POLICE are appealing for the public’s help to trace 20-year-old Jack Beedie who has been reported missing in Aberdeen.
Jack was last seen around 1pm on Friday, 27 March, 2026, at Aberdeen Bus Station and was reported missing on Sunday, 12 April. It is believed he may have travelled to either Edinburgh or Glasgow.
He is described as white, around 5ft 8in tall, of slim build, with short dark hair. When last seen he was wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans, and brown hiking boots.
Sergeant James Dainton said: “We are becoming increasingly concerned for Jack’s welfare and would urge anyone who may have seen him, or who has any information that could assist, to come forward.
“If you think you can help, please contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2564 of 12 April.”
New TUC survey findings published today reveal 8 in 10 workers have experienced abuse at work in the past year
45% of surveyed workers have experienced threats of physical harm in the last 12 months
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak says “ministers must prioritise HSE funding to keep workers safe”
A new survey published by the TUC today (Friday) shows 8 in 10 surveyed workers have experienced some form of abuse at work in the last year. The findings, based on a survey of 5,004 workers, show that in the last 12 months:
1 in 5 (19.4%) have experienced physical assault
1 in 10 (9.9%) have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence at work
8 in 10 (79.1%) have experienced verbal abuse such as shouting, insults or threats at work
4 in 10 (44.9%) have experienced threats of physical harm
The report is published as the TUC holds its Violence at Work conference today, established following concerns from unions about violence and abuse against public-facing workers.
More than 8 in 10 (84.1 %) of respondents said their roles are public facing.
The report finds:
11.8% work in education
38.9% work in transport
9.9% work in prisons or secure facilities
4.9% work in health and social care
14.9% work in central or local government
When asked how regularly they experience violence or abuse at work, more than half of workers (51.4%) said they experience violence or abuse weekly or more, while 17.1% said they experienced violence or abuse on a monthly basis.
When asked who is responsible for the violence and/or abuse workers have experienced:
45.9% said customers were the perpetrators
36.4% said passengers
15.2% said other members of the public
10.9% said pupils or students
9.2% said colleagues
8.5% said managers
When asked about the impact of the most severe incidents they have experienced, 48.7%% said they feared for their safety, 13.9% said they experienced physical injury, 8.9% required medical treatment, 26.2% required police involvement, 16.8% had to take time off work, while 32.8% experienced mental trauma.
More than half (51.9%) of those who did not report it said it was because violence is seen as “part of the job”, while 33.7% said they felt it would not be taken seriously.
Health and Safety Executive
The TUC says employers have a legal duty to keep staff safe at work and all employers must assess the health and safety risks in their workplaces.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can prosecute employers who do not manage the risks of violence.
HSE inspectors play a vital role in keeping workplaces safe.
But the TUC says the HSE has been left “struggling to operate” due to the “devastating” impact of cuts under the Tory government.
The HSE – the country’s main workplace health and safety regulator – has seen its funding cut by more than 50% since 2010.
As a result, inspector numbers, inspections, and employer sanctions are at an all-time low – putting workers at risk.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “It doesn’t matter what you do for a living – violence at work is never ‘part of the job’.
“Nobody should go to work fearing for their safety, but that is the reality for thousands of our vital frontline workers.
“The Tories left the HSE in tatters and left the current government cleaning up their mess. But ministers must reinvest in the HSE, so we have more inspectors visiting workplaces and enforcing safety rules.
“My message to anyone worried about their safety and welfare at work is to join a union. We know that unionised workplaces are safer because union reps work with employers to reduce risks.”
More than £98,000 worth of illegal drugs have been recovered in Edinburgh.
On Thursday, 16 April, 2026, officers acting on intelligence attempted to stop a vehicle in Murrayburn Drive. The car was found crashed in the Calder Gardens area a short time later and two men were arrested. No serious injuries were reported.
Drugs including cocaine, pink cocaine and heroin worth £98,180 were recovered, as well as a bladed weapon and a four-figure sum of cash. The vehicle was also found to be stolen.
The men, both aged 23, were charged in connection and were due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday – Friday, 17 April, 2026.
Sergeant Will Dickson, from Edinburgh West Local Initiative Team, said: “This is a significant recovery which means a large quantity of drugs will remain off our streets.
“Information from the community is absolutely vital and I’d like to thank them for their cooperation and the information they’ve provided.
“This result shows we will use every tool and tactic at our disposal to trace those committing crimes in our communities and make our community a safer place for all.”
Anyone with information or concerns should speak to officers or contact Police Scotland on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The study found vaccination at least 2 weeks before the birth gave 81.3% protection. A narrow range of statistical uncertainty, 78.9% to 83.4%, means there is high confidence in the protective effect of the vaccine.
The study, which analysed data from the first year of vaccine roll out (24/25), is believed to be the largest study in the world evaluating the effect of maternal RSV vaccination in preventing infants being hospitalised for RSV chest infection.
RSV causes bronchiolitis (infection and inflammation of the small airways of the lung) and is a major cause of hospital admission in infants.
The maternal vaccination programme is offered to women from 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect newborns.
The study followed nearly 300,000 babies born between September 2024 and March 2025, representing around 90% of all births in England during this period. Using routinely collected electronic health records, UKHSA researchers assessed the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing hospital admissions. More than 4,500 hospitalisations occurred in this cohort, the vast majority in infants whose mothers had not been vaccinated.
Getting the vaccine on time was best (in week 28 or soon after that), as babies born at least 4 weeks after their mother was vaccinated had nearly 85% protection. But importantly, even vaccination later in pregnancy still gives some protection, with vaccination as close as 10 to 13 days before birth reducing hospital admissions by 50%.
The study, which will be presented today (18 Apri)l at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) global conference, also found that premature babies, who are particularly vulnerable to RSV, can be well protected, provided there is at least 2 weeks between vaccination and birth.
Matt Wilson, Epidemiologist at UKHSA, presenter and lead author, said: “Our evaluation of the first season of the programme in England gives important confirmation that maternal RSV vaccination is highly protective for newborn infants, over 80%, and that effectiveness reached nearly 85% when vaccination occurred at least 4 weeks before birth.
“These findings are also particularly important for preterm infants, who are among the most vulnerable to severe RSV infection. With sufficient time between vaccination and birth, we saw good levels of protection in these babies.
“Giving the vaccination early in the third trimester, as recommended by the World Health Organization, could protect most preterm infants, so it’s important that midwives and other healthcare workers offer vaccination on time with the schedule – and that pregnant women promptly take it up.”
Maternal RSV vaccine uptake in England continues to climb, reaching 55% during the study period and the latest data showing uptake rising to 64.1% for women who gave birth in November 2025.
Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, one of the senior authors and national programme lead for RSV, said: “RSV can cause life-threatening chest infections for babies. Half of newborns will have caught RSV before they are a year old. As an expectant parent you have no idea if they are going to be severely ill or not.
“Our analysis of the RSV vaccination programme in England is important confirmation of the results from the clinical trial, but this study is 40 times bigger and clearly shows the hugely beneficial effect on reducing hospital admission.
“Getting vaccinated in week 28 of pregnancy or soon after gives excellent protection to both term and preterm babies when they are tiny and most vulnerable to severe RSV. The RSV vaccine gives a brilliant boost to the pregnant woman’s immune system so it can pass antibodies through the placenta and protect the baby from the day they are born.”
Photography enthusiasts are being encouraged to enter a competition running until October celebrating three decades of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 making this World Heritage Day (Saturday, 18 April) so special as the competition is part of the Site’s 30th birthday celebrations.
This makes this weekend the perfect time to explore the Old and New Towns to capture images of one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world.
Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.
The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.
The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.
This year’s World Heritage Day celebrations also include the following event:
DID JOHN BAYNE TAKE A SECRET TO HIS GRAVE?
TODAY (Saturday 18 April) as part of the Legacies in Stone project, Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Council (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) aim to lift the lid on a secret centuries in the making: does a broken gravestone in John Bayne’s mausoleum hide a forgotten burial vault?
By repairing a simple flat grave slab, the aim is to unlock the mystery of this unique tomb in Scotland’s most famous kirkyard.
How to join:
In person: Attend the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard, followed by expert talks at Augustine United Church.
Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This year World Heritage Day is so special as there is much to celebrate. The 30th birthday is a significant achievement and milestone to reach as looking after the Site with our partners takes a lot of care and has many challenges. Edinburgh is a living, breathing city and it needs to be well managed to balance the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors.
“This World Heritage Day is a great time to enter our photography competition as it’s a lovely time of year to capture the changing light, sunsets and skylines this part of our stunning capital city is so famous for.
“The beautiful spring flowers appearing in the many gardens and open spaces are also there for us all to enjoy. If you’re interested in photography, why not explore the area this weekend to capture what inspires you most about the Old and New Towns.
“You could combine your visit to find out if John Bayne took a secret to his grave by attending the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard – or if history is more your interest – just attend the event instead.”
George Findlater, Head of Community and Economic Development at Historic Environment Scotland, said:“After thirty years of being a World Heritage Site, Edinburgh continues to inspire admiration from visitors and locals alike.
“We are excited to offer a year’s membership to Historic Scotland as a prize in the photography competition, and World Heritage Day is a terrific opportunity to bring out your camera and capture what makes Edinburgh so unique across the competition categories.”
Douglas Brotherston, Chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Thirty years as a World Heritage Site is quite a wonderful achievement and we are delighted at Edinburgh World Heritage, together with our partners at HES and the City of Edinburgh Council to mark the occasion by holding this photography competition.
“The unique appeal of Edinburgh’s streets and landscapes, skylines and special heritage is so varied, it lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope that we will get many entries from locals and visitors alike who can capture the glorious views of our spectacular city.”
The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:
Both fuels began to drop yesterday for the first time since the war started. And they’ve both gone a little further today: petrol is now below 158p and diesel below 191p for the first time since 8 April.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “After 46 days of rising prices, the cost of both petrol and diesel across the country has finally begun to drop very slightly. Wholesale prices are still lower, so we’re hopeful there will be further reductions amounting to several pence a litre in the coming days.
“After record rises, drivers will be relieved to finally see prices going the other way.
“While we’re a long way from a return to the prices we had at the start of the conflict, there’s now a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Aldi has donated 6,561 meals to those in need across Edinburgh over the Easter period
This forms part of Aldi’s long-standing partnership with community-giving platform Neighbourly
Aldi has delivered the equivalent of more than 50 million meals since 2019 via the partnership
DGP
Aldi has helped to deliver 6,561 meals to people in need across Edinburgh over the Easter period by donating surplus food from stores across the UK, helping to support families that might otherwise struggle with the extra cost of Easter celebrations and feeding children during the school break.
Working with local charities and community groups through its long-standing partnership with Neighbourly, the discounter redistributes fresh and chilled food from its stores to those who need it most, with donations made over Easter helping to make sure all families can come together to enjoy festivities regardless of financial circumstances.
This forms part of Aldi’s nationwide food donation programme, which pairs every UK store with a local charity or community group to ensure surplus food is put to good use all year round.
More than 711,500 meals were donated throughout the UK over the recent school holidays, with 24 groups in Edinburgh benefiting from the initiative.
The latest figures build on Aldi’s long-term partnership with Neighbourly, which has enabled the delivery of the equivalent of more than 50 million meals since 2019.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know the school holidays can put real pressure on families who may already be struggling – especially when it comes to putting food on the table.
“By working with Neighbourly, we can ensure good food reaches families who need it, rather than going to waste. That’s food on people’s plates that might otherwise have been missed.
“And for those who are able to, picking up an extra item to donate in store can make a real difference to local communities.”
Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, said: “Aldi’s commitment means local charities and community groups can rely on regular food donations to support people in their communities.
“For many of these organisations, that consistent support is vital – helping them provide food day in, day out.”
In addition, Aldi also works with partners including Company Shop Group, another distributor of surplus food and household products, to redistribute surplus stock from its Regional Distribution Centres, to support households across the UK.
The supermarket also recently expanded its partnership with The Bread and Butter Thing, enabling suppliers across the UK to donate products that cannot be sold in stores, such as items with packaging damage or labelling errors, but are still perfectly good to eat.
Three young people in Weymouth, Dorset have been confirmed to have meningitis B, known as MenB.
All-three individuals have received treatment and are recovering well. These cases are not linked to the recent outbreak in Kent and this outbreak is not showing the same speed of transmission or severity of illness.
Meningitis Now CEO Dr Tom Nutt says: “We are concerned to hear of three cases of MenB amongst young people in Weymouth. Our heartfelt thoughts are with them, their families, friends and the entire community. We wish them a good recovery, and are here to provide support at this difficult time.
“Meningitis can progress very quickly and its impact can be devastating. Meningitis can affect anyone. But students and young people are at increased risk because they are more likely to carry the bacteria that can cause meningitis, and because bacteria can spread more easily in settings where students and young people live, study and socialise closely together. We understand that these cases in Dorset are unconnected to the recent outbreak in Kent.
“We urge students, young people, staff and families to remain vigilant for the signs and symptoms of meningitis, which can include a high fever, severe headache, vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion, cold hands and feet, limb pain, and, in some cases, a rash that does not fade under pressure.
“Symptoms can appear suddenly, in any order and can easily be mistaken for flu, a heavy cold or even a hangover. So, it is vital that anyone who is concerned seeks urgent medical help immediately.
“We welcome the swift response from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to identify close contacts and provide precautionary antibiotics and MenB vaccinations to young people in school years 7 to 13 in Weymouth, Portland and Chickerell. Rapid public health action is crucial in helping to reduce the risk of further cases.
“We are supporting the schools and wider community and are here to help in any way we can.
“We understand that this news may cause people concern or anxiety, especially so soon after the Kent outbreak. Meningitis Now is here to support anyone in the UK affected by meningitis. You can find our more from www.meningitisnow.org or by calling our nurse-led Helpline on 0808 80 10 388, open Monday to Friday.
“This situation is yet another reminder of why our “No Plan B for MenB” campaign is calling for greater protection for young people. MenB is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in the UK. Its impact is devastating, cruel, life-changing – and preventable.
“Since 2015 only infants have been vaccinated against MenB but we believe all teenagers and young adults should be protected by this vaccine on the NHS. When it comes to MenB, there is no plan B – we must vaccinate young people to protect them.
“The MenB vaccine is currently only available for young adults privately through high street and supermarket pharmacies.
“If anyone is worried about they or a loved one may have meningitis, trust your instincts and seek urgent medical help. Acting quickly can save lives.”
SCOTTISH NATIONAL DEMO
EDINBURGH
Sat 18th April
1pm
