Amy Watson

A fifth farm near Lockerbie has reported bluetongue after two lambs tested positive, bringing the total in Dumfries and Galloway to 17 sheep and three cattle across five farms. The Scottish Government has introduced a Temporary Control Zone, requiring licences for livestock movements into and out of the affected area, alongside increased surveillance and testing. New rules will require animals travelling from Scotland to restricted areas elsewhere in the UK to return the same day, while from 10 September susceptible livestock entering Scotland from those zones must generally be vaccinated. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said the measures were precautionary and proportionate, urged farmers to order vaccines, and acknowledged the pressures on the farming industry.

Nominations have opened for the 2026 Global Citizen category in Scotland’s Health Awards, which recognises health and social care workers who volunteer in low- and middle-income countries. Jonathan Hannay, a consultant surgeon at NHS Golden Jubilee and the 2025 winner, has spent more than a decade volunteering at Chitokoloki Mission Hospital in Western Zambia, providing complex surgery, medical supplies, clinician training and support for UK-Zambia collaboration. The article highlights the hospital’s work under Dr and Mrs McAdam and invites eligible healthcare and support staff to nominate candidates.

Up to 180 jobs are being created at Maraen Port of Nigg near Inverness to support the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The roles include project managers, port operators and mechanical and electrical technicians who will pre-assemble GE Vernova Haliade X turbine components manufactured in Teesside. The work is expected to continue through the project's completion in mid-2028. Dogger Bank is a £9 billion joint venture between SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn, and is projected to contribute £6.1 billion to the UK economy over its lifetime while supporting thousands of skilled jobs.

Crowds across Scotland gathered to watch a rare partial solar eclipse on August 12, with more than 90% of the Sun obscured and the event expected to be the fullest visible over local skies until 2081. Cloud cover disappointed many viewers, particularly in Edinburgh, although breaks allowed some people to see the eclipse. Viewing events took place in locations including Calton Hill, while others used eclipse glasses, colanders and homemade pinhole cameras. Witnesses described the event as an impressive and memorable communal experience.

Journalist and television personality Mariella Frostrup discusses her Edinburgh Fringe production, Cracking the Menopause, co-written with Alice Smellie and featuring Gina Bellman. She describes the show's mix of comedy, historical accounts of menopause treatments, current science, hormone replacement therapy and advocacy for better understanding of perimenopause. Frostrup also reflects on the personal experience that inspired the production, her festival highlights and low points, and the other shows and performers she hopes to see in Edinburgh.

Highland Council has approved plans by Anders Holch Povlsen and his company WildLand Ltd to redevelop the Dores Inn on Loch Ness. The project includes a bakery, cafe, shop, 116-space car park, beach improvements, landscaping, flood-management measures and ecological restoration. Construction is expected to take two years, with public access to Dores beach and nearby woodland maintained during the phased works. WildLand says the plans were shaped through consultation with the local community and form part of its broader stewardship of the Aldourie Estate and surrounding landscape.

NFU Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to set out a clear timetable for releasing Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme funding, warning that delays are preventing crofters from authorizing infrastructure projects and are creating uncertainty for rural contractors and suppliers. The organization says missed seasonal construction windows could push some work into the following year. Separately, NFU Scotland has asked the UK Government to require imported eggs to meet the same production standards as domestic eggs, as rising hen numbers and imports put downward pressure on prices despite strong consumer demand.

A survey of more than 500 Scottish teenagers aged 13 to 18 found that 55% want to develop skills they believe AI cannot replace, while 60% are interested in skills that complement the technology. AI is already widely used for information, schoolwork, explanations, revision and creative tasks, with 50.5% using it daily and 92% using it at least several times a week. Teenagers most often identified plumbers, electricians, hairdressers, nurses, mechanics and social workers as AI-resistant careers. Although many see AI as an opportunity and are learning to question online content, substantial numbers worry that it will affect their careers and make finding work harder. Glasgow Kelvin College said colleges have an important role in combining practical and interpersonal skills with responsible use of emerging technologies.

A 35-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a nine-year-old girl who was found seriously injured at the Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath and later died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Police Scotland is treating the death as suspicious, is not seeking anyone else in connection with it, and plans to have the man appear at Forfar Sheriff Court. The girl, who was from West Yorkshire, was believed to have been camping with her family, who are receiving specialist support.

A report by CodeBase COO Richard Lennox argues that Scotland can close its scaleup gap by redirecting existing public investment toward founders’ needs rather than creating more programmes or increasing budgets. Scaleups represent only 0.5% of Scottish SMEs but generate about one-third of SME turnover; closing the gap could create more than 130,000 high-value jobs and over £20 billion in additional annual revenue. Lennox also calls for Scotland to attract at least one major global technology employer, arguing that large campuses can train talent, strengthen expertise and encourage new companies to emerge.

Woodfarm High School pupils in East Renfrewshire have celebrated strong exam results. Ben Mason, 18, achieved three Advanced Higher As and another Higher A, securing his place at the University of Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics, with ambitions to work in theatre. Young carers Leon and Ruby McDonnell also excelled while supporting their older brother, who has complex additional support needs. Leon gained eight National 5 passes, including six As, while Ruby earned nine As from 10 passes and hopes to pursue social work with children with additional support needs.

A 26-year-old Afghan man, widely identified as Sharif Ahmadzai, is due to appear in an Athens court over the death of Edinburgh aid worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Ross was found inside a suitcase in a derelict building in Kypseli on July 18 after entering Greece in June. Greek police allege that the suspect confessed, placed her body in the suitcase and later used her bank card to withdraw money; he faces allegations including manslaughter, robbery and weapons-law violations. Police are investigating whether the pair knew each other through refugee-support work, while Ross's Edinburgh churches and UK authorities have paid tribute and offered support to her family.

BP reported underlying replacement cost profit of $5.7 billion for the second quarter of 2026, a roughly 78% increase from the previous quarter and its strongest quarterly result in four years. The increase was driven largely by higher energy prices and stronger refining and trading results during the Iran war. Chief executive Meg O’Neill is restructuring the company by pursuing asset sales, including its US biogas business Archaea and BP’s UK North Sea operations, while shifting the group away from renewables and back toward hydrocarbons. Analysts welcomed the stronger results and simpler portfolio but warned that conflict-related price gains may not last. Environmental and anti-poverty campaigners condemned BP for profiting while households face high energy bills and worsening climate impacts.

A multi-agency investigation is under way after the body of 38-year-old Scottish woman Elisabeth-Jane Ross was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens on 18 July. She reportedly travelled from Cyprus to Greece the previous month and is believed to have died five to seven days before her discovery. Greek authorities are awaiting medical test results to determine the cause of death, while Police Scotland, Interpol and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are assisting with identification, the investigation and support for her family.

Two women aged 26 and 24 died after getting into difficulty while diving in Loch Fyne at St Catherines, Argyll and Bute. One woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was recovered from the water after further searches involving Police Scotland, the Coastguard, lifeboat crews and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The deaths are being treated as unexplained, with post-mortem examinations planned.

Fifteen people were arrested and weapons were seized after violence broke out during an anti-immigration rally organised by Unite the Clans at Glasgow Green, alongside a much larger anti-racist counter-protest. Police Scotland separated the groups but reported significant disorder, including assaults, projectiles, intimidation and clashes that spread into the city centre. Arrests involved alleged possession of offensive weapons, assault, breach of the peace, obstruction and resisting arrest. Chief Superintendent Emma Croft said the recovered weapons suggested premeditated disorder and vowed that those responsible would be identified. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander condemned the violence, which occurred as Glasgow prepared to host the Commonwealth Games.

Photographs document an anti-racism counter-protest by Stand Up To Racism at Glasgow Green, held alongside an anti-immigration demonstration organised by Unite the Clans Scotland. Hundreds attended, while police attempted to keep the groups apart. The event was initially peaceful but later involved clashes, thrown objects and police containment of demonstrators, including members of Celtic’s Green Brigade fan group.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games officially opened at the Hydro with more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories taking part across 10 sports and six Para sports. King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a dramatic entrance, while the ceremony featured a Doctor Who-themed Tardis journey around Scottish landmarks, piloted by Chris Hoy and Greg McHugh. The gallery captures the royal guests, athletes, flag bearers and other prominent attendees.

Two Scottish trees, the Balloch Castle ash and Earlstoun Lightning Oak, have been shortlisted for the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year competition, recognised for surviving storms, disease and heavy footfall. The shortlist highlights trees that have endured extraordinary events, including wartime damage and ancient conflicts. Public voting runs until late September, with the winner advancing to the European Tree of the Year finals.

A 13-year-old Highland boy recovered well after surgeons at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow removed a non-cancerous brain tumour using a new 3D robotic-assisted exoscope. The technology provided enhanced visualisation and improved surgical ergonomics, contributing to a successful outcome. His parents described the shock of the diagnosis and the emotional recovery process, while neurosurgeons highlighted how the system improves precision, safety and teamwork in complex paediatric brain surgeries.

Glasgow Pride 2026 drew thousands to the city centre to celebrate 30 years of Pride, featuring a large parade, live acts and notable attendees including Nicola Sturgeon, Val McDermid and Jo Sharp. The event faced criticism from the Scottish Greens and activist group No Pride in Genocide over sponsorship from Coca-Cola, with calls for more transparent, ethically aligned funding. Despite the controversy, the parade and performances created a major citywide celebration.

A Dundee mother attended her Abertay University graduation just hours after giving birth to her son, Sol. Born the evening before the ceremony, the newborn joined his mother and family at Caird Hall as she received a First-Class Honours degree in Food, Nutrition and Health. Clare Hart credited her family, classmates and university staff for supporting her during a demanding pregnancy that coincided with final assessments. She plans to build a holistic health and nutrition coaching business, while her partner praised her resilience after a natural birth.

A 23‑year‑old driver, Kyle Patrick, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the High Court in Glasgow for causing the death of 19‑year‑old Erin Slane by dangerous and alcohol‑impaired driving in Perthshire. Patrick admitted driving at grossly excessive speeds, losing control of the vehicle, and causing fatal injuries to Slane and serious injury to another passenger. The judge condemned his prolonged reckless behaviour and highlighted the devastation caused to the victim’s family.

Construction of The King’s Hall, a £6.5 million wedding and events venue at Dumfries House, is progressing ahead of its 2027 opening, with the structural frame now complete. Developed by The King’s Foundation, the project aims to meet growing demand for large-scale events while supporting conservation, education programmes and community initiatives. The extension uses locally sourced stone and traditional building techniques alongside modern standards, reflecting King Charles III’s architectural vision.

SimpsInns celebrates 30 years of growth on the Ayrshire coast, expanding from its first hotel in 1996 to a portfolio that includes major spa, leisure and hospitality venues. A new £3 million sea‑view spa at The Waterside marks its latest investment as the next generation of the Simpson family joins leadership roles. The Scottish Parliament formally recognised the group for its award‑winning achievements, while founder Malcolm Simpson credited the company’s success to adaptability, continuous investment and a dedicated team.