The Scotsman headlines

Here the children of the Thistle class at Mary Erskines and Stewart’s Melville Junior School are getting ready for their nativity performance. Picture: 8 December 2000.

9 adorable pictures of Christmas nativity plays
Here we take a look back at some nativity plays from years gone by. Spot any young thespians you know?

With the right ingredients, mince pies are a gourmet treat (Picture: Matt Alexander/PA)

Ban mince pies?! Christmas isn't Christmas without them

Is Humza Yousaf still such a prisoner of Nicola Sturgeon that he will continue her doomed legal battles? (Picture: Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)

SNP's disastrous week in court reveals much about Scotland's ruling clique

Humza Yousaf must now decide whether the Scottish Government will appeal over the blocking of the Gender Recognition Reform Bill (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Gender bill ruling in Holyrood-Westminster row is no 'dark day' for devolution

Rishi Sunak is under fire from the right and the left over his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda (Picture: Leon Neal/pool/AFP via Getty Images)

The result of the Tories' anti-immigration obsession will be economic decline

The Jacobite train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct on the Fort William-Mallaig line. (Photo by West Coast Railways)

Harry Potter fans’ Jacobite Fort William-Mallaig steam train in safety battle

Mum's the Word. Pic: Adobe

Janet Christie's Mum's the Word - What every family needs is a Santa safe house

The South City Way in Victoria Road. (Photo by Cycling Scotland)

Glasgow’s South City Way segregated cycle route sets new Scottish record

Rhubarb at Prestonfield House

Restaurant Review: Prestonfield House, Edinburgh

Latest news

In Ancient Rome, Julius Caesar was made dictator for life. Donald Trump recently 'joked' he would dictator for a day if re-elected as US President (Picture: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Caesar’s destruction of Roman democracy is a warning from ancient history

A group of boys watch a woodwork teacher planing a length of wood at the Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Perthshire in 1931 (Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Readers' Letters: Scotland never had a 'world-leading' education system

Despite her Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? fame, Brigit Forsyth got more fan mail for a bit part in Doctor Who

Scotsman Obituaries: Brigit Forsyth, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? star

Don’t shiver in slience – if you don’t qualify for benefits but are struggling your bills, your energy firm is required to come up with tailored plans to help (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

What to watch out for when the temperature drops - Martyn James

First Minister Humza Yousaf arrives at Holyrood with education secretary Jenny Gilruth. Picture: PA

'First-of-its-kind' emergency call over state of Highland school buildings

Humza Yousaf loses court battle with UK Government over gender reforms

A mourner holds the order of service for the funeral of Shane MacGowan at Saint Mary's of the Rosary Church, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Picture: Damien Eagers/PA Wire

Pogues singer MacGowan described as trailblazer at funeral

More top stories

The South City Way in Victoria Road. (Photo by Cycling Scotland)

Glasgow’s South City Way segregated cycle route sets new Scottish record

The Jacobite train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct on the Fort William-Mallaig line. (Photo by West Coast Railways)

Harry Potter fans’ Jacobite Fort William-Mallaig steam train in safety battle

Is Humza Yousaf still such a prisoner of Nicola Sturgeon that he will continue her doomed legal battles? (Picture: Fraser Bremner/pool/Getty Images)

SNP's disastrous week in court reveals much about Scotland's ruling clique

The eyes have it ... Alexandra Daddario in Mayfair Witches

Aidan Smith's TV week: Mayfair Witches, Platform 7, Smothered

Transport

Transport is devolved but the UK Government still has a role to play in Scotland Alister Jack

Springholm and the adjoining village of Crocketford would be bypased under the A75 upgrade plans. (Photo by David Dixon/Geograph)

SNP-Conservatives tensions as UK Government awards £8m for A75 upgrade

Cold weather and fog hits the Central Belt. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Heavy wind and rain expected to batter Scotland over weekend as warnings issued

The exhilaration of bikepacking, if you can travel light – Alastair Dalton

Future Scotland

From left: Duncan Hand, director of the MDMC, in conversation with wellbeing economy secretary Neil Gray. Picture: contributed.

Facility helping create medical devices of future secures seven-figure funding
Scotland’s life sciences sector has been given a step up with new funding for the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC).

Nicola Anderson, chief executive of FinTech Scotland, says the cluster body is 'uniquely positioned' within the Scottish financial technology industry to lead the initiative.

FinTech Scotland launches 'ground-breaking' lab to stimulate collaboration

Glasgow-headquartered Iomart is a cloud computing and IT managed services business providing hybrid cloud infrastructure, network connectivity, security and digital workplace capability.

Iomart 'very much on front foot' as Glasgow cloud firm seals latest takeover

Dr Calum Ross is a research associate in Heriot-Watt’s school of engineering and physical sciences.

Heriot-Watt researcher nets £1m in bid to scale up next-gen optical fibre tech

Bioliberty has secured a £435,000 boost from the Biomedical Catalyst, national innovation agency Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism. Picture: Ryan Blackwood.

Pioneer of robotic glove to aid stroke patients grasps funding boost

Crime

Gender bill ruling is historic victory for women who wouldn’t wheesht Susan Dalgety

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Two charged with disorder after Starmer confronted with protest in Glasgow

The government has been told rapists should always be recorded as men. Image: Clara Molden/National World.

Scottish Government urged to always record rapists as men

Val Pitt is a Partner, Horwich Farrelly

Incredible tales from the Scottish courts - Val Pitt

Minister for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Michael Matheson arrives ahead of First Minster's Questions (FMQ's) at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh.

How to save a reputation - Kirsteen MacDonald

Vicky Crichton is Director of Public Policy, Scottish Legal Complaints Commission

No complaints for most after mediation is tried - Vicky Crichton

Politics

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss wants to ban trans women from single-sex spaces (Picture: Rob Pinney/Getty Images)

Liz Truss's anti-trans Bill is unnecessary and harmful

Trans people can already be legally excluded from single-sex services where it is a proportionate me...

Internal Tory culture war is turning Sunak into even more of a lame duck leader

Some Conservatives appear to think a fourth Prime Minister in four years is a good idea...

Starmer's appeals to Tory swing voters may backfire badly in Scotland

The idea that Labour will offer a ‘fresh start’ seems to have withered on the vine long before the general election

SNP ministers have just accepted the decline of our education system Jackie Baillie

Jackie Baillie

Legal ruling due on UK Government block of Scottish gender reform bill

Lady Haldane is expected to deliver her judgement on Friday...

Boris Johnson dismisses partygate and denies 'let it rip' approach to pandemic

The former prime minister, Boris Johnson, also claimed he avoided co-operating with the devolved adm...

Weather

A yellow weather warning is in place for rain for parts of Scotland. Picture:: Getty Images

Yellow warnings for rain and flood alerts issued for parts of Scotland

Fire fighters inspect damages caused by heavy rain which led to flood homes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

How Scottish charities will use £2 million 'loss and damage' fund

Coronavirus

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Dorland House in London, where he is giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Johnson's admissions over Covid failings show how unfit he was to be PM

Analysis The key questions Boris Johnson must answer at the UK Covid Inquiry

Amanda Croft, interim chief executive of NHS Forth Valley, and Janie McCusker, chair of NHS Forth Valley, ahead of the the public session. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

'Ageing population' contributing to issues at 'stage four' health board

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan departs following his appearance at the UK Covid inquiry. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Khan tells UK Covid inquiry 'lives could have been saved' amid Cobra snub

Opinion

Woman slipped on ice

I'm not walking on ice without YakTrax on my winter boots - Gaby Soutar

These footwear gadgets stop me from falling on my face Gaby Soutar

All societies need eloquent 'troublemakers' like Benjamin Zephaniah Scotsman comment

The scene on Baberton Mains Avenue, Edinburgh, after an 84-year-old man has died following an explosion at a house on Friday night.Photo: Lesley Martin/PA Wire

Council assistance for devastated residents too little - Sue Webber

Think celebrating Christmas is 'un-Scottish'? Time to bring back the 'Daft Days'Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison

People

Aberdeenshire Council completed onsite investigations across the school estate

Positive news around RAAC within Aberdeenshire Council estate
Investigations by both Aberdeenshire Council building surveyors and structural engineers continue to progress apace across both the schools estate and wider property portfolio through assessments, visual inspections and intrusive surveys.

The biggest redevelopment of the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in its 145-year history is expected to completed by the end of 2024. Picture: Alex Brady

First look at revamped Citizens Theatre as reopening plans are revealed

Poet and playwright Liz Lochhead has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Saltire Society for her contribution to Scottish literature. Picture: Graham Clark

Poet and playwright Liz Lochhead gets lifetime achievement award

Shane MacGowan at T in the Park music festival in 2008 (Picture: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Scotsman Obituaries: Shane MacGowan, hellraiser frontman of The Pogues

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. Picture: Getty Images

Harry loses bid to have Mail on Sunday publisher's defence thrown out

Obituaries

David McCreath was an important figure on Scottish agricultural scene

Scotsman Obituaries: David McCreath OBE, founder of McCreath Simpson & Prentice

Allan Brodie with the Scottish Amateur Championship cup

Scotsman Obituaries: Allan Brodie, among top amateur golfers of last 50 years

Henry Kissinger pictured in September 1972 (Picture: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Scotsman Obituaries: Henry Kissinger, controversial US diplomat

Lord Douglas-Hamilton at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Scotsman Obituaries: Rt Hon Lord Selkirk of Douglas, ex-Scotland Office minister

Environment

The Aim-quoted firm, which in 2011 launched an initial public offering valuing it at £50 million, is being bought by Sienna Bidco. Picture: contributed.

Glasgow-based Smart Metering Systems snapped up in £1.3bn mega deal
SMS is set to become the latest Scottish plc to bow out of the stock market.

Forestry workers fell a Sitka Spruce tree in Northumberland's Kielder Forest before it makes the 330-mile journey south to Westminster. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Public perception of Sitka spruce needs to change, industry leaders say

Scottish Green minister Patrick Harvie, seen with other anti-nuclear activists blocking an entrance to the Faslane naval base in 2015, is resolute in his opposition to nuclear energy (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Greens' superstitious dread of nuclear is damaging efforts to reach net zero

Highlands Rewilding, a unique company which aims to generate ethical profits and boost communities through nature-restoration, recently purchased Tayvallich estate in Argyll for £10.5 million – adding to a property portfolio which includes Bunloit in Inverness-shire and Beldorney in Aberdeenshire

Argyll villagers in landmark deal to create homes and boost nature

North Sea oil and gas companies' expertise in offshore engineering can help build renewable energy schemes (Picture: Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

Why oil and gas companies are a vital part of the transition to net zero

UK News

A protester, at a rally in Berlin in support of the popular 'Woman, Life, Freedom' uprising in Iran, calls for an end to torture and execution in the country (Picture: John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images)

How Iran rapes and tortures children as young as 12 to suppress protests

The UK must not support Israel in its war against Hamas Kenny MacAskill

Poorest can’t afford to heed Dowden’s warning to prepare for a major crisis Laura Waddell

Bob Dylan. Picture: PA

Bob Dylan sells Highland retreat for £4.25m to whisky makers

Christmas is the perfect time for a vinyl and CD revival Euan McColm

Thatcher wouldn't think much of Starmer's stance on private school fees John McLellan

World

Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to stand in the presidential election next year. Picture: AFP via Getty Images

Putin declares he will stand in 2024 Russian election

Analysis Why Vladimir Putin must have felt like we did after lockdown on his Gulf trip

CosMc aims to open ten stores in the coming year

McDonalds to launch new CosMc cafe chain to rival Starbucks

A German U-boat from the First World War is likely to have been sunk deliberately rather than being handed to the Allies, according to a 3D map produced by researchers at the University of Dundee. Picture: Prof Chris Rowlan/University of Dundee/PA Wire

German First World War submarine deliberately sunk, Scottish research suggests

Why Scotland and Vanuatu have forged a new bond in fight against climate change Ralph Regenvanu

President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, speaks during a press conference on the day after Venezuelans voted in the referendum about the border conflict with neighbouring country Guyana at the weekend.

Why is Venezuela claiming ownership of oil-rich territory Essequibo?

UK Trending

Aldi super six deal to return, with items starting at 15p.

Aldi: Christmas Super Six deals return starting at 15p

American football coach used disturbing 9/11 metaphor to inspire team

Quiz reveals your Christmas spending habits

Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Professional Dancers

12 things Behind the scenes at Strictly Come Dancing 2023

Hawick Youth and Gala Wanderers game saw rugby's first own goal. Picture: Elliot Jack/SWNS

Funny footage shows world's first own goal - in a rugby match

Following news the TV licence is set to increase next year, an expert from Broadband Genie explains how you can avoid the charge. Picture: PA

How to legally avoid paying BBC licence fee