Lymphoma Action are inviting everyone to grab their trainers and join Team Lymphoma for a fundraising challenge in 2026.
Whether you want to step up to the start line for the first time, or you’re a seasoned challenge-champion, your support will make a difference to people affected by lymphoma, the most common type of blood cancer.
We have a challenge for everyone this year, from our Bridges of London walk to Tough Mudders, and from three peak treks to fun runs.
Every walk, run, swim or cycle will help us continue to offer people affected by lymphoma expert information, dedicated support and a community that understands. You’ll also be helping us celebrate our 40th anniversary so we would love as many people to get involved as possible!
Please visit www.lymphoma-action.org.uk/Challenges for further details on how you can join Team Lymphoma for a challenge in 2026 to raise funds and awareness.
Together, we can make sure no one faces lymphoma alone.
Aldi helped deliver 13,823 meals to people in Edinburgh over the Christmas and New Year period by donating surplus food from its stores.
The UK’s fourth largest supermarket teamed up with local good causes across Edinburgh – including Porty Community Fridge, Food Rescue Group and Tummies Not Trash – to donate a range of fresh and chilled foods from its stores after closing early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Neighbourly, the community giving platform that partners with Aldi, found that charitable organisations faced increasing pressure over the winter period, with four in five charities saying demand for their services had risen over the past six months and demand for foodbanks and other food provision expected to increase by nearly 30% over the colder months.
Aldi has worked with Neighbourly since 2019 and provides surplus food from all of its UK stores to thousands of charities across the country.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “This Christmas we were proud to support so many incredible charities across the UK who provide essential support to those in need.
“The services provided by food banks are more important than ever in the current climate, especially over the festive period and we’re committed to ensuring those that rely on them have access to a wide range of high-quality foods.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO at Neighbourly, added: “We’re so grateful to have had Aldi’s support for another year.
“Christmas is one of the busiest periods for our charities and the donations from Aldi mean we can help even more people across the country who need that bit of extra support over the festive period.”
Shoppers can donate food to local charities, food banks and community groups via the community donation points in Aldi stores nationwide.
Aldi also works with Company Shop Group, the UK’s leading redistributor of surplus food and household products, to redistribute surplus food from its Regional Distribution Centres. This year, it provided more than 2,500 free Christmas lunches to Company Shop’s award-winning social enterprise, Community Shop.
The UK’s fourth largest supermarket also made it easier for shoppers to give back through a warm clothing and post-Christmas clear-out appeal with The Salvation Army and InPost Lockers, allowing customers to donate coats, hats, scarves and gloves – as well as unwanted Christmas gifts in good condition – at InPost Locker donation points in Aldi stores across the UK.
Holidaymakers can enjoy an extra £100 off per bookingon Summer 26 holidays with the UK’s favourite tour operator
New sale is on top of £100 off per person and super low £25 per person booking deposit too!
The second weekend January is a bumper weekend for holiday bookings, and Jet2 is spreading even more sunshine by launching an unmissable sale that gives customers even bigger holiday savings.
The UK’s favourite tour operator is giving customers the chance to enjoy £100 off all Summer 26 bookings by using the code NOTHINGBEATS. This applies to all holidays and city breaks departing between 1st April and 31st October 2026, but customers need to hurry as the code ends at 23.59 on 12th January 2026.
This new sale comes on top of an existing sale offering customers £100 off per person on ALL holidays, including Summer 26 holidays. As a result, a family of four can enjoy a saving of £500, on top of millions of Free Child Places this summer, and a couple can save £300 when booking a Summer 26 holiday.
The good news does not end there, as the UK’s largest tour operator is also running a super-low £25 per person deposit across Summer 26 holidays, which ends on 23.59 on 12th January 2026.
Jet2holidays is gearing up for a bumper weekend, as customers look to book a holiday with the award-winning company. The tour operator has reported continued demand from customers relishing the famous ‘Nothing beats’ experience, including the fact that booking a Jet2holiday means flying with Jet2.com and their friendly crew.
As well as a VIP customer service from start to finish, customers can enjoy 22kg baggage allowance, 10kg hand luggage, under-seat bag, return transfers, as well as ABTA and ATOL protection.
Customers looking to book a flight with Jet2.com this Winter also have plenty to smile about, whether it’s for some Winter Sun, a ski break or a city break, as the award-winning airline has also today released 70,000 one-way seats departing until 31st March 2026 at £49 or less.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Jet2 said: “We know that this weekend is shaping up to be a busy one, with customers booking their spot in the sunshine with us.
“We always want to give our customers even more to smile about, so we are delighted to be announcing even more money off our award-winning holidays this Summer.
“With truly fantastic deals on offer, alongside our famous customer service and nothing beats reputation, we are looking forward to welcoming lots of happy customers onboard with us this summer, including of course from our brand-new UK airport base at London Gatwick.”
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.”
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.”
A 45-year-old man who sexually assaulted a woman on an Easyjet flight from Naples to Edinburgh has been convicted.
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.”
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/.
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.”
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 13th 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.
Provide secure, long‑term funding for local carer organisations