Martyn Mclaughlin

Violinist and Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti discussed her marriage to jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis on Gyles Brandreth’s Rosebud podcast. She said she felt an immediate kindred-spirit connection with Marsalis, whom she first met at 17, despite their 25-year age gap, and that she was always convinced he would become her husband. Benedetti acknowledged challenges including living on different continents, cultural and racial differences, demanding touring careers and the age gap. The couple married in 2021 and have a daughter, Elise.

BBC Scotland could lose up to 60 jobs as part of the BBC’s plan to save £500 million over two years. The cuts may threaten the BBC Scotland digital channel, which has a £42 million annual budget but reached only 13% of the UK audience in 2024/25. Staff morale is reportedly grim, while the BBC says it is pursuing voluntary redundancies and consulting unions to avoid compulsory job losses. The National Union of Journalists has called the cuts severe and urged UK government intervention, warning that they undermine public-service broadcasting. Wider BBC proposals include ending The World Tonight, merging production teams for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Newsnight, and reducing television and audio output.

The Scottish Police Federation is calling for a debate on giving officers in Scotland clearer powers to remove masks and other face coverings when they are believed to be used to conceal identity during crime, violence or serious disorder. The federation argues such powers would be necessary if Scotland adopts live facial recognition technology, which Police Scotland is currently evaluating. Any new powers would require exemptions for religious, cultural, medical and occupational reasons. Supporters describe facial recognition as an intelligence tool that should assist, rather than replace, officers, while Amnesty International UK and other opponents warn of algorithmic bias, inaccuracies and threats to privacy and civil liberties.

Edinburgh councillors are expected to approve a 300 per cent council tax premium on second homes and long-term empty properties from January 2027. The measure, previously suspended after legal advice, is projected to raise about £4 million annually and support affordable housing, amid rising homelessness and slower housebuilding. Property owners argue the charge is disproportionate and could impose liabilities of nearly £16,000, particularly where homes are difficult to sell or undergoing renovations. The council plans to apply Scottish Government exemptions, including provisions for some distant MSPs, and has said the delayed rollout will give affected households more time to prepare.

A newly discovered Polish translation of a 1759 letter attributed to Bonnie Prince Charlie suggests he travelled to Saint Petersburg and sought support in eastern Europe for a renewed Stuart restoration attempt. Historian and art expert Peter Pininski argues that Charles remained politically ambitious and physically capable, challenging the traditional view that he was broken and inactive after 1748. The letter to Prince Michael Radziwill, a powerful Polish-Lithuanian military commander, implies that Charles may have been exploring access to troops and transport for a campaign in Scotland. Historian Edward Corp considers the document authentic and significant evidence of a previously unknown visit to Russia, while acknowledging that the precise details of Charles's mission remain uncertain.

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has acquired Harvey Nichols out of administration, taking control of its Edinburgh store and five other UK outlets, as well as the online business. Frasers plans a significant restructuring, including reviews of the store portfolio, staffing structure, operating model and costs, while Harvey Nichols chief executive Julia Goddard said the deal creates a platform for the company’s next phase. The future size and format of the Edinburgh store remain uncertain, with possible integration of Flannels and speculation about a reduced retail floorplate or alternative uses for upper floors. The acquisition follows five years of losses and declining revenue, but Edinburgh retail figures argue that the city’s luxury market remains strong even if it is no longer as dependent on Harvey Nichols as it was when the store opened in 2002.

Nine-year-old Minnie Merriman, from West Yorkshire, died after being found seriously injured at an industrial estate in Arbroath while her family was camping nearby. Her father, 35-year-old Christopher Rice, appeared privately at Forfar Sheriff Court charged with her murder; he made no plea, was remanded in custody, and is due to return to court within eight days. Minnie's family released a tribute describing her as beloved, beautiful and brave. Police Scotland is leading the investigation, supported by West Yorkshire Police, while local politicians and residents have expressed shock and left floral tributes at the scene.

Glasgow 2026 opened with a deliberately modest but lively ceremony celebrating the city's reinvention and the Commonwealth Games' survival after Victoria, Australia, withdrew as host. The event mixed Scottish cultural references, music, humor and a parade of roughly 3,000 athletes, with its strongest moments coming from exuberant performances and inventive depictions of Glasgow. The ceremony was occasionally undermined by clichés, commercialized imagery and a poorly paced formal segment, but its successful delivery and party atmosphere ultimately made the event's return feel like a triumph.

Scotland’s government describes the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as a major economic and cultural opportunity expected to generate more than £150 million in benefits while showcasing the nation to a global audience. First Minister John Swinney and sports minister Maree Todd praise Glasgow’s accelerated preparation after stepping in to host the event, highlighting business engagement through Team Scotland House and the city’s role in enabling the Games. More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations will compete across ten sports, with prominent athletes such as Josh Kerr, Seine Stowers and Chad le Clos participating. Alex Marshall and Sarah Adlington will lead Team Scotland at an opening ceremony featuring major performers, with celebrations continuing to a closing event on 2 August.

A leading Scottish finance-sector figure warns Prime Minister Andy Burnham against relying on new business taxes to generate economic growth, urging a period of stability and the reversal of recent National Insurance increases. Concerns are raised about potential bank tax hikes and the appointment of Miatta Fahnbulleh as energy secretary due to her support for rapid net-zero transition. The article highlights uncertainty over Burnham’s economic direction, internal Labour tensions around oil and gas policy, and calls for clearer plans to enhance investment conditions, including planning reforms and stronger project pipelines amid global competition for capital.

A Glasgow taxi driver, Scott Troy, has launched a six‑figure legal action against Police Scotland after spending ten months in prison following a wrongful arrest linked to an attempted murder involving his passengers. Prosecutors later accepted he had no involvement after evidence confirmed he responded to a routine taxi booking. Troy says the ordeal caused severe psychological and personal harm. Three men have since been jailed for the attack, while Troy seeks formal recognition of the impact on his life.

Andy Burnham faces key early responsibilities as the new UK prime minister, including security briefings, cabinet formation decisions, drafting nuclear ‘letters of last resort’, and responding to congratulatory calls from world leaders such as Donald Trump. He will receive guidance from senior civil servants, determine living and working arrangements in Downing Street, and plan a nationwide listening tour ahead of Parliament’s return in September.

A UK Covid inquiry report led by Baroness Heather Hallett found nearly £10bn in PPE procurement waste, along with severe shortages and expired stockpiles that left nurses repurposing household items for protection. The Royal College of Nursing condemned systemic planning failures, while further scrutiny focused on the VIP procurement lane, which favoured politically connected referrals and yielded higher-cost, lower-performing contracts. Scotland faced acute PPE shortages, forcing reliance on near-expired supplies from England. PPE Medpro’s contract breach remains under criminal investigation. Both UK and Scottish governments pledged to study the inquiry’s recommendations and improve future emergency procurement systems.