Italian Oasis fan, 30, dies in his hotel room hours before he was due to see band at Murrayfield Stadium
This is a breaking news story; it will be updated soon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BreakingNews.ie
30 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
JK Rowling compares Nicola Sturgeon to Donald Trump in scathing book review
JK Rowling has compared Nicola Sturgeon to US president Donald Trump and the Twilight character Bella Swan in a scathing review of the former Scottish first minister's memoir. The Harry Potter author accused Ms Sturgeon of being 'flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and hard facts' on issues relating to trans and women's rights. Advertisement The writer is a long-time critic of the former SNP leader and her views on gender self-ID. The Twilight of Nicola Sturgeon My review of Frankly — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 14, 2025 In her near-3000-word review, published on her own website, she accuses Ms Sturgeon, who passed gender reform legislation at Holyrood, of holding 'luxury beliefs' that have caused 'real, lasting harm' to women. Rowling published her review on X alongside what appears to be an AI-generated image of Ms Sturgeon in the woods in front of a wolf and a vampire. She said of the politician's memoir, Frankly: 'She remains stubbornly wedded to her belief that it is possible to let some men into women's spaces on the men's say so, without letting any man who fancies it come inside. Advertisement 'She denies there are any risks to a policy of gender self-identification. 'She can't imagine any male predator capitalising on such policies, in spite of the fact that it has, demonstrably, happened many times. 'She is flat out Trumpian in her shameless denial of reality and facts.' Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon at the launch of her memoir 'Frankly', at Edinburgh International Book Festival (Jane Barlow/PA) Rowling, who lives in Edinburgh, said the Glasgow Southside MSP had not been 'remotely humbled' by the Supreme Court ruling that sex in the UK Equality Act referred to biological sex. Advertisement The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act, which was passed by MSPs, was ultimately scrapped by Westminster, with the then Tory government saying it contravened equalities law. In her book, Ms Sturgeon said she had never received as much abuse than when Rowling posted a picture of herself on social media with a T-shirt saying 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights'. The former first minister said the post made her feel 'more at risk of possible physical harm'. Rowling defended the decision, writing in her review her intention was to encourage journalists to question Ms Sturgeon on the impacts her gender reforms may have. Advertisement She compares the MSP to Twilight character Bella Swan, saying both were 'monomaniacs', with Mr Sturgeon being 'consumed' by independence. Nicola Sturgeon was compared to Donald Trump in a book review by author JK Rowling (Jane Barlow/PA) She says of them: 'Both shy, insecure teenagers have dates with destiny. 'Nicola Sturgeon will one day become first minister of Scotland. Bella Swan will join the ranks of the undead.' The author said Sturgeon made significant omissions in her memoir, including WhatsApp messages from the Covid pandemic, education standards and the row over delayed and over-budget ferries. Advertisement 'Perhaps the most disgraceful omission — and I'll admit to a personal interest here, because I'm married to a doctor who used to run a methadone clinic, so saw the national scandal up close — is the fact that Scotland continues to lead the whole of Europe in drug deaths,' she said. Ms Sturgeon has said she stands by the principle of gender self-ID but has expressed regret at not pausing her gender reforms in order to find common ground with opponents. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said the debate was 'toxic on both sides'. She accepted that 'in all of the tone and tenor of this I am not saying I was blameless at all', saying she 'desperately' wished she had been able to 'find a more collegiate way forward' on the controversial issue. Ms Sturgeon has been approached for comment.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
The Times Daily Quiz: Friday August 15, 2025
1 Lisa Loring played Wednesday Addams in which 1960s US sitcom? 2 After discovering white nougat, Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann invented which 'unique chocolate bar'? 3 First published in 1854, The Orcadian is the oldest newspaper in which Scottish archipelago? 4 Which queen was the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt? 5 In an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, who is called 'the new world Madonna with the golden touch'? 6 Which long flat bone of the human body is also known as the breastbone? 7 George Fenton and which Indian sitar player received a best original score Oscar nomination for Gandhi? 8 The title of James Goldman's play The Lion in Winter refers to which Plantagenet king? 9 Which Merseybeat band had a 1964 No 1 with Don't Throw Your Love Away? 10 Historically known as Sanhit, Keren is the second-largest city in which country in the Horn of Africa? 11 Concorde made its last-ever flight on November 26, 2003, departing Heathrow and landing in which city? 12 Henry Fonda and John Ford's friendship ended when the director punched Fonda on the set of which film? 13 Which firm, based in Holbeck, Leeds, was the world's biggest flat cap maker during the 1920s? 14 R360 is a proposed breakaway league in which team sport? 15 Which Ray Alan ventriloquist dummy is pictured?Scroll down for answersAnswers1 The Addams Family 2 Toblerone 3 Orkney 4 Cleopatra (VII) 5 Evita or Eva Perón, in the song Rainbow Tour 6 Sternum 7 Ravi Shankar 8 Henry II 9 The Searchers 10 Eritrea 11 Bristol, at Filton Airfield 12 Mister Roberts 13 JW Myers 14 Rugby union 15 Lord Charles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Kate Forbes ban venue forced into a humiliating U-turn after public funds threat
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue at the centre of the Kate Forbes cancel culture row has performed a dramatic U-turn after threats to its public funding. Summerhall Arts, which was recently awarded £608,000 in grants, climbed down over an apparent ban on deputy First Minister because of her gender critical views. Bosses had claimed her appearance last week in a political talk was an 'oversight' and gave a 'guarantee' it wouldn't happen again. But after their statement was condemned by senior SNP figures, including ex First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the charity chiefs said no politician would be banned after all. Chief executive Sam Gough told the Mail: 'No one is banned from appearing on the stages. Summerhall is a collection of things in this building, including stages and venues. We have not banned anyone.' Mr Gough's uncaveated comments went further than a statement issued earlier in the day by the organisation, which put a pre-condition on future appearances. It said there would be no ban on anyone 'assuming they adhere to our zero tolerance regarding discrimination'. The damage limitation exercise followed an outcry over censorship with both the Government and arts quango Creative Scotland appearing to wash their hands of it. Ministers said they had no role in 'individual funding decisions', while Creative Scotland, which gave Summerhall £608,302 in January, claimed it had no part in 'programming decisions'. The Scottish Conservatives said both were missing the point - that taxpayers' cash was supporting an organisation that appeared to be breaking the law by stifling free speech. A condition of Summerhall's state funding that it must 'comply with all applicable laws'. Ms Forbes, a devout Christian who opposed the SNP's botched gender self-ID reforms, spoke at the venue last week. Summerhall apologised to performers just hours ahead of her appearance as it was concerned about 'the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ artists, staff and audiences by attracting those who share her 'views' and said 'we have work to do to repair the damage'. They even provided a 'designated relaxed space' or 'safe room' said to be 'terrified' of the 5ft 2in Skye MSP. The row coincided with controversies over gender critical authors being excluded from the state-backed Edinburgh Book Festival and a best-selling book of gender critical essays, The Women Who Wouldn't Wheest, being pulled from a National Library of Scotland exhibition. Finance Secretary Shona Robison called Summerhall's reaction 'unwise and unnecessary', while Ms Sturgeon said she didn't agree with cancel culture or the venue's actions. The Scottish Tories demanded Summerhall's public funding be cut for potentially discriminating against people because of their beliefs. In 2023, the Stand comedy club had to back down after trying to cancel a Fringe show by then SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC because of her gender critical views, admitting its original decision was 'unfair and constituted unlawful discrimination'. Last year Creative Scotland axed £84,555 of public funding from the live arts project Rein after a plan to include real sex acts was deemed a breach of contract. Bowing to pressure yesterday, the venue said 'no-one is banned from the Summerhall building or by Summerhall Arts' and it would 'not be banning politicians or anyone else'. It was a marked departure from its message to artists eight days earlier, which an insider downplayed as merely an 'email to performers', not an official statement. Scottish Tory equalities spokeswoman Tess White said there had been too much 'craven buck-passing' by the Government and Creative Scotland. She said: 'This latest clear-as-mud statement from Summerhall just underlines the need for SNP ministers to step in and order the venue to get its act together. 'Summerhall's shameful decision to suppress free speech didn't occur in a vacuum. 'For years the SNP have been pushing their reckless and unlawful self-ID policy on Scotland's public bodies and pandering to gender extremists. 'As a result, organisations funded by taxpayers think it's okay to silence those who have the moral courage and legal vindication to stand up for women's rights. It's totally unacceptable. 'John Swinney and Creative Scotland, which has form for financing dodgy projects, should remove funding from any group or venue that blocks legitimate free speech.' It emerged yesterday that Summerhall Arts had known since April that Ms Forbes would appear in an event run by the Herald newspaper but did not object. Just 48 hours before the event, managers raised fears about 'hate speech'. SNP Culture Secretary Angus Roberson yesterday told the Herald he was 'a strong supporter of the freedom of speech and of expression at our festivals'. He said: 'It will not be easy all of the time to please everybody. 'But I think keeping an eye on the principle of freedom of expression and the expression of different views is an established and important part of our national life.' Mr Robertson is the MSP for Edinburgh Central, which is home to many cultural organisations, and he said he does not make decisions about their funding to avoid conflicts of interest. He has specifically 'recused himself from decisions in relation to Summerhall', which are taken by employment minister Richard Lochhead instead. A Creative Scotland spokesman said: 'Creative Scotland does not play a role in the programming decisions of funded organisations.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Creative Scotland is an arms-length funding body and Ministers have no role in individual funding decisions.'
