What time is Nicola Sturgeon's coronavirus lockdown announcement today and how to watch

amid fears the new Covid-19 variant will spread.Ireland has banned all flights from the UK for 48 hours, as has Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey, Belgium and Switzerland.The measures are temporary with plans for an EU council meeting at 10am to decide on co-ordinating EU actions.The announcement comes as Scotland prepares for a level four lockdown starting on Boxing Day.Opposition party leaders in Scotland have called on the SNP government to further explain the reasons for

Nicola Sturgeon has revealed the books that she says have gotten her through 2020.

Ladywell, Livingston, has backed our campaign after figures released this week showed Scotland has worst death rate in the world, a figure up six per cent on the previous year. Statistics showed the total deaths rose from 1,187 in 2018 to 1,264 in 2019.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.A tot dressed up as Nicola Sturgeon is the star of a  hysterical Christmas play about Santa and lockdown that’s going down a storm.One of the wee ones at the Rainbow Nursery, in Paisley,  dresses up just like the First Minister.Three-year-old Ella boldly announces: “You’ve been telt!”Ella wears a single colour royal blue outfit normally used by the kids for dressing up as Mary Poppins.T’was the Night Before

German news channel Welt, the First Minister said she remained hopeful the UK Government would secure a Brexit deal before December 31.

coronavirus deaths recorded in Scotland in the last 24 hours, according to official figures Nicola Sturgeon also revealed at First Minister's Question s this lunchtime that there were 858 new cases of Covid-19 record overnight, taking the total figure to 109,296.

limit their Christmas bubbles to just two households despite guidance being published that they could visit up to three.

Scroll down for the latest updates.Nicola Sturgeon has backed the Christmas lockdown easing plan while at the same time strongly recommending people stay in their own homes.The First Minister said if people make use of the five day loosening of the rules, her advice is to limit the duration of the stay and the numbers of people.She also recommended that people from “high prevalence” covid areas do not travel to low prevalence parts the UK.Read the full story.A Scots mum has spoken of her

Michael Gove is joining day-two of crisis talks on the future of plans for up to three households to mix between December 23 and 27. The talks involve all devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.They broke up yesterday after the first summit ended without an agreement.

coronavirus pandemic  has forced thousands of Scots out of work leading to record redundancy figures, new data has revealed. Around 30,000 people in the country  lost their jobs  in the three months to October - up from 5,000 between May and July, numbers from the Office for National Statistics have shown.

including Edinburgh. And public health officials are recommending a return to  level 3 rules  for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

decision not to ease restrictions was unpopular but warned: "It would be like pouring petrol on smouldering embers." Sturgeon defended the decisions as public health officials and politicians prepare to set Scotland's 32 council area tiers for another week. The First Minister will announce what levels are being imposed during a statement at Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon.Last week's review saw Glasgow and 10 neighbouring councils leave the highest level 4 curbs.

police - because it is not “essential travel”. The Scout Scotland Santa Run in Stewarton, which has been running for decades, was halted after officers said the sleigh ride through the town breached lockdown rules.

Nicola Sturgeon  is set to announce the latest update on Scotland's five-tier coronavirus lockdown system today.The First Minister will confirm which level Scotland's 32 local authorities will fall into following a review of lockdown restrictions.Eleven council areas have been in tier four - the highest level with the toughest rules - for three weeks since November 17.However, Sturgeon confirmed yesterday this would end on Friday - but has refused to give details ahead of her announcement this

will be given jabs at 23 sites across Scotland under the initial phase of a national programme which will eventually see millions of people protected against coronavirus. Among those who will be first in line for the vaccine is Andrew Mencnarowski, a senior staff nurse at the Western General in Edinburgh.

will be given jabs at 23 sites across Scotland under the initial phase of a national programme which will eventually see millions of people protected against coronavirus. Among those who will be first in line for the vaccine is Andrew Mencnarowski, a senior staff nurse at the Western General in Edinburgh.

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