Scotland

• Scotland and Brazil are facing off today in a match as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Viewers can access the game via an ad-supported Peacock subscription, which costs $11 per month. • The streaming service provides live coverage of sports and events airing on NBC, including Spanish-language broadcasts for all tournament games.

• Scotland has returned to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, heading to North America for the 2026 tournament. • The team is led by manager Steve Clarke, who has successfully guided the national side to three consecutive major tournaments. • This appearance marks a significant milestone for the "Tartan Army" after nearly three decades of absence from the global stage.

Former party leaders reflect on the turbulence that followed the referendum in which most Scottish voters backed the losing sideThe decision to quit the EU bolstered support for Scottish independence, which a decade after the Brexit referendum is at near record levels, according to Scottish Labour’s former leader Kezia Dugdale.Dugdale said the Brexit vote “creates a frame around fairness” for many in Scotland because, unlike England, Scottish voters comprehensively backed remain in 2016, by 62% to 38%, yet found their country taken out of Europe. Continue reading...

• England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland have learned their opponents for the Women's World Cup play-offs to secure a spot in the tournament in Brazil. • Key matchups include the Republic of Ireland facing 100th-ranked Kazakhstan, while Wales will compete against Albania. • The play-offs are structured in two stages, with round one fixtures scheduled for October 7-13 and round two taking place from November 26 to December 5.

Minnie the Minx and Macbeth feature in National Library’s exploration of how rainfall has shaped Scottish science, literature, history and identityIt seems fitting that, 250 years ago, one of Scotland’s foremost scientists took a close interest in what is arguably the country’s most famous feature: rainJames Hutton, celebrated by Scots as the father of modern geology, went so far as to write a formula for “a theory of rain”. In 1784, he sketched out the key principles for the “condensation of aqueous vapour contained in the air”. Continue reading...

• The 2026 World Cup is underway with a focus on today's scheduled matches featuring Spain, Belgium, Uruguay, and Iran. • Recent high-scoring results include Germany's dominant 7-1 victory over Curacao and Sweden's 5-1 win against Tunisia. • Other notable match outcomes include a 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Japan, and a narrow 1-0 win for Ivory Coast over Ecuador.

The country is ready to blow away decades of dashed hopes and celebrate, with marching bands and all-night partiesScotland is leaning into one its most treasured traditions: embracing the hope and anxiety of a football World Cup, with a healthy dose of self-deprecating style.There are brash new tartans, an Edinburgh bar offering free Irn-Bru-infused “fiery ginger” beers for patrons with red hair, a collaboration between Scottish whisky firms and a Brazilian distiller, and all-night parties in nightclubs repurposed as fanzones. Continue reading...

• Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie is leveraging the emotional pain of the team's Euro 2024 campaign to motivate his squad for the upcoming World Cup. • Christie specifically cited the "humbling" experience of a 5-1 defeat against hosts Germany during the tournament's opening match two years ago. • This drive for redemption is centered on the goal of helping Scotland make history by securing a successful World Cup run.

• Scotland is conducting training sessions in preparation for their upcoming match against Haiti during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Key player updates include Scott McTominay missing training due to a minor stomach upset, while Scott McKenna is expected to participate in today's session. • The team's success is seen as heavily dependent on a strong performance from Andrew Robertson throughout the tournament.

• Football writers are providing live updates and a countdown leading up to the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony scheduled for Thursday. • The coverage includes a current ranking or listing of 48 competing nations, featuring top teams like Argentina, France, and Spain, as well as Scotland and Norway. • Recent reports highlight tensions between teams, specifically noting that Norway has labeled Scotland as "unprofessional."

Record numbers linked to warming waters is mixed news for fishers, with shellfish catches down but octopus catches boomingRecord numbers of octopuses found off the south-west coast of England last year have now spread as far as Scotland and Wales and are transforming the fishing industry and the marine ecosystem, according to a study.The surge in sightings of one of the world’s most intelligent invertebrates was first recorded in 2025 off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall. Continue reading...

• The BBC has released comprehensive TV and radio broadcasting schedules for the 2026 World Cup group stage matches. • The coverage specifically highlights viewing options for England and Scotland as they compete in the international tournament. • This information is critical for fans planning their viewership and ensures accessibility across multiple media platforms.

The changes are part of a sweeping shake-up by Victoria Easton Riley, BBC Scotland’s new head of audio and eventsThere is a “deep sense of unease” among staff at BBC Radio Scotland after a succession of respected arts presenters, more than half of them women, were dropped from schedules.The changes have prompted questions about diversity of coverage amid an apparent shift to a “more commercial sensibility” for the public broadcaster. Continue reading...

Definition of green facilities made in 2022, before release of ChatGPT, says Action to Protect Rural ScotlandA Scottish government policy designed to encourage datacentres to build in Scotland could lead to a massive volume of carbon emissions being ignored, according to an analysis by a Scottish charity.“Green datacentres” are at the heart of Scotland’s ambitions to develop economically. Enshrined in national policy, they are part of a larger, UK-wide effort to attract big AI investment to Scotland. Continue reading...

• Scotland has qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America, marking the nation's first appearance at the tournament in 28 years. • Manager Steve Clarke secured an automatic group stage spot after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Denmark last November, which allowed Scotland to leapfrog them in the standings. • While Scott McTominay is highlighted as a star of the roster, the squad is currently facing challenges due to poorly timed injuries.

Lead singer Stuart Murdoch’s self-deprecating It Only Takes One Lion is inspired by team’s current song, Yes Sir, I Can BoogieThe lyrics came to Stuart Murdoch in the hazy aftermath of Scotland’s dramatic qualification for the World Cup.The Belle and Sebastian frontman had watched his side’s playoff victory over Denmark through his fingers before deciding to write his own anthem to a team he has followed for more than 50 years. “Most people recognised instantly the next day that they’d witnessed the most important Scottish game ever,” says Murdoch. “That was our magic moment.” Continue reading...

After drawing delighted crowds since first sighted in Orkney the young male has swum 400 miles across the North SeaA peripatetic walrus who became a local celebrity as he toured the north-east coast of Scotland has now been spotted in Norway, bringing to an end his Celtic sojourn.The young male was christened Magnus after he after first hauled his estimated 2.5-metre frame out of the sea on to Stronsay pier in Orkney on 16 April. Continue reading...

The first results in England are expected between midnight and 2am BST; Scottish and Welsh parliament results are due from midday2026 election results: latest from local, Scottish and Welsh votesAletha Adu is a Guardian political correspondentThe early hours of Friday morning will produce only a handful of declarations but they could shape the mood of the entire elections. Continue reading...

Results of elections for councils in England, the Senedd in Wales and the Scottish parliament could transform Great Britain’s political landscapePolls have closed across England, Scotland and Wales for local, mayoral and parliamentary elections, with the first results to be announced within hours.More than 30 million people across Britain were given the opportunity to vote on Thursday in what is widely seen as the biggest test for Keir Starmer since the 2024 general election. Results across three nations could fundamentally change the political landscape and could have repercussions for the prime minister. Continue reading...

About 120 journalists and broadcast staff expected to protest about pay freeze as STV invests in new radio stationUK politics live – latest updatesCoverage of Scotland’s election counts by STV, the commercial broadcaster, is expected to be heavily hit by strike action in an escalating dispute over pay.The National Union of Journalists and the technical union Bectu have targeted STV’s election reporting for their second strike this year in protest at its decision to impose a company-wide pay freeze after a significant fall in revenues. Continue reading...

About 5,000 councillors and six mayors up for election in England, while Scotland chooses 129 MSPs, and Wales selects 96 members of the SeneddHere is Nigel Farage’s overnight eve-of-poll statement. The Reform UK leader said:The Tories tried to remove the gutless Keir Starmer and failed.The only way to finally remove the most unpopular and unpatriotic prime minister in our lifetime is to back Reform. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Mayor raises concerns about using public money to support firms ‘who act contrary to London’s values’UK politics live – latest updatesSadiq Khan may oppose Scotland Yard using Palantir’s AI systems to process criminal intelligence because of his “concerns about using public money to support firms who act contrary to London’s values”.The mayor of London’s office made the statement after the Guardian revealed last week that Palantir, whose software has been used in Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdown and by Israel’s military, has held talks with the Metropolitan police over a wide-ranging contract that could run into tens of millions of pounds. Continue reading...

Scottish Labour leader pledges more homes and tax cuts as party tries to reverse slump in support before May electionsUK politics live – latest updatesAnas Sarwar has appealed to voters to give Labour five years “to fix the Scottish National party’s mess” as he pledged more homes, tax cuts and a smaller public sector.The Scottish Labour leader is fighting a last-ditch attempt to reverse a steep slump in support. Recent polls put Sarwar’s party third or fourth behind Reform and the Scottish Greens, dragged down by the UK government’s unpopularity. Continue reading...

Lee Milne sentenced to eight years in landmark case after being found guilty of culpable homicide of Kimberly MilneA man convicted of killing his wife, who took her own life after repeated domestic abuse, has been jailed for eight years in case seen as a significant legal milestone.Kimberly Milne, 28, died when she jumped from a bridge in July 2023. Her estranged husband, Lee Milne, was found guilty of culpable homicide last month after a trial at the high court in Glasgow.In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

Hope Scottish pilot will result in heel prick test for rare genetic condition being approved across BritainScotland has become the first part of the UK to screen newborn babies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wastage.Campaigners, who have long advocated for newborn testing because early detection is critical for treatment outcomes, hope the Scottish pilot will result in approval for the heel prick test across the UK. Continue reading...

Just three of Labour’s 20 MSPs in Holyrood voted for bill, despite support for legislation in House of CommonsSupporters of Scotland’s assisted dying bill said they are frustrated a significant majority of Labour MSPs voted against the proposals, despite Labour’s substantial support for the measure at Westminster.The Scottish bill was defeated in a late night free vote at Holyrood on Tuesday, five years after it was first proposed and a year after it was first tabled, by a larger than expected 12-vote margin. Continue reading...

A letter from 15 critics to the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh condemns ‘divisive move’ that saw non-Scottish publications excluded from reviewing the musical’s press nightTheatre critics in Scotland have written to the Royal Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh condemning a “divisive” and “London-centric” decision to not invite reviews from UK national publications for its new musical version of One Day.The show, based on the 2009 novel by David Nicholls, held a press night on Wednesday but only critics writing for Scottish publications were invited to review it. A separate press night for other critics is planned for a later date, when the show opens in London. Continue reading...