Hello and welcome to The Midge, the e-bulletin that takes a bite out of politics in Scotland and elsewhere.
Today
- Sturgeon fears Brexit vote has fuelled racism
- Think-tank criticises dual role for MSPs
- SNP suspected of applying pressure over STV journalist
- Anger over Rise candidate’s invitation to pro-Corbyn event
Front pages
In The Herald, political correspondent Kate Devlin reports on the First Minister’s appearance with Makar Jackie Kay at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
The National devotes its front page to the picture of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting bloodied and dazed in an ambulance after an airstrike in Aleppo. The same picture appears in the Guardian, the FT, the Scotsman and the Times, which says Omran has become the “symbol of Assad’s war”.
The Mail says prison sentences for drug offences in Scotland have fallen to a record low, with the average prison term 17 months.
Exclusive: Catriona Stewart in the Evening Times reports that vandals have attacked an artwork set to raise thousands for Save the Children. The Dream Jar, inspired by The BFG, is outside Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art.
“Sales boom defies Brexit fears” is the splash in the Telegraph. Retail spending in July was up by almost 6% on the previous year.
The Mirror has found George Osborne in a Vietnam jungle firing a machine gun. “Osborne goes Rambo!” cries the paper, detailing his visit to a tourist attraction while on holiday with his family.
The FT highlights the start of night Tube services in London tonight.
Camley’s cartoon
Ding-ding, it’s Camley on the possibility that the inquiry into the Edinburgh trams fiasco could lead to criminal prosecutions.
FFS: Five in five seconds
1. What’s the story? There has been diplomatic fun and games to add to the more traditional sports in Rio.
2. How so? The US Olympic Committee has apologised for the behaviour of four of its male swimmers who claimed they had been robbed in Rio. It turns out that they had damaged a toilet door at a petrol station and offered to pay for it after security guards arrived. The USOC said: "The behaviour of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA. We apologise to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal."
3. What was local reaction to the claims? Fury, and a determination on the part of the police and judicial system not to let this one go - to the extent of escorting two of the swimmers off a plane bound for the US. Brazil, despite being in the grip of a severe economic crisis, has spent close to $5 billion on these games. It wanted to present the capital to the world as a modern, safe city for international visitors. At a stroke the Americans’ story damaged that image.
4. Reaction in the US? Almost on a par with that of Brazilians, in the media at least. The Washington Post said: “Is there anything worse, in any country, than a bunch of entitled young drunks who break the furniture and pee on a wall?” while today’s New York Post, referring to Ryan Lochte, leader of the group, added: The Ugly American is alive and well in 2016 thanks to this dope.”
TOMORROW'S COVER: Ryan Lochte is everything the world hates about Americans https://t.co/A5wvURF54Y pic.twitter.com/WqNpI8wKOd
— New York Post (@nypost) August 18, 2016
5. The situation now? Lochte, the leader of the group, had already left Brazil. Two more are on the way back, and one, James Feigen, is still there. None should expect a ticker tape welcome home.
Afore Ye Go
Friends in Glasgow! It'd be great to see you at this event on Tuesday night! pic.twitter.com/0VgBcimQR2
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) August 18, 2016
It all began so promisingly with this tweet from the Labour MP for East Leeds.
Corbynista MP thinks Port Glasgow and Glasgow are the same place. Oh, and an alliance with SNP is the way forward... https://t.co/Jb17clrzjd
— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) August 18, 2016
Then Tory leader Ruth Davidson spotted the gaffe.
Port Glasgow was in my former West of Scotland constituency but Glasgow never was... #getthatmanamap https://t.co/C3mDSKG7vQ
— Jackson Carlaw MSP (@Carlaw4Eastwood) August 18, 2016
And Jackson Carlaw MSP appealed for someone to buy Mr Burgon a map so he would know the difference between the town of Port Glasgow in Inverclyde and the city of Glasgow, 23 miles away.
"I would encourage all Scotland fans to take part.”
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown will be sleeping under the stars for a night on September 30 at Hampden. The Hampden Snore event, to be held at the national stadium, will support the work of charities The Bethany Christian Trust and Street Soccer Scotland. Above, Brown at Hampden in unhappier times, watching Scotland v Latvia in 2001. Laurence Griffiths/ALLSPORT
"They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT!”
So tweeted Donald Trump. He has taken a fancy to the name since saying on Fox News that populist movements such as the Leave campaign were changing the world. One person tweeted back: "Hate to break it to you @realDonaldTrump dear but they don't call you Mr Brexit. They call you that crazy old guy who yells at his own feet.” Jeff Swensen/Getty Images
This is just fantastic @brikeilarcnn https://t.co/s7nCNTO6gc
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) August 17, 2016
Meanwhile, a spot of bother for a Trump spokesman
Donald Duck, making a point about Trump not releasing his tax returns, is now riding up and down the Trump escalator pic.twitter.com/0v5cWf2tGw
— Max Tani (@maxwelltani) August 18, 2016
More trouble for Trump as a costumed protester takes to riding up and down the escalators at the tycoon's tower.
“Who?"
Ant and Dec’s playful response to being asked if they had heard of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. In a debate this week, Mr Corbyn was unable to identify the Geordie presenters. Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
US Pastor who believes 'gay marriage causes storms' is flooded out of home https://t.co/u7289ORNxj pic.twitter.com/N6SyESZlrY
— ITV News (@itvnews) August 18, 2016
News from Louisiana, courtesy of ITV
“I feel positive about the future.”
New Asda boss Sean Clarke after the chain, owned by Walmart, posted an eighth consecutive quarter of sliding sales. Chris Radburn/PA Wire
"The phenomenon of Islamist terrorism by IS isn't a phenomenon that came to us with the refugees, it's one that we had before too.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, campaigning for state elections due on September 4, refutes the suggestion her open door policy brought Islamist extremism to the country. Bernd Wuestneck/dpa via AP
First Minister AND official Glasgow Girl! Thanks for support @NicolaSturgeon! #GlasgowGirls https://t.co/arZecLnYWD pic.twitter.com/4FhaSWRE1f
— NatTheatreScotland (@NTSonline) August 18, 2016
The First Minister shows her support for Cora Bissett and David Greig's drama about Glasgow teens and their campaign to protect the rights of asylum seekers.
"If your A-level results are disappointing, don't worry. I got a C and two Us, and I'm currently on a superyacht in the Med”.
Ex-Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson. Just when you thought you had escaped mention of the A level results in England. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Khadija Khattab is one of eight female broadcasters suspended by the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, the state broadcaster, for being too heavy. They have been given four weeks to lose weight. MailOnline
“Even if Trump were adding the greatest political team in history, which he is not, the problem is not the campaign. The problem is the candidate, whose allergy to substance and impulse to react angrily, and often tastelessly, to any provocation has unnerved voters.”
Former Obama aide and Labour adviser David Axelrod on Trump’s hirings and firings. CNN. Above, Axelrod with the Obamas in 2012. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images
Thanks for reading - see you Monday. Twitter: @alisonmrowat
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