Nicola Sturgeon confirms lockdown easing in two Scottish council areas

A charity which provides lifeline shopping and befriending services for older people is expanding in Perth.

Perth City Swim Club’s Carol McPartland has been recognised - and praised - for her sterling dedication to the sport.

A major storm is currently forming out in the Atlantic and rapidly strengthening as it does so - and it poses a 'danger to life'.

A woman who watched a vile rapist kick her pregnant mum three times in the stomach says the abuse she witnessed as a child will stay with her forever.

Paul Hollywood's ex-wife posted a powerful Valentine's Day message about being single – taking a swipe at the Great British Bake Off judge in the process. Cookbook writer Alex Hollywood reflected on her current relationship status and her 20-year marriage to the TV star.

Jamie Lang Belgium’s Panenka, producers of recent VRT breakout hit “Two Summers” – which premiered last week to a jaw-dropping 51% market share in its prime-time slot and which will soon be released worldwide by Netflix – will virtually pitch one of their upcoming projects, “This is Not a Murder Mystery,” at Berlin Co-Pro Series.One of 10 such projects set for this event, Co-Pro Series marks the first public pitch for “TINAMM,” with the creative team looking to the right co-production and distribution partner to help realize their murder mystery series. Panenka producer Kristoffel Mertens hosts the virtual Co-Pro pitch with co-creators Paul Baeten and Christophe Dirickx.Baeten is a novelist, essayist and TV screenwriter, whose credits include two seasons of the acclaimed drama series “Over Water” and the aforementioned “Two Summers.” Dirickx has written and produced several feature films, including Cannes players “The Misfortunates” from director Felix van Groeningen and Frank Van Passel’s “Manneken Pis.” International Emmy-nominee Hans Herbots (“The Spiral”) and Matthias Lebeer, a winner of two Golden Lions at Cannes for his work on GT Academy Europe, will direct.

This Morning viewers were left feeling joy after it was revealed that the wonderful Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary would be stepping in to cover Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield's absence. The normal duo are currently on their half term break from the show, so our Friday hosts have taken over for the week.

Amy Hart revealed earlier this month she had her eggs frozen again. And when OK! caught up with the Love Island star at the launch of Anna Williamson's new book, Where Is The Love?, Amy revealed she's put plans to go through solo IVF on hold, since meeting boyfriend Sam Rason.

Since Ralf Rangnick took charge at Old Trafford, Manchester United have been tipped to sign a number of top Bundesliga players including Denis Zakaria and Amadou Haidara to name but two.

One lucky UK ticket-holder has won the £109.9 million EuroMillions jackpot which has been validated and paid out, according to Camelot.

Olly Murs has shared a poignant tribute to Caroline Flack on the second anniversary of her death.

A law graduate who used to budget on her food shop has now made her fortune selling second-hand clothes online.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentLoco Films, the Paris-based world sales and production company, has unveiled the trailer for Yulia Trofimova’s feature debut “The Land of Sasha” which is premiering today at the Berlinale, in the Generation 14plus strand.“The Land of Sahsa” tells the story of an indecisive 18-year-old struggling to pursue his desire to become a painter as his mother urges him to choose a safer career path. The sudden appearance of the boy’s estranged father complicates things further. But when Sasha has an unexpected encounter with an unusual girl called Zhenia, he realizes he has no choice but to finally grow up.“The Land of Sasha” was produced by Katerina Mikhaylova and Konstantin Fam for Moscow-based Vega Film.

Rod Stewart serenaded fans with a special love song for Valentine's Day, but the rock star divided fans in the comments.

Anna Marie de la Fuente ZDF Enterprises, to be rebranded ZDF Studios in April, has snagged worldwide distribution rights to the topical post-WWII dramatic series “Between Two Worlds” (“Ein Hauch Von Amerika”).Skein is set in a fictional German town in the ’50s where a robust U.S. military presence is impacting the lives of its people, in particular the two young friends Marie and Erika, whose relationships with their family, community and each other are put to the test by the presence of a U.S.

Jamie Lang Norwegian broadcaster NRK has boarded Hummelfilm’s coming-of-age crime drama series “Nowheresville,” one of 10 projects participating in this year’s Berlin Co-Pro Series where producer Marte Hansen and series creator-director Rebecca W. Kjellmann are virtually pitching the series to potential partners, financers and broadcasters.Development on the project is already well underway, with four finished scripts and outlines for the show’s other four episodes already banked.“We are currently continuing the writing process, while working on the financing and production set-up for the series,” the partners explained to Variety before pitching in Berlin.

Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson have been announced as the hosts for the US' answer to Eurovision, the American Song Contest. 

Prime Minister said there is "a very good discussion going on" with the devolved governments over the length of the festive break. Earlier on Monday Nicola Sturgeon said she wants to see only “a small number of households” to meet up over “a small number of days” over the festive period amid fears that looser restrictions will lead to a higher number of infections.

SPFL have called on the Scottish Government to start planning for fans returning to football grounds after a welcome announcement down south. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed a framework to allow supporters in England back into stadia as the blanket three-week lockdown is set to conclude early next month.

Hogmanay parties next month.The First Minister said today the New Year period was not part of the four-nations discussions on how to ease lockdown restrictions in late December.The focus would instead be on allowing people to meet indoors in small numbers around Christmas.The SNP leader said when it came to relaxing the rules next month, ministers "couldn't do everything" and warned a ban on indoor household gatherings could be back in place by Hogmanay.Speaking at her daily media briefing in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said: "We have to consider that the tradition of Hogmanay and New Year's Day dinner is more established in Scotland than other parts of the UK, but I do not expect we will be announcing any particular relaxations over the New Year

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.New weekly coronavirus cases in Lanarkshire increased slightly last week for the first time in a month.At her daily press briefing in Edinburgh on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed there had been 190 new cases in Lanarkshire on Sunday.As a result, last week there were 1586 new Covid-19 cases in the region - a four per cent increase on the previous week.Case numbers had fallen in each of the past three weeks after peaking at 2719 in mid October.However, the "stubbornly high" prevalence of the virus in the region led the Scottish Government to introduce the highest level of coronavirus restrictions last week.Ms Sturgeon today said that

Labour leader Richard Leonard. In areas of Scotland living under Level 2 restrictions or higher outdoor sports for those over the age of 18 are currently not allowed.However, professional matches can still go ahead.Leonard claims the current Scottish Government regulations will create a “two-tiered” footballing system.

Linzi Page 's holiday is legally exempt from a travel ban that comes into force tomorrow.Linzi, who has stage 4 bowel cancer, made a plea to the First Minister in an email last night.Legal travel restrictions will come into force on Friday for people who live in tiers 3 and 4.Leaving these areas will be a breach of the law unless the trip is “essential”.However, while international travel is allowed, in many cases it will be unlawful for people to travel to an airport in level 3 or 4.We told how Linzi, who is from Burntisland in Fife, is due to arrive in Tenerife on November 26th for a family holiday, days after the ban kicks in.But the 38-year-old mum of two, who believes Tenerife could be her last holiday, feared she would be breaking the

Perth and Kinross Council has urged residents to “play their part” in helping the area exit level three coronavirus restrictions. Perth and Kinross continues under Strategic Framework Level three until at least next week, following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on Tuesday.

East Kilbride say they fear for their future with Lanarkshire plunged into lockdown this week.

East Kilbride has been plunged into a second lockdown.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Level four lockdown will be coming to Lanarkshire from Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.Businesses including hospitality, salons, gyms, hairdressers and non-essential retail will have to close when the new restrictions come into effect at 6am on Friday, November 20.For three weeks, Lanarkshire will be put into the highest level of restrictions used by the Scottish Government before being lifted on Friday, December 11.Travel restrictions - which already apply to level three areas - will be made law, meaning residents will only be able to travel outwith their local authority area for essential purposes.Schools will remain open and

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Level four lockdown will be coming to Lanarkshire from Friday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.Businesses including hospitality, salons, gyms, hairdressers and non-essential retail will have to close when the new restrictions come into effect at 6am on Friday, November 20.For three weeks, Lanarkshire will be put into the highest level of restrictions used by the Scottish Government before being lifted on Friday, December 11.Travel restrictions - which already apply to level three areas - will be made law, meaning residents will only be able to travel outwith their local authority area for essential purposes.Schools will remain open and

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Stricter lockdown restrictions will kick in for Renfrewshire at 6pm on Friday as the region is  is plunged into a second lockdown.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said infection rates remain “stubbornly” high in certain council areas and this could impact the NHS in winter.New Level 4 restrictions will last for a “short and sharp” period of three weeks, ending on December 11.Hospitality premises, gyms, shops and hairdressers will close and people have been encouraged not to travel.The First Minister said people in Level 4 areas including Renfrewshire Council  “should not be going out and about” during the three-week period and try to stay withinn their

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to keep schools open in the west of Scotland even in council areas placed at level four.The First Minister today gave her strongest indication yet that several local authorities will this week be moved into the Government's highest level of lockdown - meaning thousands of non-essential businesses will be forced to close.But both primary and high schools will stay open to ensure youngsters can still attend class.It comes as the country's biggest teaching union, the EIS, threatened industrial action if school closures are not considered in parts of the country with the highest levels of Covid infections.Asked if schools would remain open even in areas placed at level four, Sturgeon said: "That is my objective and my

Nicola Sturgeon. The Scots funnywoman captured the mood of the nation perfectly as the First Minister 'reacted' to Scotland’s victory over Serbia.

third tier joining Central Belt areas including Glasgow and Edinburgh. However, councils in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS region have been warned they might go to the highest fourth level at the next review.

coronavirus vaccine could be available in Scotland, she hopes people will start receiving jabs before the end of 2020 or "certainly very early next year". Her comments at the Scottish Parliament came after drugs manufacturer Pfizer revealed earlier in the week that its Covid-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing the virus.

Nicola Sturgeon has sent a message of good luck to Scotland as she praised Sky Sports for showing the Serbia game free-to-air. Steve Clarke 's squad are in Belgrade to take on Serbia in the Euro 2020 play-off final, knowing a win will end the national team's long absence from a major tournament.

Scroll down for all the latest updates on our live blog.Deaths of coronavirus patients in Scotland have reached a six-month high after 64 were recorded in the past in 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon has said.The overall death toll – of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days – is now 3,143.Speaking at the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, the First Minister said it is the highest figure since May 6.Despite this, she said stricter coronavirus restrictions imposed in Scotland have “very significantly” slowed the spread of the virus and saved lives.Nicola Sturgeon said there were parts of Scotland with “stubbornly high levels” of coronavirus, although no part of the country will move to the