A joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy following an update on Israel-Gaza ceasefire negotiations:
‘We, the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, strongly support the ongoing mediation efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to conclude the agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages and are encouraged by the constructive approach adopted so far.
‘We welcome the fact that technical work will continue over the coming days, including on both the humanitarian provisions and the specific arrangements relating to hostages and detainees, and that senior officials will then reconvene before the end of next week with the aim of concluding the agreement.
‘We urge all parties to continue to engage positively and flexibly in this process. We underline the importance of avoiding any escalatory action in the region which would undermine the prospect for peace. There is too much at stake.’
Closer to home but Gaza-related, SNP MSP John Mason has been stripped of the party whip after “completely unacceptable” social media posts about the conflict in Gaza.
On Thursday, the independent-minded MSP tweeted: ‘Very pleased to see @AngusRobertson met Israeli deputy ambassador @DanielaGrudsky. I also met her last week. Useful discussion on what Israel hopes to achieve in Gaza. As UK learned in Ireland, to achieve peace we must talk to each other… including to people we disagree with.’
Mr Mason followed this up on Friday: ‘If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they would have killed ten times as many.’
Mr Mason said he was “disappointed” by his suspension, which came after he wrote on X that the country’s actions in Gaza did not amount to “genocide”.
Mason’s swift banishment comes after External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson was pictured standing alongside Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the UK, Daniela Grudsky.
Many within the SNP are highly critical of Israel’s actions in the Middle East and the diplomatic encounter has prompted a furious internal backlash. with growing calls for First Minister John Swinney to sack Mr Robertson.
The Besties is a new series of awards celebrating the best across Edinburgh’s August Festivals. The Award is a partnership between The Skinny & Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland.
The Skinny and Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland are delighted to announce the winners of the second round of the weekly new Festival Awards, The Besties, in the following categories:
The award ceremony took place on Saturday 17th August at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, hosted by comedian Josephine Lacey whose show Autism Mama is at the Pleasance Courtyard, with performances from Orkney musician Catriona Price who performed earlier this week at Queen’s Hall and Edinburgh New Town Church, celebrating her debut album, Hert.
The Besties award, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter who has recently graduated fromInterior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, uses recyclable plastics gathered at the Festival Theatre Café and leftover wood sourced locally.
Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and responding to the need for a pan-festivals award, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival which started on Thursday 15 August, and others, making them the one of the only awards to celebrate the full spectrum of culture in the city.
Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. The categories will reflect the diversity of the magazines’ coverage and might be different every week.
The third and last ceremony will take place on Saturday 24th August.
Council Leader Cammy Day was joined by Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden and architects Smith Scott Mullan as work got underway on the development of143 energy efficient social and mid-market rent properties.
In partnership with Cruden, the project will deliver a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes across the site, including wheelchair accessible accommodation.
Work will include upgrades to greenspace and the main footpath linking Salveson Cresent and Marine Drive to create safer, easier access to the shorelines. Plans also include a new Pavilion for Craigroyston Community Football club.
The development is part of the £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront regeneration which will create a new residential-led mixed-use community and will deliver around 3,500 net zero carbon homes, a primary school, a health centre, commercial and cultural space, and a new coastal park.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: It was great to attend the sod-cutting ceremony at the Silverlea site today as we marked the beginning of construction on this exciting development here in Edinburgh.
“We’re facing a Housing Emergency so we must continue to build more affordable housing to address our chronic shortage.
“To deliver our net zero targets for the Capital, sustainable regeneration is so important, and every element of this development has been designed with that in mind. I’m delighted that plans also include a new Pavillion for Craigroyston Community Football Club which will be a real asset to the community.
“The project forms part of the wider £1.3bn regeneration of the Granton area where we’re unlocking brownfield land to build a new sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood. We’re continuing to work hard to ensure Granton is somewhere residents will be proud to live and I look forward to seeing progress continue throughout this year.”
Fraser Lynes, MD of Cruden, added: “Silverlea is a great example of development with sustainability and community at its heart, and we are thrilled to be involved in the delivery of this transformational project.
“The City of Edinburgh Council must be commended in bringing forward these much needed social and mid-market homes amid the capital’s housing emergency, and for specifying them to net zero carbon standards, making them greener, cleaner and more efficient to heat and run.
“During this development, we’re looking forward to providing the new pavilion for Craigroyston Boys Club, carefully re-using the Griffens from the historic Muirhouse Mansion, as well as delivering an important programme of new tree planting and a wildflower meadow to enhance local greenspace.”
The progress is the latest in the Granton Waterfront regeneration with work already well underway on several other projects in the area.
Over 400 net zero homes at Western Villages as well as 75 net zero homes at ‘Granton D1’ are currently under construction.
The R&A has continued to build on its “Never Stop Playing” campaign with a new and playful initiative which has seen golf terminology pop-up at iconic Scottish landmarks.
This fresh chapter aims to heighten excitement for the AIG Women’s Open, which is set to take place from 21-25 August, 2024, at the historic Old Course in St Andrews. The latest activation cleverly merges golf with Scotland’s renowned sites, continuing to engage and captivate fans in the lead-up to the Championship.
Highlights
See Birdies
Where: Edinburgh Zoo
What: Adapted plaque at the flamingo exhibit
Copy: “See birds at Edinburgh Zoo. See birdies at the AIG Women’s Open. St Andrews, 21-25 August. Never Stop Playing”
Quiet Please
Where: The National Library, Edinburgh
What: Quiet sign
Copy: “Quiet Please. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
The 19th Hole
Where: Loch Leven Castle
What: Makeshift tee box facing into the loch
Copy: “Hole 19. 596 yards. Par 5. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
Chip Shots
Where: Anstruther Fish Bar, St Andrews
What: Signpost outside
Copy: “World Class Chips ➡ World Class Chip Shots. ➡ Never Stop Playing. AIGWO
This pop-up initiative follows the recent launch of the world’s first playable golf billboard. Unveiled at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station on 1st August, this interactive billboard allowed fans to experience the thrill of playing the par-3 8th hole of the iconic Old Course at St Andrews, host of this year’s AIG Women’s Open.
Zoe Ridgway, Championship Director of the AIG Women’s Open at The R&A, commented: “Our latest activation is designed to infuse golf with a fresh and engaging twist, transforming iconic Scottish landmarks with golf-themed elements.
“As part of our ‘Never Stop Playing’ campaign, this initiative invites fans to see familiar sites through a new lens, amplifying their excitement and connection to the AIG Women’s Open.
“We’re thrilled to offer both new and long-time golf enthusiasts a unique way to experience the championship and celebrate the sport in a creative and memorable manner.”
Edinburgh Locations:
1. See Birdies
– Where: Edinburgh Zoo
– What: Adapted plaque at the flamingo exhibit
– Copy: “See birds at Edinburgh Zoo. See birdies at the AIG Women’s Open. St Andrews, 21st-25th August. Never Stop Playing”
2. Ground Under Repair
– Where: Victoria Street, Edinburgh
– What: Fly posters on scaffolding/building sites
– Copy: “Ground Under Repair. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
3. Quiet Please
– Where: The National Library, Edinburgh
– What: Quiet sign
– Copy: “Quiet Please. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
4. Heavy Rough
– Where: Carlton Hill
– What: Sign in heavy rough at an iconic location
– Copy: “Very heavy rough, recommended unplayable lie. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
5. Water Hazard
– Where: The Water of Leith Walkway
– What: Water Hazard sign
– Copy: “95 yards to clear the water. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO”
Fife Locations:
Guerrilla Golf Campaign – Day 1 – 13.08.24 – Raymond Davies
1. The 19th Hole
– Where: Loch Leven Castle
– What: Makeshift tee box facing into the loch
– Copy: “Hole 19. 596 yards. Par 5. Never Stop Playing. AIGWO“
With less than a week to go until the AIG Women’s Open, the Old Course at St Andrews, renowned as the home of golf, is set to showcase world-class golf.
Lilia Vu, the reigning champion following her standout performance at Walton Heath last year, returns to defend her title. She’ll be joined by Yuka Saso, Amy Yang, and Ayaka Furue, all of whom have secured major victories this season. Leading the British challenge is Charley Hull, who was the runner-up in last year’s Championship and Scotland’s own Gemma Dryburgh. With these top players in action, the AIG Women’s Open is set to be an unforgettable week.
Tickets to the AIG Women’s Open are on sale via aigwomensopen.com. Adult tickets are available from £25, with Saturday tickets including a full day of golf action and entry to the Tom Grennan concert priced at £60.
To encourage children and young people to attend the AIG Women’s Open, The R&A will continue the successful ‘Kids go Free’ programme on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, which provides children under-16-years-old free entry to the Championship when accompanied by a paying adult. Half-price youth tickets are also available on those days for 16-24-year-olds. Junior and youth tickets for Saturday’s golf action and Tom Grennan concert are £20 and £40 respectively.
Hospitality packages are also on general sale, offering an unrivalled way to experience the Championship in which guests can enjoy over ten hours of world-class action and fully inclusive hospitality. Visit www.aigwomensopen.com for further information.
For information on the AIG Women’s Open or to purchase tickets, please visit www.aigwomensopen.com.
Think tank calls more financial controls to be devolved from Holyrood to local authorities
Reform Scotland, the independent, non-partisan think tank, has today released its response to the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s call for views on the sustainability of local government finances.
The think tank suggests that successive Holyrood governments have failed to create the conditions for sustainable local government, and that political discourse has been dominated by “perpetual talk without action”.
For example, nearly 15 years ago the Christie report highlighted the necessity of early intervention and preventative spending programmes. The importance of that report is regularly highlighted by politicians and policymakers, yet it has not been delivered upon.
To make matters worse, prevention programmes are often delivered by the third sector in collaboration with local authorities, and with councils’ budgets under growing strain, all too often these programmes are first in the line for cuts.
In its response, Reform Scotland calls for:
Collaboration on new approaches for financing local government activity, such as social bridging finance
The end to central government interference in the setting of Council Tax rates, and an empowerment of local authorities to consider the adjustment of bands and exemptions
More fiscal powers to be devolved to local authorities to allow them to respond to local needs
Reform Scotland Director, Chris Deerin, said: “During the 25 years of devolution, we have focused on the transfer of powers between Westminster and Holyrood, but we have taken our eye off the ball when it comes to the power of local authorities.
“Unfortunately, in that time we have seen Scotland become further centralised. This approach must end. Scotland is too diverse to presume that the solutions which can work for Edinburgh can work for Elgin, or those that work for Glasgow can work for Gairloch.
“We need to shift away from a drip-drip approach of devolving small, occasional powers, which simply encourages councils to come cap in hand to the Scottish Government, and towards empowerment and recognising that local communities are best placed to meet local needs.
“We have seen years of broad agreement that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot work, yet this has amounted to little more than perpetual talk, without action. Now is the time for action.”
Muscular Dystrophy UK and Scottish Disability Sport join forces to host a free Scottish sporting event on Saturday 24 August 2024.
The leading charity for more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions is calling on people in Scotland to join the free session.
The event will give children aged under 18 living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions the opportunity to try different sporting activities, such as curling, powerchair football, boccia and swimming.
Children will be fully supported with adaptations, so they can enjoy playing sports, learning new skills, and meeting other children living with a muscle wasting and weakening condition.
There will be an opportunity for people to speak with Scottish Boccia, Powerchair Football Players and representative from Scottish Swimming on the day. Special thanks to Scottish Curling and SPFA for providing equipment.
Paralympian Stephen McGuire, 40, from Hamilton, Glasgow, lives with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. From the age of 14 Stephen has used a power wheelchair and has been part of the GB squad for 20 years. He is due to compete in his fourth Paralympian games in Paris (28 Aug – 8 Sept) following his appearances at London, Rio and Tokyo.
He said: “It has always been a dream of mine to compete at the Paralympics, so to be able to compete at my fourth one is incredible. I love competing in sport – sport is my passion. I’ve been hooked ever since, as it’s given me a purpose.
“The sport is really inclusive, you can play Boccia from school level to regional or national level, so I would encourage everyone to give it a try.
“That’s why the Scottish Disability Sport Event is important to help children explore different sports to build up their confidence and abilities. I had the opportunity to speak and demonstrate at some of the events. It’s joyous to see the younger generation getting involved and potentially witness upcoming future Paralympians.”
Jacqueline Munro, Head of Regional Support, Outreach, and Information said: “We’re delighted to have partnered with Scottish Disability Sport once again to offer children aged under 18 the opportunity to try different sporting activities.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to meet others in the muscle wasting and weakening community in Scotland to engage in a fun filled day and find out how Muscular Dystrophy UK can offer support.”
Scottish Disability Sport is the Scottish governing and co-coordinating body of all sports for people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory or learning disability.
Joshua Thomson, Events Manager for Scottish Disability Sport said: “Scottish Disability Sport is delighted to be working in partnership with Muscular Dystrophy UK to provide a unique opportunity for children and young people living with muscle wasting conditions.
“All of the sports are being delivered by coaches from Scottish Governing Bodies with expertise and knowledge in working with people with muscular dystrophy and similar conditions.”
The event will take place between 12.45pm– 4.30pm at Grangemouth Sports Complex, Abbots Road, Grangemouth, Falkirk, FK3 8JB. Accessible toilets and changing areas will be available including a Changing Places toilet.
Did you know that you can manage menopause symptoms through food?
Are you navigating through menopause and looking for natural ways to ease the journey? the right Foods can be powerful allies in managing symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and bone health.
When: Monday 19th of August
Where: Pilton Community Health Project
What time: 18:30 – 20:30
Join us in exploring how simple dietary changes can support your body during this transition. Let’s embrace this stage of life with nourishing meals that help us feel our best.
Scottish Power / Excalon move back to Craigleith on Monday (19 August) with Groathill Avenue closed between Telford Road and Sainsbury’s garage for around 5 weeks.
Groathill Road South will also be closed at Telford Road with local access retained via South Groathill Avenue.
Did you know that you can manage menopause symptoms through food?
When: Monday 19th of August
Where: Pilton Community Health Project
What time: 18:30 – 20:30
