Today (6 July 2026), Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh awarded an honorary degree to leading human rights activist Fatou Baldeh MBE, whose work has helped drive the global fight against female genital mutilation (FGM).
As an educator and campaigner, Fatou has received international recognition for her work, including being named one of ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Women of the Year 2025, honoured by the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and a member of the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Network, led by Michelle Obama.
In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Queen Margaret University was delighted to award her a Doctor of the University, honoris causa, at the first of QMU’s 2026 graduation ceremonies at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
Fatou’s courage, scholarship and unwavering commitment to justice have transformed lives in Scotland, The Gambia and beyond. She has turned lived experience into leadership, using her voice and expertise to challenge inequality and deliver lasting social change.
A graduate of QMU, Fatou completed an MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health in 2013. She went on to work with the Dignity Alert Research Forum in Edinburgh, later becoming Director, where she amplified the voices of marginalised women and strengthened advocacy for minority ethnic communities across Scotland.
In 2013, Fatou spoke publicly about FGM in Scotland, challenging stigma and denial. The following year, her evidence to the Scottish Parliament helped shape policy and practice, contributing to Scotland’s leadership in prevention and survivor‑centred safeguarding.
Returning to The Gambia in 2018, Fatou founded Women in Liberation and Leadership (WILL), an organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of women and girls. Under her leadership, WILL has become a powerful force for grassroots advocacy, survivor support and systemic change.
Working with The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, she has also ensured that the experiences of women affected by sexual and gender‑based violence are recognised, and that justice and healing remain central to national reconciliation.
Discussing her time at Queen Margaret University, Fatou Baldeh said: “Taking the MSc course at the Institute for Global Health and Development has truly been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“The course provided not only a solid theoretical foundation in gender, sexual and reproductive health, and rights, but also an eye-opening experience of learning alongside passionate students from diverse backgrounds.
“The richness of the course lies in the shared insights, lived experiences, and thought-provoking discussions that emerged from this vibrant community. I am grateful for every lesson and every perspective gained.”
Fatou’s impact has been widely recognised. She was appointed MBE in 2020 for her advocacy for Black and Minority Ethnic communities in Scotland, and has received numerous international honours, including the International Women of Courage Award and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy’s Women’s Rights Award.
In 2025, she was named one of ‘TIME’ Magazine’s Women of the Year and listed among the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World’. Her leadership in protecting The Gambia’s ban on FGM has also been recognised by the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She is also a member of the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Network, led by Michelle Obama, working alongside global leaders to expand opportunities for girls through education.
Commenting on the award, QMU Principal Sir Paul Grice, said: “What distinguishes Fatou’s leadership is not only its global reach, but its humanity.
“She leads with empathy rooted in lived experience, intellectual rigour shaped by education, and a moral clarity that inspires collective action. She builds bridges between communities and institutions, and between local action and global change.
“Her work embodies the values at the heart of Queen Margaret University – social justice, inclusion, equality, global engagement and partnership – as well as the transformative power of education.”
Today, Fatou joined QMU Chancellor Patrick Grant to celebrate the achievements of new QMU graduates.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Giants Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Until 14 Sep Tickets from £13
Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family-friendly exhibition. The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
Scotland’s First Warriors Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Opening 27 June Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free
Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects.
Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.
Dolly at 30: The Life and Legacy of a Cloned Sheep 16 Jul 18:30-20:30 Free, booking required
To coincide with her 30th birthday in July, join us for an evening exploring the history and legacy of Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal ever to be created from an adult cell.
Creative Workshops for Kids: In the Footsteps of Giants 22 & 29 Jul, 09:30 – 12:00 or 13:30 – 16:30 Tickets from £25, Members and concessions available
Led by theatre-maker and arts educator Marion Geoffray, children will have the chance to uncover fossils and learn some of the key skills palaeontologists use. They will then embark on a guided exploration of our Giants exhibition.
Creative Workshops for Kids: Storytelling Through Collage Animation 22 & 29 Jul, 09:30 – 12:00 or 13:30 – 16:30 Tickets from £25, Member and concessions prices available
Join animator and visual artist Dominika Jackowska for a creative workshop just for kids, inspired by our Giants exhibition. After a guided visit to the exhibition, children will get an introduction into stop-motion animation in our Learning Centre. They will have a chance to explore their own ideas and create their own short animation.
Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh 7 & 14 Aug Tickets from £26
Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh makes a stomping return this August. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. The fantastic Jacobites Ceilidh Band will get you twirling and birling through Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and other traditional dances in one of Scotland’s biggest ceilidhs.
Creative Workshop: Egyptian Ceramics 22 Aug Tickets from £30, Members and concessions available
Explore Egyptian pottery with writer and ceramicist Mohamed Tonsy. Create your own decorative piece, inspired by historical objects from the National Collection. Mohamed will be joined by one of our Curators of the Ancient Mediterranean, who will share their knowledge about Egyptian objects in the collection.
Morning Curator Tour: Scotland’s First Warriors 26 Aug & 18 Sept Tickets from £10
Join exhibition curator Dr Matthew Knight for an exclusive early morning tour of ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’.
Featuring the incredible Carnoustie Hoard, ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’ is a unique exhibition which will take you on a 4000-year journey to explore the origins and impact of conflict in prehistoric Scotland.
Museum Socials Third Friday of the month 10:30–12:00 Free, booking required
Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. Tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.
National Museums Collection Centre 242 W Granton Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1JA
Collection Centre Tours 25 Aug, 10:30 – 12:00 or 13:00 – 14:30 Tickets from £10, advance booking required
Discover the secrets of how we store and research our collections. Find out how our collections are used in international research and see objects rarely on public display.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Tractor Tots 3, 6 & 8 Jul Learning Centre £25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3
Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions, and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside
Archaeology Weekend 25 & 26 Jul 10:30-15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Take part in a family-friendly Archaeology Weekend at the National Museum of Rural Life. On Sat 25 Jul, meet the team from Treasure Trove Scotland and find out about their work investigating and assessing new archaeological discoveries.
Adult Workshop: Willow Basket Making 22 & 23 Aug Prices from £95
Choose from two full-day basket making workshops at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Each workshop led by willow artist and forager Max Johnson features a different style of basket to make and take home. In the Saturday workshop make a traditional berry picking basket. In the Sunday workshop, make a beautiful Zarzo flower gathering basket.
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life Last Tuesday of every month 14:30-17:00 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Relaxed Afternoon is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Expert Talks Concorde Theatre 10 Jul & 7 Aug 11:00-11:20 Free with museum admission
From April to October, learn more about the collections and history of East Fortune Airfield with a series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In July, join Ian Brow for ‘East Fortune Attacked’ and in August, Eilidh MacKenzie will discuss ‘The Work of Poppy Scotland.’
Escape From France Puzzle Room 13 Jul –7 Aug (weekdays only) 11:30-16:00 Free with museum admission, drop-in
Work together as a family in the puzzle room and see if you’ve got what it takes to escape from France. Can you disguise yourself, speak French well enough to fool a German and find the right money to pay your rail fare to the coast?
Moth Hunters 18 Jul 9:00 -12:00 Free with museum admission
Discover the variety of local moths in the National Museum of Flight grounds with an early walk with entomologist Katty Baird and enjoy moth-themed family friendly activities.
From stunt shows and pedal-powered activities to interactive sessions and STEM science, there’s something to set everyone’s head spinning. See amazing 360° stunts and bike parkour from cycling experts, The Extreme Mountain Bike Show, get involved with hands-on activities in the aircraft hangars and have a go at some cycling fun.
Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00 Free with museum admission
Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.
Last chance! Just two weeks left for grassroots teams in Scotland to win free, personalised football kits
Octopus Energy is giving away over 23,000 football shirts after already kitting out 50,000 young players across the UK
Local teams like Central Girls Football Academy U12s from Falkirk already dazzling opponents with flashy Octokits
As the World Cup moves into the knockout stages, Octopus Energy is bringing back its epic Octopus Kits for Kids giveaway for a hat-trick season – and the race is on for the final spots.*
Grassroots teams have just ten days left to apply for FREE personalised Octokits.
This year, Octopus is giving away over 23,000 shirts to 2,000 youth and grassroots teams in a random prize draw. So far, 1,000 lucky teams have already secured their free strips for the upcoming season – leaving 1,000 kits still up for grabs before applications close.
This leaves kits up for grabs for 100 more teams right here in Scotland.
The giveaway has exploded in popularity since it launched. Octopus initially planned to kit out just 500 teams, but due to overwhelming demand, the company rapidly expanded the programme, handing out 50,000 eye-catching Octokits to date.
Winning teams – known as Tentacle Teams – can choose from three different designs: the famous bright pink and purple Octokit, a plain kit in their own club colours, or a classic striped design. Every kit comes personalised with team numbers and the Octopus sponsorship badge.**
Local demand for Octokits is already soaring. So far, over 1,250 applications have flooded in from Scotland.
Tentacle Teams like Central Girls Football Academy U12s from Falkirk have already dazzled their opponents with their very own Octokits in previous giveaway seasons.
And the perks don’t stop at the pitch. Some Tentacle Teams have won unforgettable prizes, such as exclusive tours of the iconic Emirates Stadium, home to Premier League champions Arsenal.
Ian, Coach, Central Football Academy Girls U12s, said: “The strips are perfect, the design is fun and colours are perfect for our club, the players feel special wearing them.”
Erin, Player, Central Football Academy Girls U12s, said: “The new strips are cool and the octopus is cute.”
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Marketing Officer, Octopus Energy, said: “Grassroots football is where future World Cup dreams begin, so we’re buzzing to make it a hat-trick of helping teams look electrifying on the pitch.
“Whether it’s a rainy Sunday morning or a nerve-racking cup final, we want every player who puts on an Octokit to feel ready for their own big moment. Here’s to more great matches, muddy boots and future stars!”
The initiative is powered by Octoplus, Octopus Energy’s legendary rewards scheme, which is now used by over 2.8 million customers.
Parents and coaches have until 16th July to get their entries in via the Octoplus tab in the Octopus Energy app or online dashboard.
A man has been arrested following a fatal incident in Leith.
Emergency services were called to a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House – the Banana Flats – at around 9.40 last night (Sunday 5 July).
A man was found with serious injuries and he died at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Police confirmed a 33-year-old man has been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.40pm on Sunday, July 5, 2026, police received a report of a disturbance outside Cables Wynd House, Edinburgh.
“Officers attended and a man was found with serious injuries. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he died a short time later.
“A 33-year-old man has been arrested and enquiries are ongoing.”
The nation’s leading Armed Forces charity has announced that its ground-breaking interactive mobile museum, ‘Bud’, has officially retired from the road.
The 18-tonne custom-built truck, which features an onboard poppy making machine, has travelled to all 32 local authority areas across Scotland sharing the story of the Scottish Poppy since its launch back in 2019.
With initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and LIBOR funds, over the last seven years Bud successfully welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors. It has attended more than 630 schools, delivered over 1,500 sessions, and reached more than 56,000 pupils.
It has also travelled to over 115 community events with almost 18,000 visitors – engaging nearly 75,000 people overall, challenging assumptions, whilst also teaching people about conflict, peace, and importantly keeping remembrance relevant all year round.
Kerry Crichton, Deputy Head of Learning at Poppyscotland, said: “As Bud reaches the end of its operational lifespan, across the summer we will be finalising an exciting new learning and outreach programme with people who work within education across Scotland.
“This will include an extensive digital archive paired with virtual learning resources and we are excited to be taking this into classrooms in the new term. We are also looking at an assembly offering for schools, and outreach sessions with youth and community groups.”
While the mobile unit will stop touring, the educational resources, historic story of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, and interactive tools remain free and accessible online via the Poppyscotland Learning Hub at www.poppyscotland.org.uk/learning
For more information about our new programme, please email:
What better place to host your August book club than at the heart of one of the largest literary festivals in the world? (That’s us!)
While our site at the Edinburgh Futures Institute bustles with events, authors, and fellow reading fanatics, The Book Nook sits nestled away in a quiet corner and provides the perfect setting for quiet reading, enthusiastic book groups, or those juicy post-event debriefs.
Time slots to use the Book Nook can be booked for free at the link in our bio, so open up that book-ish groupchat and rally your best book group pals … these spots go quickly!
Tough new rules to crackdown on foreign money in UK elections
New rules include a cap on donations from those who’ve lived overseas and tougher checks on company donations
New safeguards to stop foreign money influencing UK elections, including a timebound cap on donations on those who move to the UK from overseas.
Tougher checks on company donations will ensure only legitimate UK-linked businesses can contribute, with donations assessed against profits rather than revenue.
Candidates will be required to prove campaign funding comes from legitimate sources, strengthening transparency and closing loopholes in political finance rules.
Foreign money influencing UK elections will be stamped out under a major package of reforms to strengthen political finance rules and protect British democracy.
The government will confirm today it will introduce a new timebound cap on large political donations from people who have recently moved to the UK, in effect creating a minimum amount of time someone must permanently be based in the country before they can donate over the cap to a political party or candidate.
Other new measures include stronger tests on company donations, new and tough transparency requirements for candidates, and the closing of loopholes that could be exploited by those seeking to interfere in UK elections.
The measures, announced as part of the government’s response to the independent Rycroft Review, will strengthen safeguards against foreign financial influence and reinforce the UK’s position as a world leader in defending democratic integrity.
Together, the reforms will ensure political donations are transparent, legitimate and firmly rooted in the UK, helping to safeguard elections for years to come.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said: “British democracy is not for sale. These tough new rules will shut down dodgy funding, stop foreign money influencing our elections and keep our democracy strong.
“By holding overseas donors to tougher standards and requiring candidates to prove where their funding comes from, we are taking world-leading action to protect the integrity of our elections and tackle the threats we face from abroad.”
Minister for Democracy, Samantha Dixon MP, said: “The overwhelming majority of people who take part in our democratic process do so honestly and transparently, but our rules must keep pace with new and emerging threats.
“These reforms will close loopholes that can be exploited by those seeking to influence UK politics through foreign money, while strengthening transparency around campaign funding and company donations.
“This means political decisions are made only in the interests of voters in the United Kingdom.”
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said: “For too long, foreign money, foreign bot farms and foreign powers have exploited the system, trying to warp our elections and sow division in our country for their own ends.
“We’re cracking down on those trying to buy – and sell – our democracy and putting the British people first. If you want to donate to our politics, you need to have legitimate and longstanding roots in our country.”
As part of the government’s response to the independent Rycroft Review today [Monday 6 July], new safeguards will be introduced to toughen the previously-announced cap on political donations of more than £100,000 from overseas donations.
Individuals returning to the UK will now be subject to the cap for at least a full calendar year to prevent the rules being dodged – not just those who are registered to vote overseas.
Companies will also face tougher checks, with political donations assessed against post-tax profits over the previous five years rather than revenue alone.
This means only legitimate UK-linked businesses will be able to donate in a way that is transparent, accountable and reflective of their real financial position. Anyone could set up a business with high revenue without needing to demonstrate how they operate and make money, or whether they’re paying tax in the UK. Having a profit-based system will make donations clearer and more accountable.
Views of key groups, including the Electoral Commission and Committee on Standards in Public Life, have been listened to and accepted the Rycroft recommendation, which stated corporate donation income tests should be amended to one based on post-tax profits, rather than revenue.
This will strengthen the rules already set out in the Representation of the People Bill, which outlines that companies making donations will be required to show a genuine connection to the UK or Ireland by demonstrating that they are headquartered in the UK, majority owned or controlled by UK electors or citizens and have generated sufficient revenue to cover the donation.
For the first time, candidates will also be required to prove that any campaign funding received before they become a candidate has come from legitimate sources.
Candidates will also be required to declare donations above £2,230 received prior to officially becoming a candidate, improving transparency even further. At present, donations received before the regulated election period are not covered by the same requirements, meaning funding from illegitimate sources could go undeclared and later be used to support a campaign.
This builds on the measures announced in March as part of the government’s initial response to the Rycroft Review, including the hard cap on political donations from overseas electors and a ban on crypto donations. The changes being made today will accept the rest of Philip Rycroft’s recommendations in full.
The major reforms will be taken forward through as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, which returns to the Commons for Report stage next week [w/c 13 July].
The government ‘has been clear that they will act decisively to defend the UK’s democratic system from malign influence and the measures will safeguard the integrity, transparency and resilience of elections and political finance for years to come’.
The map shows the crews’ current positions as they pass Scotland (05 July, 09:00 BST).
Map shows the crews’ current positions as they pass Scotland (5 July, 09:00 BST).
Two teams attempting one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges are currently passing Scotland as they row non-stop and unsupported around the entire coastline of Great Britain.
The crews, Rowmads and Nautilus, are now making their way around Scottish waters after setting off from London’s Tower Bridge on 14 June. They are attempting to complete the 2,000-mile GB Row Challenge continuously and unsupported – a feat achieved by fewer than 30 people in history.
As well as facing Atlantic swells, unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and round-the-clock rowing, the teams are collecting vital scientific data to help researchers better understand the health of Britain’s coastal waters.
The crews are gathering information on microplastic pollution, biodiversity, underwater noise, sea temperature and salinity throughout their journey.
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth will analyse the data before it is shared through The Crown Estate’s Marine Data Exchange, helping build one of the UK’s most comprehensive records of changing marine conditions.
The teams left from Tower Bridge, London, on 14 June
The Scottish leg of the challenge presents some of the expedition’s toughest conditions, with crews navigating exposed Atlantic waters, powerful tides and rapidly changing weather as they make their way around the country’s coastline.
GB Row Challenge Founder, William de Laszlo, has completed the challenge twice. He said: “Scotland is one of the most spectacular but demanding parts of the entire route. The crews are now tackling some of the most exposed waters around Great Britain while continuing to collect valuable environmental data.
“This exceptional group of people is taking part in something truly remarkable. More than 7,000 people have climbed Everest, yet fewer than 30 have rowed continuously and unsupported around Great Britain.”
The challenge brings together two very different teams.
Brothers Stefano and Marco Capella are in team Rowmads
Rowmads consists of three military doctors, including two brothers, alongside a firefighter and fitness coach.
Nautilus includes people with backgrounds in healthcare, sustainability, education and environmental management. Skipper Aoife Luscombe returned this year after her 2024 attempt ended prematurely on the Cornish coast.
She said: “It’s such a privilege to see the Great British coastline from an entirely new perspective. The challenge itself will test us, mentally and physically, but knowing that we are collecting vital data and samples on ocean health will make every stroke, storm and sunrise that much more rewarding!”
Rowmads on a training row
Previous GB Row Challenge expeditions have uncovered higher levels of microplastic pollution and rising sea temperatures. Scientists analysing the data are creating a valuable long-term record of changing conditions in UK coastal waters.
The data collected during the 2024 race found that microplastic pollution in waters around Great Britain was significantly higher than previously recorded. Average concentrations reached 59 microplastic particles per cubic metre of seawater, more than double the levels measured in comparable surveys in 2022 and 2023.
Professor Fay Couceiro, expert in biogeochemistry and environmental pollution at the University of Portsmouth and lead scientist for GB Row Challenge, said: “The data collected during this expedition will provide a valuable window into the health of Britain’s coastal waters and help us better understand the environmental pressures these ecosystems face.
“Scientific research often depends on observations gathered across vast areas and long periods of time, and that is where citizen science can make such a powerful contribution.
“I am very grateful to the two teams and their commitment to help generate information that could benefit marine research for years to come.”
This year’s GB Row Challenge is jointly sponsored by Cleaner Seas Group and Simply Sustainable.
