Nicola Sturgeon announces new case of mutant Brazil strain of Covid found in Scotland

Alex Salmond's return to politics The former SNP leader confirmed he will be standing for the Alba Party on the North East regional list section in May's Scottish Parliament election.Launching the new party in an online event on Friday, the former SNP leader said: "Today Alba are hoisting a flag in the wind, planting our Saltire on a hill.

Covid-19 pandemic. The Holyrood Government has announced plans to offer more than 154,000 NHS staff in Scotland a pay rise of at least four per cent.

Scottish Parliament election campaign. Scots will head to the poll on May 6 in what is expected to be a crucial election for the future of Sturgeon's independence dream.

NHS workers have been offered a 'substantial' pay rise after an 'exceptionally challenging year'.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced 'our NHS staff deserve more than applause and 1% is not enough' after putting a 4% raise on the table.If accepted by staff, would be the most generous National Health Service pay uplift anywhere in the UK.The pay rise will benefit 154,000 NHS employees including nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals, as well as domestic, healthcare support staff,

Nicola Sturgeon will face questions from fellow MSPs at First Minister's Questions this afternoon.It is expected to begin around 12.30 in the Scottish Parliament, and beforehand the First Minister will give the latest update on the current coronavirus statistics.It comes as the Western Isles will today move to level three of lockdown restrictions from 6pm.Announcing the change yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said the Outer Hebrides would return to the level that currently applies to Orkney and

Scottish Parliament later today. The Scottish Tories said they will press ahead with a vote in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after a Holyrood committee found she misled parliament.

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First Minister 's resignation amid accusations she misled parliament about her involvement in the Alex Salmond investigation. It followed a leak that the inquiry into the Government's unlawful investigation into harassment complaints against the former first minister has reportedly concluded that Ms Sturgeon gave an "inaccurate" account of meetings with Mr Salmond.

Linda Fabiani (Convener)Long-serving SNP MSP who has been deputy presiding officer of the Scottish parliament since 2016. No friend of Salmond, who replaced her as Europe Minister halfway through the SNP’s first term in office.

will have to be prioritised. The SNP leader said: “At present we expect that over the next month we will have approximately 500,000 fewer doses than we had previously anticipated.

coronavirus in Scotland in the last 24 hours. Figures announced by the Scottish Government this afternoon reveal 624 new cases of the virus have been identified overnight, bringing the total cases to 211,854.

coronavirus deaths and 625 new cases in last 24 hours The First Minister released the figures from St Andrews House in Nicola Sturgeon.

Nicola Sturgeon on March 2, the day before she appeared before the inquiry investigating the handling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond.On BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Andrea Bradley, the assistant secretary of the EIS teaching union, said the Scottish Government was looking for a "good news story that week".However, Ms Sturgeon had previously announced the earliest date for some pupils to return to school would be March 15.On Monday, Education Secretary John

Dunblane massacre will be 'forever in our hearts' as Scotland remembers the tragedy 25 years on.The First Minister took to twitter to call the day 'one of the darkest and most heartbreaking in Scotland’s history'.On March 13, 1996, crazed gunman Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 primary school children and their teacher in Dunblane, sending shockwaves of grief around the world.Hamilton then took his own life.The murder spree remains Britain's deadliest mass shootings and lead to large-scale reforms on

coronavirus in the last 24 hours.Nicola Sturgeon announced that 591 new cases of the virus were recorded overnight, bringing the total number to 207,747 since the start of the pandemic.Scotland's death toll currently sits at  7,483.It was announced that 556 people are being treated in hospital while 42 are currently in ICU wards.It comes as we revealed bosses raking in billions from lucrative health contracts have failed to pay the Scottish Government’s £500 bonus to NHS workers like porters,

coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The latest figures were announced by Nicola Sturgeon during this morning's coronavirus committee meeting in Parliament.

First Minister is taking questions from MSPs on the coronavirus committee at Holyrood.Nicola Sturgeon is being quizzed on her handling of the pandemic and how Scotland will exit lockdown in the next couple of weeks and months.MSPs will ask Nicola Sturgeon, and Dr Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, a number of questions on the pandemic.The meeting will take place virtually and can be viewed on the Scottish Government website.

coronavirus in the last 24 hours.The latest figures were announced ahead of Nicola Sturgeon speaking in Holyrood this afternoon.The First Minister also confirmed 466 new cases of the virus were recorded overnight.614 people are being treated in hospital while 50 are currently in ICU.The latest figures mean that since the start of the pandemic, 7441 people have lost their lives to coronavirus in Scotland.It comes as Nicola Sturgeon is today expected to announce restrictions on meeting people