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TODAY’S INSTALMENT (10 August) of the CommonSpace daily news roundup includes Eurostar workers to strike for 7 days, Norway could block UK return to EFTA, and Jack and Victor spotted in Glasgow.
News: Eurostar workers to strike for seven days over work-life balance
Eurostar staff are striking over unsocial hours and work-life balance
Eurostar rail staff are to strike for seven days throughout this month, from 12.01 am BST on 12 August until 11.59pm BST on 15 August, and for three days over the weekend from Saturday 27 August. The RMT union has said the dipsute is related to unsocial hours and work-life balance, and that Eurostar has not lived up to a 2008 agreement about working conditions for staff.
Leaked documents detail reports of sexual violence and child abuse in Australia’s Naura detention centre
More than 2,000 leaked incident reports from Australia’s asylum detention centre on the island of Naura have been published by The Guardian. The leaked reports cover a period from May 2013 to October 2015 and more than half involve children. The Australian Government has said that the leak demonstrates the “rigorous” reporting standards in place at Naura and that “Many of the incident reports reflect unconfirmed allegations or uncorroborated statements and claims”.
Brazilian Senate votes to hold impeachment trial for suspended President Dilma Rousseff
The Brazilian Senate has voted 59 to 21 in favour of holding an impeachement trial for President Dilma Rousseff, the BBC reports. Rousseff was suspended by the senate in May over allegations surrounding illegal accounting practises, including spending money without congressional approval. The impeachment trial is expected to take place at the end of the month.
Politics: A UK return to European Free Trade Association could be blocked by Norway
The European Free Trade Association is a small group of nations outside the EU that have access to the European single market
A post-Brexit UK return to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which allows a small number of countries outside the EU access to the single market, could be blocked by Norway. David Davis, the Brexit minister, is to meet with senior members of the Norwegian goverment in the coming weeks. Speaking about the UK joining EFTA, Elisabeth Vik Aspaker, Norway’s European affairs minister, said: “It’s not certain that it would be a good idea to let a big country into this organisation”.
MPs launch inquiry into number of women in parliament amid boundary reshuffle
A committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into the potential consequences of constituency boundary changes on the number of women MPs. When the changes come into effect in 2020 the number of seats in parliament will be reduced from 650 to 600, which could mean increased competition for seats. The woman and equalities committee will also look at what parties are doing to improve the gender balance, and what can be done to retain women MPs already in parliament.
Sport: Silver medal success for Scots relay swimmers at Rio 2016
Scottish swimmers scooped silver in the 4x200m relay at the Olympics in Rio
Three Scottish swimmers helped their team win a silver medal in the relay swimming at the Rio Olympics. Stephen Milne, Duncan Scott and Dan Wallace completed the first three-quarters of the 4x200m race before England’s James Guy swam the final leg. The team finished second behind the USA.
Tom Rogic signs new three-year contract with Celtic
Midfielder Tom Rogic has signed a new three-year contract with Celtic FC. The 23-year-old Australian joined the club in 2013, and his new contract will see him at Parkhead until 2019. Rogic has made 57 appearances for the club to date.
Culture: Biffy Clyro debut virtual reality video experience at summer festivals
Biffy will bring virtual reality video experience to Glasgow’s Summer Sessions
Biffy Clyro will tour a ground-breaking virtual reality video experience to festivals across the UK this summer. The virtual reality partnership with Samsung will allow 50 fans at a time to step into the Hypercube, put on headsets and have a 360 degree experience that places them amongst the band as they perform new track Flammable in an abandoned warehouse. The Hypercube will come to Glasgow’s Summer Sessions before moving on to Bestival on the Isle of Wight.
Weather: Light rain and pretty humid as we reach the middle of the week
Light showers will stay with us today and into Thursday
Light rain showers will continue throughout today and into Thursday, however according to forecasts the showers won’t do much to shift the muggy air.
And another thing: Jack and Victor spotted in Glasgow
Just bumped into a bogus gasman round the corner from #TheAsylum. Yas! #StillGame pic.twitter.com/2GYvGBEQtd
— Mark Dallas (@RealMarkDallas) August 8, 2016
The Still Game cast have been spotted out and about filming for the new series
The stars of Still Game have been spotted filming for the new series around the Maryhill area in Glasgow. Actors including Ford Kiernan, Greg Hemphill and Jane McCarry were happy to pose for selfies with fans and Twitter fans expressed their delight in anticipation of seeing the cast on screen again after a nine year absence.
Pictures courtesy of sbamueller, stephen h, Kjell Jøran Hansen, Airman Magazine, Thomas Hawk, Kristina Servant, Twitter/Mark Dallas
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