MIL Pubishing Engine 2

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release
PM call with call with His Majesty the King of Jordan Abdullah II: 1 August 2026

The Prime Minister spoke to His Majesty the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, this morning.

The Prime Minister spoke to His Majesty the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, this morning.


The Prime Minister began by setting out how much the UK valued its friendship with Jordan.


From defence and security to the growing economic ties, it was a unique and vital relationship for both countries, the Prime Minister added.


Turning to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Prime Minister said he was focused on de-escalation, adding that the UK would continue to support Jordan in its self-defence.


The leaders also discussed the appalling situation in Gaza and the West Bank.


The Prime Minister condemned the attacks by Israeli settlers taking place in the West Bank and said he would look at what further measures could be taken to deter the unacceptable violence.


The Prime Minister added he looked forward to building a personal friendship with His Majesty.

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release
Seaweed surveys discover species never seen before and new to science

Underwater surveys discover remarkable collection of rare and previously unknown seaweeds

Natural England’s underwater surveys of maerl beds off the south coast of Cornwall have uncovered a remarkable array of rare and scientifically important seaweeds, including species never before recorded in the UK.


Among the findings are species last seen centuries ago and a tiny red seaweed now confirmed as completely new to science.


The newly identified Ceramium (pincer weed) found is only a few millimetres across, so small that it has never previously been possible to identify.

 Divers brought up living fragments to the surface, allowing scientists to grown it in the lab and sequence its DNA for the first time.

 
These discoveries serve as a reminder of the extraordinary biodiversity surrounding our coastline and the many mysteries it still holds, and also the uniqueness of some of Cornwall’s and seascapes.

The vast majority of England’s maerl beds are in Cornwall.


Natural England Senior Marine Officer Angie Gall said:

These discoveries show just how special these habitats are.

We’ve already recorded more than 350 species living on the surface of the maerl beds, and that’s only the beginning.


Many more species live hidden within the maerl or appear at different times of year.

There is still so much to uncover.

Maerl beds are living archives of our natural history.

Protecting them is essential if we are to safeguard marine biodiversity for future generations.

World-leading seaweed taxonomy authority Professor Christine Maggs said:

I first encountered this tiny Ceramium in the early 1980s, and I have been wondering about it ever since.


It’s so minute that you can only study it if divers bring it up alive, and even then it takes careful cultivation to get enough material to work with.

Natural England’s surveys finally provided the missing piece of a scientific puzzle I’ve been trying to solve for most of my career.

The surveys also recorded Ulva rigida, a green sea lettuce never previously confirmed in the UK, Neofolia rosea (little rosy tongue weed) only found once before in the UK, at this site, and Bonnemaisonia clavata, a delicate red seaweed last seen in British waters in the 18th century.


Maerl beds, formed by slow‑growing, coral‑like red seaweed, are among the most biodiverse shallow‑water habitats in the north‑east Atlantic.

These fragile and irreplaceable habitats play a vital role in supporting healthy fisheries, providing nursery grounds and shelter for a wide range of marine life.

Maerl beds also play an important role in locking away carbon which becomes trapped in the sediments.


Following initial reports from citizen scientist divers on the Seasearch project, Natural England’s work in 2023 and 2024 led to the discovery of extensive areas of previously unknown maerl beds off England’s south coast, a reminder that even in well-studied waters, significant ecosystems remain hidden.


Seaweed expert Francis Bunker, who discovered the minute Ceramium in these surveys, said:

Finding species new to science in our waters is thrilling.

But it also shows how much how much biodiversity is still hidden in these beds and what we stand to lose if these habitats are damaged before we’ve fully understood them.

The findings have striking parallels with other highly biodiverse habitats around the world that are being degraded or destroyed faster than science can describe them.

Physical disturbance, for example through scallop dredging, pollution and climate change, poses ongoing threats to maerl beds.


The discoveries reinforce the urgent need to protect these habitats, not only for the remarkable species they support today, but for those yet to be discovered.

Source: Scottish Government

New legal provisions that help some domestic abuse victims to remain in their home where it’s their wish, and where it’s safe and appropriate for them to do so, come into effect today (Saturday 1 August).

They allow social landlords, in certain circumstances, to apply for a court order on domestic abuse grounds to end an abuser’s tenancy.

If an order is granted by the court, the landlord can transfer the tenancy to the victim, allowing them to remain in, or return to, their home.

This means that for the first time, social landlords, rather than victims themselves, have power to help end an abuser’s tenancy.

Equalities Minister Simita Kumar is now urging the sector to make use of these new powers in appropriate cases.

Ms Kumar said:

“Domestic abuse must be eradicated from our society and I am determined to protect the housing rights of women and children, working with the sector to find victims the safest and most suitable form of accommodation to begin to rebuild their lives.

“Social landlords must make use of these new powers, where appropriate, to protect victims of domestic abuse and I urge them to do so.

“This removes a significant barrier for domestic abuse victims, the vast majority of whom are women and are too often trapped by violence. I will continue to work with the sector to ensure these powers are utilised.”

Parliament approved the regulations in January 2026 and today brings Part 2 of the Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 into force.

CEO of Scottish Women’s Dr Marsha Scott said:

“We welcome the new legal provisions in place from today. For many women experiencing domestic abuse, housing, and fear of uprooting their children, is a barrier when it comes to leaving an abusive partner.

“We hope making abusive behaviour a ground for eviction, will reduce children’s and women’s homelessness by allowing housing officials to help survivors stay in their own homes, forcing the abuser to leave.  This should provide safety and stability and move the consequences of abuse onto the abuser for a change.

“We now look forward to Part 1 of the Bill being implemented, which will introduce emergency barring orders as another housing protection, as we continue to work with the Scottish Government, in making Scotland safer for women and children.”

Background

Domestic abuse victims can obtain further advice on these new powers from their social landlord, or the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline

The Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Act 2021 introduced measures to help protect certain victims of domestic abuse. Part 2 of the Act comes into force on 1 August 2026. This provides social landlords with a new discretionary ground, where certain criteria are met, to apply to the court for an order to end an abuser’s tenancy and enable the landlord to transfer the tenancy to the victim. The court will consider whether all of the conditions set out in the new ground, have been met when deciding whether to grant an order. These conditions include, for example, whether the house is the victim’s only or principal home and whether the requirements relating to abusive behaviour have been met.

Guidance for social landlords on the use of the new law was published on 8 June 2026 and can be found at: Domestic abuse – social housing tenancy provisions: statutory guidance for social landlords – gov.scot. The guidance encourages social landlords to work in close partnership with other agencies, including domestic abuse specialist services and the victim themselves to determine the best immediate and long-term housing options which will provide safety, security and tenancy sustainability for the individual and their household.

Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release
Summer holiday savings start now with free buses for kids

The Summer Bus Fare Offer is part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme.

starting today under 16s can travel on local buses for free this August to help tackle the cost-of-living 
today’s announcement builds on the £2 bus fare cap which will save millions of people up to a third on the most popular form of transport
further measures such as cuts to VAT for children’s meals will help families get out and about this summer

Families wanting to visit museums, beaches and national parks can enjoy days out for less as free bus travel for kids comes into force today (1 August 2026).


From today until the end of August, under 16s will be able to travel on most local buses in England for free, giving families a helping hand with the cost-of-living over the school holidays.


Families will be able to enjoy days out for less as part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, which is also cutting costs on children’s menu meals at restaurants, children’s tickets for theatres and cinemas and tickets for everyone at attractions like adventure centres, theme parks and soft play.


There are thousands of brilliant attractions families can save money on this summer, such as theme parks, castles and hidden gems like wildlife watching in the Lakes.


Families can get free buses for kids to these incredible places across the UK, including:

the X46 from Hull to York for a spooky trip to The York Dungeon
hopping on the Carousel 37 from High Wycombe to see the deer in Windsor Great Park and visit Windsor Castle
taking the 54 bus from Leicester for an out of this world experience at the National Space Centre
the Coaster 12, Regency 28 or the Breeze 77 are local buses that will take you right to Brighton’s seafront for a day at the beach, exploring the lanes or going on the rides on Brighton Pier
the X1 and X11 from Norwich to Great Yarmouth for a wonderful day out at the Merrivale Model Village
for a day exploring the outdoors, the 23 or 24 bus from Birmingham to Woodgate Valley Country Park for pony trekking, cycling or visiting the sheep, pigs and goats at the Urban Farm

Europe’s longest bus route is included in the offer, meaning families can make the most of every minute of their journeys.

The 11 service covers a 43km route and has been running around the outer circle of Birmingham for a 100 years.

It connects to one of the world’s largest chocolate factories, Cadbury World in Bournville, where families can get discounted entry this summer.


Families will be able to save on thousands of routes across England on operators such as First Bus, Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.

See a list of bus routes included in the Summer Bus Fare Offer.

This support comes just days after the government announced it would cap bus fares at £2 from January – meaning millions of people will save a third on bus travel, helping people with the cost-of-living and giving people the breathing space they need.

 
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander said: 

We’re giving families room to breathe from the cost-of-living squeeze.


With free bus travel for 5 to 15-year olds and discounts on kids’ meals at restaurants, cinema tickets and theme parks, we’re helping people make the most of the time they have together for the school holidays.


Not only are we lowering costs for the summer, the £2 bus fare cap will help all passengers get to where they need to for less.

James Murray, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, said:

From soft play and theatres to fish and chip shops and cafes, England has thousands of world-class attractions and eateries that families shouldn’t have to miss out on this summer because of the cost-of-living squeeze.


To provide families with some breathing space, getting the kids there by bus will be completely free from today for the rest of the month, and we’ve cut VAT on kids’ meals in restaurants and tickets to attractions, so this summer holiday is one to remember.

Rob Parkinson, Chief Executive of the Family Holiday Charity, said:

A family holiday or day out doesn’t start when we arrive at our destination, it begins with the journey.

Travel should be filled with anticipation, but for many families the cost of getting out and about can make quality time together feel less accessible.


We welcome the commitment that wherever possible children will travel for free on public transport this summer – and look forward to hearing how the Great British Summer Savings initiative has unlocked new experiences for families throughout the UK.

VisitEngland Director, Andrew Stokes, said:

It’s fantastic to see free bus travel for children as the summer holidays get underway, supporting families to get out and explore the outstanding attractions and destinations across England in a stress-free and environmentally friendly way.


Whether enjoying a trip to our stunning seaside destinations, beautiful countryside or our vibrant city attractions, there is so much to discover during the summer across England.

I know our tourism and hospitality businesses will be very pleased to see you.

To help families navigate the thousands of offers as part of Great British Summer Savings, the government has created a new interactive tool showing the best deals in your postcode allowing families to easily see the restaurants, theatres, museums and other attractions offering discounts over the summer.


Child fares typically cost between £1 and £2, however this summer 5 to 15-year olds will be able to travel for free on most local buses.


This builds on existing work to make buses better, with the Bus Services Act giving local leaders more control over their services, including protecting key routes from being axed, and £3 billion investment over the next 3 years improving services across the country.

Roads

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Emergency services have agreed a phased reduction of part of the exclusion zone surrounding the Cairngorms wildfire, subject to a series of safety measures and operational mitigations being fully implemented.

As the multi-agency response enters its third week, a strict exclusion zone has remained in place to protect public safety while firefighting operations continue.

Although significant progress has been made in tackling the wildfire, substantial risks remain, including ongoing firefighting activity, helicopter operations, heavy machinery movements, tree felling, unstable ground, deep-seated hotspots within peatland and the continued potential for reignition. 

Partners hope this change can be made on Friday, 31 July, but the exact timing will be confirmed once all partner agencies are satisfied the necessary conditions have been met and that the changes can be introduced safely.

Once those conditions are met, the cordon at Coylumbridge Hotel will move approximately three kilometres further up the Ski Road as part of a phased reopening of the area. The exclusion zone will continue to be reviewed regularly, with any further changes agreed through the multi-agency partnership and based solely on public safety considerations.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has maintained a significant presence since the fire was first reported on 15 July. More than 70 firefighters, supported by nine fire appliances and specialist wildfire resources, continue to work alongside partner agencies, land managers, estate workers and volunteers.

Firefighting operations continue across a vast area of challenging and remote terrain. Activity includes targeted firefighting, helicopter waterbombing, the construction of firebreaks and work to expose and extinguish deep-seated hotspots within peatland.

Current road closures remain in place at:

• Ski Road – until conditions are met for a phased reopening.
• Forest Lodge access road.
• Lettoch Road.
• Dorback.

Walking routes currently closed include:

• Areas around Glenmore and Loch Morlich.
• Low-level routes including the Old Logging Way and routes providing access to Cairngorm Mountain, the Northern Corries, Meall a’ Bhuachaille, Lochan Uaine, Strath Nethy and Bynack More.
• Abernethy Forest, south of Forest Lodge towards Ryvoan Bothy.

Deputy Assistant Chief Officer (DACO) Kenny Barbour said: “Protecting public safety remains our priority while firefighters and partner agencies continue to tackle what is still a large, complex and challenging wildfire.

“Although we’ve made significant progress over the past two weeks, there are still hazards across the incident area that may not be immediately obvious to members of the public. These include deep-seated peat fires, unstable ground, helicopter operations, heavy machinery, tree felling and the potential for reignition.

“Following a detailed multi-agency review, partners have agreed a phased reduction of part of the exclusion zone, subject to strict safety measures and operational mitigations being implemented.

DACO Barbour continued: “Once those conditions are met, the cordon at Coylumbridge Hotel will move approximately three kilometres further up the Ski Road. This will be the first stage of a phased reopening, with any further changes continuing to be agreed jointly by partners and introduced only when it is safe to do so.

“We are acutely aware of the impact this incident has had on local residents, businesses and visitors, and I would like to thank everyone for their continued patience, understanding and cooperation while this important work continues.”

The wildfire is estimated to have affected around 25 square kilometres.

SFRS expects to maintain a significant operational presence for some time as crews continue working along an extensive smouldering fire edge and tackling hotspots in difficult-to-access areas. Helicopters remain an essential part of the response in locations that cannot be reached safely by ground crews.

Members of the public may continue to see increased smoke and steam across the Glenmore area over the coming days as firefighting activity continues. Heavy machinery is also being used to construct additional trench firebreaks and expose deep-seated hotspots within peat layers.

DACO Barbour added: “This remains a resource-intensive incident, and we have committed significant personnel and specialist wildfire resources from across Scotland.

“We will continue working alongside our partners for as long as necessary to protect communities, support local businesses and assist the recovery phase.

“I would once again like to thank our firefighters and staff, partner agencies, volunteers, land managers and the local community for their continued support, resilience and the outstanding hospitality shown to our crews throughout this prolonged incident.”

Anyone affected by smoke is advised to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution. Anyone with health concerns should seek advice from NHS Highland.

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Drop-in sessions will take place in Aviemore and Nethy Bridge next week to provide information, advice and support to residents and businesses affected by the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park.

Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

The candidates standing in the upcoming Southside/Newington (Ward 15) and Portobello/Craigmillar (Ward 17) by-elections have been announced today (31 July).

Source: Scottish National Party

It’s taken less than two weeks for the new Westminster Prime Minister to run into the wall of economic reality.

Despite promising a shiny new brand of politics, Andy Burnham’s grand plans are already colliding with the chronic, embedded failure of Brexit Britain.

Expecting a new Westminster Prime Minister to fix a structurally broken UK economy without addressing Brexit is like going for a suntan on the deck chairs of a sinking cruise ship – it might be relaxing for a second, but you’re still facing disaster.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has blown the whistle, warning that the UK faces inflation climbing to 3.8% with a staggering £24 billion budget shortfall by the end of the decade. This is worse compared to earlier forecasts.

Translation?

Westminster is once again gearing up to serve Scotland an autumn of austerity made up of deep spending cuts and tax hikes. An austerity the voters of Scotland have continually rejected.

This painful cycle isn’t an accident; it is the direct consequence of a Westminster system that treats Scotland’s democratic choices as an afterthought.

Back in 2014, the anti-independence campaign promised the people of Scotland that staying in the UK was the only way to keep our place in the European Union and guarantee we would be an equal partner in the UK.

Instead, in 2016, Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU by 62% to 38% across every single local authority area. Yet despite that clear democratic verdict, Westminster dragged Scotland out of the EU against its will anyway.

It was the political equivalent of ordering the vegetarian meal at a restaurant, only for the waiter to slam down a burnt meat pie because the table next to you asked for it.

As for being an “equal partner” Scotland has been treated like an equal partner in the exact same way a spare tire is treated like an equal partner by the rest of the car – ignored in the boot until needed.

As SNP Westminster Leader Dave Doogan MP has highlighted, the economic justification for Westminster control has collapsed entirely under flatlining living standards and constant Westminster chaos. He has said:

“The chronic and embedded failure of Brexit Britain has been repeatedly laid bare – every budget and every year sees the same pattern of painful policies that have hit people in the pocket for nearly 20 years.

“Burnham promised a different kind of politics, but he now looks set to lock us into the same damaging cycle.

“The uncomfortable truth for Burnham is that the foundations of this broken Westminster system are now beyond economic repair – it’s time to take Scotland’s future into our own hands, time to build anew.”

For a generation, Westminster politicians from all parties have promised “change,” only for things to go from bad to worse.

Changing the tenant in 10 Downing Street doesn’t fix the fact that the house itself is built on the sinking sand of Brexit.

Scotland does not have to hitched to a declining UK economy. Small, independent European nations of a similar size to Scotland are thriving, resilient, and far better equipped to protect their citizens’ standard of living.

By taking our future into our own hands through independence in the EU, Scotland can escape the endless loop of Westminster austerity, restore our trade links to boost our economy and tax revenues, and build a fairer, wealthier nation.

Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

North Bridge will fully reopen by 7pm today (Friday 31 July), with final completion of the project expected later this year.