Neil Pooran

Scottish charity Kids Operating Room has opened a permanent paediatric operating theatre at Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron, the charity’s first in the West Bank. The facility will allow the hospital to provide children’s surgery throughout the week instead of sharing an operating room two days a week, helping reduce a long waiting list amid conflict, restricted movement and strained medical infrastructure. The charity plans to open additional theatres in Bethlehem and Jericho.

Firefighters worked overnight to contain a fire at Stoneyhill Quarry landfill in Longhaven, near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said crews remained on site to dampen down hotspots, with four pumps and a water carrier deployed. Police imposed road closures between Auchiries and Cairn Catto while the response continued.

Beira’s Place, the Edinburgh sexual violence support centre founded by J.K. Rowling, welcomed Amnesty International’s apology for classifying it and other gender-critical organisations as “anti-rights.” The charity said the apology and removal of two briefings did not repair the reputational damage or adequately acknowledge the impact on its staff and the women using its services. Amnesty said the labelling did not represent its institutional position, apologised to Beira’s Place and other groups, and commissioned an independent external review.

A coalition led by Homeless Network Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to match Andy Burnham’s proposed expansion of council-house building and deliver about 15,700 quality social homes annually. The charities argue that nearly 250,000 people are on housing waiting lists and that councils are spending heavily on temporary accommodation, calling for any Barnett consequentials to be directed to social housing and for investment to rise toward £8.8 billion. The Scottish Government says it remains committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, cites rising approvals and starts, and points to record investment and the new More Homes Scotland agency.

Complex structural work is underway to secure the fire-damaged former Debenhams building on Edinburgh’s Princes Street. Contractors are reinforcing the facade and gable ends, while crane-based stone removal has been paused by wind. The street will remain closed for the foreseeable future, disrupting tram and bus services, as the City of Edinburgh Council prioritises public safety and restoration of the historic B-listed building.

Firefighters responded to a new blaze involving 150 to 200 tonnes of shredded waste at the Lower Melville Woods Waste Facility near Ladybank, weeks after a previous two‑week fire at the same site. The fire was contained within a concrete storage area, prompting the facility’s closure and precautionary advice for nearby residents to keep windows closed. No injuries were reported as emergency crews deployed multiple pumps and specialist resources to control the situation.

Tommy Robinson apologised after falsely labelling Glasgow resident Quroum Beg an “invader” in a social media post about an anti-immigration protest. Beg, who confronted protesters while removing his children from a park, said the accusation left him fearing for his life. After widespread backlash, Robinson deleted the post and acknowledged the mistake while continuing to claim broader concerns about migrants. Beg, who says the incident caused reputational and personal harm, is seeking legal advice.

A Glasgow traffic cone decorated with messages and cultural symbols has been flown first class to Massachusetts as a gesture of friendship sparked by Scotland fans’ light‑hearted antics during the World Cup in Boston. Created by Glasgow designer Andrew Dobbie, the cone will tour the state to raise money for mental health charities in Scotland and Massachusetts. Local leaders, including Governor Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu, praised the cultural connection formed between the Tartan Army and Bostonians, highlighting hopes for deeper ties in culture, tourism and business.