Nicola Sturgeon confirms travel ban will be introduced from Friday

Murdo Fraser claimed the First Minister had "pandered" to republicans in her own party. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Edinburgh Waverley station today as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK, aimed at thanking frontline workers of the pandemic.

First Minister visited the Western General in Edinburgh to hear how health bosses are preparing for the long-awaited covid vaccination programme. Frontline healthworkers will be the first people in Scotland to receive vaccines on Tuesday before the programme is rolled out across the country.

First Minister said: "I can confirm that that remains the case, that will be the case."Scotland has a five tier system of coronavirus restrictions and Sturgeon will announce her weekly review tomorrow.Eleven council areas, including Glasgow and North and South Lanarkshire, have been in level four since last month.

coronavirus death has been recorded in Scotland over the last 24 hours. The Scottish Government also announced that 677 new cases of COVID-19 were reported overnight, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 100, 783.

pupils from less advantaged backgrounds.An analysis of attendance shows pupils in poorer areas are more likely to have taken time off in the health crisis.Figures at the end of November showed attendance ranged from 85.3% in the most deprived areas to 93.5% in the least deprived.Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: “This isn’t an easy call, but in the interests of the pupils of Scotland it is time for John Swinney to swallow his pride and cancel the higher and advanced higher

First Minister has paid tribute to a ‘wonderful’ dad-of-five who tragically lost his fight for life after catching coronavirus last month. Andrew Slorance passed away on Saturday morning aged just 49 after working tirelessly with the Scottish Government in their response to the pandemic.

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.Both north-east councils had been put on notice yesterday but will stay at level two on the sliding scale for Scotland's 32 local authorities."I can confirm that the Scottish Government is not proposing any immediate changes today to the levels that currently apply to each local authority area," Sturgeon said in her weekly statement to the Scottish Parliament."However, I need to be clear that we have been looking and will continue to look very carefully in the days to

the crisis. She said the right to leaving the UK is "inalienable" and taunted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to try to block another pro-independence majority at Holyrood.

festive tradition is the latest in line to fall victim to strict public health rules which already banned Halloween guising and bonfire night gatherings. The Scottish Government has not finalised the rules but carol singing is being reviewed along with other traditions, including popular Santa's grottos for children.Nicola Sturgeon said work is under way shortly after a Boris Johnson spokesman said permission was granted in England.

referendum. Before the first speeches, Sturgeon said she has "never been so certain" Scotland will achieve independence.

First Minister spoke ahead of her party’s annual conference today by telling members she has “never been so certain” the country will achieve independence.Her party is riding high in opinion polls and is widely tipped to win a majority of MSPs at next year's Holyrood election.That could set off a constitutional showdown with Westminster as the SNP uses its mandate to demand an IndyRef2 takes place.While Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he will not allow another referendum on

post-Brexit paperwork for fish products.

vote on the constitution. With the Nationalists currently soaring in the polls it means Boris Johnson could face huge pressure to allow an IndyRef2 to take place in the coming years - despite repeatedly saying he would not.

agreement to allow trave l across the whole of the UK regardless of what lockdown level each area is in at the time. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon backed the plan but told people to "think carefully" before reuniting with relatives and loved ones.

five-tier system on Tuesday morning but the First Minister told MSPs in the Scottish Parliament this will be the only change. The majority of Scots remain in the first of three weeks of strict measures that have closed all non-essential shops and prevented travel to other areas.Sturgeon told MSPs that 41 deaths and 771 positive tests have been recorded in the past 24 hours.

pubs and restaurantsBut a week after sending the hint, the Scottish Government said public health advisers were concerned.It means only East Lothian drops to level 2 from 6am today.

coronavirus  death toll has hit 3,459, the  Scottish Government  confirmed today.

Nicola Sturgeon today confirmed 11 councils including Glasgow will go from level three to level four at the end of the week.It means only essential shops can open, while new restrictions will be imposed on hospitality and leisure.The level four rules will be imposed in Glasgow city, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Stirling and West Lothian.Sturgeon, at the Scottish Parliament, said she

level two rules on November 24.The change depends on continued progress, but it was seen as a positive sign while Glasgow and 10 other councils were ordered into the highest level four lockdown.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the plan at the Scottish Parliament as part of the government's weekly review of the five-tier system.She said: "I am pleased to report that East Lothian and Midlothian have both seen a marked decline in infection rates – prevalence in these areas is significantly