Funding has been announced enabling an order to be placed for a new Screen Machine mobile cinema serving rural communities across Scotland.
The £500,000 Scottish Government grant allows Regional Screen Scotland (RSS) to order a new vehicle to take films to 44 locations in areas including the Highlands and Islands, Moray and North Ayrshire.
After the previous 80-seat vehicle was retired in 2023 following 18 years and 250,000 miles on the road, RSS started fundraising for a permanent replacement costing £1.7 million. A leased vehicle is currently continuing the service until April 2026.
The new machine will be energy efficient with the ability to charge via solar panels and battery packs, instead of a diesel generator.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The Screen Machine service is a hugely important asset, bringing cinema to the doorsteps of people in many rural and island communities.
“It has proved its worth over 26 years, providing entertainment that town and city residents take for granted. In doing so it enriches people’s lives and plays a part in tackling rural depopulation.
“This grant allows Regional Screen Scotland to order a new, bespoke vehicle able to use Scotland’s ferry network and negotiate our rural roads. I wish the organisation well as it continues efforts to reach its fundraising target.”
Regional Screen Scotland interim Chief Executive Simon Drysdale said: “This generous grant from the Scottish Government completely transforms our fundraising campaign to raise the money required to build a new Screen Machine. We can now plan with greater confidence for a service that will be secured into the 2040s.
“Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our campaign so far, from Screen Scotland to the Arran Trust, customers of the Newtonmore Grill, letter-writing children in Barra and many, many more.”
SMSTS Course’s Derek Halesreveals the BBQ mistakes that could ruin your weekend – and your health:
With sunshine making an appearance across the UK this weekend, thousands will be dusting off their barbecues – but construction safety expert Derek Hales from SMSTS Course is urging Brits to apply some of the same safety thinking used on building sites to their back gardens.
“We talk a lot about hazards in the workplace – but BBQs carry just as many risks when the right checks aren’t made,” says Hales. “And people often don’t realise it until they’re either ill or injured.”
The Most Overlooked BBQ Dangers – According to Safety Experts
Charcoal Poisoning Indoors or Undercover
It might be tempting to take the party indoors if the weather turns – but using a charcoal BBQ in a garage, tent, or under a gazebo can quickly lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s odourless, silent, and deadly.
Reusing Old BBQ Coals
Half-burnt coals from last year might save money, but they can release harmful chemicals and don’t reach the temperatures needed to cook meat safely.
Cross-Contamination From BBQ Utensils
Many people flip raw meat with tongs – then use the same ones for cooked food. That’s a fast track to food poisoning. Always separate utensils for raw and cooked meat.
Using Flammable Liquids Like Petrol or Paint Thinners
It happens more often than you think. Only use BBQ-safe firelighters. Industrial liquids can explode and release toxic fumes.
Not Letting the Grill Heat Properly
Undercooked chicken and sausages are a classic summer BBQ fail. It takes 10–15 minutes for most grills to reach safe cooking temperatures – rushing it increases the risk of campylobacter or salmonella.
Cleaning Grills With Wire Brushes
Tiny metal bristles from old grill brushes can break off and embed in burgers or hot dogs, causing serious internal injuries if swallowed. Use natural alternatives like onion halves or heat-proof scrapers.
Poor Gas Maintenance
For gas BBQ users, cracked hoses, loose regulators, or leaky connections can cause flare-ups or even explosions. A simple soapy water test can reveal leaks before you turn the gas on.
Hales adds: “Whether you’re in a garden, on a balcony, or in a park – take a few minutes to run through basic checks.
“The goal is to enjoy the sunshine, not end up in A&E.”
This Sun Awareness Week (12-18 May) we would like to remind cat owners that it’s not only humans that need sun protection as the weather heats up, but cats too, especially those with pale or thin fur.
At Cats Protection we often take cats into our care who have been out in the sun for extended periods and have developed cancerous cells as a result. Cats with unpigmented ears or noses are susceptible to skin cancer through sun damage and we know that a third of all skin cancers that are presented in cats are due to sun exposure.
We recently treated all-white cat Gracie’s sun damaged ears which had become burned and painful, leading to the development of skin cancer.
The treatment she needed was the complete removal of her ear flaps.
Thankfully she has made an excellent recovery and has been successfully rehomed, however this could easily have been a different outcome if the cancer had developed further.
There are some simple tips that can help protect cats in the sun including:
Keeping your cat indoors when the sun is at its hottest, typically between 10am and 3pm
Speaking to a vet about a suitable sunscreen for your cat
Ensuring there is outdoor shade, such as boxes or plant pots placed close together
Providing outdoor water to avoid the risk of your cat becoming dehydrated.
POLICE are appealing for information following an assault in Leith.
The incident happened around 1am on Tuesday, 6 May, 2025 on Elbe Street when a 58-year-old man was assaulted. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
The three suspects are described as being white men, around 6ft tall, in their 50s, and of muscular build.
One had short, blonde hair. Another had red hair and was wearing blue jeans and a dark blue top. The third had dark hair and was wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.
Detective Inspector Alison MacDonald said: “Enquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed this to contact us.
“We are particularly keen to speak to a person who stopped to assist the man assaulted following the incident.
“We also ask anyone with private CCTV of the area at the time to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 1675 of 7 May, 2025. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
Detectives investigating a number of linked incidents in the West and East of Scotland arrested six people yesterday following executive action in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.
This brings the total number of arrests made during this investigation to 32.
On Friday, 9 May, 2025, officers from the Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, assisted by firearms officers, executed warrants and searched six properties in the Barlanark, Maryhill, Hamiltonhill, Milton of Campsie and Wishaw areas.
In Glasgow, two men, aged 31 and 26, were arrested in connection with conspiracy to murder and directing serious and organised crime.
A 36-year-old man was also arrested in connection with conspiracy to murder.
A 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with drug offences and a 57-year-old man was arrested in connection with proceeds of crime offences.
In Wishaw, a 42-year-old man was arrested in connection with involvement in serious and organised crime.
A number of items, including a quantity of class B drugs and approximately £46,000 in cash, were also seized during the operation.
Extensive enquiries remain ongoing.
A dedicated team of officers from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division and the local division continue to work together to gather vital evidence and reassure the public with intelligence-led patrols.
Detectives investigating a number of linked incidents in the West & East of Scotland have arrested six people following action in Glasgow & North Lanarkshire. This brings the total number of arrests made during this investigation to 32.
Detective Chief Superintendent David Ferry said: “These arrests continue to highlight the hard work and dedication of officers to target those responsible for these attacks.
“While the number of incidents has continued to decrease since the start of this investigation, I want to reiterate that violence will not be tolerated and will not stop until we bring those responsible for this criminality to justice.
“We are working tirelessly to build cases and are following a number of significant lines of enquiry.
“The support of our communities is absolutely vital when it comes to tackling serious organised crime, preventing violence and getting justice for victims and I want to again thank the public for their help and information so far.
“If you know anything about these dangerous and abhorrent acts, please do the right thing and speak to us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0562 of Friday, 21 March, 2025. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
This afternoon (Friday) we noticed some unusual e-mail activity on our schools and early years IT network.
As a precautionary measure we have reset passwords across our schools and early years network – including those of our learners and students.
We have issued communications to all parents/carers and schools to advise of the phishing attempt and explain the action that we have had to take to make sure our IT networks remain secure and protected.
Schools and early years staff will be prompted to reset their own password on their return to school.
Students currently sitting exams will be given priority support to reset their password. They can access their personal revision materials by going to their school tomorrow (Saturday 10 May) between 10.15am -12 noon and a member of staff will issue them with a new password.
Education, Children and Families Convener Councillor James Dalgleish said yesterday: “This afternoon vigilant colleagues noticed some unusual and suspicious activity on our schools and early years IT network.
“As a result, we took the precautionary decision to immediately reset passwords for all users across our education service.
“We have contacted all parents, carers and schools to update them and explain the situation.
“I fully appreciate the impact this will have, particularly on those students preparing for their exams next week – but, unfortunately, we had no choice. This was a difficult but necessary decision to ensure our networks remain secure and protected.
“I want to reassure our students that they are our priority and that we are doing everything we can to make sure they can get back online as soon as possible. In the meantime, we are signposting them study support materials available elsewhere and individual schools will be uploading these to their websites too.
“We have created a dedicated webpage on the council website and will update this with further information as and when we get it.
“I’d like to thank colleagues for their vigilance and quick thinking today – and for their ongoing work over the weekend to minimise the impact on our students and their families.”
No data has been compromised. The council has have been in touch with SQA and EIS to make them aware of this attempted phishing incident. CEC is re also keeping Scottish Government’s cyber co-ordination centre updated.
With a mini heatwave set to bring sunshine to the city this weekend, it’s the perfect time to enjoy some summer-style drinks and until 11th of May,
Hard Rock Café Edinburgh is turning up the heat, bringing the fiesta to the capital in true rock ‘n’ roll style with a limited-edition menu bursting with bold flavours and vibrant mega cocktails.
The go-to spot this weekend for laid-back drinks and great food.
On the drinks list:
Three Mega Margaritas, each served in a 36oz glass, perfect for sharing (or keeping all to oneself):
Baja California Blackberry: a juicy blend of Patrón Silver Tequila, triple sec, and blackberry syrup, finished with strawberries and a sugar rim.
Mexico City Mango: sweet with a spicy kick thanks to sambal chili, mango purée and Love-All Spice rim.
Cancún Orange Cadillac: a bold mix with Cointreau, orange juice and a Grand Marnier float.
All priced at £17.25.
On the menu:
Legendary Fajitas: flavour-packed grilled chicken and steak with charred corn, feta, pickled onions, guacamole, and house-made cilantro lime crema, served with warm tortillas.
Chips & Queso: loaded with seasoned ground beef and green onions, perfect for sharing. Optional upgrades: pico de gallo (£2.95) or guacamole (£4.95).
For more information and to view the menu, visit here.
A deaf activist from Scotland has shared a moving video message to her younger self as part of the National Deaf Children’s Society’s Deaf Awareness Week (5-11 May) campaign.
Ciara McCarthy, aged 20, was born with a virus called Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus that’s usually harmless but sometimes causes problems in babies and people with a weakened immune system.
Ciara was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at nine months old, is autistic and has profound hearing loss with bilateral cochlear implants.
Ciara, who has led keynote address’ at the SNP and Labour Conferences, highlighting the importance of deaf awareness, tells her younger self: “You can be proud of who you are. Accommodating your disability isn’t embarrassing; it’s empowering. If you need help, ask. You are not alone. You never were.”
In her heartfelt message, Ciara starts by saying: “You’ve started embracing being deaf and disabled. You even have a purple wheelchair (our favourite colour). and you sign every single day without thinking, and it’s not embarrassing or scary.”
Ciara, from Lennoxtown, near Glasgow, continues: “I know that you’re struggling to make friends and feel lonely right now. But I promise, that won’t last.
“You’ll meet some incredible people through activism, some online, and some in real life, and they’ll be there for your most significant achievements.
“You’ll find your community, and they’ll make you feel seen.
“And remember how you always wanted people to understand disability? Well, that’s your job now. You’ve met politicians, spoken to celebrities, and shared your story to help people.
“But I won’t lie – it’s not always easy. You’ll lose friends. You’ll trust the wrong people. You’ll face barriers every single day.
Ciara adds: “But you’re not fighting for yourself anymore. You’re fighting for disabled students across Scotland and the UK.”
Ciara’s inspiring message is just one in a series of powerful videos from deaf people to their younger selves which are currently being shared by the National Deaf Children’s Society on social media to celebrate deaf identity, resilience, and community, during Deaf Awareness Week.
One of the video messages is from the BAFTA winning actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who recently starred in hit BBC1 drama Reunion. Rose reassures her younger self: “Don’t worry too much”, recalling how she was nervous ahead of her first job interview to work in a supermarket.
Rose, who was born deaf, tells her younger self: “You were worried and concerned and you told mum that you didn’t know if you would get the job because you are deaf.
“Forget that – you will get the job! When you get the job, you will realise your confidence will grow. You will learn that being deaf is actually your advantage. It will give you so many opportunities.”
Rose, who also recently fronted BBC documentary Old Hands New Tricks, in which she teaches BSL to residents at a retirement home, adds: “Just learn how to make the most of those opportunities. Before you know it, you will have an amazing time. Just believe in yourself.”
Arran Masterman, from the National Deaf Children’s Society said: “We want deaf children and their families to be inspired by these stories and messages of empowerment. We’re encouraging deaf children to embrace their deaf identity and see their uniqueness as a strength.
“It’s also about raising awareness of deaf experiences. Whether it’s overcoming barriers, finding confidence, or embracing sign language, every story is a celebration of deaf pride and resilience, for deaf children, young people and the wider deaf community.
“The National Deaf Children’s Society wants deaf children and young people to keep believing in themselves, keep aiming high, and achieving whatever they want to do.”
The National Deaf Children’s Society supports the UK’s 50,000 deaf children and young people.
For anyone needing advice, support or information about deafness, please call our free Helpline on 0808 800 8880 or visit our website, www.ndcs.org.uk
The National Deaf Children’s Society is here for you whenever you need help or support – if you’ve just found out your child has a hearing loss, you need support with making decisions as your child grows up or you work with deaf children.
There are free deaf awareness resources on the National Deaf Children’s Society website with deaf awareness videos for children, a deaf awareness quiz and much more.
