Mon, 20th January 2025

Housing markets in Scotland lead the rankings in the UK, accounting for nine out of the top ten slots

The 9 Scotland locations that are the UK's best for house price growth
Nine of the top ten housing markets in the UK so far this year are in Scotland

Millions has been spent on agency nurses and consultant locums in Scotland’s NHS.

The health boards that have spent the most on temporary nurses

British hostage in Gaza Emily Damari. Picture: Family handout/PA Wire

Swinney on his 'overdue' hope for Gaza as British hostage freed

Don't Miss

A view of the Edinburgh skyline showing the Balmoral Clock and Princes Street. Picture: Jane Barlow

The 3-month salary gap that reveals just how much more Londoners earn than Scots

The sea eagle’s wingspan can extend to eight feet

Farmer looking to quit farm as sea eagles 'devastate' his flock

Former Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood has died aged 69.

Jimmy Calderwood tributes as ex-Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager dies

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (centre) was at the pro-Palestinian rally.

Jeremy Corbyn to be questioned by police under caution

We must pay more for the NHS or watch it wither and die Euan McColm

Destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on January 13, 2025

Gaza ceasefire deal does not stop us being a long way from justice Alexander Brown

Vanilla ice-cream

The Scottish nougat ice-cream wafer is being cancelled, oh no! Gaby Soutar

North Sea oil and gas workers must see a genuinely just transition to a net-zero economy (Picture: Andy Buchanan/WPA pool)

North Sea union leaders' 'No Ban Without a Plan' campaign is working Brian Wilson

Scotsman Video

Scotsman Video

The latest video from The Scotsman

Featured Videos

Scotland’s private sector ended 2024 on a sour note after a sharp contraction in output.

Exclusive Three lessons from Scotland's December economy

Fawlty Towers-style dining train to help spearhead rail tours revival

Andrea Tarrodi

SCO Digital Season Part Two Andrea Tarrodi’s Serenade in Seven Colours

Demi Moore poses in the press room with the award for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture - musical or comedy for The Substance during the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday. Picture: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

The 2025 Golden Globes winners in full

Puzzles

Quick CrosswordTo test and hone your word skills

SudokuThe ultimate logic-based numbers game

WordwheelPit yourself against the clock with our simple anagram game

Highlights

Author Paula Hawkins will appear at Granite Noir crime writing festival in Aberdeen next month, where she will talk about her new thriller, The Blue Hour, and introduce a showing of the film of her bestselling debut novel, The Girl on the Train.

Girl on the Train author Paula Hawkins' new Scottish thriller

First look at Ardbeg House as island whisky hotel opens for bookings

L-R_ Natasha Hoeberigs (Magenta), Job Greuter (Riff Raff), Jason Donovan (Frank N Furter), Lauren Chia (Janet).

Jason Donovan appearing in Scotland wearing fishnets and high heels

Lindsay and Ross from Bostock

The best bakery in the Lothians is getting bigger

Sorcha Groundsell stars in An t-Eilean (The Island), the UK’s first-ever high-end Gaelic drama series

Everything you need to know about the UK's first high end Gaelic drama

Susanne and Gaby Soutar at afternoon tea

I took mum to try Scottish hotel's afternoon tea - she gave it 9/10 Gaby Soutar

The stunning Scottish estate that has a fairy walk & snowdrop festival

Get The Scotsman app for mobile and tablet

The Scotsman app brings you exclusive, quality news and analysis from The Scotsman, Scotland’s National Newspaper.

Scotsman Sessions

Just a few of the artists who have performed Scotsman Sessions

The Scotsman Sessions: links to numbers 1-400

Constant Vigier

The Scotsman Sessions #429: Constant Vigier

Jennie Lee: Tomorrow is a New Day

The Scotsman Sessions #428: Kit Laveri, George Docherty & Trish Mullin

David Luximon

The Scotsman Sessions #427: David Luximon

Business

Analysis ‘On a knife edge’ - can Britain’s economy avoid a recession?

Oil giant BP has announced a raft of job cuts

BP to axe 4,700 jobs globally amid cost-cutting drive

Sport

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers rounds Fraserburgh goalkeeper Joe to complete his hat-trick and seal a 5-0 win. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

'If he leaves' - Rangers address Dessers future after Cup hat-trick

Striker could depart in January under one stipulation

Red card can’t derail Edinburgh as they discover last 16 opponents

Sean Everitt’s side defeat Black Lion to top Pool 3 in the Challenge Cup

Former Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood has died aged 69.

Jimmy Calderwood tributes as ex-Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager dies

Former Scottish footballer and manager passes away

If they did it for The Queen, why not do it for The King Alan Pattullo

Alan Pattullo

'Freakish': Scotland in Tuipulotu sweat as fears grow over captain

Glasgow Warriors skipper is nursing upper body injury

Townsend holds court on Cherry status, Douglas and training plans

Experience of squad heartens head coach ahead of Six Nations

Politics

Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill

'Removed from reality': Labour claims it has ended austerity

US President-Elect Donald Trump

Ex-Scottish minister 'terrified' of Donald Trump presidency

David Richardson next to the overflowing bins

Man tackles rat infestation using oil and rubber gloves

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell

Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell banned from selling property

Keir Starmer and John Swinney need to try to persuade Donald Trump not to damage trade between Scotland and the US (Picture: Rebecca Noble)

Why Swinney and Starmer must work together to influence Trump Scotsman comment

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes

Exclusive Kate Forbes on Gaelic in An t-Eilean, Fourth Wing and Outlander

Donald Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on imports to the US (Picture: Chip Somodevilla)

Why Trump's second presidency means UK needs customs union with EU Christine Jardine

Businessman says councils and NHS boards could be taking advantage of Artificial Intelligence technology to protect services

AI boss says technology could save Scottish council services from axe

Opinion

Working from home has become a global trend since the Covid pandemic, with some employers who want staff back in the office facing recruitment and staff retention problems (Picture: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

Why productivity growth shows Scotland has immense economic potential Carolyn Currie and Bridgette Wessels

A coloured engraving by Sir William Hamilton of the 1767 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, viewed from Naples (Picture: Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images)

Heartbreaking find in Pompeii highlights dilemma when volcano erupted Scotsman comment

The famous 18th-century Scottish economist Adam Smith would not be a fan of Donald Trump's theories about tariffs (Picture: Fine Art Images)

Why Adam Smith will be spinning in his grave as Trump assumes office Scotsman comment

Hospital wards must be safe places for women (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

Shocking number of rapes in Scotland's hospitals is a crisis for SNP Susan Dalgety

Heritage and Retro

King James IV of Scotland called a General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, at Burntisland Parish Church in Fife, when the proposal for a new translation of the Bible was put before him. Pictured is the church. Picture: Jane Barlow/NationalWorld

Town's bid to protect historic 433-year-old church from sale

Fife Flyers 1985 - Danny Brown (left), Ron Plumb (cnetre) and Dave Stoyanovich at the player of the year awards.

Reuniting ice hockey’s Wembley Wizards 40 years on

Bannockburn House has some rare and ornate plasterwork, in addition to a place in Jacobite history (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

House where Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed should be saved if affordable Scotsman comment

Bannockburn House

Bonnie Prince Charlie house in survival battle - with buckets deployed

The Stone of Destiny at Westminster Abbey in London

Quest to find more than 30 Stone of Destiny fragments

Dunnottar Castle

Owner of Scottish clifftop castle struggles with visitor centre vision

Actor Connor Swindells as Colonel David Stirling in SAS: Rogue Heroes, the drama series from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

The real SAS Rogue Hero who took elite fighters behind German lines

Arts and Culture

The Maryhill Joyous Choir perform at the Celtic Connections Opening Concert

Celtic Connections Opening Concert review: 'unpredictably eclectic'

Mogwai

Album reviews: Mogwai | Rufus Wainwright | Rhona Macfarlane

The GRIT Orchestra returns to Celtic Connections on 18 January

Celtic Connections 2025: Jim Gilchrist picks his highlights

A Complete Unknown

Review: Chalamet's Bob Dylan biopic a 'frustratingly basic' offering

Geneva Lewis

SCO, Joseph Swensen & Geneva Lewis, Edinburgh review

Johnny McKnight as Stinkerbell in Peter Panto at the Tron

Johnny McKnight on the past, present and future of the panto dame

Edinburgh from below Arthur’s Seat, 1801, by JMW Turner at the RSA

Art reviews: Turner in January: Ireland’s Vaughan Bequest | RSW Annual

Education

SRUC senior lecturer Hadi Aliki (left) and Jim Fairlie MSP at the launch of the SRUC Vertical Farming Innovation Centre.

Scottish education first as college fires up £1.8 million ‘vertical farm’

“The centre enhances SRUC’s ability to address the major challenges facing the world, both now and in the future” – Professor Wayne Powell, SRUC

Scott Reid

Picture credit David Jones/PA

Dozens of private school pupils move to Edinburgh's state schools

Consultation was held into length of the school week. Image: John Devlin

SNP considers law on length of school week after 61% back move

Edinburgh University in stark financial warning as surplus drops Calum Ross

Calum Ross

Hay's Way

Belted Galloways are a native breed in Scotland being used for nature restoration projects

How the much maligned cow is making a comeback in Scotland

Inchconnachan was once the holiday home of speedboat-racing aristocrat Fiona Gore, Countess of Arran, who introduced a population of non-native wallabies that still roam free across the island

Kirsty Young's plans to develop island in Loch Lomond approved

Seven Gables is a characterful semi-detached house, situated in an enviable position overlooking Elie Beach

Inside the £1.4m 17th century house looking over a favourite beach

Health

A lodge at Bryn Tanat in North Wales

Could a discount spa break take the edge off your Blue Monday?

Urgent warning to pet owners as dog chews linked to illness.

Urgent warning to pet owners not to feed dogs these chews from China

Blue Monday usually falls on the third Monday in January.

How to beat Blue Monday - tips to look after your mental health

A new study suggests that drinking a glass of milk every day may reduce your risk of bowel cancer.

The one thing you can do daily to reduce your risk of common cancer

The viral skincare trend involves rubbing a banana peel on your face, with influencers claiming it has a 'natural Botox effect'

Skin expert warns against trying this viral beauty hack

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and First Minister John Swinney.

What the Scottish Government will do in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic

Nine in 10 of those surveyed in Scotland said patient safety is being compromised

‘Devastating' nurse testimonies lay bare crisis in Scotland's NHS

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Roomba's Combo 10 Max carries over all the tech from the J9+ - but with a much cleverer base station

Review: We test the latest Roomba Combo 10 Max robot vacuum cleaner

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Review: We test a party speaker that turns any room into a disco

Tapo's video doorbells are great value for money - but this deal is exceptional

Is this the cheapest way to fit a video doorbell to your home?

Sky has TV and broadband deals worth looking at

Sky’s January deal: stream top shows and save big on broadband & TV

LEGO Twilight Cullen house set

LEGO Twilight Cullen house set: Release date, price and photos

The Official Elvis Presley Plectrum Coin is available to anyone, but only one coin can be ordered per household

Elvis fans can claim a free silver coin by following these steps

The Easy Fry Mega has a huge single drawer

Don't miss this half price Tefal air fryer deal live on Amazon today

Sport Opinion

Denis Law scored 30 goals for Scotland in 55 appearances.

Denis Law is Scottish football royalty - the most natural goalscorer
Law will be remembered as one of our greatest ever players
Mark Atkinson

Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu takes on Handre Pollard during the Autumn Nations match against South Africa at Murrayfield in November (Picture: David Rogers)

How I became hooked on this strange, brutal, elegant game called rugby Lisa Simonis

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart and manager Philippe Clement.

Rangers sword of Damocles hangs over Clement despite conditions

Ben Doak has emerged as one of Scotland's key players.

Doak's soaring value is good but status quo may be priceless for Scots

Obituaries

Sir Peter Graham pictured whilst commanding the 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders in Belfast ,1976-1978

Obituaries: General Sir Peter Graham, last Colonel of the Gordon Highlanders

John Mulvey saw local government as an important source of power

Obituaries: John Mulvey, former leader of Lothian Regional Council

Rugby Union

Jamie Dobie of Glasgow Warriors passes the ball during the Investec Champions Cup match against Harlequins.

Glasgow Warriors discover opponents in Champions Cup round of 16

Scotland's Finn Russell passed an HIA assessment during Bath's defeat to Leinster on Saturday. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Finn Russell gives Scotland after being sent for HIA assessment

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu suffered a pectoral injury while training with Glasgow Warriors.

'A massive loss for Scotland' - concern grows over Sione Tuipulotu

Richard Cockerill is now in charge of Georgian club Black Lion as well as the national side.

'I taught this club what work ethic looked like' - ex-Edinburgh coach

Cadan Murley of Harlequins celebrates scoring his team's third try against Glasgow Warriors.

Tempers flare in Glasgow clash as Cummings leaves with arm in sling

Edinburgh's Marshall Sykes has been named in Scotland's Six Nations squad.

Marshall Sykes on the lifestyle changes behind his Six Nations call-up

The Six Nations trophy will be up for grabs again this year as Ireland look to defend their title. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

AI predicts 2025 Six Nations winner - and where Scotland will finish

Edinburgh's Luke Crosbie was a tackling machine last weekend.

Edinburgh Rugby's tackling machine will be seeking out a reunion

Jack Dempsey returns to the Glasgow Warriors back row.

Driven Warriors welcome back Dempsey but Tuipulotu has 'niggles'

Cars

Drivers are supposed to use their indicators before turning.

Why don't drivers indicate? Here's the law about using your indicators

The 25p ticket deal only runs for a few days - so be quick

Win this Amazing Mercedes G-Wagon worth £134,000 for just 25p

The McLaren 570S is a 200mph supercar

Win this stunning McLaren supercar worth £104,000 for just 19p

The 488 GTB is one of the most popular Ferraris among keen drivers

This £140,000 Ferrari could be yours for just 89p - if you're quick

Lexus LBX review: Lexus brings premium values to the crossover club

(Photo by BARBARA GINDL/APA/AFP via Getty Images)

Video: The genius hack to prevent ice building - using shaving foam

Must Read

Over half of Brits (53 per cent) worry they won’t ever be able to retire

Ad Feature This tool reveals how much you need to save to retire

NordVPN has issued a tutorial for shoppers in search of saving big while staying secure online.

Ad Feature Shopper's guide to securing affordable internet security

The ETP is expected to be listed on Switzerland’s SIX Swiss Exchange, the largest stock exchange in the country and the third largest in Europe, during the first quarter of 2025.

Ad Feature Virtual game currency to be listed on stock exchange