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Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow's Citizens Theatre returns with Lockerbie story
The Citizens Theatre will reopen later this year with "Small Acts of Love" after being out of use since June 2018 due to major redevelopment work. The new production, commissioned by artistic director Dominic Hill, will be the first to be performed on the theatre's home stage. Dominic Hill (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan) It centres around the bonds formed between the residents of Lockerbie and the American relatives of the Pan Am 103 tragedy victims in 1988. The production will premiere on September 12. Read more: Woman, 63, arrested after protesters gather at Glasgow venue 'Phenomenal': Glasgow flower shop named best in Scotland at top awards Willowbank schoolgirl's artwork chosen for NHS report front cover Mr Hill said: "To be announcing our cast for Small Acts of Love today is an exciting and pivotal moment in our journey home. "Ranging from some of the most experienced and well-known actors in Scotland to newly graduated stars of the future, this cast and this production announce the ambition and quality of the new Citizens Theatre. "With only a few weeks to go until the start of rehearsals, the whole company is preparing to welcome artists and audiences to our fantastic new building for the first time in seven years.' Ricky Ross, Frances Poet, and Dominic Hill (Image: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan) The production's story follows two communities over 36 years as they forge connections in the aftermath of tragedy. It is based on meticulous research and interviews with families and individuals directly impacted by the Lockerbie bombing. A cast of 14 actors, featuring seasoned stars and emerging talents, will bring these stories to life. Mr Hill added: "We're pleased to continue supporting early-career artists through initiatives like our Graduate Actor roles and our partnership with Birkbeck's MA in Theatre Directing." The production, in association with the National Theatre of Scotland, is also a musical collaboration between playwright Frances Poet and Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue, who has composed an original score. The live soundtrack will be performed by a five-piece roots band.
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
No wonder Iran doesn't trust the US. Neither should we
America restored the tyrannical Shah to power. He lived in opulence and lavished enormous sums on vanity projects while his people struggled to afford the basics of life. Eventually, disparate Iranian groups from all across the political spectrum came together and drove the Shah out in 1979. Tragically, the ensuing power vacuum was filled by the clerics: Ayatollah Khameini is in power in Iran today because of what the US did over 70 years ago. Don't forget, either, isolated acts of brutality inflicted by America's powerful military. On 3 July 3, 1988 the USS Vincennes was in Iranian territorial waters when its captain, William Rogers, ordered his crew to shoot down an Iranian airliner that was en route to Dubai; there were 290 fatalities, 20 more than caused by the bombing of Pan Am 103 a few months later. Subsequently, Rogers was awarded the Legion of Merit "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer… from April 1987 to May 1989". You can see why that might stick in the craw of those affected and why Iran distrusts America, as should we all while President Trump remains in office. Doug Maughan, Dunblane. Read more letters • Once again the Middle East has rapidly descended into the maelstrom of conflict. Britain must at this time studiously avoid supporting any of the protagonists. The times that we have previously intervened in Iran, the outcomes were not good. Back in 1953 both America and Britain decided to engineer the removal of the democratically elected President of Iran, Mosadeggh. He had courageously proposed that Iran's oil belonged to Iran and that Iran should control the marketing of it. However, the British and American oil companies did not see this as desirable. So they supported the imposition of the Shah on the Iranian people who was eventually overthrown. Apart from the Iranian intervention should Britain be supporting Benjamin Netanyahu, who seems to have no respect for the tenets of international law in regard to the conflict with the Palestinians? Sir Keir Starmer needs to show the world that Britain is prepared to take a moral stand in the Middle East. The first action must be to forbid the sale of weapons to any of the protagonists. This takes courage but he needs to show leadership on this matter. Ed Archer, Lanark. • When asked whether he had decided whether the US would be invading Iran, President Trump replied that he had not yet decided, adding: "Nobody knows what I'm gonna do". And we should be worried about an Iranian finger on the nuclear button? Tina Oakes, Stonehaven. A deliberate distraction Benjamin Netanyahu's war with Iran is a deliberate distraction from his Gaza war of mass murder, deliberate starvation and ethnic cleansing of civilians and children. The moment Iran retaliated against Israeli attacks, every western government which had begun voicing token criticisms and issuing token sanctions on Israel switched to saying they would help defend Israel if Iran attacked it. Keir Starmer has moved US military assets to the Middle East and refused to rule out 'defending Israel'. Why should we help a government that is committing crimes against humanity in Gaza feel immune to the results of its own actions, ensuring it will continue both wars, when neither Hamas nor Iran could ever pose a credible military threat to Israel? The Ayatollahs are certainly a dictatorship, and hostile to Israel. But Israel and the US are massively militarily stronger than Iran. And the story that if the Ayatollahs get a nuclear weapon they'll immediately fire it at Israel, ensuring that all of them and their entire country will be wiped out in either the Israeli or US nuclear or conventional counter-strikes, is ludicrous. Certainly they praise 'martyrs' including suicide bombers. They're not so keen on personal or national suicide . Duncan McFarlane, Carluke. Our reputation is at stake Countries, like people, are often judged by the friends they keep. How then has the UK ended up being counted as an ally by the mad dogs of the Middle East, Israel, and insisting on our knees that we have a Special Relationship with the mad dog of the West, the USA under Donald Trump? These relationships are taken to extremes, with a willingness to pitch in with America's follies like the second Iraq war and unwillingness to call out unequivocally Israel's slaughter of Palestinians, Lebanese and Syrians, and to go along with the destruction by Mr Trump in his first term of the workable compromise with Iran on nuclear issues engineered by Barack Obama and supported by us. This cannot stand well with our international reputation, for the blood of other peoples does not seem to matter much to us. We should be grateful for an earlier Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who despite pressures from America, had the guts to keep us out of the disaster of America's Vietnam war. James Scott, Edinburgh. Donald Trump (Image: Getty) Labour's hypocrisy In January, when the Tories put forward proposals for a national inquiry to be held into the grooming gangs scandal, Sir Keir Starmer voiced his disapproval and accused those calling for one of jumping on a "far-right" bandwagon. When the submission went before the House of Commons, Joani Reid voted against. Just over a month ago, based on the review carried out by Baroness Casey, Sir Keir changed his mind and ordered that an inquiry be held. Lo and behold, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven changed hers as well and suddenly became an enthusiastic advocate for an inquiry. So much so that she made the following press statement: "If the Scottish Government does not intend to hold its own dedicated inquiry, we need some clear reasons why, not the vague responses we've had so far." This may sound like double standards to you and me but after all the broken promises to deliver change we should be used to rank hypocrisy on the part of the Labour Party by now. Alan Woodcock, Dundee. A dubious guarantee I note your coverage of the concept of a Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) as a way of achieving the laudable aim of abolishing poverty. Gaby McKay explains the idea and gives some idea of the costs involved, Russell Gunson follows, enthusiastically promoting this benefit ("Call to move toward minimum income guarantee 'urgently'" and "There should be an income level below which nobody is allowed to fall", The Herald, June 18). However, as ever, the devil is in the detail. Firstly, although the word "poverty" is bandied around, what actually constitutes poverty? Mr Gunson defines it as living in a household where income is less than 60% of the UK average. To take an extreme example, if the average UK income was £100,000 per year, then as long as this 60% criterion applied, the poor would always be with us. Secondly, how would it be paid – what mechanisms would have to be set up to ensure its equitable and economical distribution? Thirdly, how would the MIG relate to other sources of income, such as other benefits, paid employment, pensions, dividends and interest? Would it be taxable, or set against these funds? In fact, could it be regarded as the Personal Allowance? I can see Rachel Reeves rubbing her hands with glee if she can start taxing people once their income passes £11,500, rather than the current £12,570. Fourthly, in their desire to talk up the positive aspects of MIG, I wonder if your writers have considered the possibility that the achievement of a modestly comfortable standard of living might, in some cases, reduce the incentives to seek paid employment? Finally, the cynic in me wonders how long it will be before the cry "it's not enough!" goes up, particularly when other figures regarding subsistence have been bandied around, such as the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, which advises a minimum standard of retirement living requires an income of £13,400 (£15,800 for London dwellers) per year Christopher W Ide, Waterfoot.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lockerbie bombing trial in the US delayed until next year
The trial of a Libyan man accused of making the bomb that destroyed an American airliner over Lockerbie has been delayed until spring next year. Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, known as Masud, was due to face a jury in Washington last month but the starting date was postponed due to his poor health and the complexity of the case. At the request of the prosecution and defence, the trial will now get under way next April. Masud has denied priming the explosive device which brought down Pan Am flight 103 on 21 December 1988, killing 270 people. The explosion killed 259 passengers and crew and a further 11 people in the Dumfries and Galloway town when wreckage of the Boeing 747 fell on their remains the deadliest terror attack in the history of the United who is in his early 70s, is described as a joint citizen of Libya and has been receiving treatment for a non-life threatening medical a joint status report to the US district court for the District of Columbia last month, both parties referred to the "complex, international nature" of evidence in the case, adding that a pre-trial schedule would be "atypical".Lawyers also requested an early deadline for motions to "suppress the defendant's statement," presumed to be an alleged confession Masud made while in jail in Libya in claim, which is said to be of "importance to the [US] government's case," alleges that Masud admitted working for the Libyan intelligence service and confessed to building the device which brought down the aircraft. It is also alleged he named two accomplices, Abdelbasset Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifah was convicted of murdering the 270 victims and died in Tripoli in 2012 after being freed on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Amin Khalifah Fhimah, his co-accused in the trial at the Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands, was found not and US prosecutors first named Masud as a suspect in the case in 2015 following the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in was charged five years later by then-US attorney general William Barr with the destruction of an aircraft resulting in was taken into US custody in 2022 after being removed from his home by an armed militia.
India Today
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Indian-American lawyer running for the US House of Representatives in California
Indian-American civil rights attorney Anuj Dixit is running for the US House of Representatives in California's 41st congressional district, aiming to contest Republican incumbent Ken Calvert. Dixit accused Congressman Calvert of not working for the middle-class and said he is contesting "to give them a voice".Dixit, who was born to immigrant parents from India, said he is running for Congress to shake up a system that's been rigged for decades by insiders like Congressman Ken Calvert by bringing fresh energy and bold ideas to make Washington work for the middle-class, such as making it easier to start a business, find a good-paying job, and help more Americans progress in said he would lead the charge in going after big businesses that "buy elections and dodge taxes". He also said he would fight to cut middle-class taxes and make California more affordable, as per his website. "In the 30 years since Ken Calvert went to Congress, Washington stopped working for the middle-class," Dixit announced his campaign, emphasising promoting economic grew up on March Air Force Base in Riverside County. His father is a six-year veteran of the US Air DIXIT LOST GRANDPARENTS IN LOCKERBIE BOMBINGAccording to his website, he lost his grandparents, aunt, and cousins in the Pan Am 103 (Lockerbie) bombing in 1988 and came of age in the shadow of 9/ Indian American Impact Fund (IAIF), which supports Indian-American and South Asian political candidates, has announced its endorsement of thrilled to endorse Anuj Dixit, a fierce advocate for democracy and opportunity. Anuj understands the challenges faced by working and middle-class families because he's lived them — and he's spent his career fighting for the rights and dignity of others," said Chintan Patel, executive director of the the campaign trail, Dixit helps run his family's health clinic, which provides essential care to patients in the community. He is a graduate of UCLA and Columbia Law School, The American Bazar, a Maryland-based news portal, election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
The National
03-06-2025
- Health
- The National
Lockerbie bombing suspect's trial expected to begin in 2026
US prosecutors are expected to request a federal court to set an April 2026 trial date for Abu Agila Mohammad Masud, the Libyan man accused of making the bomb that brought down Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. According to a joint status report seen by The National, federal prosecutors and court-appointed lawyers for Mr Masud, 73, plan to prepare and submit a pretrial schedule after a June 5 hearing. 'Given the complex, international nature of the evidence in this case, that pretrial schedule will have several atypical features,' the report reads. At least three depositions of foreign nationals will have to take place outside the US before the trial begins, the report notes. A court transcript shows that continuing health problems affecting the suspect have been a consistent obstacle in bringing his case to trial. 'I'm sorry to hear about your medical issues,' Judge Dabney Friedrich said to Mr Masud, who was observing the hearing by video conference with the assistance of a translator. She asked for Mr Masud's lawyers to provide updates about his health condition in the weeks ahead. 'We will certainly endeavour to provide the court whatever updates we can regarding the medical appointments, but it may be helpful to have an update from the marshals as well since they are the direct communicators with the medical providers,' said Whitney Minter, one of the Lockerbie suspect's court-appointed lawyers. Parts of the transcript are redacted, obscuring possible details about Mr Masud's health, along with other trial planning discussions and concerns. The unredacted sections show an effort by prosecutors and the federal court to allow victims to listen to the June 5 hearing, along with other court dates in what has become a complex investigation. 'We have the information for the victim group,' said one of the prosecutors, telling the judge that as many of those affected by the tragedy as possible had been notified around the world of the proceedings. The defendant said little at the recent pretrial conference. 'If my lawyers need me, I am available,' he said. In 2023, Mr Masud pleaded not guilty in connection to the 1988 attack, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in UK and US history. Only one other person, former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset Al Megrahi, has been convicted for the bombing. After his conviction in 2001, Mr Megrahi spent seven years in a Scottish prison, but he was eventually released on compassionate grounds and died in Libya in 2012. In 2003, Libya claimed responsibility for the attack that took down the plane. The US government filed charges against Mr Masud in 2020, but it took more than two years to extradite him from Libya. All 259 people on board perished in the attack and 11 people were killed by falling debris on December 21, 1988, shortly after the Pan Am flight took off from London bound for New York. Of the victims, 190 were American citizens, along with others from the UK, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Trinidad and Tobago.
