Scottish unitary council area and lieutenancy, focal point of coastal communities and governance in western Scotland.
Coastguard rescue officers have their hourly payments under review amid a Court of Appeal ruling that their time spent on emergencies counts as work. MPs, unions and coastguards are pushing MCA to pause plans to reclassify CROs as volunteers, warning the move could damage morale and service capability.
Ferguson Marine reports the Glen Rosa has left dry dock ahead of schedule and is moving toward sea trials; costs are now estimated at £197.5m, with service hoped in 2027. The yard emphasises progress on “modern Clydebuilt standards.”
An ongoing operation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales has led to eight men being charged across Newport, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Lancashire, Edinburgh and Argyll and Bute. The charges involve rape of minors and facilitating sexual exploitation dating from 1985 to 1996. Prosecutions continue.
Emergency services attended Loch Fyne after concerns for two female divers. A 26-year-old woman died at the scene and a 24-year-old woman was later recovered. Police describe the deaths as unexplained and a post-mortem will be held. Coastguard and lifeboat crews were involved; other incidents at beaches also affected by strong currents and heat.
A wave of paddleboarding is drawing people to rivers and canals, turning routes into social spaces from Scotland to Yorkshire. Shops and pubs along waterways are redefining leisure travel as clip-ready videos fuel a growing trend.
The BBC, Independent, and other outlets report on Scotland’s price-cap measures for essentials and public transport, amid fears from farmers that costs could ripple through to producers. Pilot schemes show rising bus ridership, but warn of unintended consequences as caps expand.
The Easdale World Skimming Championship has drawn a record field of 400 competitors from over 30 countries to the Isle of Easdale in the Inner Hebrides. Organisers say entry numbers are the strongest in its history, with new safety measures and a geologist overseeing stone integrity after last year’s cheating scandal. The event features three legal throws per competitor, judged by distance and the back wall, with grand finals known as the Toss Off.