The First Minister said that the Prime Minister's decision to block a new vote was 'a sign of weakness' as she continued to build her case the break up the UK.

Former Polish PM Mr Tusk suggested the UK would be focused on 'damage control' in the talks and warned Downing Street against planned divergence from continental rules.

The threat to the union has been underlined by research showing voters north of the border are divided 50-50 on the issue of independence.

Research by Panelbase suggests that a narrow majority would vote to break up the UK if Nicola Sturgeon gets her way over holding a fresh referendum.

Nicola Sturgeon is alleged to have issued the edict after concerns were raised at staff meetings about Derek Mackay's behaviour.

Police Scotland detectives have not 'received any complaint of criminality' but are 'assessing available information' in the wake of Thursday's bombshell revelations.

Kate Forbes only found out that she would announce the Scottish Government's spending pledges for the coming year at around 8am today - just after Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace.

Online trolls - some of whom told her to 'go back to India' and who mocked her Ugandan background - claimed to be members of Labour, the SNP and Green Party.

Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he denies.

Alex Salmond is tipped to make a dramatic SNP leadership comeback bid after he was cleared of sex assault charges this week. He could be deputy to MP Joanna Cherry, who led a bid to block Brexit last year.

Former deputy leader of the SNP Jim Sillars, 82, has said that the allegations against against Mr Salmond were the 'dirtiest blow' he has ever seen delivered in his 60 years of political life.

Alex Wilson had his account targeted by his devastated wife Pamela, who said he had left her to be with fellow SNP councillor Mandy Morgan. Pictured: Mr and Mrs Wilson.

Hosts on Airbnb have been flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules by advertising their properties as 'Covid-19 retreats' on the popular rental website.

Nicola Sturgeon today made clear she is willing to ease coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Scotland at a different rate to the rest of the UK.

MSP for Renfrewshire North and West Derek Mackay is entitled to a =n automatic severance payment of £11,945 for losing ministerial office.

OLIVER HOLT - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER IN NICE: From his table at a restaurant on the Promenade des Anglais, Phil Neville stares out at the shimmering waters of the Mediterranean.

Goncalo Guedes's second half strike proved the difference as Portugal saw off Holland 1-0 in Porto to become the inaugural winners of the UEFA Nations League.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs faces a dressing-room rebellion as his side struggles to qualify for Euro 2020. Defeats by Croatia and Hungary have left Wales fourth of five teams in Group E.

Ex-Liverpool star Sakho, 29, was suspended from football in 2016 after testing positive for a fat-burning substance. But it later emerged that the substance was not on the banned list.

Sanches's underwhelming time in the Bundesliga has come to a close after he completed a reported £23m move from German champions Bayern Munich to French side Lille on Friday afternoon.

Michael O'Neill warned the real tests begin now as his Northern Ireland squad prepare to face Germany in Monday's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier.

Wayne Rooney reportedly warned Jamie Vardy about his wife Rebekah's behavior during Euro 2016 - as Coleen Rooney accused the WAG of selling stories on her in a extraordinary Twitter rant.

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN TRNAVA: Former lifeguard Kieffer Moore kept Wales' Euro 2020 qualification hopes afloat with a goal on his competitive debut to earn Ryan Giggs' team a vital point.

Georginio Wijnaldum admits Holland's recent absence from major tournaments has been 'painful' as they look set to end that exodus at Euro 2020 next summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo took his goal-scoring career tally to an incredible 700 after netting in Portugal's 2-1 defeat against Ukraine. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner confidently slotted away a penalty.

EXCLUSIVE: The PFA have been accused of ignoring requests for help from lower league players allegedly cheated out of their life savings by former Wales international David Cotterill.

SAMI MOKBEL: It's the size of the challenge that galvanises Raheem Sterling - nothing else. That's why the natural next step in his career is to join one of the Spanish giants - Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Gareth Bale believes Wales reaching the European Championship next summer could trump the achievement of playing at Euro 2016. Wales ended a 58-year wait in 2016.

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN CARDIFF: If Giggs guides his team to victory over Hungary in the winner-takes-all clash and secures a place at Euro 2020, it will be a significant achievement.

Joe Allen believes Wales now have a better squad than the group that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Wales have qualified for their second consecutive European Championships.

The Juventus star was victorious on the international stage three years ago as Portugal beat France 1-0 after extra time. And now the 34-year-old has spoken out about the celebrations.

Arda Turan was once one of Turkey's best players and earned big moves to Atletico Madrid and then Barcelona. But, at 32, his career now lies in ruins following astonishing off-field incidents.

Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal to glory in 2016 despite injury and is one of a number of greats to write his name into the glittering history of the Euros since they were introduced in 1960.

Since the shambolic viewings four years ago, England have started to assemble a side capable of going all the way and Southgate deserves credit for putting faith in the next generation.

The sight of Roy Hodgson, rheumy-eyed and emotionally raw in Chantilly, France, the morning after England's Euro 2016 exit to Iceland was really something.

Singers Kelli Marie Willis, Jess Folley, Luena Martinez, Seorsia Leagh Jack, Virginia Hampson and Halle Williams landed a final spot in the group following Wednesday's arena auditions.

The singer, 41, broke down after watching Kelli Marie's rendition of an original song about feeling alone, and tearfully vowed that the teen 'wasn't alone anymore.'

Viewers took to Twitter to praise the singer, 34, for her 'fearless' judging style as they demanded she should join the panel permanently.

They've been romantically linked, despite Nicole Scherzinger saying she is too busy to be tied down with a relationship. 

The former X Factor judge, 67, celebrated her theatre stint for Nativity! The Musical with her daughter Kelly, 35, during a gala night, held at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, on Thursday.

Danny Tetley (pictured), from Bradford, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to getting his victims, many as young as 14, to send him explicit images of themselves.

Viewers weren't impressed as the singer decided to turn Robbie's performance of The Pussycat Dolls' hit Don't Cha into a duet, especially when she sent the Irish singer home later in the show.

The X Factor: Celebrity champion, 27, looked sensational as she shared a sizzling Instagram video of her dancing in a lacy black cut-out body and stockings on Friday.

The singer, 34, looked sensational in a plunging black velvet dress which flaunted her incredible toned figure as she joined John Legend at the event.

The final six contestants were officially revealed following the arena auditions in Birmingham. The boys will now go head-to-head with the girls in Sunday's live finale.

X Factor: The Band's grand final saw girl group Real Like You crowned the winners as they beat boy band Unwritten Rule in a nail-biting final on Sunday night.

The Pussycat Dolls star, 41, ensured she had all eyes on her during the X Factor: The Band's live grand final on Sunday as she put on a very busty display in a plunging black gown.

The couple looked full of festive cheer as they enjoyed a romantic date night at Winter Wonderland in London 's Hyde Park over the weekend.

Viewers tuning in on Sunday night were left baffled as X Factor: The Band singer wore a hoodie emblazoned with a swear word before 9pm watershed.

She's one of X Factor's success stories.  So it came as no surprise to see Leona Lewis had been invited back to judge the grand finale of the series' spin-off, The Band, on Sunday.