Latest news with #IndependenceSummit
The National
04-05-2025
- The National
Edinburgh man released from Israeli prison after six months
Mohammad el Sharif, who works for Edinburgh Firefly International, was among detainees from the Gaza Strip freed last week and has been reunited with his wife, Alaa, and their three little boys. Firefly International director Jane Salmonson said that while it was a 'huge relief' he was safe, he had appeared to have aged 'years' during his detention. El Sharif was the director of a child mental health clinic in Gaza which was bombed after the region's invasion by Israel in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. READ MORE: John Swinney urged to put 'country before party' and join Independence Summit Despite being displaced several times, he had managed to keep contact with Firefly staff until he was picked up by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) on November 27 last year while trying to move his young family to a 'safer' part of the stricken region. Along with other residents, they were walking westwards from Gaza City when soldiers stopped them at a checkpoint, separated the women and children on one side of the road, put the men on the other, then took all the men away. Salmonson said the news he had been released was 'wonderful'. 'Mohammad appears from his photo to have aged years during almost six months of detention, but we at Firefly are all so pleased and relieved that he is free – that is all that matters just now,' she said. 'Team Firefly International are enjoying a moment of huge relief, feeling better than we have felt since Mohammad's arrest and detention without charge, last November. Not knowing if someone is alive or dead has been very hard for us in Scotland and will have been far worse for his family in Gaza. 'Please continue to keep us in your sights, as the carnage continues in Gaza, now compounded by starvation.' In an Associated Press video of the release, el Sharif said his freedom was a 'new date of birth' for him because he had found his family safe and alive. 'While I was in captivity I thought I would not find any of my family members and relatives,' he said. However he added that his 'great joy' was incomplete because of the detainees still being held in Israeli prisons. 'The captives gave us a message that everyone must work to release them peacefully and they all want to live in security, safety and peace,' he said. Salmonson added: 'His message of peace is a very strong one, especially bearing in mind what he has suffered in almost six months of detention kept incommunicado from his family.' Along with the release of el Sharif, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed the release of paramedic Asaad al-Nasasra, who was detained on March 23 this year while performing humanitarian duties during the Israeli massacre of medical teams in the Tel Sultan area of Rafah. The massacre resulted in the deaths of eight members of PRCS ambulance staff. The number of people detained from Gaza acknowledged by the Israeli prison system now stands at 1747, not including those held in military camps. A recent report issued by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) revealed severe conditions endured by Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails. The report noted that in the 19 months since the ongoing genocide, the conditions of detention have not improved and have in fact worsened in many cases. At one point el Sharif was being held in the notorious Sde Teiman prison which has been condemned internationally for alleged torture and gang rape of detainees, including children and health workers. READ MORE: 'Football ban makes me feel sick': Transgender player hits out at SFA rules change Prisoner testimonies of widespread human rights violations have been corroborated by Israeli whistleblowers and an investigation by CNN. Leaked CCTV footage has shown one gang rape of a Palestinian by Israeli soldiers. Gazans who have been detained since the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel have been classed as 'unlawful combatants' and kept as suspects even if there is no evidence of any involvement with Hamas. Some have died and others have had limbs amputated as a result of injuries sustained from being shackled, according to reports.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Toffs in tweed flock to Highlands, but what benefits do they bring?
We were both attending the wedding of the offspring of another second homer whose guests had variously arrived by helicopter and private jet. It's not the sort of small talk I'm used to and I was, to put it mildly, like a fish out of water. My end of Tiree, specifically the coast closest to Coll, is known as Millionaire's Row. If the millionaires in question didn't know that before, and they happen to read The National, they do now. It's also known as the 'Dinner Party End'. I recall my father being almost apoplectic one night as a helicopter conveyed someone's dinner guests and landed without permission on our land. I don't think he's got over it yet. Of course, nothing was ever said, because it never is. It's their world, and we are the supporting cast. READ MORE: John Swinney urged to put 'country before party' and join Independence Summit My dad stewed and the lord, whose dinner party it was, remained oblivious. Lords and ladies have been 10 a penny over the years, and for the most part, keep themselves to themselves. We're rather fond of them despite them choosing Tiree thanks to their association with the Duke under whose fiefdom we continue to reside. It's not just Tiree that attracts that element of the population. The great, the good, and the wealthy have a long and loving association with the many parts of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and none more so than the royals. The royal family's ties to the Highlands and Islands are woven through a tapestry of tradition, personal retreat, and the occasional mishap. The Queen Mother, seeking solace after King George VI's death, purchased the Castle of Mey in Caithness in 1952. She restored the once-derelict Barrogill Castle, renaming it and spending summers there until her passing in 2002. In 1996, she entrusted it to a charitable trust. Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1852, remains a cherished royal residence. The Royal Yacht was often seen in Scottish waters over the years. King Charles' Scottish escapades include a 1987 stint as a 'crofter' in Berneray, where he immersed himself in local life, planting potatoes and cutting peat. (Image: PA) Earlier, in 1963, a youthful Charles caused a stir by ordering a cherry brandy at a pub in Stornoway, despite being underage. The charges against the licence holder and barmaid were dropped, and the hotel in question has the news story in a frame on the wall to this day. In 1994, the King experienced a more serious incident when a jet he was piloting overran the runway in Islay during a landing attempt. Frances Shand Kydd, Princess Diana's mother, spent her later years in the Isle of Seil, 'embracing a quieter life' away from royal circles. Now, before I go much further, I have been warned to behave myself on the grounds that many people I am close to are collectors of china and tea towels featuring more than one generation of Windsors. I, on the other hand, couldn't give two hoots about the royal family, but I don't actively dislike them. They exist, and on balance – looking States-ward – I think I prefer them to a president, for the time being at least. However, I am no respecter of pomp or pageantry, of titles, of class or frankly, of wealth. I most certainly have no truck with the concept of someone being 'in charge' by virtue of a quirk of birth. I have before now even been accused of being unfairly prejudiced against the well-heeled. That's probably true but I imagine that the well-heeled in question cope with my prejudice just fine. For the last few weeks, my news alerts have been awash in headlines about William and Kate and their trip to Mull. Mull is the fourth largest of the Scottish islands and only an hour from Oban by boat, but that didn't stop the papers telling us about how Kate and Wills were escaping to a 'tiny, remote' island. The long-awaited visit finally happened on Tuesday and Wednesday, occasioning another wave of loving (some might say sycophantic) headlines. The couple were, of course, carefully clothed in well-tailored tweed and muted check verging on tartan. The classic hunting and shooting set look with a Hebridean twist to make them fit in with the natives. They don't of course. Instead it makes them look like they are on safari, through some sort of built-up nature reserve, peering at the local inhabitants with the same gentle interest usually displayed by an elderly naturalist. Sometimes I play a David Attenborourgh-type commentary in my head as I watch these news reports. 'And here we see the upper-class predator observing the peasants. Already well-fed, their smile signals that they are no threat, and bedecked for the occasion in their best plumage, the prey becomes eager to please.' I'll stop there. I can feel hackles rising around some breakfast tables … In the interests of balance, royal visits – while they cost money, delay ferries and cause untold traffic chaos wherever they go – also bring with them a host of benefits. In Mull, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as they are known in Scotland (because the higher up the ladder you are, the more names you collect), spent time with any number of organisations and small businesses. (Image: PA) In Tobermory, they visited Aros Hall – a well-used community space that hosts everything from lunch clubs and toddler groups to ceilidhs. The hall is also home to the Community Fridge, which last year alone diverted over 60 tonnes of food from landfill. Their visit coincided with news of new investment via The Royal Foundation to support community spaces in Mull. Aros Hall also runs the weekly Tobermory Producers Market at the harbour, where local food producers, crafters and artists showcase their work. The Duke and Duchess toured the market, sampling island produce and meeting the community. On Wednesday, the pair joined the Mull and Iona Ranger Service at Ardura Community Forest – part of the Atlantic rainforest – to learn about conservation and early-years outdoor learning. The trip finished with a ferry to Iona, where they heard about the importance of reliable ferry links. Whether they have any sway in relation to timetables is unknown, but their visit has ensured that Mull and Iona have been talked about on every news channel and in every paper. That kind of advertising is hard to get and not to be sneezed at. Hopefully it will give all of the organisations involved in the trip a boost. There remains something distasteful, though. I don't know if it's the fawning, the fashion, the fleeting bestowal of interest, the Highlands and Islands treated as a sort of safari, fondly remembered from a castle armchair. Maybe it's the privilege, the wealth, or just my own prejudice, but I struggle with the whole performance. If only the island's hard-working organisations received this kind of attention year-round, without needing a royal fly-by. Across communities like ours, the real work happens quietly – without fanfare, crowns or cherry brandies. Yet despite the wall-to-wall coverage, it's still the royals centre stage, and the locals playing the supporting cast. It ought to be the other way around.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Orkney-bound dog tale leads Scottish hopes at top UK games awards
MCV/Develop is a monthly trade publication for the UK's gaming industry and has recently announced the shortlist for its annual prize ceremony. Vince Pavey, editor of the magazine, recognised the pressure that comes with managing an industry-recognised awards event. 'The MCV/Develop Awards have been recognising the successes of the UK games industry for more than 20 years, and the magazine has been around for longer than that,' he said. READ MORE: John Swinney urged to put 'country before party' and join Independence Summit 'People really do care about whether they win or lose, which is equal parts lovely and terrifying. I take the responsibilities and pressures of it all very seriously. 'It's a genuine pleasure to get so many people in the industry together to celebrate on the big night. In video games, we are often so secretive, and I think taking any chance you can to celebrate a big win is important. 'The MCV/Develop Awards are a staple event on the calendar for many for just that reason.' Scotland's video game industry was estimated to be worth £350m to the Scottish economy in 2023 and is home to some of the best-known developers out there, including Epic Games and Rockstar North. Last year's awards ceremony was the largest yet, but MCV/Develop has expanded it even further for 2025 with two new categories. (Image: MCV/Develop) Any UK-based games industry organisation is eligible to submit nominations for the work they have done through the last year. The nominations are then consolidated into a shortlist, which will be judged by a closed panel of experts. The four Scottish finalists are Code Wizards for Service Partner of the Year, Farewell North by Kyle Banks for Narrative Innovation of the Year, Team Junkfish for Indie Studio of the Year and Hubworld Scotland for Outstanding Association Award. Banks's game, Farewell North, is a beautiful but sad story of a dog and his owner making their way back to their childhood home in Orkney. 'When I started work nearly five years ago, I set out to tell a specific story, with the belief that games offer tremendous opportunity for rich storytelling,' Banks said. 'I felt that this story was uniquely suited to being told as a game, putting the player in the shoes – or, rather, paws – of a character who must learn to empathise with and support their human in order to progress. 'The story was always meant to be emotional, it's not always a happy tale and we knew there would be some tears along the way. Above all, we wanted to make sure the player left the game feeling uplifted and perhaps with a bit of compassion and a desire to cherish their loved ones, both human and animals.' Banks (below) added: 'Being nominated for the MCV/Develop Narrative Innovation award is a great honour. (Image: Supplied) 'I was fortunate enough to work with some truly talented folks who brought their expertise and authenticity to the project – John Konsolakis, who brought the world to life with his music; Johan Ross, who brought a voice and her experience growing up in Skye to our main character; Mooneye Studios, who saw the game when it was much rougher around the edges and somehow still believed in it, and so many others who supported the game along the way.' Hubworld Scotland is an organisation dedicated to supporting the games industry across the country, from running events to providing training and more. Since its founding in 2023, it has grown to represent more than 700 games industry professionals across Scotland. Events manager Fergus Coyne said that the Hubworld team are thrilled to be recognised. He went on: 'It's an honour to be nominated for MCV's Outstanding Association award – mainly because we have been chosen along with some of our personal favourite organisations that do such fantastic work across the country. 'This is the first award we have ever been nominated for, and we're very grateful, not to mention proud to represent our country as we are the only organisation nominated [for the Outstanding Association award] that is fully based in Scotland.' Team Junkfish's senior marketing manager Ellie Gibbs said: 'We're super happy and excited to be shortlisted, there are a lot of wonderful other companies in the indie section and it's amazing to see our name next to them! 'Team Junkfish pride ourselves on being a person-first company, especially during these times when the industry is a little rocky. While I can't say too much about what we're currently working on, we do have a big announcement coming this year for those interested in horror survival games.' MCV/Develop also hosts the annual Women in Games awards, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. The awards ceremony will take place on June 19 in London.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Edinburgh to host world's biggest card game championship
The non-profit Null Signal Games is now in talks with Dovecot Studios to expand capacity to fit the legion of gamers keen to visit Scotland's capital from October 17 to 19. Android: Netrunner was a card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games between 2012 and 2018 but their licensing agreement on the IP expired. A group of volunteers and engaged fans took up the game's mantle and have been successfully running tournaments and releasing new content as Null Signal Games, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the continuation and management of the game. READ MORE: John Swinney urged to put 'country before party' and join Independence Summit Null Signal Games' organised play manager, Jeff Pruyne, said: 'This is our fourth in-person world since the pandemic, and it's on track to be the largest gathering of Netrunner players ever. 'We've been expanding the event every year, and we're excited to offer learn-to-play events on Sunday, along with support for all kinds of involvement, including cosplay, trivia and alternative formats.' Netrunner is an asymmetrical duel where one player takes on the role of a nefarious corporation determined to advance their agenda, and one player acts as the Runner, a hacker who is trying to stop them from controlling or destroying the world. Mike Prosser, a player from Glasgow who has been part of the community since 2015, said that the model of the game made it more accessible to him in the beginning: 'It doesn't feel like it wants to financially punish me.' Unlike other competitive card games, Netrunner does not demand that players shell out money on randomised booster packs. Instead, it operates more like a traditional board game – players buy each set in its entirety when released, with no luck or trading required. (Image: Null Signal Games) Prosser continued: 'The really tight integration between the Cyberpunk themes and the game's mechanics instantly sold me on the game.' Chris Dyer, a veteran player and former world champion, said: 'Netrunner instantly felt very refreshing and different to every other card game I'd played, which are inevitably variations on creatures beating each other up. 'By contrast, Netrunner is vividly imaginative; an asymmetrical cerebral duel where one player constructs an elaborate puzzle for the other to try to solve. The core mechanics and structure of the game are brilliantly designed, so the success or failure of both players is constantly on a knife edge, and it's the decisions that you make rather than the cards in your deck that will determine the result. It's endlessly deep, relentlessly skill-testing and incredibly strategic. 'I couldn't be more excited to go to the world championships in Edinburgh. The UK has always had a very enthusiastic group of players that have travelled all over the world to play competitive Netrunner, often with great success, so it's fitting that the most prestigious event on the calendar is finally on home soil. 'Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities, and it's home to a lot of great friends that I've met through Netrunner, so I can't wait to spend a weekend catching up with them and playing my favourite card game in a city that I love to visit!' Edinburgh-based player and former vice-president of engagement for Null Signal Games, Ed Fortune, was part of the team that brought the world championships to the UK for the first time. 'With the UK having one of the largest player bases in the world, it felt like the right time for it to be held here,' he said. 'I had previously helped organise the 2023 world championships in Barcelona, and what struck me was the importance of being able to visit such a fantastic host city. 'Hosting in a culturally significant city that is welcoming to all was really important to me. Scotland has historically been a hub of Netrunner players, with a fantastic community known for putting on great events. 'This made my adopted home city of Edinburgh the obvious choice, and the Scottish community put forward a compelling case for the world championships to be hosted here. 'Accommodation is abundant, good food is everywhere, and the city is on many people's bucket lists to visit.' Dundee-based player and local organiser Ronan McGarry added: 'Edinburgh is well-suited for the event, a dense city that will encourage locality in the attendees. It's a great city – beautiful, friendly and accommodating. I'm really confident that all the attendees will have a great time at worlds. 'As a local organiser, I've seen the level of excitement that worlds in Scotland has generated among both newer and veteran players. Our community chats have been busy, turnout to weekly events is up and interest is at a high. It's really a joy to see so much interest in the game after so long.' Pruyne highlighted Edinburgh's range of amenities and tourist attractions that visitors can easily walk to, adding: 'Edinburgh had a ton of ways for people to travel into the city, along with a strong local scene to help us find volunteers, venue scouts and evangelists for the city. Scotland was an obvious choice for us in terms of selecting a city we thought people from around the world would be excited to travel to.' The tournament will be happening in Dovecot Studios, an arts and heritage site in the city centre. Pruyne said that working with an arts venue suits the organisation well: 'A big part of our community includes artists making custom card arts, game components and artwork that we're looking forward to displaying during the event,' he said. The 2022 and 2023 world champion William Huang, who is based in Toronto, is looking forward to coming to Scotland to reclaim his crown: 'I'll definitely be coming to Scotland to try to win a third time. It's an exciting time for the game after a big rotation and I look forward to competing. 'I've never been to Scotland before but I've heard great things about the community there so I'm sure it'll be a great time.' The event is almost sold out but players can join the waitlist for tickets at Null Signal Games' website.
The National
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Thousands of independence supporters flood Glasgow's streets
Organised by All Under One Banner, one of Scotland's biggest independence campaigns, the rally left from Kelvin Way and made its way through some of the city's busiest streets, ending with an event at Glasgow Green. A pipe band led the march, with impressive displays of Saltires, Palestine flags and pride banners featuring the Lion Rampant following behind. The atmosphere was intense, with many participants feeling a sense of urgency as far-right ideologies become more mainstream and Scotland faces greater levels of poverty and unemployment — particularly in the wake of the Grangemouth oil refinery closure. READ MORE: John Swinney urged to put 'country before party' and join Independence Summit Iain Ferguson (below), 71, said: 'I think independence has always been important, but Britain is becoming an increasingly racist, vicious society. (Image: NQ) 'A lot of people placed their hopes in Starmer's Labour government, but actually, they're every bit as bad as the Tories. 'Now more than ever, with the disability cuts and the rise of Reform, we want to create a different kind of Scotland.' Helen Wilson (below), 70, said the loss of Grangemouth was particularly worrying when it comes to the question of independence. (Image: NQ) She added: 'John Swinney is a very nice, polite man, but he's too polite. 'He needs to rise up, he needs to speak out and get to Grangemouth — he was in New York for Tartan Week when he should have been down there, raising money to buy it back. 'Grangemouth should belong to us.' YesBikers for Scottish Independence led the end of the procession from High Street, through Saltmarket and to Glasgow Green. Participants were spread out on the grass in the sun, some with picnics, waiting for speeches from a number of pro-independence figureheads as well as performers like Amanda Brown and The Ronains. Corran Cobban, 18, and her brother Clyde, 16, have been attending independence rallies since they were children. Corran told The National: 'Independence is always going to be important, but the political landscape has changed a lot. 'I think a lot of people's opinions were shifted because of the EU referendum so I think we are owed another opportunity to show that we do want to be independent. 'It seems to be more of a background issue for Scottish politicians at the moment, and I think it needs to be pushed to the forefront and promoted more.' Eddy Graham (below), 54, called the need for independence a 'two plus two equals four, no brainer' issue. (Image: NQ) He added: 'Scotland's fucked without it. Why have we got such bleeding high energy bills when Scotland's such an energy rich country? Why is there so much poverty? Why are there so many social problems? 'These could all be solved, and Scotland could so easily be like Scandinavian countries, or even like Ireland where I'm originally from — a wealthy European country, member of the EU and everything that comes with that with a much more fair, balanced distribution of income.' SNP MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden Rona Mackay (below) was the first speaker of the afternoon. Speaking to The National, Mackay called the rise of Nigel Farage and the far-right 'worse than anybody could have imagined'. She added that the independence movement was 'clever enough not to fall for that,' but they should remain 'united enough to fight it anyway'. Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party, spoke out earlier on Saturday, calling for the First Minister to host an independence summit and urged other pro-independence parties to put 'country before party'. In a conversation with The National, MacAskill furthered McKay's sentiments: 'Turnout is up, the sun is out and the movement is coming back together. 'We've been seeing a lot of rallies where the crowds have been going down but I think we've turned the tide now and I think that's important because a year from now we've got the Holyrood elections. 'We've got to make that a plebiscite election, we've got to maximise the votes for independence and we've got to take our chance now because what's coming down the line now from south of the border is frightening.' In his speech, MacAskill (below) thanked independence campaigners across the country, like All Under One Banner and Hope Over Fear for 'keeping the dream alive'. He said: 'This movement is back because the need is great and the time is now.' MacAskill called the closure of Grangemouth 'simply scandalous', adding that Scottish people deserve access not just to renewable resources, but also to the jobs 'that should be there'. He added: 'There is going to be no second referendum — the British government, Tory and Labour have made that clear, and Farage echoes it. 'The Supreme Court has ruled out the opportunity for us to use it, but that doesn't mean we do nothing. 'What it does mean, is we use the strategy Alex [Salmond] bequeathed us and we take our destiny into our own hands.'
