Triple Olympic cycling gold medallist Chris Hoy has been awarded a Knighthood for services to sport following his triumph in Beijing while his mother, Carol Hoy, receives an MBE for services to healthcare.

Robert Burns' iconic Scottish and international anthem, Auld Lang Syne, is one of the world's most recognised songs and is one of Scotland's greatest cultural exports, First Minister Alex Salmond said today ahead of Hogmanay celebrations.

Party leaders today united to unveil the updated events guide for Homecoming Scotland 2009. The new 48 page printed guide features more than 300 events and festivals, including more than 100 new additions. All events featured link with the themes of Homecoming - Burns, whisky, golf, great Scottish minds and innovations and ancestry, culture and heritage.

The Scottish Government published its Climate Change Bill yesterday. The Bill lays out a legal framework for ambitious reductions of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of 80% below 1990 levels* by 2050.

Work to reduce journey times and increase frequency of the railway service between Glasgow and Edinburgh is ahead of schedule and key design contracts will be signed next month, Glasgow's Eleventh State of the City Economy Conference was told yesterday.

The Scottish Government announced today that it is contributing £26,000 from its Expo Fund to the Scottish Storytelling Festival, which celebrates the ancient art of telling folk tales, sagas, and myths.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) has won funding from the Scottish Government's Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund to commission and publish a compilation of Scottish authors' work. Lights Off The Quay will feature work by Scottish authors Don Paterson, Janice Galloway, AL Kennedy, and John Burnside.

The City of Edinburgh has seen the biggest increase in population numbers in Scotland over the decade to June 2007, according to statistics released earlier today by the General Register for Scotland.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival pitches camp in Charlotte Square Gardens this year between 9th and 25th August, hosting a staggering 800 authors from around the world. The quality and range of authors always draws wide interest, and this year is no exception. Following the launch of ticket sales last month, heavy traffic made the web site inaccessible for a while and a good number of events have already sold out.

Commonwealth Law Ministers gathered at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh today for the triennial Commonwealth Law Ministers Me

The Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South-West delivered his first budget as Labour Chancellor earlier today "to secure a strong, sustainable future."

The Scottish Government unveiled plans for a local income tax of 3p on the pound yesterday to replace the Council Tax.

The SNP government today launched its ambitious plans to tackle climate change with the publication of the Scottish Climate Change Bill Consultation.

The SNP government announced yesterday it will scrap the relocation policy of the preceding government where civil servants were moved out of Edinburgh.