operates fairly and sustainably.”