A huge thank you to the amazing young people from PYCP Youth Committee and the local Police Community Officers from Police Scotland Edinburgh for giving up their time to help clean up the basketball court at Ferry Road Drive.
This was our third community clean-up and once again the team worked incredibly hard to make a difference.
Sadly, we found large amounts of waste including beds, furniture, gas cylinders, general rubbish, and far too much dog fouling. While it’s disappointing to see it’s also a reminder of why these clean-ups are so important.
Our goal is to make this court a safe, welcoming space where young people can play, be active and enjoy their community. We also want to encourage local residents to take pride in and care for this valuable community asset.
We’re also in the process of setting up a local tenant working group so that ownership, upkeep and maintenance of the space can be shared across the community so If you’re interested in getting involved in future clean-ups, we’d love to hear from you, please get in touch with us.
Why cancer-triggering damage, like smoking, may cause disease in some people but not others
Scottish researchers funded by Cancer Research UK help answer a long-standing mystery of cancer – why some people get the disease while others don’t.
An international team of leading scientists has discovered that inherited genetic differences play a crucial role in shaping how cancers develop and evolve after DNA damage to the body occurs.
The findings could help explain why some people exposed to major cancer risks, such as smoking, never develop disease while others do.
The research, published in Nature, carried out in mice by researchers at Edinburgh, Cambridge, Heidelberg and Yale universities, shows that genetic ancestry can directly influence how cancer-causing mutations behave and how the resulting cancers grow and interact within the body.
Study co-lead Professor Martin Taylor, of the Institute of Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh, said:“Cancer doesn’t develop in a vacuum. Our research has shown that inherited genetics can fundamentally shape how tumours grow and evolve.
“Understanding this interaction between an individual’s inherited genetics and new cancer-driving mutations caused by DNA damage brings us a step closer to truly personalised cancer care.”
Personalised medicine is a growing area of cancer research which aims to tailor treatment to a specific patient but more information, such as this study, is needed to understand why and how cancer behaves in different people.
In the UK, more than 403,000* people are diagnosed with cancer each year (34,800 in Scotland***) with around 170,000** people (16,400 in Scotland****) dying from the disease annually, so finding new ways to tackle the disease is vital.
DNA damage through normal ageing and environmental exposures like sunlight, tobacco smoke or processed meat can lead to cancer however, the process is far from predictable.
Many smokers, for example, never develop lung cancer, while some people who have never smoked do. The reasons for this are not fully understood as studies of human cancers are limited by the complexity of real life such as differences in lifestyle, environment, and the role genetics plays.
To understand the role genetics plays, the research team recreated cancer development under controlled conditions.
Using four genetically distinct groups of mice, representing levels of genetic variation similar to those in human populations, the team exposed each group to the same DNA-damaging chemical comparable to those found in some processed meats.
They then tracked how tumours developed in remarkable detail, analysing whole genomes, gene activity, and tumour structure.
Despite identical exposure, the cancers that emerged followed strikingly different paths depending on genetic background.
The study found that most tumours shared a common feature: disruption of a key cancer-driving pathway known as MAPK. However, how this disruption occurred and what happened next, varied widely.
Researchers observed differences in which genes were mutated, how tumours grew, the number of additional cancer-driving mutations and whether entire genomes were duplicated – a major step in cancer progression.
Even more striking, the same cancer-causing mutation could have different effects depending on genetic background, influencing critical pathways such as the body’s key tumour suppressor system.
Study co-lead, clinician scientist pathologist Dr Sarah Aitken, Assistant Professor at the Centre of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Yale University, said:“Our findings have important implications for cancer screening, diagnosis, and prognostication as well as profound implications for precision medicine.
“Even when tumours arise from the same type of damage and look nearly identical under the microscope, they can acquire distinct molecular changes depending on inherited genetics which shape how the cancer behaves.
“Treatments are often designed to target specific mutations (identified by genomic pathology tests) but this research suggests that patients with the same mutation may respond differently depending on their genetic background.”
By better understanding how inherited DNA influences cancer evolution, future approaches could improve prediction of cancer risk, allow medics to tailor treatments more effectively to individuals and help address disparities in cancer outcomes across populations.
Senior author Professor Duncan Odom, who led the research while at the Cancer Research UK Institute and the University of Cambridge, now based at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ)in Heidelberg, Germany, said:“Cancer does not arise entirely by chance. Although tumours often reach the same biological endpoint, the path to that endpoint is determined by an individual’s genetic background.
“We’ve been able to show for the first time the extent to which genetic background influences both the mutation processes and the pathways leading to tumour development.”
The study is the result of years of international collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Yale and Cambridge and forms part of the Liver Cancer Evolution consortium led by Professor Duncan Odom, Dr Sarah Aitken and Professor Martin Taylor.
Along the way, the team uncovered unexpected patterns in how DNA damage is processed; insights that ultimately enabled them to track cancer development with unprecedented precision.
Cancer Research UK research information lead, Dr Sam Godfrey, said:“This study gives us a fascinating hint that our inherited genes might have a big influence on the way that cancers develop after DNA damage.
“We still need to see more research before we can understand what this means in humans, but this finding could change our understanding of how cancer starts, and lead to more powerful and precise ways of tackling cancer.”
By releasing this dataset to the wider scientific community, the researchers hope to accelerate discoveries in cancer evolution and treatment.
Rise and shine! Our lunch menu for Monday, 27th July, is a celebration of local, organic goodness! We’re thrilled to be serving a broad bean and goat’s cheese tart, made with broad beans harvested by the fabulous Walking Group at Edinburgh Agroecology Coop last week, paired with a fresh side salad.
For dessert, indulge in our Gooseberry Crumble Cake, made with gooseberries plucked from our very own garden, served with a divine fruit coulis created by the talented volunteer chef, Artemis!
This menu is a testament to the power of community and the beauty of summer – don’t miss out on this opportunity to treat yourself to a delicious, healthy, and uplifting meal.
As always, our doors open at 9am for a free breakfast and a warm welcome, so spread the word and invite your friends and family to join in on the feast!
First Minister John Swinney has welcomed continued progress in controlling the Cairngorms wildfires as he chaired another meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGORR) yesterday afternoon (Sunday).
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth, Justice Secretary Neil Gray and Climate Action and Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin were also in attendance, along with representatives from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Police Scotland, Highland Council and Cairngorms National Park.
The SFRS confirmed that a Level 3 response will continue and reported positive progress in controlling the outbreak.
Additional support for residents in Nethy Bridge remains in place through the Local Resilience Partnership.
The First Minister said: “As our emergency services and partners continue to tackle the wildfires in the Cairngorms, I am pleased to see there has been welcome progress and I thank all again for their continued hard work and collaboration.
“The Scottish Government requested military assistance, in the form of aerial support to drop water on the fire, from the Ministry of Defence to supplement existing aerial resources that are in place.
We have received a formal response advising that the UK Government are not in a position to agree to this request, given that the Ministry of Defence does not possess aerial firefighting assets stationed within the UK. The offer of other resources is welcome but SFRS has confirmed they have the other resources they need.
“Ministers will continue to be updated on the fire and resources and services will remain until the fire is out.
“As I stated earlier, this wildfire is being treated with the utmost seriousness and necessary resources will be in place until the last flames are out.”
When John Aiken and Gary Burnett first crossed paths at Amazon’s Dunfermline fulfilment centre, they had more in common than either might have expected.
Both had arrived at Amazon via unconventional routes. Both had quietly wondered whether they were capable of completing a degree-level qualification while holding down demanding full-time roles. And both, it turned out, were more than capable.
Having recently completed the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) – John through Glasgow Caledonian University and Gary through the University of Exeter – the pair are now among a growing number of Amazon employees demonstrating that higher education doesn’t have to mean stepping away from the workplace to achieve it.
John’s route to Amazon was a significant career change. Before joining the company in August 2021, he had spent years working in entertainment on cruise ships – a world away from the logistics industry.
“Coming to Amazon was very much a career change,” he says. “Obviously 2020 came around, COVID hit, and it was time to find a new career trajectory.”
The shift proved more natural than it might have seemed on paper. John draws parallels between his former life and his current role – particularly around managing people across diverse cultures and backgrounds, something he encountered daily at sea and now navigates as General Manager’s Assistant in the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and stakeholder management space.
When the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship was launched in Scotland, John was part of the very first cohort.
He completed his dissertation in August 2025, choosing to evaluate Amazon’s community and social impact in Scotland – a topic he knew inside out. The paper was subsequently shared internally with Amazon’s Community Impact team for use with their own apprentices.
“What I really liked about it was the broad topics you were studying and being able to put them into practice literally the next day when you’re back on site,” he says. “It catapulted the visibility we have as CMDAs beyond the levels we’re currently sitting at.”
His advice to anyone considering the programme? “Jump in with both feet. It’s not something you just dip your toe into. You don’t know what you can do unless you try.”
Gary’s Amazon story began considerably earlier. He joined the company in 2012 as a temporary agency associate, fresh out of four years in the RAF, simply looking for work.
“When I joined Amazon, that’s exactly what I joined it for,” he admits. “It was supposed to be a stop-gap. I just needed a job.”
Twelve months later he was made permanent. Two years after that, he was a team lead. By 2020, he had stepped up into an area manager role – and for the first time, he started thinking seriously about his career trajectory. The problem was that a degree was a requirement for permanent promotion to level four area manager, and Gary had left school with only standard grades before joining the military.
Amazon’s solution was to offer him a pathway: first a Level 5 Operations Manager apprenticeship through the University of Exeter, and then a two-year fast-track CMDA programme at the same institution. The CMI accreditation was woven throughout both courses – a smoother, more integrated experience than John’s, though arriving at the same destination.
“I think 82% of people in management positions across all industries are accidental managers,” Gary says, referencing a CMI statistic that clearly resonated. “That’s exactly what I would have been. Now I’m fully trained and professionally accredited – and that gives me a level of confidence in my role.”
Balancing the programme with a full-time job and two young children at home – aged eight and four – was not without its challenges. But Gary credits a shared workplace mentor, who also happened to be his direct line manager for much of the programme, with helping him stay on track. He also leaned heavily on his cohort, forming a small group who would meet on weekends to work through assignments and support one another.
“Lean on your peers,” he urges. “Whether there was much academic value in those calls or not, pushing each other onward definitely helped. It was a problem we were all sharing together.”
Now 35, Gary is a living example that the CMDA is open to anyone willing to commit. “If I can do it – at my age, with a young family, in a full-time job – I think absolutely anybody could.”
Between them, John and Gary represent something broader than two personal success stories. They are the leading edge of a growing community at Amazon in Scotland – with around 30 others now following in their footsteps across first and third year cohorts – proving that professional development and operational excellence are not mutually exclusive.
Pay at Amazon starts from £13.95 or £14.96 per hour depending on location, equating to between £29,037 and £31,116 annually. Additionally, from day one, all employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount. Together, these benefits are worth more than £700 annually, and employees can take advantage of a company pension plan.
Applications are now open for Amazon’s apprenticeship programme.
A man accused of murdering his ex-partner at her Craigievar Square home in East Craigs last Monday has been found dead in prison.
Lee Greenan was arrested and he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, charged with assaulting and killing Vikki Soloman. 46-year-old Greenan entered no plea and was remanded in custody.
He was due to appear at court again next week, but this morning (Sunday) it was confirmed that Greenan had died at around 8.55am in HMP Edinburgh.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson told STV: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.
“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.55am on Sunday, July 26, 2026, we were made aware of the death of a 46-year-old man at HMP Edinburgh.
“There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Healthy weight loss takes time, not shortcuts. As demand for weight-loss medicines continues to rise, the MHRA is reminding people how to use GLP-1 medicines safely, spot illegal sellers and avoid diet changes that could interfere with their medicines
With prescription weight loss medicines being advertised illegally on social media alongside quick-fix slimming claims, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), warns Brits to not let summer slimming put their health at risk.
From over-dosing on prescription weight-loss meds to buying dangerous fakes online, the MHRA reveals the mistakes that could leave you seriously ill, and the simple steps to lose weight safely.
1. Follow doctor’s orders if you are prescribed a GLP-1
If you’ve been prescribed a GLP-1 weight-loss medicine, don’t be tempted to fast-track your weight loss by upping your dose. Semaglutide (Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide (Saxenda) should only be taken as prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Follow doctors’ orders and take your prescribed GLP-1 alongside a healthy diet and a fitness regime. Whether you’re taking it for diabetes management or weight loss, maintaining good nutrition and exercise can help support muscle, bone, and overall health as your calorie intake changes.
2. Steer Clear of Fake Weight-Loss Meds
If you’re not eligible for a prescription for weight-loss medicines, don’t be tempted to buy them from unregulated websites or social media sellers. GLP-1 medicines authorised in the UK have only been shown to be safe and effective for people with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or more. Buying from rogue sellers is a huge risk. You can’t be sure what’s in the product, and some fake medicines are contaminated with toxic substances.
Don’t be tempted by the online hype around retatrutide. It has not been authorised for use in the UK, meaning anyone selling this product is doing so illegally. These products haven’t been tested for safety, quality or effectiveness and there’s no guarantee that they even contain retatrutide. You could be putting your health at serious risk.
Head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, Andy Morling, said: “Rogue sellers are driven by profit, not your safety, and the fake medicines they sell could put your health at serious risk.
“These products may not contain the GLP-1 medicine you think you’re buying and could be contaminated with bacteria and other harmful substances.
“Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and check the pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. The simple rule for staying safe is that if you’re offered a GLP-1 medicines without the need for a prescription – walk away.”
3. Check Your Meds Before Changing Your Diet
Trying to eat more healthily before your holiday? Great – but make sure your diet doesn’t clash with your medication. Always read the patient information leaflet before making dietary changes, as some foods could compromise medicines’ effectiveness. People taking simvastatin to lower their cholesterol should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as they slow the rate the body breaks down the medicine, increasing the risk of serious side effects.
Thinking about intermittent fasting? Remember that some medicines need to be taken with food to work most effectively and lower your risk of side effects. Metformin, used to treat diabetes, and the painkiller naproxen should both be taken with or after food to help prevent stomach upset.
MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer, Alison Cave said: “There’s no shortcut to safe weight loss. If you’re trying to slim down, follow medical advice, avoid fake medicines and remember that healthy eating and regular exercise are still the safest ways to get in shape for summer.”
Counterfeit Weight-Loss Pills Could Be the Next Online Health Scam
Pharmacist reveals the warning signs that a weight-loss medicine may be fake as the first GLP-1 tablet is approved in the UK
Consumers are being warned to watch for fake weight-loss tablets appearing on social media and unregulated websites following the approval of the first oral GLP-1 medicine for weight management in the UK.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved the semaglutide tablet for weight loss on 11 June 2026, creating a needle-free alternative to injectable treatments.
However, Sobia Qasim, Superintendent Pharmacist at Curely, warns that growing public interest in weight-loss pills could also create a new opportunity for illegal sellers.
Unlike injectable pens, tablets can be placed in ordinary bottles, blister packs or envelopes and posted without specialist equipment, potentially making counterfeit products appear more convincing to consumers.
Fake medicines may contain the wrong dose, no active ingredient or entirely different and potentially harmful substances. The MHRA has already uncovered organised criminal networks manufacturing illegal weight-loss medicines and seized almost £45 million worth of illegal medicines during 2025.
Sobia said: “The arrival of an approved weight-loss tablet is an important development for patients, particularly those who are uncomfortable with injections. However, high demand and widespread online interest can also attract illegal sellers looking to exploit people who want quick or cheaper access.
“A tablet may look less suspicious than an injection because consumers are accustomed to receiving pills through the post. But a professional-looking box, blister pack or website does not prove that the medicine is genuine.
“Prescription weight-loss medication should only be supplied after an appropriate clinical assessment by a qualified healthcare professional. Any seller willing to bypass that process should immediately raise concern.”
Seven signs a weight-loss pill could be fake
Warning sign
Why it should raise concern
It is sold through social media messages
Genuine prescription medicines should not be bought through private messages, marketplace listings or informal social media accounts.
No medical consultation is required
Weight-loss medication is not suitable for everyone. A regulated provider should assess your health, current medicines and eligibility before prescribing it.
The seller guarantees a specific amount of weight loss
Results differ between patients. Guaranteed outcomes are a marketing tactic, not responsible clinical advice.
You are pressured to act quickly
Countdown timers, limited stock claims and urgent payment requests may be used to stop consumers checking whether a provider is legitimate.
The price appears unusually low
A price substantially below recognised providers may indicate that the medicine is fake, unlicensed, incorrectly stored or obtained illegally.
The tablets arrive loose or in unfamiliar packaging
Medicines should arrive in sealed, labelled packaging with clear dosage information and a patient information leaflet.
There is no registered pharmacy information
Consumers should be able to identify the pharmacy supplying the medicine and verify that it is registered with the appropriate UK regulator.
A familiar brand name does not guarantee a genuine product
Sobia warns that counterfeiters may copy recognised brand names, logos, batch numbers and packaging to make illegal products appear authentic.
In February 2026, the MHRA confirmed that a falsified version of a Mounjaro injection had been supplied through an online pharmacy in the UK. The regulator said fake medicines may contain incorrect ingredients, no active ingredient or harmful substances.
Previous fake GLP-1 injections discovered in the UK have also contained insulin, creating a risk of dangerously low blood sugar for people who unknowingly used them.
Sobia continued: “Counterfeiters can reproduce colours, logos and packaging extremely convincingly. Consumers should never judge a medicine by appearance alone.
The checks around the medicine are just as important as the product itself. Who prescribed it? Was a proper consultation completed? Which registered pharmacy supplied it? Can you contact a healthcare professional if something goes wrong?
“If those questions cannot be answered clearly, do not take the tablets.”
What consumers should check before ordering
Before purchasing weight-loss medication online, Curely recommends checking that:
Genuine clinical assessment is required
Qualified prescriber reviews the order
The dispensing pharmacy is registered in the UK
The provider asks about existing health conditions and medication
Clear contact details are available
The medicine arrives sealed and properly labelled
Instructions and patient safety information are included
Follow-up support is available throughout treatment
The NHS warns that medicines bought from unregistered websites may be out of date, diluted, fake or unsuitable for the person taking them.
What to do if you think a weight-loss medicine is fake
Anyone who believes they have received a counterfeit or suspicious medicine should not take another dose until they have spoken to a pharmacist or doctor.
Consumers should keep the packaging, receipt and details of the website or seller. Suspected fake medicines and side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Those who experience severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness or symptoms of dangerously low blood sugar should seek urgent medical assistance.
Sobia added: “People may feel embarrassed if they have bought medication from an unofficial seller, but healthcare professionals need to know exactly what may have been taken so they can provide the right treatment.
Do not throw the packaging away and do not assume that feeling unwell is simply a normal side effect. With an unregulated product, there is no reliable way to know what the tablet contains or what dose has been supplied.
The safest route is always a properly regulated service offering clinical assessment, genuine medication and ongoing professional support.”
From Liz Truss and Keir Starmer to JFK conspiracies and razor-sharp satire, theSpaceUK’s political programme proves that truth is still stranger than fiction.
Politics has never been short of drama, but at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, theSpaceUK is inviting audiences to look beyond the headlines – or, at the very least, beyond the latest Truth Social post.
Leading the line-up is broadcaster and political commentator Steve Richards, whose hugely popular Steve Richards Presents Rock and Roll Politics returns to the Fringe. With the halls of Westminster continuing to deliver twists that few could have predicted, Richards superb show combines forensic political analysis with his trademark “unreliable” predictions, making it a new show every day as events continue to unfold.
Current politics also comes under scrutiny in The Unsolvable Case of Keir Starmer, from Chasing Rainbows. Through a series of imagined therapy sessions, the play charts Starmer’s journey from respected lawyer to Prime Minister, asking where it all began to unravel.
Political history comes under the microscope in The Umbrella Man: What We Talk About When We Talk About the JFK Assassination, written and performed by Martin Fitzgerald. Rather than simply retreading old conspiracy theories, the show shines a light on the ordinary people who happened to be in Dealey Plaza on that fateful day.
A show that should last longer than a lettuce is The Last Days Of Liz Truss?, from Oxia Theatre Company and Emma Wilkinson Wright. Set on the former Prime Minister’s final morning in Downing Street, the award-winning production is part comedy, all tragedy. Following a West End transfer to The Other Palace earlier this year, the show comes to Edinburgh with Emma Wilkinson Wright’s acclaimed portrayal of one of Britain’s most extraordinary political figures
Meanwhile, The Painted Revolutionary, presented by Tip Top Theatre Collective, approaches politics from an entirely different angle. In this biting new satire, abstract political concepts become flawed, recognisable characters, with Struggle, Order and others navigating questions of responsibility, power and change. This is an imaginative examination of political ideals and the messy reality of putting them into practice
Closer to home, Cubicle Dialogue, presented by the University of York Drama Society, relocates political conflict to the fluorescent-lit offices of a struggling local authority. As Labour falters nationally and Reform rises locally, civil servants and councillors find it increasingly difficult to maintain neutrality. Part workplace comedy and all political satire.
If the news has left you bewildered, exhausted or simply looking for something different, these shows prove there’s still no better place than the Fringe to argue, laugh and wrestle with the big political questions.
Here are our events for next week to help you #ReadToTheBeat and keep enjoying the summer holidays! All our events are free to attend, but make sure you book a place to our external workshops.
On Tuesday, it’s Karaoke time from 2pm! Emily will be helping you belt out your best songs in style.
On Thursday morning, we have spaces left for our superb workshop with Befana and Midnight, where you can learn about herbs, design recipes, and brew your own magical tea! This is aimed at ages 7-10 but younger children can participate in some of the event with parental help.
If you want to come along to this, please sign up on Eventbrite:
On Thursday afternoon, we will put E for Engineering in STEM. Learn about the construction and destruction of castles, help build one for the library, and test it out. This will run from 2-3pm.
We are fully booked for Jenny Laahs’ final Music Makers Club, but those who are signed up will be trying out keyboard instruments and playing some fun musical games.
Lastly, like every week, we have Junior Board Games from 2pm on Saturday. We’ve got lots of board games available to try out.
Remember that coming to any of these events will earn you a sticker for the #SummerReadingChallenge, which you can sign up for with your library card and parent.
Our lunch menu for Monday, 27th July, is a celebration of local, organic goodness! We’re thrilled to be serving a broad bean and goat’s cheese tart, made with broad beans harvested by the fabulous Walking Group at 
