First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces West Lothian is to move down to Level Three

The Queen is scheduled to return to work next week, which suggests that she didn't catch Covid off her son Prince Charles after having afternoon tea with him a couple of days before he tested positive.Major concerns had been raised after The Queen and Charles had afternoon tea together at Windsor Castle two days before he tested positive for Covid.Many were concerned as Charles would typically greet his mother in public with both a kiss on the hand and a kiss on the cheek.After a long-anticipated nervous wait, it's understood that the Queen, who has been triple jabbed, is showing no symptoms and has submitted a negative result.In an exclusive chat with The Sun, Royal sources told that Her Majesty has a diary of engagements at Windsor Castle next week which she is expected to go ahead with, which is an indication that she doesn't have Covid.The jobs are believed to be video calls with ambassadors and dignitaries from her desk.

The Masked Singer is a cultural phenomenon so an exciting arena tour is the natural next step.The ITV series has been entertaining audiences since its UK inception in 2020 and a touring version of the hit show will be hitting the road later this year.With 10 dates lined up from Liverpool to London, The Masked Singer: Live On Stage will take place in April, with just a few changes on board.While comedian Joel Dommett will be returning on presenting duties, The Masked Singer judges Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Mo Gilligan and Jonathan Ross will be replaced with three other superstar judges.So, what other changes can The Masked Singer fans expect from the tour?The Masked Singer: Live On Stage tour will welcome former competitors Aston Merrygold and Denise Van Outen as judges this time around.They will be joined by a mystery third celebrity judge who will change every night of the tour.Of the tour, Denise said (via Daily Record): "I am so excited to be a judge on The Masked Singer Live tour."I'm sure we're going to be thrilled by an incredible line-up of mystery celebrities bringing electrifying live performances to audiences up and down the country."Aston added: "The idea of taking The Masked Singer to arenas around the country is absolutely brilliant."The show is not about judgment, it’s about having fun and keeping the audiences guessing."I am so happy to be joining the panel."Being on other side of the desk will be exhilarating in a completely different way, but still with all the excitement and drama of the TV series.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentChiara Bellosi, whose first work, “Ordinary Justice,” launched from Berlin’s Generation 14plus section in 2020, is back with “Swing Ride” (“Calcinculo”) about an overweight 15-year-old named Benedetta pining for attention in an Italian province where she falls in love with the skinny non-binary Amanda.A key difference between the two films is that while “Ordinary Justice,” which examined the lives of two families on opposite sides of a murder case, originated from a deeply researched screenplay that Bellosi wrote, “Swing Ride” — premiering in Panorama on Feb. 13 — stems from a prizewinning script proposed to her by Carlo Cresto Dina, her producer, who also discovered Alice Rohrwacher (“Happy as Lazzaro”) and is known for nurturing the cream of Italy’s new cinematic crop.   “It’s a very different process; it was the first time that I had to start from a world that didn’t germinate from me,” said Bellosi about working from the script penned by Maria Teresa Venditti and Luca De Bei that won Italy’s prestigious Solinas prize in 2018.It was like moving into a new house that she had to make her own, she said.“I worked with the writers; I wanted to make a few tweaks and we did that together,” she added, noting that initially “it was a leap into the void.” But directing from their screenplay actually ended up giving her “more freedom” than her previous pic because “the container is already there; but you can go pretty wild with the rest.”This freedom also made it more fun.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMK2 Films, the banner behind Joachim Trier’s “The Worst Person in the World,” has boarded “Love Life,” the anticipated next film of laureled Japanese director Koji Fukada. Fukada’s credits include the 2016 movie “Harmonium” which won the jury prize at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, as well as “A Girl Missing” which played at Toronto. His latest film, “The Real Thing” was part of Cannes 2020’s Official Selection.

K.J. Yossman Fresh from appearing in Netflix hit Adam McKay’s “Don’t Look Up,” Mark Rylance’s latest big screen outing is “The Outfit,” in which he stars as Leonard, a 1950s tailor. It is a role that could not be more dissimilar to the fictional megalomaniac billionaire Peter Isherwell, whom Rylance plays in McKay’s disaster movie.Written and directed by Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning scribe behind “The Imitation Game,” “The Outfit” sees Rylance star as a Savile Row tailor who has fled across the Atlantic to escape his tragic past.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentTrustNordisk has closed a flurry of sales on a pair of 3D-animated family features, “Little Allan — The Human Antenna” and “The Super,” underscoring the market appeal of independent youth-skewing movies.“Little Allan – The Human Antenna” marks Danish film Amalie Naesby Fick’s follow up to her commercially successful debut “The Incredible Story of The Giant Pear,” which premiered in the the Generation Kplus section at Berlin in 2018. This year, the helmer has her daring drama series “Sex” selected for the Berlinale Series.The film takes place during summer vacation, when introverted, 11-year old Allan starts acting as a human antenna for his old neighbor, who thinks a huge invasion fleet from the outer space is on its way.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorAhead of Sunday’s world premiere of documentary “1341 Frames of Love and War,” which plays in Berlinale Special, Variety spoke to Israeli writer/director Ran Tal about the film and its subject, Israeli war photographer Micha Bar-Am.In some ways “Frames” continues Tal’s interest in Israeli history evident in his previous work, “What If? Ehud Barak on War and Peace,” which centered on the former prime minister of Israel. Bar-Am was born in Berlin in 1930, but grew up in what became Israel, and across a five decade-long career as a photographer he documented many of the major episodes – in particular the wars – in the life of the young country, founded in 1948.

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.

Christmas rules could be torn up in Scotland as it emerged that nine cases of a new coronavirus strain had been confirmed north of the border.

Sign up to the weekly West Lothian Courier newsletter for the latest West Lothian news and sport.Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that West Lothian will be staying in Level Three.The First Minister had previously said this would be her last briefing to local authorities before the new year but she changed her mind due to rising infections.She had said earlier this week that Covid-19 transmission rates would inform her decision today but also voiced concern that infections could increase when restrictions are eased between December 23 and 27.Speaking today Ms Sturgeon said “rising and volatile” rates infection in some parts of the country had helped her come to a final decision.She asked people for patience in what will be a challenging few

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.

coronavirus lockdown.On Thursday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon trumpeted plans to hand over £55million in emergency cash to bailout football, rugby, basketball, netball, motor sport, horse racing and ice hockey - with a total of £30m of that money earmarked for the national game.But Premiership clubs will only be given access to £20m worth of loans which will be fixed on a commercial interest rate, rather than the 12 month interest free Covid deals which have been handed out by the UK government across the border.The remaining £10 million will be shared out as grants to clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two as well as the Highland and Lowland Leagues and women’s game.But that’s £5m less than the £15m worth of grants which

Peter Murrell ’s evidence to the Holyrood probe. A special Parliament committee is examining how the SNP Government bungled the handling of sexual misconduct complaints against the former First Minister.

Dave Cormack 's fan return crusade.The Aberdeen chairman has this week renewed his campaign for a safe return to stadia for supporters.In an exclusive interview with , Cormack targeted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and national clinical director Jason Leitch over alleged broken promises and a perceived lack of interest in aiding our ailing national game.The Scottish Government are set to provide £55million in financial relief for spectator sports affected by the Covid-19 pandemic - with £30m set aside for football at all levels.But Cormack insists formulating a plan to get punters back through the gates is essential to clubs' long-term survival.And he's found an ardent backer in the form of talkSPORT pundit and former Crystal Palace owner

Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox.Nicola Sturgeon said she’s “increasingly concerned” about stalled Brexit talks as she revealed arrangements to stockpile medicines in Scotland.The First Minister criticised Boris Johnson after his emergency face-to-face talks with European leaders continued to end in stalemate.She said: “I am deeply and increasingly concerned about the lack of clarity about the arrangements that will apply at the end of the Brexit transition period in just a matter of weeks.“We are almost exactly a year on since the general election when the Prime Minister said his deal was oven-ready.

, where they're paying thanks to essential workers and volunteers who are working so hard during this pandemic. And while the tour is obviously being conducted with safety in mind (Kate and William have been pretty consistent about their mask use...aside from in the below pics...), some ministers seem less than pleased that they're breaking travel restrictions.

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.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.The First Minister confirmed Lanarkshire will be moved out of Tier 4 on Friday.Nicola Sturgeon, speaking at her daily briefing, stated that the new level the county would enter would be revealed tomorrow (Tuesday, December 8).She did say “that they would be looking at the latest data to decide which level each area should enter”.Less than 1000 new coronavirus cases have been recorded in Lanarkshire for the first time in two months.The First Minister confirmed there had been 103 new cases in Lanarkshire on Sunday.As a result, last week there were 988 new Covid-19 cases in the region – a 14 per cent decrease on the previous week.Weekly case numbers are

Celtic Park turned violent last weekend. The 36-year-old was arrested by police as part of their ongoing investigation into the gathering at the Hoops ground on Sunday, November 29.

infection spreading in communities. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it is "likely" she will be able to make major changes at the next review.

Perth pub has become the latest establishment to close its doors because of COVID-19 restrictions. The Cherrybank Inn has been serving meals with soft drinks after Perth and Kinross moved into level three of coronavirus regulations.