This another of these huge public interest cases where you have to wonder if requests for information on Prosecutorial decisions shouldn’t be tested by FOI regulators. www.theguardian.com/law/2025/oct...

Seriously impressed with Canada’s approach to disinformation. Lots to learn for UK & Scotland so we can protect elections. Eg at last Canadian elections 5 office holders tasked with protecting elections considered Intel from security agencies & briefed media on disinformation.

It’s Recruitment time again… This time I’m looking for a Business Support Manager to join our @foi.scot team Full details at www.foi.scot/current-vaca...

Today, 52-year-old Ilona Revut has died in a shelter in Kyiv due to an acute reaction to stress. A beauty parlor where Ilona was hairstylist wrote of her death. Russia doesn't always kill with direct strikes. Many Ukrainians have serious health issues after surviving Russian attacks.

New Questions Over NHS Fife compliance for @foi.scot www.foi.scot/new-question...

“I hope this serves as the wake-up call that NHS Forth Valley need. Their FOI response times over the last 18 months have been terrible.”

How come we’re not called the British and Irish Leopards?

If only ScotGov had asked those who have been there. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Military medical aid is civil medical aid in many parts of Ukraine. Army medics treat civilians. A ridiculous caveat which will endanger the lives of the people the aid was intended to help. www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-...

Last week I was driving from.Satajevo to Split for the first tine in 30 years. Gave me the chance to visit Mostar and it's famous ottoman bridge as last time I was there it had been blown up by Bosnian Croats and a rope bridge erected in its place!

Yikes, the @foi.scot workload record has been smashed again. Following Aprils biggest ever number of new cases (80), May has seen another 15% increase on that to 92. We’re working flat out and are now 2/3 way through the historical backlog. Our intervention progress work is suffering though.

Another European airport and another chorus of complants and outrage at #Brexit from queues of Scots stuck at border security. Who the hell voted for this?

NHS Fife rebuked by watchdog over Sandie Peggie FOI failures www.heraldscotland.com/news/2519592... @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social

Day 177 of a non-stop #GeorgiaProtests. Let me remind you that GD banned using fireworks at the protests in January.

Two charities I am involved with, run entirely by volunteers, have just learned that @microsoft.com is slashing its software support for charities. This despite posting $70 billion in the last quarter, up 13.7%. This is their right and we’re grateful for past donations but…really?

This really is appalling. www.parliament.scot/about/news/n... A total failure of oversight by the Board. The danger is a knee jerk reaction that impacts on all the public bodies for which this kind of behaviour is an anathema.

For info, Whilst we need to be cautious about comparing apples and pears, the last 4 quarter stats for Scottish Govt were 56% for full release. www.foi.scot/statistics

There are some extremely brave FOIA officers in the federal government - and this is a reminder that they often want to get the information out as badly as the public wants to read it.

President Emmanuel Macron showed how his trip to Kyiv unfolded. "There can be no dialogue while civilians are being bombed at the same time. What we need now is a ceasefire so that negotiations can begin. For peace," he said.

When people complain about red tape and health and safety gone mad, remember it's tragedies like this that we have learned from.

The issue of Significant Adverse Event Reviews (SAER) in the NHS is a complex and sensitive one. My full statement can be read at www.foi.scot/statement-pu...

Much entertainment at breakfast this morning by the bomber diving wood pigeons.

In a week where we remember those who died fighting evil 80 years ago, let us also remember those who continue to do so.

Finally, finally after 2 baths, 3 showers and a sauna, I have cleansed myself of yesterdays #Knoclkhill mud. Great team building with the JKS Karate team.

Brown and white belt awarded today. 2 more to Black (and a lot of hard work ahead!)

He's done it again.. My super talented nephew Pat Hamilton has released another storming track. Available on all platforms.... sndo.ffm.to/dz7apkx

Meanwhile, in Georgia...

A reminder to all of us who support Ukraine... thehackernews.com/2025/04/russ...

Kharkiv today 📸:Думка

Not my best fighting but came away with more experience and a bronze medal in the British Karate Championships (Super Veterans)! If you’d asked me when I came back to karate 18 months ago that that would be possible I’d have laughed! Next step, Brown/White belt….

It just gets more bonkers m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJbZ...

On this day in 1992, the Siege of Sarajevo began. The longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. It lasted 3 years, 10 months, 3 weeks & 3 days (5 Apr 1992 to 29 Feb 1996)

I need a Head of Business Support. Want to join my team? Closes Wednesday. More at foi.scot

Can you believe that this is a credible theory being openly discussed in the media. #bonkerstimes

Great to join @ikaferrergotic.bsky.social to talk on #NewsmaxBalkans about my Humanitarian experiences responding to the wars in Bosnia and Ukraine. My (English) bit starts at 48:36 but don't miss Ed Vulijami earlier in the programme either youtu.be/3PCiVq5nDkY

Ukrainian forces have liberated substantial parts of Toretsk, punching into the southern parts of the ruins. As I wrote a few days ago, I suspected Russians had to concentrate their troops in Kursk and indeed they did, while getting pushed back in the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar and Kupyansk.

You know when you've had a hard week and a long day and you get on a crammed stuffy train and some inconsiderate eejit thinks it alright to blare out "Baby Shark" on repeat to their child? That.

I’m delighted to have joined the Scottish Parliaments Cross Party Group on Ukraine. The meeting last night focused on Culture but reports also covered health and wellbeing, business, education and communities. All demonstrating typical Ukrainian enthusiasm and energy. A few actions to follow up on…

[email protected] ‘s #scotcast interview with Councillor Laura Murtagh is a compelling listen as he shines the light on the shameful way Laura was treated trying to do the best for her community. Listen here

On #InternationalWomensDay it is all the woman of #Ukraine who continue to inspire me with their courage, resilience and kindness that I want to recognise. #SlavaUkraini 🇺🇦

Next up @da.vidh.scot , OSIC delivers the 2nd keynote of the day. #FOI25 “83% agreed that FOI helps to prevent bad practice in public bodies”

🧵 I have been flying a Ukrainian flag outside my house constantly for 3 years. At first lots of people did, but over time numbers have reduced. I know how much it means to Ukrainians- pulling a photo of it out in Kyiv, Kharkiv or even Donbas usually brings tears to eyes!... 1/3

This is all real. This is not propaganda or fakes. This is real suffering, real deaths, a real tragedy that Ukrainian people are living through because of Russian aggression. Thankful to everyone on Ukraine's side! To everyone who brings peace closer. 📷: libkos/Instagram

Trumps 2019 visit to UK was estimated to cost £18m in policing and security. It will be a lot more now Can we not just give Ukraine that money?

Worth mentioning that Ukraine has developed and implemented the ProZorro anticorruption platform that is internationally recognised as world leading. Give recent behaviours its clear USA could benefit from procuring that. #ogp en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prozorro

There are events going on tonight that threaten European stability and peace and they aren’t in Washington. They are much closer to home… www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/...

“Why don’t you say thank you”

If you joined me in the Ukraine Air Alert Challenge you’ll know how disruptive that is. Woken in the middle of the night, alerted in shops, meetings interrupted…..And then you realise that you don’t have to react. Ukrainians dont have that luxury.

Seems like the right time to post this ongoing open appeal. Buy a Ukrainian child a tablet for £150. For many it’s too dangerous to go to school. This is their education, this is their future #StandWithUkraine️ edinburghdirectaid.co.uk/tablet-appeal/

After visiting Kyiv in October 2024, the Commissioner @da.vidh.scot has expressed his official support for the UN-backed declaration following the event. To learn more about the event and the Kyiv Declaration, visit: 👇 🔗 tinyurl.com/Kyiv2025 #KyivDeclaration #FOI