33 h. ago 10 highlights from the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival programme

Highlights include a new play starring Brian Cox and a ballet based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots

Politics

33 h. ago Artists have the power to stand up for truth, says Edinburgh festival director

Performers can fight cynicism in age of Trump, says Nicola Benedetti as she announces 2025 programmeMusicians and artists should challenge disinformation and cynicism in global politics by standing up for fundamental truths, the violinist Nicola Benedetti has said.Benedetti, the director of the Edinburgh international festival, said the arts played an essential role during periods of turmoil by showing the best of human achievement. Continue reading...

Culture

33 h. ago Edinburgh Festival highlights to include theatre premiere starring Brian Cox

More than 1,700 artists will take to the stage for 133 performances throughout August.

Politics

33 h. ago Edinburgh Festival to focus on reconciling ‘complexities of truth’ – Benedetti

The theme for the event in August is The Truth We Seek.

Politics

53 h. ago The 7 new Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows announced for Gilded Balloon this summer

Gilded Balloon has announced some of its Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows for this year

Culture

59 h. ago Edinburgh Festival Fringe given £300,000 Government funding to ‘grow benefits’

The cash will be used to help Scottish artists ‘capitalise on international opportunities’, while making the festival more accessible.

Economics

2 d. ago Department of Education to lay off nearly half its workforce – US politics live

Education secretary Linda McMahon announced hundreds of staff were subject to the ‘reduction in workforce’Polls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago US won’t impose 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum after Ontario suspends electricity levy – live

White House says 25% tariff to still take effect on Wednesday after Ontario premier walks back 25% tariff on electricity exports to three US states Trump raises Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%Ukraine ceasefire – live updatesPolls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Poland aims to train 100,000 military reservists a year as security fears grow

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk says his government intends to put 100,000 volunteers through military training yearly starting in 2027

Events

3 d. ago Ontario suspends electricity tariff imposed on US after Trump’s commerce secretary agrees to talks – live

End of 25% tariff on electricity exports to three US states announced in joint statement from Ontario premier and US commerce secretaryTrump raises Canadian steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%Ukraine ceasefire – live updatesPolls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump orders more tariffs on Canada in response to Ontario tax on electricity exports – live

US president says new tariffs to go into effect 12 March and also threatens to ‘permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada’Polls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Republicans to put government funding bill up for House vote ahead of looming shutdown deadline – live

Republicans need unanimity to pass the legislation because of razor thin House majority as Democrats expected to unanimously vote against itPolls have opened in Greenland for early parliamentary elections Tuesday as US President Donald Trump seeks control of the strategic Arctic island.The self-governing region of Denmark is home to 56,000 people, most from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, and occupies a strategic North Atlantic location. It also contains rare earth minerals key to driving the global economy, AP reported. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago 12 new major Edinburgh Festival Fringe shows announced for the Pleasance this summer

The shows are among a swathe of new events announced for the venue this year

Culture

4 d. ago Couple fined £1,500 after migrant travels into UK holding onto back of motorhome

Government can fine people up to £10,000 under the UK’s clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme

Economics

6 d. ago Named and shamed, UK's biggest parking firm 'cowboys': Drivers are getting record 40,000 tickets a day despite Government promises to tackle 'bandit' operators

Government figures suggest private operators issued 12.8million fines in 2023/24 - one every two seconds. This is up nearly 90 per cent in just five years.

Politics

6 d. ago Islamophobia charity Tell Mama facing closure after funding pulled by government

Police sources raise alarm over cut as anti-Muslim hate incidents in Britain hit record highThe government is cutting all funding for the Islamophobia reporting service Tell Mama, leaving it facing closure weeks after it revealed a record number of anti-Muslim hate incidents in Britain.Since its foundation in 2012, Tell Mama has been wholly funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to run its reporting service, which received almost 11,000 reports in 2023-4, and support victims of Islamophobia. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Edinburgh Festival Fringe should be given same status as Olympics, says outgoing boss

Shona McCarthy is to step down after nine years in the role at the helm of the Fringe Society

Sport

9 d. ago Martin Lewis ‘crashes government website’ as users rush to beat deadline for £50,000 state pension boost

There’s just a few weeks left to massively boost state pension

Events

2 w. ago Brits who need urgent dental treatment could be forced to rely on 'Victoria

The 700,000 extra dental appointments promised by the Government will only cover a third of people who need urgent care, the British Dental Association (BDA) said.

Politics

2 w. ago 'Radical far left' grant given to Edinburgh festival by US State Department slammed by Trump administration

Donald Trump’s government has criticised funding grants made during the Biden administration

Politics