Police Scotland is appealing for the public’s assistance to help trace a 35-year-old woman reported missing from Edinburgh.
Margaret Ross was last seen in the Moredun area in the early hours of Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, and is believed to have possibly travelled towards the Little Frances Crescent area of the city.
She has links to Craigmillar and Moredun, and is also known to frequent the city centre.
Margaret is described as white, around 5ft 4 in height, of medium build with long fair/blonde hair. When last seen, she was wearing a pink t-shirt, black jacket, jeans and black trainers.
Sergeant Craig Darling said: “We are concerned for Margaret’s welfare and we are appealing to anyone who may have seen her to please contact police immediately”.
If anyone has information which may assist, please phone 101 quoting incident number 0044 of 8 April, 2025.
We’ve recently received reports of vans being broken into and tools being stolen from within. Please consider additional security measure to secure your tools:
– When parking your van, think carefully about where you are stopping. Parking with the rear or side doors against a wall or sturdy railings will help ensure they can’t be prised open.
– Where possible, park in well-lit areas with foot traffic, and ideally with CCTV cameras or where you can see your vehicle from where you’re working.
– Fit a secure van vault in the rear for expensive tools. They come in a range of sizes and can be bolted to the cargo floor.
– Tools and other property can be registered on a Secured by Design (SBD) approved Tool and Asset database. These systems can assist the Police in tracing stolen property back to the owner and, importantly, prove it was stolen.
– Consider using a battery-operated GSM mobile alert system and camera which can alert you to anything suspicious.
– Advertise that you use a security system for your van and tools with a sticker on the vehicle.
– If possible, remove tools from your van when left overnight and store them in a safe place.
A new youth-led project is being delivered by the NSPCC in partnership with the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) to help keep children safe online.
The Amplifying Child Safety Online project aims to drive change to make the online world safer by putting children’s views and experiences at the centre of the conversation with decision-makers and those with responsibility for this issue.
Technology is a valuable space for young people to learn, play, socialise and explore their interests. However, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for young people to stay safe online.
The NSPCC believes that young people have a right to be safe online, but the organisation is concerned about the risk of them being exposed to a variety of online harms such as disinformation, pornography, misogynistic content and bullying.
Ten young people aged 14 to 18 – including Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) – are leading the campaign as Digital Safety Ambassadors. They are all passionate about ensuring that decisions made to reduce online harm for children and young people in Scotland take their opinions and experiences on board.
The project will also work with members of the NSPCC’s online safety participation group – Voice of Online Youth and young people aged 11 to 18 from across Scotland who will take part in insight-gathering and workshops to co-design resources.
Evan Rae (16), MSYP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “I am most concerned about content such as disinformation, violence and pornography that are being pushed into young people’s feeds by the algorithms of big social media platforms.”
Catriona Daw (16), MSYP for Falkirk East, said: “It’s important that young people are involved in making the internet a safer place as the only people who can truly know the dangers of the internet (that face young people) are me and my peers as we experience it firsthand.
“Leaving children and young people out of the discussion would lead to important issues being overlooked.”
Joanna Barrett, NSPCC Associate Head of Policy for the Nations, said: “We believe children have a right to be safe online and their voices should be heard on the issues that matter most to them.
“It is crucial that we hear from children and young people so we can identify what support they need to keep them safe and confident online.
“Young people bring unique perspectives and valuable insights. By listening to and championing their voices, we can support decision makers and those with responsibility for child safety online to keep young people at the heart of solutions to preventing online harm.”
Young people looking for support on any of the issues mentioned, can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline.org.uk. Childline is available to all young people until their 19th birthday.
An increase in working-age benefits like Universal Credit will put more money in the pockets of people across Scotland.
600,000 people who receive them are set to gain an extra £150 on average over the course of this year.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “This boost comes on top of an increase to the national minimum wage, bringing a well-deserved pay rise for up to 220,000 Scots, alongside the biggest improvements to workers’ rights in a generation through our Employment Rights Bill.”
UK Government must “meet the moment” with decisive action
First Minister John Swinney has called for a new package of support for industry from the UK Government in the face of global economic uncertainty.
As financial markets react to global events, Mr Swinney has called on the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to change their fiscal rules and commit to a package of investment to support business, workers and consumers.
The First Minister said: “We are currently enduring a time of global financial and economic uncertainty and volatility. But while we are not immune to global trends, we can be confident in the strength of Scotland’s economy.
“Indeed, throughout my time in the United States since last week, there has been a clear confidence in Scotland as a place to do business and as a destination for investment.
“However, the global economy is clearly going through a time of upheaval and it is vital that we see strong action to meet the moment, support Scottish industry and ensure workers and consumers are protected.
“My government will continue to do everything in our power to do that, but given where powers over the economy sit, this will require clear, determined and decisive action from the UK Government.
“The old economic orthodoxies of Westminster will not be enough to meet a moment of real global challenge. The UK Government cannot meet this global uncertainty with austerity – we need to see a new approach which provides investment and support for industry as we are seeing in countries like Spain.
“It is now obvious that the era in which the UK Government’s fiscal rules were set is over. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor must accept that new reality, end their outdated commitment to the fiscal rules and deliver serious investment to support industry.
“And in the face of this economic volatility, the last move any serious government would implement is a tax on jobs. The increase in employer’s national insurance contributions was always the wrong move – but the Prime Minister should not risk further economic damage by making it more difficult for business to take on or keep staff. The Chancellor should abandon the national insurance hike immediately.
“The events of the last few days require truly bold action from the Prime Minister. He cannot simply respond to an unprecedented situation by continuing with a plan set in completely different circumstances and which already looks doomed to failure.”
Due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the rising costs of running the Home have outpaced the funds we’ve been able to raise, despite the continued generosity and support of our incredible community.
If we do not take immediate and decisive action, there is a genuine risk that the Home will no longer be able to continue in the years ahead. This is not an outcome we can accept, as we know how much the Home means to the many people and pets we support across the country.
As we face these unprecedented challenges, we have had to undertake a restructuring exercise to ensure we can continue to operate effectively and sustainably for the long term.
This means that we have made the difficult and unavoidable decision to become a smaller team as well as make a slight reduction to our opening hours.
We’re so grateful to all our team who have stood by the Home during this tough time, continuing to deliver exceptional care and support to pets and their owners, and thank them for their hard work and dedication to our important mission.
Our mission remains the same, as we project that the need for our services will only increase. We are fully committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the future of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home and the pets and pet owners we support.
Amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill have been lodged by the Scottish Government setting out how rents will be capped in rent control areas.
The proposed measures will help protect tenants facing cost of living pressures and rising energy prices, whilst providing appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supporting investment.
Rent increases in control areas would be limited to the CPI annual rate of inflation plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%. If approved, the rent cap will apply both to rent increases during the term of a tenancy, and in between tenancies, in areas where rent control is applied.
Ministers will determine which areas should be subject to rent control in order to protect tenants. The amendments build on a package of renters’ rights already in the Bill including the right to keep pets and to decorate rented properties without having those unreasonably refused.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty remains this government’s top priority and having a home can make a direct contribution to achieving this.
“Ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency. These measures will also help protect tenants against a backdrop of a continuing cost of living crisis and rising energy costs. We are doing what we can with the powers that we have as we know our policies are working to improve the lives of families in Scotland.
“Scotland already has some of the strongest rights in the UK for tenants, but we want to improve the renting experience even more to create an affordable, high-quality and fair rented sector.
“We have been working closely with tenants’ organisations to develop provisions in the Housing Bill to improve renters’ rights, including a system of long-term rent controls that is fair for tenants and encourages investment in the sector.
“Our rented sector is a crucial part of tackling the housing emergency and these measures provide important certainty for tenants.”
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in relation to two wilful fireraisings in Edinburgh.
The incidents which took place on Thursday, 6 March, 2025 and Sunday, 16 March, 2025 in Albert Street and Milton Road East, respectively, are linked to the recent discharge of firearms and other fireraising incidents in the city.
The man has been arrested for wilful fireraising and reset of a stolen vehicle. Enquiries are ongoing.
Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said: “I want to reassure the community that we are continuing to work on this investigation and this is just one of many arrests over the coming weeks.
“If you have any information that can assist our investigation, please get in touch.”
extended opening of five-star exhibition, Everlyn Nicodemus
There is something for everyone to discover at the National Galleries of Scotland over the upcoming Easter and May bank holidays.
Visitors will have the chance to enjoy a programme of family events and experience Everlyn Nicodemus on Monday 26 May, with an extra day added to allow bank holiday revellers to enjoy the exhibition.
Spanning the gallery’s entire ground floor of Modern One, Everlyn Nicodemus is open now and free for everyone to visit. Experience Everlyn’s colourful, defiant and searingly honest artworks, with over 80 drawings, collages, paintings and textiles from over 40 years of her career, from 1980 through to the present day.
Families can also get involved with some joyful Easter artmaking inspired by Everlyn Nicodemus. Over the Easter holidays, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 April 2025 between 2–4pm, families can drop into Art Space 1 at Modern One to play with patterns, create shapes, mix colours and more.
Or for those looking for autism-friendly activities this Easter, a drop in event will be held on Tuesday 15 April 2025, 10.30am–12pm. Meet other families, explore the galleries and take part in creative activities with an experienced team of artists.
Autism-friendly sessions at the National Galleries of Scotland are for children and young people on the autism spectrum – with their families – who may benefit from smaller group sizes and tailored activities to suit individual needs.
For those looking to dive deeper into the world of Everlyn Nicodemus, join the panel discussion on Friday 23 May, 3-4pm for free at the National or via the YouTube livestream.
To mark the end of her first ever retrospective, Everlyn Nicodemus will be in conversation with writer JJ Fadaka and artist and curator Khadea Santi. Together they will chat about the lasting legacy of Everlyn’s amazing exhibition. Plus, livestream ticketholders can watch back anytime.
There is even more to discover when visiting the Moderns, with a completely free offering across two galleries and two sculpture parks. Weave your way through two exciting buildings featuring leading artists’ works which define the Modern era.
At Modern One, delve into displays, shows and installations from the leading artists of today, both inside and outdoors. As well as Everlyn Nicodemus, discover a celebratory display to mark Bruce McLean’s 80th birthday. Bruce McLean: I Want My Crown traces the Glasgow-born artist’s humorous, provocative and engaging six-decade long inquiry into sculpture.
Through works made across a range of media including photography, performance, painting, printmaking, film, and ceramics, this one-room display invites you to challenge your thinking about sculpture and expand your ideas of what art can be.
Get ready for captivating, light-hearted and all-encompassing experiences at Modern One. On arrival you will be in awe of the striking land feature Landform in front of the gallery, designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. Explore the grounds and discover further sculptural works by other major artists including Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Jackson Pollock and Tracey Emin.
Once you’ve explored Modern One why not head across the road to Modern Two to further explore the grounds. Plus, you can celebrate the centenary of the remarkable Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) taking over the ground floor of Modern Two.
Or why not head to one of the National Galleries of Scotland’s other sites. At the National, drop into the Family Art Hub, open until 20 April. Designed to help you and your family explore the Scottish galleries together.
The space offers a place to create and share your art, read the books on offer and play. You can watch short films about different art techniques or listen to what children and artists think about art and what it is for. Spark your senses and make shadows and shapes in the play area.
At the Portrait visit Connections,a relaxed space for visitors to draw, read and chat about some of the ways in which we make connections through art. Bringing together communities, partner organisations, and artists, the displays highlight how we use art to find shared interests, discover social histories, explore issues and identities, and create new objects to tell new stories.
Current displays include portraits of Govanhill, a project exploring different issues that impact young people across Scotland today. Using photography as a creative tool, the voices and views of young people from Big Noise Govanhill are represented.
