{"id":487715,"date":"2025-10-10T07:11:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T07:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/487715\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T07:11:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T07:11:19","slug":"five-things-you-need-to-know-today-59","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/487715\/","title":{"rendered":"Five things you need to know today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sir Geoff Palmer, KT, OBE<\/p>\n

A memorial service will be held at St Giles\u2019 Cathedral on Friday to remember Professor Sir Geoff Palmer who died earlier this year. <\/p>\n

The Cathedral was the venue for his ordination as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland\u2019s highest order of chivalry only last year.<\/p>\n

Sir Geoff was a true pioneer, revolutionising brewing with his barley abrasion process, adopted widely across the UK, being appointed Scotland\u2019s first Black professor in 1989 and being knighted by HM Queen Elizabeth II for services to human rights, science, and charity. Most of all he was a very nice man who did a lot of good outside his own career path.<\/p>\n

The Cathedral is expected to be packed with an invited audience of those who wish to honour Sir Geoff\u2019s life and legacy in attendance.<\/p>\n

\"\"Professor Sir Geoff Palmer. Photo taken at BLM protest Holyrood Park 7 June 2020 Photo: Martin P. McAdam www.martinmcadam.com<\/p>\n

STV redundancies<\/p>\n

STV announced its financial results on 25 September along with around 60 redundancies among the savings of \u00a33 million per annum. In May this year the broadcaster had announced its long term business strategy aiming to double the revenue to \u00a3200 million. This plan features a new commercial radio station, presented and produced from Scotland. But in July the company issued a profits warning after which the share price collapsed.<\/p>\n

The plan is to replace the current news programme for North and central with one news programme broadcast from Glasgow and covering both areas.<\/p>\n

STV holds 15 regional broadcasting licences issued by Ofcom which require a broadcast of \u201chigh quality news programmes able to compete effectively with other television news programmes\u201d elsewhere in the UK. At least 125 of these hours must be shown in Peak Viewing Times.<\/p>\n

There are quotas on regional news programming and the local news at 6pm.<\/p>\n

All of this would have to be changed to allow redundancies to follow. <\/p>\n

On Thursday senior executives from STV appeared at The Scottish Parliament to give evidence to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee and it turned out to be a bit of a grilling. STV\u2019s CEO Rufus Radcliffe, and MD of the Audience division Bobby Hain, gave evidence.<\/p>\n

The broadcaster was told it has mishandled its finances after the announcement of redundancies. It was also mentioned in the committee that one of the senior management dialled into the virtual meeting about the cuts from a holiday villa.<\/p>\n

Rufus Radcliffe said: \u201cBlockquote open\u00a0As a commercial public service broadcaster, the challenges we face are significant, driven by changing viewer behaviour and tough macro-economic conditions. These challenges are not unique to STV, but they require a pragmatic response if we are to remain competitive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTo protect STV\u2019s long-term prospects and continue our contribution to Scotland\u2019s economy and culture, we must restructure, streamline operations and accelerate digital transformation \u2014 while staying deeply committed to regional news and our public service values.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur plan is carefully designed to protect regional journalism, because it is not financially sustainable in its current form, and we are confident that we will deliver more stories to more people, wherever and however they want to consume it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe changes we have proposed across the business are grounded in our determination to secure STV\u2019s future amid rapidly changing viewer habits. The biggest threat to our business would be to ignore what our viewers are doing and make no changes at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick McGowan-Lowe, the National Union of Journalists national organiser for Scotland described the plan to axe the Aberdeen programme as an act of \u201ccultural vandalism\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"Rufus Radcliffe, Chief Executive Officer, STV (Right) and Bobby Hain, Managing Director of Audience, News, Regulation and Audio, STV (Left) appear before the Scottish Parliament\u2019s Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee earlier today. 9 October 2025. Pic-Andrew Cowan\/Scottish Parliament<\/p>\n

\"\"Rufus Radcliffe, Chief Executive Officer, STV appears before the Scottish Parliament\u2019s Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee earlier today. 9 October 2025. Pic-Andrew Cowan\/Scottish Parliament<\/p>\n

Susanna Orr Holland has a three octave voice<\/p>\n

Susanna Orr Holland is an \u201cexperimental world folk singer-songwriter\u201d. For her second album she has woven a strong collection of stirring songs and sublime arrangements. She engages with today\u2019s big challenges such as migration, climate change, a family story of Irish civil war as well as more personal experiences of loneliness, joy and inter-connection using her three octave voice to full effect.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh-based Susanna\u2019s unique style is rooted in the ballad tradition but influenced by Indian and Persian vocal techniques. Her heartfelt song-writing weaves polyphony and harmony with a dynamic mix of instruments from Chris Lyons creating a rich tapestry of changing moods and landscapes. This is a voice which soars into the heart and forges marvel where sorrow and darkness merge with tenderness and wildness.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Accompanying herself on guitar and Indian harmonium, she will be playing with some of Edinburgh\u2019s most talented musicians in an accomplished line up with the multi-instrumentalist Chris Lyons on bayan accordion, oud and double bass (Blue Giant Orkestar), the inspired Tom Adams on violin (Orkestra del Sol) and creative Tim Lane on drums (Hidden Orkestra). In this unique concert, Susanna and activist Chris Booth will create space for the audience to react, whether with humour, grief or ritual to her songs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Susanna said: \u201cI pour my own emotions into my songs about issues that touch me I hope that they can help other\u2019s do that and move us all to more understanding and action.<\/p>\n

\u201cA big theme is connection \u2013 we are all connected, these issues are all connected, but many people feel unconnected and alone when confronting them. We\u2019re going to try to impact this in our gig and hopefully create a shared sense of momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n

She will launch her album The Return of the Swallows at a gig on 21 November from 7.30-9.30pm at The Scottish Storytelling Centre,43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR<\/p>\n

www.susannaorrholland.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

EXPOS3D<\/p>\n

Artist\u00a0Trevor Jones<\/strong>\u00a0launches\u00a0EXPOS3D<\/strong><\/a>, a groundbreaking immersive exhibition that fuses painting, sculpture, stained glass, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology.<\/p>\n

For\u00a0one week only<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 from 12 to 18 October \u2013 the historic\u00a0Custom House, Edinburgh<\/strong>\u00a0will be transformed into a living system of interactive artworks, augmented reality and AI-driven installations. At its centre is\u00a0LOGOS<\/strong>, an all-seeing artificial intelligence that challenges audiences to reconsider how we live, think, and rebel in the age of technology.<\/p>\n

EXPOS3D explores three defining tensions of our time:<\/p>\n