Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Front pages
In The Herald, social affairs correspondent Stephen Naysmith hears from children’s charity Childline that it is receiving at least four calls a day from youngsters fearful about “sexting” - an increase of 15% in a year.
The National says migrant families are being told social services can only accommodate children. The reports come from charities working in the area.
The Evening Times reports on the fire in Milngavie in which a 45-year-old father lost his life.
The Mail highlights “shock new research” saying pregnant women who take paracetamol are more likely to have children with behavioural problems.
The Times and the Sun report on the death of former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson in Telford, Shropshire. He is the third person to die after being shot with a Taser this year.
Thousands are due refunds on their gas bills, reports the Telegraph, after suppliers admit they made mistakes in meter readings.
The Guardian, which carried out an investigation into working practices at Sports Direct, reports that thousands of staff who were not paid the minimum wage are set to receive back pay.
The FT says Santander is halving the interest rate on its 123 current account to 1.5%. Other banks are expected to follow, says the paper.
Camley’s cartoon
Camley spies a slight modification to a Rio landmark in honour of Andy Murray’s victory.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? The Pentagon has announced the transfer of 15 detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison complex in Cuba to the United Arab Emirates. It is the largest single transfer to take place during the Obama presidency.
2. How many are left? 61, from a reported 779 (Associated Press). Of the 61, only ten are charged.
3. Is this the same Gitmo that President Obama said he would close in his first year of office? The very same. Congress has consistently fought attempts to move the detainees to US prisons or elsewhere, saying there are not enough safeguards to ensure those detained in the camp, which opened in 2002, are monitored.
4. So what has the president done? Carried out long, slow negotiations with Arab states to take the detainees.
5. Will he succeed in closing the camp before leaving the White House? Unlikely. There is already criticism of moving the 15. It has been reported that more could follow, up to 20, but it is difficult to see an official closure before Obama hands over to his successor in January.
Afore Ye Go
John Inverdale: “You’re the first person ever to win two Olympic tennis gold medals. That’s an extraordinary feat, isn’t it?”
Andy Murray: “I think Venus and Serena have won about four each.”
The Olympic and Wimbledon champion, aka Sophia’s daddy, sticks up for girl power. BBC R4, World at One. Julian Finney/Getty Images
Yet another reason to love Andy Murray... https://t.co/qWPaIIkNmx
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 15, 2016
FM Nicola Sturgeon tweets her support.
“He is a sexist dinosaur and he has to go. Good on Andy Murray for putting him right straight away.”
Olympian and Herald columnist Susan Egelstaff on Inverdale, who once said French tennis player Marion Bartoli was "never going to be a looker". Janice Burns, The National
“I call it extreme vetting. Extreme. Extreme. Vetting. Our country has enough problems. We don't need more.”
Donald Trump announces plans for a new immigration test to ensure that only "those who share our values and respect our people” would gain entry to the US. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
“You only have to scratch the surface to see why that just wouldn't work. Labour is a socialist party. The SNP most certainly aren't. Sure there are some socialists in the SNP, but that is always overtaken by their nationalism.”
Kezia Dugdale on why a pact with the SNP at Westminster to win power, as suggested last week by Shadow Scottish secretary Dave Anderson, is a non-starter. Daily Record. Above, at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in July. Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images
"The Prime Minister is very much in charge and is constantly kept abreast of what is going on.”
A Number 10 spokeperson as it emerged Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has taken over as senior duty minister while Theresa May is on her hols. Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
@ChrisMasonBBC @timfarron @BorisJohnson Or, a bit like putting Tim Farron in charge of a political party.
— Ben Green (@BenGreenLabour) August 15, 2016
"I have never received a single 'off-the-books cash payment’.”
Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort denies a report in the New York Times claiming he receive almost $13m in “undisclosed cash payments” from the pro-Russian, Ukrainian party of Viktor F Yanukovych. USA Today. Win McNamee/Getty Images
"I'm pleased they are trying to put this part right but there's still a lot more to do.”
Jonathan Reynolds MP, a Labour member of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, greets the news that Sports Direct is to hand over £1 million in back pay to its staff for not paying the national minimum wage. Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Someone got a bit confused. pic.twitter.com/vGQptrC8GK
— Slow News Day (@SlowSlownews) August 15, 2016
285 (84%) to 53
The number of constituency Labour parties backing Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith (above) respectively, as revealed yesterday. Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Literally no idea what's going on with this dancing horse, but please let us beat the Germans....#Rio2016 #EquestrianDressage
— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) August 15, 2016
Now we're doing well in the dressage, it's taking off in the council estates of Britain. You can barely move in Croydon for dancing horses.
— Mark Steel (@mrmarksteel) August 15, 2016
“Wouldn't it be very nice for her, if she's been working, to break the mould? Don't go to Kensington Palace - stand on your own two feet.”
Royal biographer Christopher Warwick advises Princess Eugenie, the 26-year-old daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York to buy somewhere on her own rather than move into Kensington Palace, as reported. Ian West/PA Wire
"I did as much of a clinical examination as is possible - checking heart, lungs, skin, eyes, teeth and mouth. We also micro-chip, as you would a pet.”
Ghislaine Sayers, head of veterinary services at Paignton Zoo in Devon on its new arrival, the first tiger cub born at the zoo since 2009. Now if this feline ever moved into the already cat-crowded Downing Street the fur could really fly … Paignton Zoo /PA Wire
“The majority opinion is that it is a disgrace that Jeremy Corbyn is the leader of the Labour Party. Actually, the real disgrace is that Tom Watson is its deputy leader. It is a question of character, not of political views.”
Writer and Thatcher biographer Charles Moore on Tom Watson. Telegraph. Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Thanks for reading - see you tomorrow. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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