World's largest open-access performing arts festival
Savory, spicy cocktails are gaining traction across major bars, with bartenders integrating ingredients like tomatillo, chilies and pickled elements into agave-based drinks. Publications from The Guardian, Independent and AP News highlight experiments in New York, London and Edinburgh, signaling a broader shift toward savory profiles and heat in cocktails.
Fringe performers from The Scotsman, Guardian and Independent discuss their journeys, challenges and upcoming Edinburgh shows, offering a window into the festival’s evolving landscape.
Amanda Knox’s Edinburgh Fringe show Cartwheel has drawn renewed attention and protest after Stephanie Kercher criticised it as normalising violence against women. Knox defends the piece as a personal, motherhood-focused account of surviving wrongful imprisonment. Fringe organisers emphasise freedom of expression, while petitions call for cancellation.
Two interviews reveal shifting dynamics in public discourse: a renowned comedian discusses his career, while a broadcaster’s tone hints at evolving industry norms. The conversations highlight personal storytelling, audience expectations, and resilience in a rapidly changing media landscape.
Insiders reveal how Louis Theroux is portrayed and used in a recent Saturday Night Live UK finale sketch, highlighting the contrast between his measured style and the performers’ improv. The piece examines how the cameo came together and what it signals about cross-Atlantic parody on UK screens.
Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she was betrayed by Peter Murrell, who pleaded guilty to embezzling SNP funds. She reveals she did not know of the crimes until the day of his guilty plea and will not visit him in prison.
The Edinburgh International Festival presents Sobelle’s Clown Show, a contemporary portrait of America as a falling-apart circus. The piece, commissioned by EIF, asks audiences to dream while tracing a nation’s fragility through circus imagery and live performance.
Amanda Knox’s Edinburgh Fringe show Cartwheel is attracting controversy as petitions against it gain signatures while audiences and critics weigh its value as a personal, defiant retelling of her case. Reviews vary, with supporters praising its honesty and detractors arguing it trivialises violence against women.
UNESCO has warned that Afghanistan remains the only country that formally bars girls and women from secondary and higher education. The agency has said the five-year exclusion has reversed two decades of progress, pushed 2.4 million girls out of school, narrowed women’s work options and deepened economic and social harms. UNESCO says it will keep running community literacy and skills programs while pressing for full restoration of educational rights.
The Scotsman has gathered insights from two fringe interviews, revealing inspirations, challenges and hopes as Edinburgh’s festival mood shifts. The artist reflects on 1996 schoolyard moments shaping life choices, while a fellow performer highlights upcoming shows and personal passions. The conversations capture a moment of renewal after a long absence from the Fringe.
Strathmore Hotels is placed under joint administration as eight hotels, including Perth’s Salutation Hotel, trade while options for the business are reviewed. The move follows sustained creditor pressure and a winding up petition in July; 410 staff are being retained as the portfolio continues operating.
Sachie Mikawa, a Japanese‑American performer, says a treasured Bach Stradivarius trumpet and a vintage melodica have been stolen from the Rotunda Theatre during the Edinburgh Fringe. The loss follows the death of her father and a difficult year, forcing cancellations as police investigate and searches continue.
The ICJP has written to UK Foreign Secretary urging targeted sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, arguing such measures uphold international law. The letter calls for action beyond rhetoric as UK authorities discuss responses to settlement expansion and related violence. EU deliberations on bloc-wide sanctions continue.
Labour has seen a small improvement in polling under Andy Burnham, but experts say the gains may be fragile. Reform UK faces scrutiny over funding and leadership turmoil, while the rise of Restore Britain adds to a fragmented right. Across multiple polls, Labour’s share remains around the low to mid-20s, with Reform similarly challenged.
Wes Streeting has described receiving an unbelievable volume of online abuse as the UK’s first openly gay defence secretary. He says the climate shows how far the country has come since the gay ban in the armed forces ended in 2000, and notes ongoing compensation schemes for veterans affected by historic discrimination.
The blaze at the former Debenhams building has led to seven weeks of disruption in Edinburgh. Princes Street has reopened to pedestrians and traffic as bus and tram services resume along the corridor. Officials say the work to secure the site is complete and the city is focusing on recovery and support for affected businesses.
Edinburgh’s festival ecosystem is under renewed pressure as councils consider diverting visitor levy funds to support arts events. The Guardian reports a move to relocate the Edinburgh TV Festival abroad has intensified debate over access and funding. The Scotsman details proposals to ringfence tourism tax revenue to bolster cultural institutions, while council discussions probe the sustainability of Edinburgh’s world-class festival status.
The first season drew a large audience as Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade led a dramatic, rapid-fire contest in which laughter ends a comedian’s run. The show has a Halloween special, with the second series already planned for next year. Ten comedians are confined to a room for six hours, earning yellow cards for smiles and laughs; a potential final twist is imminent as the Halloween episode nears.
To be determined
The provided articles discuss TV shows (Taskmaster, Greg James) and recurring seasons with cast details, air dates, and guest appearances across The Scotsman. No single evolving global event is identified in the provided texts.