Scotland weather LIVE: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Central Belt enjoy 28C heatwave
Parts of the country are basking in the hottest day of the year so far with Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Central Belt enjoying highs of 28C. It is the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 35C in Heathrow.
Scotland weather LIVE: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Central Belt enjoy 28C heatwave
North of England Lockdown: Nicola Sturgeon warns Scots to avoid all travel to north west England amid spike in coronavirus cases
Get out your deck chairs and barbecues because bright sunshine and warm temperatures are forecast in Edinburgh today just in time for the weekend
Scottish health board chief predicts more coronavirus outbreaks in Scotland
Scotland will see another outbreak of Covid-19 as the impact of the common winter flu may lead to an increase in the virus, a leading health figure has warned.
Douglas Ross 'likely' to stand as a candidate for leader of Scottish Conservatives following Jackson Carlaw's resignation
It is understood the Moray MP will be a candidate in the contest after Mr Carlaw made the decision not lead the party in the run-up to next May's Holyrood election.
John Swinney reassures teachers in Scotland who are anxious about returning to the class room
The Education Secretary has said he understands the "anxiety" teachers will have over the return to schools in August, but he insisted the Government's guidance will keep pupils and staff safe.
John Swinney said the guidance, which includes a ban on large gatherings like assemblies, has been carefully developed after discussion with experts.
Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Friday, he acknowledged there is "risk" involved in reopening schools from August 11, but this has to be measured against the loss of educational opportunity.
Asked about comments on social media from teachers concerned about the potential spread of coronavirus in schools, he said: "I understand the anxieties that members of the teaching profession will have.
"That's why we've taken such care to gather the evidence, we established a specific expert group to look at all of these questions and to provide us with clinical advice.
"And the guidance that we published yesterday reflects that clinical advice, which is that it is safe to resume full-time schooling as long as we put in place a number of mitigating measures."
The Government will not "shy away" from taking further action to tackle coronavirus across England if necessary, Matt Hancock has said.
UK Government ‘right to act quickly’ after surge in virus cases, says Sturgeon
Parts of the north of England have seen a resurgence in coronavirus cases.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said the UK Government was “right to act quickly” following the spike in Covid-19 infections.
New local lockdowns will start at midnight in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire after a surge in positive cases.
‘The message is loud and clear: after the applause, pay up for our key workers'
GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services Drew Duffy said: "The message is loud and clear: after the applause, pay up for our key workers. It's the very least they deserve for everything they have done for all of us.
He stated: "The frontline response to the coronavirus crisis across the public sector has been largely delivered on the backs of the lowest paid - cleaners, carers, porters, refuse workers and school support staff.
"When the rest of the country went into lockdown, they kept our hospitals clean, lifted our rubbish, looked after the kids of our other key workers in hub schools across Scotland, and they continue to face the crisis within a crisis that is social care.
"And while the magnificent public support they received really boosted their morale, they are rightly looking for recognition from the employers and politicians who were quick to clap them."