Glasgow has been confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Commonwealth Gamesafter receiving support from the Scottish government.
The event will be a scaled-down version, featuring fewer sports and participants, and marks the city’s second time hosting the Games, following its 2014 edition.
Originally, the Australian state of Victoria was set to host but pulled out due to escalating costs. In response, Australian officials have committed significant financial backing to secure the deal.
Scottish Health and Sport Minister Neil Gray met with Commonwealth Games Australia to discuss the necessary funding, receiving the assurances needed to proceed.
The Scottish government has now formally expressed its support to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for a “scaled-back but high-quality” event.
The 2026 Games will feature 10 sports across four venues in Glasgow, with athletics at Scotstoun Stadium and swimming at Tollcross.
CGF president Chris Jenkins indicated that they are working with Commonwealth Games Scotland to officially announce Glasgow as the host city in the near future.
He said: “We believe Glasgow 2026 will be an important first step in our commitment to reset and reframe the Commonwealth Games as a co-created, sustainable model that minimises costs, inspires athletes, and excites hosts and International federations.”
In a gritty and determined performance, Scotland secured a valuable point against Switzerland, keeping their Euro 2024 campaign alive.
The 1-1 draw at the raucous Cologne Stadium saw Scotland overcome injuries and self-inflicted errors to stay in the hunt for qualification from Group A.
Scotland’s qualification hero, Scott McTominay, gave the Tartan Army an early lead with a deflected shot that almost lifted the roof off the stadium in the 13th minute.
However, a moment of defensive calamity allowed Switzerland to equalize. A misjudged back pass from Anthony Ralston was pounced upon by Xherdan Shaqiri, who dispatched a sublime first-time shot high beyond Angus Gunn.
The match took a further toll on Scotland’s squad when Kieran Tierney, clutching his hamstring, had to be substituted after Dan Ndoye squandered a golden chance when through on goal. Tierney’s injury means he will miss the crucial game against Hungary on Sunday, adding to Scotland’s defensive woes.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 19, 2024
Despite these setbacks, the Scots rallied heroically in the closing stages. Grant Hanley came agonizingly close to securing all three points when his header from an Andy Robertson free-kick struck the post.
The Swiss had several late opportunities to snatch a win, but Scotland’s resolute defense held firm.
The draw moves Scotland to third in Group A, setting up a potentially historic encounter with Hungary. A victory on Sunday would likely see Scotland progress beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.
The atmosphere in Cologne was electric, with tens of thousands of Scotland supporters filling the city and the stadium, creating a sea of tartan and fervent support.
This passionate backing was in stark contrast to Scotland’s previous outing, a 5-1 defeat to hosts Germany, where the team looked a shadow of the side that had previously stunned Norway and beaten Spain in qualifying.
Against Switzerland, Scotland showed the guile and determination that had deserted them in Munich. The opener was classic Scotland, reminiscent of their qualification run. A McTominay header cleared a Swiss corner, leading to an Andy Robertson charge down the field. Callum McGregor’s pass found McTominay, whose first-time shot deflected off Fabian Schar and rocketed into the net.
"That's what we've done"
Steve Clarke on Scotland's draw against Switzerland to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive 🏴 pic.twitter.com/Ekn3ToKJ3s
Despite some nervy moments in defense during the first half, Scotland managed to contain the Swiss. The second half saw a transformed Scotland side attacking with fervor and without fear, a performance that earned them a deserved point.
For manager Steve Clarke and the throngs of Scotland fans who traveled from the city center, the team’s resilience and fighting spirit were all they could have asked for. With their Euro 2024 hopes still very much alive, all eyes now turn to the decisive match against Hungary.
This result not only keeps Scotland in contention but also serves as a testament to their ability to overcome adversity and compete at the highest level.
Lewis Morgan had planned to spend quality time with his sisters in New York City. Instead, the Red Bulls forward found himself leaving them behind, hailing a yellow taxi across town, and flying over the Atlantic to join Scotland’s Euro 2024 journey.
From Central Park to the Allianz Arena in the blink of an eye.
Just a few weeks ago, the former St Mirren and Celtic player wasn’t even in the conversation for the squad. Now, he has secured a spot in Scotland’s team for the major tournament, which includes the opening game against hosts Germany on Friday.
His inclusion was announced in a surprising call-up on Thursday. The news caught many off guard, including Morgan’s siblings, who had traveled to the Big Apple for a family reunion.
“I actually had my sister out visiting, so I got caught short,” he said. “My other sister has just landed in New York right now. It’s a bit bittersweet.
“Everyone in my family was obviously overjoyed at the news. It’s a massive opportunity.
“It’s been hectic. I found out on Tuesday there was a chance. I got told I was getting called into the squad and it was just about getting here as quick as I could.”
The 27-year-old last played for Scotland six years ago under Steve Clarke’s predecessor, Alex McLeish.
During that period, the Tartan Army witnessed their team end a 23-year wait to qualify for a major tournament, struggle in a Covid-restricted Euros, miss out on a World Cup, and then secure another spot on the European stage.
Meanwhile, Morgan watched with a mix of joy, pride, and a touch of envy. Despite being across the pond, he never lost hope.
The captain of the flight from Edinburgh to New York, Lawrence Russell Jr. , who is 63 years old and from America, was supposed to fly the plane on June 16, 2023. But when he took a test to check how much alcohol was in his blood, it was too much. The court said on Tuesday that he had two bottles of Jägermeister liqueur in his bag when he came to work, and one of them was half full.
The court in Scotland said Russell lost his job at Delta because the transatlantic flight was canceled.
A Delta spokesperson said: “We knew about this happening and took the pilot out of work while we look into it with the Scottish authorities. We’re sorry to the people on the plane who were affected. ”
In court, Sheriff Alison Stirling told Russell: “Your bag had two bottles of Jägermeister, and one was open and almost half full. ” The police were called because you were dressed like a pilot. The police came soon after. You told the police your information and said you were a captain at Delta Airlines.
The pilot admitted to drinking the night before and failed a breath test when he came to work in the morning. He got in trouble and then gave a blood sample. The sample also had too much of something in it.
In Scotland, it’s against the law to fly a plane if you have more than 20 milligrams of alcohol in your body. But you can drive a car as long as you have less than 50 milligrams of alcohol in your body. In the United States, pilots cannot fly if they have a blood alcohol level of 0. 04 or higherIt’s against the rules for anyone to work on a plane within eight hours of drinking alcohol or while drunk.
The court said Russell used to drink too much but he got help and finished a program. Now he is doing much better and doesn’t drink as much.
The court said he had driven drunk two times before this, but he had not been in trouble with the law in Britain before.
The captain of the Boeing-767 plane admitted he was guilty of the charges on March 5. Because he admitted it early, his punishment was reduced from 15 months to 10 months, the court said.
The sheriff said that the prison time was right because the crime was serious and had the potential to cause a lot of harm.
The court statement said that Russell felt sorry for causing problems for his employer and the passengers because the flight had to be cancelled.
Russell’s lawyer, Pamela Rodgers, said she couldn’t say more about the punishment because of confidentiality.
Some of the things you could do at the event were listen to bagpipe music, watch people dance, shop at a market with many different things to buy, and eat a big Scottish breakfast.
Linda Norgrove, who was from Lewis, was taken by the Taliban in 2010 and passed away while there was an effort to save her.
Her parents started a foundation in her honor to help women and girls in Afghanistan.
The charity wants the UK and Scottish governments to make things easier for female medical students.
The organization said that despite making efforts and talking to both governments, they have not made any progress in bringing the women from Afghanistan to Scotland.
The Scottish government stated that Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth had a meeting with the charity and sent a letter to the Home Office in order to get clear and quick information about the situation.
The UK government said helping eligible Afghans move to a new place is very important.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation, which is located in the Western Isles, received upsetting messages from the students. The messages expressed their concerns about living under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The Taliban came back in charge in August 2021 after the US-led group that was in Afghanistan for almost 20 years left the country.
After that, many strict rules were again put on women in Afghanistan.
The Taliban had said before that they would respect women’s rights in Afghanistan, but only according to Islamic law. Linda Norgrove was a person.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation said that Scotland’s five medical schools agreed last year to allow 20 students to finish their studies.
However, Linda’s dad, John Norgrove, said, “We are getting very annoyed with all the wait times. ”
He said the charity was first told that the pathway for Afghan citizens through the UK’s Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme would start in January.
Mr Norgrove said that they decided to move the date to August, but now they are saying that it won’t open for a while.
He said, “Our students went from learning to be doctors to living a restricted life, where they only do housework and take care of children. ”
They are not allowed to go outside the house without a man with them. Some are scared for their safety and others may be forced to get married without their consent.
“They feel extremely sad and desperately need our assistance. ” Tried to save
The Scottish government asked the UK government for information about what actions it was taking.
A spokesperson said: “We will provide a solution to assist these women by offering them free tuition and financial support for their living expenses.
In Scotland, students from Afghanistan who are part of certain resettlement programs can be considered as local students and receive financial support for living expenses.
We are upset that they haven’t given us this information yet, but we believe the Home Office can find a practical solution.
A spokesperson from the UK government said: “The UK has promised to help people in Afghanistan who are in danger, and we have so far managed to bring around 24,600 at-risk people to safety. This includes thousands of people who are qualified for our programs to resettle Afghan individuals. ”
Helping eligible Afghans move to new homes is very important to us. We are still working with others who have similar intentions and countries that are near Afghanistan to deal with the resettlement problems. Our aim is also to assist eligible individuals in safely reaching their destination.
Linda, who is 36 years old, was in charge of a project by USAID. This project aimed to create jobs and help the economies in unstable parts of Afghanistan.
She was taken against her will in Kunar on September 26, 2010 and unfortunately lost her life when US special forces tried to save her on October 8 of the same year.
A team of investigators from both the United Kingdom and the United States concluded that someone from the American soldiers threw a grenade that caused her death.
Aberdeen Football Club has confirmed the passing of former Scotland manager Craig Brown at the age of 82.
Brown, who also served as a director at Aberdeen, holds the distinction of being the last manager to guide the Scottish national team to a World Cup finals. He led the team to the tournament in France 25 years ago.
A statement from Aberdeen read: “Everyone at Aberdeen FC is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved former manager, director and club ambassador, Craig Brown.
Everyone at Aberdeen FC is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved former manager, director and club ambassador, Craig Brown.
A dear friend to us all, Craig will be sorely missed and our love and condolences are with his family at this terribly sad time.
“A dear friend to us all, Craig will be sorely missed and our love and condolences are with his family at this terribly sad time.”
The former schoolteacher also led Scotland to the European Championship in 1996 and was involved in a coaching capacity in three other major tournaments.
The Glasgow-born former Rangers and Dundee player managed Clyde before his international coaching career, which also included leading Scotland Under-16s to a World Cup final and the under-21s to a European semi-final.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 26, 2023
Brown was manager of Scotland from 1993 until 2001. He later managed Preston, Motherwell and Aberdeen before becoming a director at Pittodrie.
Tributes immediately began pouring in for the popular character.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “Since 2010 Craig performed the roles of manager, director, and ambassador at Aberdeen FC. Craig was a friend to all of us at the club, and a mentor and confidante to many.
“He was one of those rare individuals who was not only effective at what he did but universally loved by all who got to know him. A gentleman who loved his family, friends, and football.
“Personally, I’ll always be grateful for the support and encouragement he gave me as chairman, and I’ll miss his legendary stories that made all of us laugh.
“Sincere condolences to his family and friends from everyone at Aberdeen FC.”
Former Dons chairman Stewart Milne, who hired Brown as manager in 2010, said: “Craig was a very special individual. He always had time for people and if there was any way in which he could help them inevitably he was there with an abundance of support and guidance.
“During our time working together Craig became a close friend. He always had a story or two to tell, and I often became the butt of some of these stories, but he always meant it in a friendly way, I think.
“He will be sadly missed by many, and I feel grateful that he played such an important part in my life.”
The official Scotland national team Twitter account declared Brown a “true Scotland legend” and added: “Our thoughts are with Craig’s loved ones at this sad time.”
Former clubs including Clyde, Preston, Motherwell and Dundee also expressed their condolences to Brown’s family.
So sorry to hear that Craig Brown has died. I last saw him in March at my uncle’s retirement from @ayrracecourse. He was in fine form – full of laughs and anecdotes from his life in football. He was an outstanding manager of @ScotlandNT and a truly lovely man 🏴 RIP https://t.co/5vitZiWxxUpic.twitter.com/kPUIjfpLVa
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: “So sorry to hear that Craig Brown has died. I last saw him in March at my uncle’s retirement from @ayrracecourse. He was in fine form – full of laughs and anecdotes from his life in football. He was an outstanding manager of @ScotlandNT and a truly lovely man.”
Her successor, Humza Yousaf, wrote: “A towering figure of the Scottish game, Craig Brown & the Scotland team he managed gave us many good memories over the years. You would be hard pressed to find a man who loved Scotland as passionately as he did. My thoughts with his family & friends at this sad time.”
An angry passenger is now looking for compensation after his easyJet flight from Poland to the United Kingdom had to be cancelled due to lightning damage.
On April 14, the Digances were supposed to fly back to Edinburgh, Scotland from Krakow in time for their granddaughter’s birthday party two days later.
Due to the damage the aircraft had incurred and the requirement for repairs, the airline was obliged to cancel the flight.
The 75-year-old claims that when he first appeared at the airport counter, service personnel told him there wouldn’t be another flight for three more days.
That night, Mr Digance and his 74-year-old partner were put up in a hotel opposite the airport by easyJet but he says they received no further contact about an earlier alternative flight home.
With no time to waste, the couple were forced into booking new flights off their own backs, but it cost them a whopping £1,318 and meant travelling via Frankfurt, Germany to arrive in Edinburgh on the afternoon of April 15.
Mr Digance said his phone ran out of battery shortly after arriving at the hotel near the airport in Krakow but when he switched it on the next morning, the only correspondence he’d received from easyJet was at 5am.
The airline had emailed to say they’d booked the pair on a flight to Belfast and then a connecting journey to Edinburgh, which would get in late at night on April 15.
According to easyJet, Mr Digance was kept ‘regularly updated’ that evening about alternative travel arrangements – something which he disputes.
He says their original flight had already been delayed by two hours before it was cancelled and believes they were left with no choice but to re-book flights themselves, given the time constraints they were under.
He told EdinburghLive: ‘The young woman sitting behind the EasyJet desk said the next flight was Monday April 17 and just laughed – we didn’t know what to do as we felt as though we had just been abandoned.
‘The battery on my phone had almost run out and we are both in our mid 70s and struggle with technology but thankfully a lovely Polish woman Edy who was flying to Edinburgh helped us.
‘EasyJet put us and a number of other passengers up for the night at the Garden Hilton but this was not without difficulty as the staff at the hotel had to contact easyJet for the vouchers.
‘We had to get back for our granddaughter’s birthday party on the 16th so Edy booked us flights from Krakow to Frankfurt and then to Edinburgh from her tablet.’
Mr Digance said he was ‘fully expecting’ compensation from easyJet the next morning but their request has since been declined by the company due to the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the lightning strike.
The situation has left Mr Digance fuming at easyJet for refusing to reimburse his flight fee and he says he will be taking the matter further.
He added: ‘I am prepared to take them all the way until I get what I am owed. It was not good enough for them to email us at 5am to say they had found alternative travel.’
An easyJet holidays spokesperson said: ‘We’re sorry to hear that Mr and Ms Digance’s flight home was cancelled due to their aircraft being struck by lightning earlier that day.
‘In situations like these, it’s our priority to get our customers booked onto an alternative flight as soon as possible and source hotel accommodation if needed.
‘In this instance we contacted our customers to let them know that we were sourcing them an alternative flight home, and also to provide details of their overnight accommodation.
‘We remained in regular contact that evening, letting them know we’d sourced them a flight to Belfast, and at 5am the following morning we confirmed that the customers were booked onto flights back to Edinburgh via Belfast that day.
‘However, we understand Mr and Ms Digance chose to book themselves an alternative flight home instead.
‘Whilst circumstances like these are out of our control, we’d like to apologise for the inconvenience Mr and Ms Digance experienced.’
At a house in Scotland, a four-year-old boy’s body was discovered.
On Monday, May 15, around 8 p.m., Kayden Frank’s body was found at a property on Argyle Street.
Following a complaint of concern, police arrived at the residence.
At the location, Kayden’s body was discovered. His death is being investigated as murder following a post mortem.
A 38-year-old man was also found dead at the home. Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police at scene on Argyle Street, Paisley on Monday (Picture: Stephen Gibson/Buchanan Photos)
At this time, detectives have no information to suggest anyone else has been involved.
Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Thomson, of the Major Investigation Team, said: ‘Our thoughts are with Kayden’s family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy.
‘We are providing his family with specialist support at this incredibly difficult time and officers are continuing enquiries to try and get some answers for them.
‘Kayden’s family have requested that their privacy is respected at this time.’
A report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and enquiries are ongoing.
The former first minister of Scotland has denied some of the most absurd rumors she has read online, claiming that she resigned because she wanted more privacy.
Nicola Sturgeon, who has been married to Peter Murrell, a former head of the SNP, for 13 years, has denied allegations that she is a “hidden lesbian.”
Furthermore, she dismissed rumors that she had an extramarital connection with a female French diplomat with a chuckle.
The rumour mill had claimed the pair bought a house from tennis star Sir Andy Murray’s mother Judy as a love nest.
In the past, the internet has also alleged that she has a global property portfolio and a super injunction in place to hide the truth.
Speaking to a BBC Scotland podcast, Ms Sturgeon said online gossip about her had been ‘part of the reason’ behind her decision to call it a day.
‘I read accounts of my life on social media and I think, “You know, it is so much more glamorous sounding and so much more exciting”‘, she said.
‘I’m not naive, I’m not of the view that I will step down one day and be completely anonymous the next day, I understand the realities of what I have done and I’ll still be in parliament, but I want to have a bit more privacy.
‘I want to have a bit more anonymity and I just want to protect some of what people take for granted in their lives that I’ve forgotten to have.’
Ms Sturgeon’s shock resignation as leader of the SNP in February led to speculation about the reasons behind her decision.
Some suggested the ongoing debate about self-identification laws for transgender people was the final straw.
The British government blocked the ‘self-ID’ law from taking effect, marking the first time it has invoked the power to veto Scottish law.
Ms Sturgeon said she would fight the decision, saying trans people were being ‘weaponised’ in politics, but she insisted her departure was ‘not a reaction to short-term pressures’.
At a press conference, she said she no longer felt she could give the job of first minister everything it deserves, and had a duty to say so.
‘If the only question was “can I battle on for another few months?”, then the answer is yes, of course I can’, she said.
‘But if the question is, “can I give this job everything it demands and deserves for another year, let alone for the remainder of this parliamentary term – give it every ounce of energy that it needs in the way that I have strived to do every day for the past eight years?” – the answer honestly is different.’
She previously cited the funeral of independence activist Allan Angus as the moment which cemented her decision.
She was replaced as first minister this week by Humza Yousaf, the first Scottish Asian and Muslim man to hold the role.
Spanish and Man City midfielder Rodri said: “Although I think it’s rubbish, it’s the way [Scotland] plays; they always waste time, make you angry, and lose. David Garcia of Spain said, “For me, this is not football. The grass was too long, and that cost us.”
After his team suffered a Hampden defeat in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Spain’s captain Rodri criticised Scotland’s “rubbish” football strategy.
After Scott McTominay of Manchester United scored twice to give Scotland a 2-0 victory and their first victory over Spain in 39 years, a Manchester City player accused Scotland of provocation and time-wasting.
Spain had not been beaten in Euro qualifying since 2014, when they were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia ahead of the 2016 tournament in France.
1 – Scotland earned their first win over Spain since November 1984 (3-1 in a World Cup qualifier), while this was just their third ever competitive victory against them (1957, 1984 and 2023). Spirited. pic.twitter.com/jxdaYqFoAa
They had won 34 of their last 38 European qualifying matches, with three draws, but at Hampden Park they looked unsettled.
Rodri skippered a side featuring eight changes from their previous game, and he criticised the way Scotland went about their work.
“We did many good things to win,” he said on Viaplay. “We conceded easy goals – this is football, if you concede easy goals you are penalised.
“It’s the way they play, but for me it’s rubbish, always wasting time, provoking you, always they fall. For me, this is not football.
The referee has to take on this, but he says nothing.
“We will learn for the next time. We want to go for duels, for battles – we always fight, but this is not about fighting. It’s about wasting time – four, five players on the floor, but this depends on the referee, not on us.
“Today we did many good things, but what’s important is the goal, and we didn’t score.”
David Garcia, who was making his Spain debut, also blamed the results on the length of the pitch at Hampden.
We can’t make excuses for that, we have to look at ourselves and fix what we did wrong today.”
Humza Yousaf is now officially the youngest leader in the nation and the first from a minority ethnic origin after being lawfully sworn in as Scotland’s sixth first minister.
After defeating opponents to become Nicola Sturgeon’s successor, the 37-year-old donned a sherwani as he took the oath of office during a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The declaration of loyalty to the King was administered by the Lord President in front of senior judges.
The Scottish National Party leader was then granted his official title of First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal.
Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland First Minister
The seal allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each one.
As Keeper of the Scottish Seal, Mr Yousaf will have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the crown – effectively meaning the First Minister can lead the country with the support of the Scottish Parliament.
The ceremony comes after MSPs backed him to become Scotland’s next leader on Tuesday.
Mr Yousaf, who is also the first Muslim to lead a major UK party, can now begin to shape his government by selecting his Cabinet.
He has already confirmed that Shona Robison will be deputy first minister, while his leadership election rival Kate Forbes has turned down the post of rural affairs secretary.
The first minister has vowed to champion people who feel like they don’t belong and has recalled the racist abuse he has faced over the years.
In his acceptance speech, he told the MSPs: I’ve lost count of how many times my identity, my loyalty to Scotland – the only country I have ever and will ever call home – has been questioned over the years.
‘There was a time not that long ago when I felt I simply did not belong here.’
He went on to add that he hopes his election ‘sends a strong message to every single person out there who feels that they don’t belong’.
He said: ‘No matter what anyone says, no matter who you are, whether Scotland has been your home for a day or for 10 generations, no matter your ethnicity, no matter your gender, no matter your religion, no matter your sexual orientation, your transgender identity or disability, this is your home and don’t let anyone ever tell you that you do not belong.’
Rodri described Scotland’s style of play as “rubbish” after Spain fell to a surprise 2-0 defeat in Tuesday’s Euro 2024 qualifier at Hampden Park, accusing Steve Clarke’s hosts of time-wasting.
Scott McTominay scored early in both halves as Scotland maintained their perfect start in Group A, dealing Luis de la Fuente his first defeat since he replaced Luis Enrique as Spain boss.
While the result represents Spain’s first European Championship qualification defeat since October 2014 (2-1 v Slovakia), it is also the first time La Roja have lost a game by more than a one-goal margin since Euro 2016 (2-0 v Italy).
Spain were visibly frustrated as Scotland produced a resolute defensive performance in Glasgow, with players from both teams involved in a series of altercations as the game went on.
Spain’s stand-in captain Rodri was less than impressed with Scotland’s display after the game, telling ViaPlay: “It’s the way they play, in the end you have to respect it, but for me it’s a bit rubbish.
“It’s always wasting time, they provoke you, they always fall. This for me is not football. The referee says nothing and it’s a bit frustrating because we want to win.
“It’s difficult, because they waste time. But they have their weapons, and we will learn for the next time.
“We wanted to go in the duels and the battles. We always fight, but this is not about fighting, it’s about wasting time, it’s about four or five players falling to the floor, those kinds of situations.
“These teams are always physically strong, but we have to use our weapons. We are good with the ball and have to move the ball quickly. Today we did many good things, but we didn’t score.”
Scotland skipper Andy Robertson disagreed with Rodri’s assessment, believing Spain were guilty of play-acting in the early stages and praising his team-mates for winning the physical battle.
“I think they were going down a little bit easily. We were trying to say that [to the referee],” Robertson said.
“We were always going to try to be physical and we wanted to be in their faces, to win our challenges and win our headers. I think we did that and I don’t think we crossed the line.
“I think, especially in the first half, they were rolling around a bit much, they used their experience and got a couple of us booked, but I think we won that battle and got under their skin.”
Steve Clarke has signed a new contract extension until 2026, providing Scotland with a timely boost ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying doubleheader against Cyprus and Spain.
Temur Ketsbaia’s men visit Hampden Park tomorrow afternoon, followed by Luis Enrique’s side on Tuesday.
“I am proud that my coaching team and I will continue to lead the team through the next two qualifying campaigns, as well as Nations League Group A,” Clarke, 59, said after being appointed in May 2019.
“But being able to do so is a testament to the squad of players who have been central to our improvement.
“The immediate focus is ensuring a positive start to our Euros campaign against Cyprus, who were the opposition for my first match in charge in 2019.
“When we named our squad for the double-header, I spoke with my coaches about how the quality and depth of the squad has evolved in those four years.
“We now have an experienced core who have been constants throughout but we have also added quality and competition in every area of the team.
New campaign, new contract ✍
Steve Clarke has signed a new contract to remain as Scotland Men's National Team Head Coach until 2026.
“We also played that game in front of around 30,000 fans and will walk out on Saturday, and Tuesday against Spain, to a full house at Hampden Park.
“It’s imperative we keep the fans engaged and entertained and that is something we are all committed to achieving through winning games and qualifying for more major tournaments, starting with Germany next year.”
Scottish FA chief exec Ian Maxwell added: “This has been one of the easiest decisions and conversations during my time as chief executive.
“And as we look forward to a new Euro 2024 campaign, it was important we demonstrated our commitment to Steve and his backroom team and acknowledged the continuity that has been key to our improvement in the past four years.
“I know how determined the squad are to return to a major final after experiencing Euro 2020.
“And while everyone was disappointed not to have reached the World Cup in Qatar last December, securing promotion to Nations League Group A was another sign of the undeniable progress made.
“I’m sure the fans will share the Scottish FA’s excitement and we wish Steve and his squad all the best for the forthcoming double-header.”
In light of some forecasters’ concerns that a second storm may hit the nation, the Met Office advised citizens to prepare for the impending frigid weather.
‘Freezing fog’ earlier this month disrupted early morning commuters’ travel plans, and some airports had to cancel flights because of the chilly weather.
Because of the icy conditions, The Met even issued a weather alert.
Arctic winds are set to bring colder temperatures which are more usual for this time of year, which could result in snow and ice.
Met Office forecasters say a ‘sudden stratospheric warming’ (SSW), in which high pressure forces warmer air to the North of the UK allowing colder air to flow down from the Arctic, has a 31 per cent chance of bringing icy temperatures across Britain.
A spokesperson said it was a ‘clear and cold’ forecast for much of England and Wales, though ‘clouding up from the north.’
They added: ‘Cloud and rain pushes south across Scotland. Clearer, colder weather follows to the far north.’
Tonight temperatures could fall to as low as -4C in some areas of the country.
Ice cold temperatures are set to hit the UK overnightLow clouds have meant freezing fog blanketed the UK in the last few weeksThe overnight cold snap could bring snow and ice to parts of the UK. Last month St Michael’s Tower at the top of Glastonbury Tor was covered in the white stuff (Picture: PA)
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said there has been less than 20 per cent of the UK’s average rainfall in February so far in large parts of England and Wales.
He said: ‘We’re going to have a frosty but bright start in the North and then cloud increases through the day. By the afternoon, there will be spells of rain into the North and North West of Scotland accompanied by a strengthening wind.
‘Some showers to begin things in the South, but these will soon clear away. Sunny spells will arrive into much of England and Wales by the end of the afternoon.’
Windsor was looking frosty this morning as Brits have been warned to brace themselves for freezing temperatures Freezing fog has hit the capital in recent weeks
He said temperatures could reach 10C (50F) in the South but that strong winds will hit the Northern Isles, ‘potentially reaching gale force’.
He added the cold pressure front bringing rain in Scotland today will continue pushing south overnight and throughout Friday.
Forecasters are warning the front could cause sleet, ice and snow in parts of the North today due to its lower temperatures.
Britain may have to get used to such conditions as the end of the month approaches with more northern winds bringing a longer Arctic blast.
Rail workers are continuing their strike action this week in a dispute over pay, jobs, and conditions, and passengers in Scotland and Wales have been warned to expect significant disruption.
The RMT union has declared that on January 3, 4, 6, and 7, employees at Network Rail will go on strike.
Transport for Wales and ScotRail, who are not parties to the dispute, have both issued warnings that the walkouts in England will have a negative impact on their services.
According to ScotRail, this is due to the fact that many of the Network Rail employees protesting in safety-sensitive positions.
David Simpson, ScotRail service delivery director, said: “It’s really disappointing to see more widespread disruption across the whole Great Britain rail network as a result of the dispute between Network Rail and the RMT at a time when we need to be encouraging more people back to the railway.
“For ScotRail, it’s going to mean that we won’t be able to operate the vast majority of our services between 3 and 7 January, which we know will be really frustrating for our customers.”
Meanwhile, Transport for Wales told the BBC that asNetwork Rail owns and operates the track, stations, and signaling in Britain, the strikes mean only a limited number of trains can run.
It said, “The industrial action resulting from the dispute between the unions and Network Rail means we’ll be unable to operate rail services on Network Rail infrastructure.”
The applicant’s minimum age would also be lowered to 16 and the applicant’s time living in their acquired gender would be reduced from two years to three months (or six months for those between the ages of 16 and 17), though there would be a three-month reflection period.
After a lengthy session of parliament yesterday, MSPs will discuss the final of the 153 amendments submitted at stage three of the bill before a final vote this afternoon.
The sitting was disrupted by protests from the public gallery, with opponents of the bill shouting “shame on all of you” as an amendment that would make it harder for sex offenders to apply for a GRC was voted down.
The Scottish Tories also appeared to be trying to make the proceedings last as long as possible by tabling four amendments to the agenda, forcing a vote on the timetable for the consideration of amendments, raising a further motion for MSPs to vote on and several points of order – all before the debate on the amendments began.
The party also opted to push amendments to a vote – even when the proposer of the changes did not.
It has been one of the most controversial bills in Holyrood since devolution.
Opponents have raised concerns about its impact on the safety of women and girls, while the Scottish government has insisted it will not impact the Equality Act – which allows for trans people to be excluded from single-sex spaces such as changing rooms and shelters.
The Scottish Parliamentis about to pass a new law that will make it easier for anyone in Scotland who wants to change their gender to do so legally.
The likelihood that the UK government will reject it, however, raises serious concerns for those who would like to relocate elsewhere in the country.
Since 1998, MPs in Westminster have made some laws that are applicable in Scotland, while MSPs in Edinburgh have made others.
The timeline for obtaining a gender recognition certificate, a document that enables someone to change their gender on their birth certificate, will be shortened by legislation currently before the Scottish Parliament.
Gender recognition certificates allow people to change certain legal documents, and can affect areas such as entitlement to benefits and pensions.
The legislation is currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament and is likely to pass later this month.
UK government ministers are responsible for the law in this area in England and Wales, and have no plans to move in the same direction as the Scottish government.
A UK government source close to the process told the BBC this was “absolutely” possible.
The Westminster government is also not ruling out the prospect of a legal challenge once the legislation is passed by MSPs – it believes the new law may have an impact on areas where policy is decided in London.
Asked if there could be a legal challenge to the Scottish legislation, the source told the BBC “nothing can be ruled out”.
Scottish government ministers have said they are happy to meet their UK counterparts to discuss their concerns – and officials in Edinburgh said they had tried to set up talks in October, without any response.
The SNP-led government believes the bill involves powers held solely in Edinburgh, so the UK government would not have grounds to mount a legal challenge.
Equalities Secretary Kemi Badenoch has written to the Scottish government expressing concerns about the Scottish legislation, and has offered to meet Scottish ministers to discuss it.
‘Nasty Westminster’
A UK government source told the BBC that they had concerns people from elsewhere in the UK may relocate to Scotland to change gender.
And they claimed Scottish ministers wanted to paint Scotland as a “haven of inclusivity” in comparison to a “nasty Westminster”.
The source described the Scottish legislation as a “test case scenario” of how a bill passed by the Scottish Parliament could “undermine Westminster competencies” – in other words, handing Holyrood powers outside Scotland.
A separate UK government official told the BBC there was “genuine concern” about the impact the legislation could have across the rest of the UK. They added that they hoped a legal battle could be avoided.
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has said she would be “happy to meet with Ms Badenoch” to discuss the issue.
NHS Scotland health workers threatened with strike have received an improved pay offer averaging 7.5%.
Unions will now consider the Scottish government’s £515 million deal.
Before this latest proposal, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Health Secretary Humza Yousaf held “extensive” talks.
Unite and GMB have suspended ambulance workers’ strike and confirmed that the offer will be put to a vote among members.
Unite members from the Scottish Ambulance Service planned a work-to-rule on Friday, while 1,700 GMB members planned a 26-hour strike on Monday.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN),the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and Unison had also backed strike action in the ongoing pay dispute.
The RCN, which had delayed a formal announcement on strikes while negotiations took place this week, confirmed that its board members would consider the detail of the latest offer.
Unison has recommended that members accept the deal.
The Scottish government said it was a “record high pay offer” for front line workers.
Annual pay rises under the latest deal would range from a flat rate payment of £2,205 for staff in Bands 1 to 4 and up to £2,660 for staff in Bands 5 to 7, backdated to April.
This represents an increase of 11.3% for the lowest paid workers and delivers an average uplift of 7.5%, a government spokesperson said.
The new offer also included a review into reducing the working week from 37.5 hours to 36 hours with no loss of pay.
Mr Yousaf said no stone had been left unturned to reach its “best and final pay offer”.
He said: “We have made the best offer possible to get money into the pockets of hard working staff and to avoid industrial action, in what is already going to be an incredibly challenging winter.”
Wilma Brown, from Unison, said she recognised that the new package was the best that could have been negotiated.
She told the BBC: “The new package demonstrates that we are concerned about everybody’s take-home pay these days and the professional groups have lost out a lot of money over the years during austerity and various other reasons and that this goes some way to starting to make that up.
“Is it enough? No, we would have wanted more, but we believe that this is the best deal that we will get through negotiation.”
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said staff needed to be valued to “tackle the chronic understaffing crisis across NHS frontline services” after a decade of cuts and the Covid pandemic.
Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland’s government cannot unilaterally hold a second referendum on whether to secede from the United Kingdom, in a blow to independence campaigners that will be welcomed by Westminster’s pro-union establishment.
The court unanimously rejected an attempt by the Scottish National Party (SNP) to force a vote next October, as it did not have the approval of Britain’s parliament.
But the decision is unlikely to stem the heated debate over independence that has loomed over British politics for a decade.
Scotland last held a vote on the issue, with Westminster’s approval, in 2014, when voters rejected the prospect of independence by 55% to 45%.
The pro-independence SNP has nonetheless dominated politics north of the border in the intervening years, at the expense of the traditional, pro-union groups. Successive SNP leaders have pledged to give Scottish voters another chance to vote, particularly since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016.
The latest push by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon involved holding an advisory referendum late next year, similar to the 2016 poll that resulted in Brexit. But the country’s top court agreed that even a non-legally binding vote would require oversight from Westminster, given its practical implications.
“A lawfully held referendum would have important political consequences in relation to the Union and the United Kingdom Parliament,” Lord Reed said as he read the court’s judgment.
“It would either strengthen or weaken the democratic legitimacy of the Union and of the United Kingdom Parliament’s sovereignty over Scotland, depending on which view prevailed, and would either support or undermine the democratic credentials of the independence movement,” he said.
Sturgeon said she accepted the ruling on Wednesday, but tried to frame the decision as another pillar in the argument for secession. “A law that doesn’t allow Scotland to choose our own future without Westminster consent exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership & makes (a) case” for independence,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Scottish democracy will not be denied,” she said. “Today’s ruling blocks one route to Scotland’s voice being heard on independence – but in a democracy our voice cannot and will not be silenced.”
England and Scotland have been joined in a political union since 1707, but many Scots have long bristled at what they consider a one-sided relationship dominated by England. Scottish voters have historically rejected the ruling Conservative Party at the ballot box and voted heavily – but in vain – against Brexit, intensifying arguments over the issue in the past decade.
Since 1999, Scotland has had a devolved government, meaning many, but not all, decisions are made at the SNP-led Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh.
He had spent the past year insisting that he was Arthur Knight, an orphan from Ireland who had never been to the US.
He claimed that he had been given distinctive tattoos matching those on the arms of Rossi while he was lying unconscious in a Glasgow hospital in an attempt to frame him.
But after a three-day hearing, Sheriff Norman McFadyen said: “I am ultimately satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Knight is indeed Nicholas Rossi, the person sought for extradition by the United States.”
Sheriff McFadyen rejected Rossi’s claims to have been the victim of mistaken identity as “implausible” and “fanciful” and said his repeated name changes were “highly suspicious” and “consistent with someone who was hiding from someone or something”.
He will now face an extradition hearing in March, when the Scottish courts will decide whether to send him back to the US to stand trial on the allegations against him.
Rossi was arrested by Police Scotland last year after staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital recognised his tattoos – images of which had been circulated by Interpol – while he was being treated for Covid.
Fingerprint expert Lisa Davidson told the court that prints taken from the man claiming to be Arthur Knight after his arrest were identical to those of Rossi, which were included on a US extradition request and the Interpol red notice.
IMAGE SOURCE,PAWTUCKET POLICE DEPT Image caption, Medical staff at a Glasgow hospital recognised Rossi by the distinctive tattoos on his arms
But Rossi claimed the fingerprints had been meddled with and taken from him by an NHS worker called “Patrick” on behalf of David Leavitt, a Utah county lawyer.
Advocate depute Paul Harvey dismissed his claims as “entirely outlandish” and “bizarre”.
Rossi’s accent also changed several times while he was giving evidence.
A series of earlier hearings in the case had seen Rossi sack at least six lawyers and claim to have been tortured in prison.
His wife, Miranda Knight, 41, gave evidence to the court during the hearing and said her husband had given no indication that he was really Nicholas Rossi.
Rossi’s marriage certificate was shown to the court,which had been signed under the name Nicholas Brown.
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, Miranda Knight told the court she did not believe her husband was really Nicholas Rossi
The court was told on Wednesday that US prosecutors submitted additional extradition requests over an allegation of rape in Salt Lake City and another over an allegation of sexual assault against Rossi.
Rossi, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, was already fighting an extradition request by authorities in Utah who allege he raped a 21-year-old woman in the state in 2008.
He had previously been convicted of sexually assaulting another woman, known as Mary, after meeting her online in 2008.
She told BBC Scotland that Rossi pinned her against a wall, forcefully kissed and groped her and masturbated in front of her at a college in Ohio.
Mary said she hoped Rossi would now face justice on the other allegations against him, adding: “He is trying to fool everybody and I’m glad so many people see through it”.
Who is Nicholas Rossi?
Image caption, Nicholas Rossi is wanted by authorities in Utah
Authorities in the US have said that Rossi was also known as Nicholas Alahverdian in the state of Rhode Island, where he was involved in local politics and was a critic of the state’s child welfare system.
Rossi told US media in December 2019 that he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to live. Several outlets reported that he had died in February 2020.
Court records showed that Utah officials were looking for him at the time in connection with an alleged rape.
He used several other aliases, including Nicholas Edward Rossi, Nicholas Alahverdian-Rossi, Nick Alan, Nicholas Brown, Arthur Brown and Arthur Knight.
The FBI also had a warrant for his arrest on charges of defrauding his foster father by taking out credit cards in his name and running up debts of more than $200,000.
England and Scotland will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first international football match with a repeat fixture at Glasgow’s Hampden Park in 2023.
The two teams played out the inaugural game, officially considered the maiden encounter in the sport’s international history by FIFA, on November 30, 1872.
As part of the celebrations marking 150 years since that 0-0 draw at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, they will face off in the same city next year on September 12.
“Any meeting with Scotland is always special,” England manager Gareth Southgate said.
“Ourselves and Scotland are the oldest of rivals, and passions are sure to be high at Hampden.
“But this milestone is much bigger than our two nations, as it is also an opportunity to celebrate 150 years of international football.”
The neighbouring nations met in the group stage of Euro 2020, with that match finishing goalless. Their last encounter at Hampden Park came in 2017, when Harry Kane struck in injury time in a 2-2 draw.
A visit to Old Trafford in June and a 150th Anniversary Heritage Match with Scotland in September 🗓
“This fixture is enshrined in history,” Scotland manager Steve Clarke added. “I will be proud to lead our team out at Hampden as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of our national game.
“This next chapter of the oldest rivalry in football will be a special occasion for our players and fans, especially after the recent experience at Wembley during Euro 2020.”
Alongside the announcement, the Football Association (FA) confirmed England will play their Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at Manchester United’s Old Trafford on June 19.
While Scotland failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, England are making their preparations for Qatar, with Southgate set to name his squad by November 10.
The Three Lions will take on Iran, the United States and Wales in the group stage.
Sunak won the Conservative Party leadership election, and Scotland’s first minister has congratulated him, saying she will do her best “to build a constructive working relationship with him in the interests of those we serve,” but she has also renewed calls for Scottish independence.
“That he becomes the first British Asian to become PM is a genuinely significant moment,” Nicola Sturgeon tweeted.
“As for the politics, I’d suggest one immediate decision he should take and one he certainly should not. He should call an early General Election. And he should not – must not – unleash another round of austerity. Our public services will not withstand that,” she said.
“For Scotland, of course, he becomes another PM we did not and, without doubt, would not vote for even if given the chance. To escape the damage of Westminster governments with no mandate here, and take our future into our own hands, Scotland needs independence.”
As she laid out her plans for an independent Scotland today,Nicola Sturgeon claimed Prime Minister Liz Truss’ decision not to tender her resignation demonstrates how “badly broken” UK politics is.
Following the chancellor’s emergency statement today, the first minister said that if she had given in to demands made by Tories and commentators on the day of the mini budget to match the UK government’s tax plans she too “would be dealing with something of a financial disaster.”
She said: “It will also be galling, I think, that the one measure that the prime minister has repeatedly cited to effectively justify the market turmoil of recent weeks, the energy price cap has also been curtailed, leaving many people and possibly many businesses without the support with energy bills that they were expecting.”
Launching her economic prospectus paper on Scottish independence, Ms Sturgeon said a “fairer, more sustainable economy was more possible for Scotland with independence than it ever will be with continued Westminster control”.
She said: “In 2014, the choice before the Scottish people was framed by Westminster parties as the strength and stability of the UK on the one hand and the uncertainty of independence on the other. The reality in the years since has been very different.
“It is glaringly obvious now that the UK does not offer economic strength and stability or financial security.”
Setting out some of her plans, Ms Sturgeon said she would create an independent Scottish central bankand confirmed that the policy of the Scottish government was to establish a Scottish pound.
“We would seek to do this as soon as practicable. The precise timing would be determined not by a fixed timetable, but by a set of objective requirements and criteria guided by advice from the central bank and subject to a decision by parliament in the overall interests of the country.”
A mother says she will be forced to freeze this winter after her energy bill surged to £530 a month – the majority of which is used on life-saving equipment for her disabled daughter.
Carolynne Hunter, from Tillicoultry in Scotland, told Sky News she is “exhausted and scared” about the winter ahead.
She also requires two-bed linen changes and multiple clothing changes per day, generating a significant amount of laundry that all needs to be washed and dried.
Freya is unable to regulate her own body temperature, so requires constant heating in the winter.
Ms Hunter has seen her bill more than double since March – from £225 a month to £530. This winter she will turn off the heating in every room except Freya’s – and said she and her other daughter will “freeze”.
🗣️”I don’t know how I’m going to afford it. I’m worried and anxious.”@CazMac38 is an unpaid intensive carer who has historically lived in fuel poverty to support Freya’s energy needs.
But, she told Sky News, she has no choice if she wants to keep her daughter alive.
“The staff who support Freya also need heating, so I have to pay for them to be warm.
“It’s causing friction between me and them as I have to keep telling them to turn off unnecessary taps and heating. They’re not my staff, they’re NHS staff.”
She added: “I pay for them to be warm – they can’t freeze all night, but I can. I don’t matter, do I?”
Ms Hunter is calling on energy companies to offer discounted rates to people living with disabilities, who require energy to keep them alive.
Next week, there won’t be any strikes that would have forced the closure of hundreds of schools and prevented garbage cans from being emptied throughout Scotland.
For the lowest paid employees, a new offer will result in a 10% pay increase rather than the special cost of living payments for this year and next.
In 11 council regions, non-teaching school personnel were scheduled to walk out for three days the next week.
Refuse workers had also been due to begin a fresh round of strikes.
The Unison, GMB, and Unite unions all said they had suspended their industrial action while they consult their members on the pay new offer, and that they were recommending the deal be accepted.
It follows an 11-hour meeting between unions and council leaders that was hosted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh on Thursday.
The unions had rejected an increased pay offer earlier this week.
Cosla said at the time it was disappointed that the unions had turned down a deal that was at the “absolute extremes” of affordability, while Ms Sturgeon warned there was no “bottomless pit” of money to pay for an improved offer.
What is included in the new offer?
An increase of £2,000 for those earning up to £20,500
An increase of £1,925 for those earning between £20,500 to £39,000
A 5% increase for those earning between £39,000 to £60,000
A maximum increase of £3,000 for those earning above £60,000
The removal of social care registration fees
One extra day of annual leave
All increases will be based on a 36-hour week calculator
Councillor Katie Hagmann, Cosla’s human resources spokeswoman, said the revised offer showed that councils had “listened to the concerns of our workforce and have responded positively”.
She added: “Council leaders have said consistently throughout these negotiations that we very much value and are grateful to the local government workforce.”
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Nicola Sturgeon intervened in the pay dispute between unions and Cosla
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government would have to make difficult choices to help pay for the pay deal.
She told BBC Scotland: “I hope union members will now accept this offer, I think this is a good deal for workers in really difficult circumstances.
“People are struggling and obviously it is a good deal for the public because it averts any possibility of industrial action and I’m particularly grateful to trade unions for suspending the strike action planned for next week.
“The Scottish government has a finite budget so there are going to be some difficult decisions to support this deal but it is important we do support the best deals for workers.”
Scottish Labour’s local government spokesman Mark Griffin said it was “simply not good enough that it took weeks of industrial action to embarrass the SNP government into action”.
Scottish Conservative Party Chairman, Craig Hoy MSP, said Nicola Sturgeon was “missing in action for weeks” and the strikes should have been stopped a lot sooner.
‘Not a perfect offer’
Bin strikes began in Edinburgh on 18 August after unions rejected an initial pay offer equivalent to a 3.5% increase.
The action escalated last week when workers at a further 20 local authorities walked out despite a revised 5% offer.
Unison said 80% of its members would now get pay rises of between 5% and 10%, which it described as a victory.
Johanna Baxter, the union’s head of local government, said: “It is only through the collective action of our members in school and early years staff threatening strike action and our waste and recycling workers taking action that we have forced these extra funds out of government and the employer.”
A GMB Scotland spokesman said the new offer was a “significant amount of consolidated money” for workers including the “frontline refuse and school staff that everyone depends on”.
Keir Greenaway, the union’s senior organiser for public services, said: “It is not a perfect offer but it is the view of GMB Scotland’s local government committee that it’s worthy of members’ consultation and their acceptance”.
Unite said the direct intervention of the first minister had been a primary reason for the breakthrough, and that it now had a “credible offer which our local government representatives can recommend to the membership for acceptance.”
Meanwhile, Scotland’s largest teaching union is recommending that its members vote in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay.
The UK is set to see its hottest day on record, with temperatures on Tuesday expected to reach up to 42C (107.6F).
A high of 38.1C was reached in Suffolk on Monday, just short of the UK record of 38.7C set in 2019. Wales recorded its hottest day on record with 37.1C.
The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning covering much of central, northern, and south-east England.
Provisional figures showed the UK experienced the warmest night on record from Monday into Tuesday.
Temperatures did not fall below 25C in places, exceeding the previous highest daily minimum record of 23.9C recorded in Brighton on 3 August 1990, the Met Office said.
Check the forecast where you are
Follow live updates as extreme heat grips UK
Emley Moor in west Yorkshire could have broken the record, where 25.9C was recorded overnight, according to the Met Office.
Scotland could see its highest day on record, surpassing the 32.9C set at Greycrook in the Scottish Borders in August 2003.
The hottest places in Scotland yesterday were Aboyne in Aberdeenshire and Leuchars in Fife, both with highs of 31.3C.
As temperatures rapidly rise, already reaching 37C in some areas, emergency responses have been issued across the UK:
A man died after being pulled from the sea on the Isle of Wight
At least four other people are believed to have drowned after attempting to escape the heat in rivers and lakes
Network Rail issued a “do-not-travel” warning for Tuesday, affecting services travelling through the “red zone”
The Supreme Court moved hearings online, while the British Museum confirmed it would shut early at 15:00 BST
The extreme warning, indicating a threat to life, is in place in an area stretching between London, Manchester and York.
Thermometers were reading 37.3C in the village of Charlwood, Surrey, at 11:00 on Tuesday. Kew Gardens soared to 36.9C, with Heathrow Airport rising to 36.6C.
There was a markedly cooler outlook for Penzance, Cornwall, where thundery storms hit the popular holiday destination and were projected to last until midday.
But by 16:00, Lincoln, Cambridge and Huntingdon could see 40C – and areas in the A1/M1 corridor may surpass this.
More than a dozen protesters have been arrested for driving too slowly during demonstrations on motorways in England, Wales and Scotland over fuel prices.
The go-slow action is mainly targeting three-lane motorways with convoys of vehicles crawling along two lanes – leaving the “fast” outside lane free.
Twelve people were arrested after a protest on the M4, which led to the Prince of Wales Bridge, between England and Wales, being closed.
Another man was arrested near the A38.
Protesters, organised under the social media banner Fuel Price Stand Against Tax, have driven in a series of convoys at 30mph (48.3km/h) to cause gridlock on major roads and motorways across Great Britain.
Chief Superintendent Tom Harding from Gwent Police said people had been arrested for driving under 30mph for a “prolonged amount of time”.
Among the roads affected by disruption have been:
the M4 and Prince of Wales Bridge
the M5 in Devon
the M32
the A38
the M180 in Lincolnshire
the A12 in Essex
the A92 in Scotland
the A64 near York
Gwent Police said organisers of the protest had been given a legal notice to prevent them from blocking the bridge over the River Severn and from driving under 30mph.
Ch Supt Harding said restrictions had been placed on the protest as otherwise “emergency and critical services” would have been restricted, posing a risk to the local community.
He added the force was aware of other driving offences not connected to the protests and these would be dealt with appropriately.
Two convoys of slow-moving vehicles had brought parts of the M4 to a standstill with vehicles travelling towards the crossing from both directions.
IMAGE SOURCE,TARIQ AKRAM Image caption, Tariq Akram said other cars joined the convoy as it went by
Tariq Akram said his was one of 50 vehicles making the 60-mile journey through Scunthorpe and Doncaster at 20mph.
The Scunthorpe truck driver told the BBC his company had added £4,000 to its fuel bill in the past four months because of rising prices.
“The turnout was absolutely fantastic.
“There were 35 vehicles from our yard alone who took part,” he said.
“At one point, I thought some cars wanted to overtake so I tried to let them by, then I realised they were joining in.”
BBC Radio Humberside’s Amanda White said when the convoy u-turned the queues were extraordinary with “hundreds if not thousands of vehicles nose to tail crawling along”.
She said while some motorists were angry others supported the protest and some even joined the convoy in their own vehicles.
Image caption, A convoy of vehicles on the M180 in Lincolnshire
Avon and Somerset Police said all protests in its area had finished and thanked the public for their patience in a tweet at about 15:20 BST.
On Monday, the force said there had been slow-moving roadblocks on the M4, M5 and M32 and predicted protesters to take a break before returning along the route.
Earlier, Devon and Cornwall Police said it was aware of a go-slow protest heading northbound from Exeter services of the M5.
The force also said a further protest began on the A38 heading north from Ivybridge, where a man in his 50s was arrested after ignoring a warning about unsafe driving.
“Unfortunately we have had unsafe driving on the A38 including vehicles travelling at a dangerously low speed,” a force spokesman said.
Police Scotland said it was aware of protests on motorways and trunk roads and urged motorists to drive at an appropriate speed for the road conditions.
But the force warned journey times could be longer than normal.
In Lincolnshire, police blocked junction one between the M180 and M18 forcing protesters to remain on the former.
West Yorkshire Police said officers had deployed a “single tyre deflation device” – also known as a “stinger” – at the Ferrybridge services in the early stages of the protest.
The force said the device had not been used, no damage had been done to vehicles and it had since been withdrawn.
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Police said no vehicles had been damaged when a “single tyre deflation device” was deployed in West Yorkshire
West Mercia Police said some of the tactics used during a protest on the M54, which had ended by about 08:30 BST, had “compromised the safety of other road users” and said officers would take action against those who committed traffic offences.
A Facebook event called Stand Up to Fuel Prices, with more than 57,000 responses, called for people to take their cars, lorries and tractors to cause roadblocks all over the country “until there is change”.
The organisers wrote that fuel costs were driving up other costs of living and said they hoped the more people that joined the protest, the sooner livings costs would drop.
Fuel prices have risen to record highs in recent weeks with figures from data firm Experian showing the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts had hit 191.5p and 199.0p for diesel on Sunday.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said there did not appear to be any sign of retailers reducing forecourt prices despite weekly wholesale costs having fallen for five weeks.
Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers’ Association, which represents independent forecourts, said rising wholesale prices were related to international events and the weakness of the pound against the US dollar.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said he will carefully consider calls for a “more substantial” fuel duty cut after the 5p per litre reduction implemented in March failed to halt price rises.
Rising fuel prices have been pushed even higher by the war in Ukraine, with Russia, one of the world’s largest oil exporters, facing sanctions.
IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, Police escort vehicles across the Prince of Wales Bridge, which runs between England and Wales
The government has said while it understands people are struggling with rising prices and have a right to protest, “people’s day-to-day lives should not be disrupted” and warned traffic delays “will only add to fuel use”.
Howard Cox, founder of campaign group FairFuelUK, said other countries had cut fuel duty more than the UK and called for a reduction of at least 20p.
While he said his organisation was not involved in the protests he said there was an appetite for them and if the government did not deliver on the issue there could be “some serious escalation of protests”.
Former Scotland and Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram has died after “a short battle” with cancer at the age of 58.
Goram was capped 43 times for his country at football and four times at cricket – the only Scot to have played at the top level at both sports.
He helped Rangers win five Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
Goram was also on loan at Manchester United during the run-in as they won the Premier League title in 2000-01.
He was most recently goalkeeping coach with West of Scotland Football League club Cambuslang Rangers.
It was announced in April that Goram had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, which affects the long tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach, and later revealed he been given six months to live.
He also disclosed that he had turned down chemotherapy as it would only extend his life by three months.
Many tributes have been made on social media from former clubs, team-mates and rivals to the man who became affectionately known simply as “The Goalie” after Rangers posted on Saturday that they were “deeply saddened” to announce his death.
Born in Bury of a Scottish father, Goram signed for Oldham Athletic, then in England’s Second Division, after his release from West Bromwich Albion’s youth set-up and went on to make 195 appearances.
Sir Alex Ferguson had already handed him his Scotland debut by the time he moved to Hibernian in 1987 and he would captain the Edinburgh side for many of his 138 appearances before being sold to Rangers for £1m four years later.
Goram represented Scotland at cricket as well as football
The high point of Goram’s stay at Ibrox came in season 1992-93, when the Glasgow side narrowly missed out on reaching the Champions League final but won a fifth consecutive league title as they completed a domestic treble. He also received the Scottish Football Writers’ Association and SPFA player of the year awards.
Internationally, he was part of the Scotland squad that played at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups and Euro 92 and 96, but he walked out on the squad before the 1998 finals because of head coach Craig Brown’s preference at the time for long-time rival Jim Leighton.
After brief spells at Notts County and Sheffield United, Goram signed for Motherwell in January 1999, helping them finish fourth in the Scottish top flight the following year.
He played twice on loan at Old Trafford in Man United’s title run-in before a spell with Coventry City and a return to Scotland with Queen of the South, helping the Dumfries side lift the Scottish Challenge Cup in 2002.
After retiring at the end of the 2003-04 campaign following a season-long spell at Elgin City, he turned to coaching, with Motherwell, Clyde, Hamilton Academical, BSC Glasgow, Dunfermline Athletic and Airdrieonians among the clubs whose goalkeepers he assisted.
As a left-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, Goram played for a series of local-league clubs in England and Scotland before Rangers manager Walter Smith effectively ended his cricket career when he ordered him to concentrate on football.
Rangers Football Club are today deeply saddened to announce the death of our legendary goalkeeper, Andy Goram, following a short battle with cancer.
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) July 2, 2022
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of legendary Scotland goalkeeper, Andy Goram.
The thoughts of everyone at the Scottish FA are with Andy’s family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/RgUN074M5p
An emotionally charged Hampden will host a World Cup play-off semi-final between Scotland and Ukraine on Wednesday in a game given global attention by Russia‘s invasion.
The carrot for the winners is not only national pride, but a place in Sunday’s final against Wales in Cardiff.
Scotland are aiming to reach their first men’s World Cup in 24 years, while Ukraine are hoping to add to their one appearance in 2006.
But their preparations have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict in their homeland, which led to the fixture being delayed from its original date in March.
Given special dispensation to play amid a call-up of many of the country’s men to the army, Oleksandr Petrakov’s squad have spent the last month preparing at a training camp in Brdo, Slovenia.
Friendlies in Germany, Italy and Croatia followed a qualifying campaign in which they were unbeaten in their eight group games, but finished behind holders France courtesy of six of those matches being draws.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke expects the visitors “will be ready for the game, no worries”.
“They are a very talented team with very talented players,” he added. “They are a good team, but we’re a good team too.”
Indeed, Clarke’s side, who finished second behind Denmark in their qualifying group, are unbeaten in their last eight.
“We’ll play the same way – wanting to get on the front foot – and I think the Ukrainian team will be the same,” he added. “They will want to attack – I’ve watched them and they are a good team going forward.
“The guys know when they turn up that we’re on a good run and they want to keep that going for at least two more matches.”
Team news
Scotland are without key defender Kieran Tierney as the Arsenal player recovers from knee surgery, while Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack had to withdraw due to a calf injury.
Nathan Patterson has “run out of time a bit”, having not played since late March as the Everton defender makes his way back from an ankle operation, but may be available should Scotland reach the final.
Ukraine’s home-based players have not been involved in any competitive action since December as the war began during their winter shutdown.
Goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was the last to join the squad after being an unused substitute for Real Madrid in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko arrives in Scotland on the back of a Premier League title with Manchester City
What they said
Ukraine midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko: “Our mood, I would describe as a fighting mood, because everyone understands what is going on in Ukraine these days, what the situation is like on the ground.
“That’s why I would say our motivation is definitely 100 per cent to win. I’m pretty sure that all in Ukraine who have this opportunity is going to watch us, and we are going to feel this support 100%.
“We can speak a lot but we need to do it on the pitch. We are going to try to make them happy and proud.”
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon: “Everybody will be feeling the enormity of the occasion, but we are kind of shielded from what’s going on, on the outside, and we prepare like any other game we have done.
“It’s probably impossible for us to actually know the full extent of everything they’re going through, but Ukraine have been in a training camp for over a month now, so we’re not expecting anything but their very best.
“It will be a difficult one, but we’re ready for it. We’re in a good place.”
Match stats
This is the first meeting of the sides since October 2007 in a European Championship qualifier, with the Scots winning 3-1 through goals from Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and James McFadden.
Ukraine’s sole victory over Scotland came in October 2006, Oleksandr Kucher and Andriy Shevchenko scoring in Kyiv.
Since losing consecutive World Cup qualifiers in October/November 2016 against Slovakia and England, Scotland have only lost one of their last 16 such games – a 2-0 defeat to Denmark in September 2021 – and won 11.
This will be the fifth time Ukraine have competed in a World Cup qualification play-off, failing to progress from any so far: in 1997 v Croatia (lost 3-1), 2001 v Germany (2-5), 2009 v Greece (0-1) and 2013 v France (2-3).
Scotland have won seven qualifiers during this campaign, their joint-most ever. They also won seven in qualifying for the 1998 tournament, which was the last time they reached the finals.
This is Scotland’s first World Cup play-off since 1985, when they faced Australia for a place at the 1986 finals. In the first leg, they won 2-0 at Hampden with goals from Davie Cooper and Frank McAvennie and drew 0-0 in Melbourne.
Both John McGinn and Lyndon Dykes have scored four goals in this campaign for Scotland. The last Scottish player to net more goals in a single campaign was Kevin Gallacher in qualifying for the 1998 finals (six).
