A convicted murderer, Raymond McCourt, who escaped from HMP Castle Huntly, Scotland's only open prison, has been re-arrested after a brief manhunt. McCourt, 59, was reported missing on Tuesday evening, sparking an urgent search by Police Scotland. The public was advised not to approach him, citing his dangerous history and connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

McCourt's criminal past includes the 1993 murder of newsagent Khalid Mahmood, whom he shot in the head during a robbery attempt. His spree of violence also left local woman Moira Rooney and PC Brian Williams injured. Despite being sentenced to life imprisonment, McCourt was released on license in 2015, only to be returned to prison shortly after for theft and failing to adapt to life outside.

The fugitive was last seen wearing distinctive clothing, including a long black trench coat and a blue shirt with a red and white tie, before his capture. Plain-clothed officers apprehended McCourt as he disembarked from a Lothian Bus service on Leith Walk in Edinburgh, bringing an end to the widespread search.

Authorities have expressed relief at McCourt's swift recapture, emphasizing the collaborative effort between the Scottish Prison Service and Police Scotland. McCourt's return to custody underscores the challenges of rehabilitating long-term prisoners and the vigilance required to maintain public safety.

King Charles has joined forces with Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in a previously unpublicized podcast recording focused on global conservation efforts. The 22-minute episode, titled "Unearthed: The Need For Seeds," was recorded in the private gardens of Windsor Castle in July and features the monarch alongside Blanchett and Kew seed scientist Dr. Elinor Breman. This marks only the second podcast recording in the King's public life, demonstrating his continued commitment to environmental causes that have defined much of his royal work.

The conversation centered on the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, West Sussex, which King Charles originally opened in 2000 and has maintained an active interest in since. The facility represents one of the world's most ambitious conservation projects, having collected, cleaned, dried and stored nearly 2.5 billion seeds from more than 40,000 plant species in walk-in freezers maintained at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both the King and Blanchett, who became Wakehurst's first ambassador last year, emphasized the critical importance of this work in preserving global biodiversity.

During the discussion, Blanchett expressed concern about the rapid loss of natural habitats, noting that "97 percent of wildflower meadows have been decimated" in recent decades. She highlighted the disconnect between perceived natural beauty and actual ecological fragility, stating that "there is an urgency to the work that the seed bank does." The King echoed this sentiment, reflecting on his long-standing awareness of environmental degradation, particularly the damage to flower-rich meadows since the postwar period.

The podcast also touched on broader conservation challenges, including the need for increased funding and public awareness. Blanchett pointed to the frustration of seeing "so many extraordinary initiatives right there ready to be scaled up" but lacking financial support and direction. King Charles acknowledged both the progress made and the need to accelerate conservation efforts, stating that while the seed bank's work is "wonderful," the process must speed up to address escalating environmental threats facing plant species worldwide.