The FM has joined thousands of Scotland fans for a Boston takeover ahead of our first World Cup match in 28 years.

John Swinney has praised the “electric” atmosphere in Boston as the Tartan Army gather in huge numbers ahead of the country’s first World Cup Match in 28 years.

The First Minister is in the US city to watch Steve Clarke’s men take on Haiti in their opening fixture of the 2026 tournament which kicks off at 2am UK time on June 14.

The SNP leader has been joined by famous faces including Gerard Butler and Gordon Ramsay in the Massachusetts capital alongside an estimated 40,000 Scotland fans who have also made the trip.

Speaking to the Press Association, Swinney said: “The atmosphere is electric here in Boston, it has been since we arrived.

“There are thousands and thousands of Scotland fans who have made the journey and the atmosphere is lively, it’s positive.

“It’s great weather and people are having a great time and engaging with the local community here in Boston. Everyone has had such a warm welcome from the Boston community, so its a fantastic situation to be part of.”

Mr Swinney added that Scotland’s 28-year absence at the World Cup made it “particularly precious” to be in Boston and supporting the team.

He was speaking at The Haven, a Scottish pub in Boston, for an event by the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal, which aims to donate to children’s charities in every country in which the Scotland team plays matches.

A spokesman for Meet Boston – a tourism organisation in the city – told the Press Association that the Scottish fans were bringing “palpable” joy. He said: “To say the impact has been significant would be a major understatement.

“The Tartan Army is omnipresent across town and their energy and joy is so palpable.”

The spokesman described scenes posted on social media of Scotland fans celebrating ahead of the match as “absolute fire”.

He said many people had been trying to estimate the overall number of visitors from Scotland, which was about 40,000 but “could be higher”.

The Dubliner Boston, an Irish pub which has been popular with fans, had gone through 30 kegs of Tennent’s lager by Thursday, he added.

On Friday night, Mr Swinney attended events in Boston alongside celebrities including Gerard Butler – star of the movie 300 – who wore a kilt and football shirt.

Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd also sported a kilt, with actors Martin Compston and Tony Curran, former footballers James McFadden and Darren Fletcher and broadcaster Gordon Smart, also in attendance.

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Former Little Mix star Perrie Edwards got ready to tie the knot with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a pre-wedding celebration

Perrie Edwards is in party mood as she ties the knot with footballer fiance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former Little Mix star is getting married in the Algarve four years on from their engagement. The couple will exchange their vows in Quinta do Lago in Portugal. The couple know the area well, with Perrie said to own a villa nearby.

The intimate ceremony will see the likes of Perrie’s former bandmates, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock jet over to be a part of the special day. And the exclusive resort where the wedding party have been staying is said to cost up to £2,800 for a room for the night.

The pre-wedding ceremony saw the stars and their guests mingle, with footballers including Harrison Reed also in attendance. It’s claimed Alex’s brother was one of the last to leave the celebration, with most guests calling it a night at 10pm.

The guests are said to have tucked into pizzas, pastas and cocktails at the resort’s Italian restaurant. It comes as Perrie recently couldn’t hide her delight at the impending big day.

Perrie had hinted her big day was close last month as she said: “There’s so much coming up in both my personal and professional life — my wedding! I tried on the dress the other day and I’m so happy with it. I feel very fulfilled in my life right now, and I’m very happy with the balance. But yeah, a lot is going on — babies, dogs, planning my wedding.”

But she also admitted that the other member of Little Mix, Jesy Nelson, would be nowhere to be seen. She confessed that she can’t see their friendship ever reforming.

Perrie told Jamie Laing on his podcast: “”What annoys me is the most, and again I have to be careful how I say this as I don’t want to seem like a b**** but for me what upsets me the most is when situations like this happen and the other person doesn’t take any accountability, that boils my blood!

“I am not blaming everything on you, I am not saying that she’s this f****** monster and everything was her thought blah, blah, blah but take some accountability for your actions and realise you were difficult, you did have difficult moments.”

But Jesy’s sister wasn’t prepared to take the comments without responding. Jade Nelson fired back in a lengthy post on Instagram.

Within the post, Jade fumed: “She’s fully aware she was hard to deal with but through it all if any other single person were struggling with a break up, anxiety, life, she was there! lsn’t that what you do as friends or if you love someone?”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Two hotels in NI were given the ‘Best of the Best’ title this year

A Northern Irish hotel has been named in the top three across the UK at the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2026.

Each year, TripAdvisor highlights the highest-rated hotels worldwide, based on reviews from TripAdvisor reviewers over a 12-month period.

The Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best’ title is awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community.

Winners are determined by the quality and quantity of TripAdvisor reviews and ratings from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and Belmore Court & Motel in Co Fermanagh has landed in the top 10.

Ranking third across the entire UK, it is joined by Belfast’s Tara Lodge on the UK’s Top 25 Hotels for 2026 list, making it the only two hotels from Northern Ireland to be recognised this year.

Both Belmore Court Enniskillen and Tara Lodge are among the fewer than 1% of TripAdvisor’s 8 million listings to achieve this milestone.

This is what TripAdvisor had to say:

3. Belmore Court & Motel, Enniskillen

At Belmore Court & Motel, you’re right in the heart of Enniskillen, perfect for exploring the lakes and Fermanagh’s sights.

You’ll find a mix of rooms (some pet-friendly!) packed with thoughtful touches. The setting’s relaxed without being stuffy.

There isn’t a restaurant, but the breakfast spread is solid, and the service is great.

25. Tara Lodge, Belfast

Tara Lodge stands out for its stylish rooms, located near great dining spots and transport links.

Enjoy an excellent à la carte breakfast served by award-winning staff in a beautiful setting. Long-established quality service ensures a great stay for every guest.

See the full list here.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter

NEW YORK (AP) — While you might want to ignore all the hubbub around SpaceX, Elon Musk and IPOs, your 401(k) likely can’t.

SpaceX is now worth $2.1 trillion after its stock launched 19.2% higher in its debut on Wall Street. Whether or not you believe it deserves to be worth more than Exxon Mobil, Bank of America and Coca-Cola combined, the collective market does. And if SpaceX maintains that big a value, it will join some high-profile stock indexes.

Many of these indexes don’t care about how realistic a company’s growth plans are or who its CEO is. They’re simply trying to show how slices of the market, or the whole thing, are performing. And if SpaceX is big enough to meet the qualifications to join those indexes, whether it’s in a few weeks or a year, it will gain entry.

That matters for investors and their 401(k) accounts because they’re depending more than ever on funds that simply mimic these indexes. It’s a lower-cost way to invest, allowing savers to keep more of their investments. Partly because of that, such index funds have usually proven to be better performers than funds that try to pick and choose individual stocks.

Just one in five actively managed U.S. stock funds survived and beat their average index peer over the last decade, at 21%, according to Morningstar’s data through 2025. Such disparities in performance meant investors had more money invested in U.S. index funds than actively managed ones beginning in 2024, and the gap has only grown since then.

Here’s a look at what’s going on:

What indexes are

They’re things the investment industry has created to answer the question: What is the market doing? It’s otherwise tough to answer quickly when the U.S. market has thousands of stocks moving in different directions at any moment.

The S&P 500 is perhaps the most famous and influential index. It tracks 500 of the biggest U.S. stocks, and trillions of dollars in investments are either directly mimicking it or at least benchmarking themselves against it.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is well known because it’s been around since the 19th century, but it tracks only 30 big stocks so Wall Street pays it little attention.

Companies want to be in indexes

Because index funds are the way so many investors put money into the stock market, companies want to be part of indexes. Stocks can see a big jump in their prices after S&P Dow Jones Indices, Nasdaq, FTSE Russell or other companies announce they’ll be joining their indexes.

The investment industry has created funds, including both traditional mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, to track almost every kind of index. More than 1,000 index funds were available at the end of last year, according to the Investment Company Institute. Of them, 185 tracked the S&P 500.

SpaceX could soon be in indexes

Nasdaq changed its rules to allow some huge companies to join its Nasdaq 100 index after just 15 trading days. That’s a break from the past, where it would wait until each December to add new members in an annual reconstitution to make sure it includes the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq.

Some popular funds track the Nasdaq 100 index, including the QQQ exchange-traded fund from Invesco that has roughly $477 billion in total investments. That means QQQ holders could soon own shares of SpaceX, without doing anything on their own.

The company behind the S&P 500 is not making changes to allow SpaceX and other “mega” IPOs faster entry into the index. For it, a stock needs to trade on an eligible exchange for at least 12 months before it can join the index.

Not only that, S&P Dow Jones Indices also requires companies to have made a profit in its most recent quarter and over the sum of its last four quarters.

SpaceX lost $4.9 billion last year and another $4.3 billion through the first three months of 2026. It acknowledges that it “may not achieve profitability in the future.” Over the long term, a stock’s price tends to track with how much profit the company is making.

Not everyone is happy about SpaceX’s IPO entry to indexes

Officials from pension funds for firefighters, teachers and other workers in California and New York sent a letter to SpaceX last month decrying its corporate governance, including how much power Musk will hold over the company through his ownership of a special class of stock with more voting power.

They said they could become owners of SpaceX stock because they hold index funds.

If Musk is able to control so much of the voting power on the board of directors, it would make him tremendously powerful atop SpaceX, “essentially making him unfireable without his own consent,” the CEO of California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the New York state comptroller and the New York City comptroller wrote in their letter.

If an investor doesn’t like certain companies in the index

Index funds track indexes. And if a stock is in an index, the index fund will buy it, even if investors may not like it.

Tesla has remained in the S&P 500 even though critics called it overvalued for years, for example, and Musk’s electric-vehicle company has grown to become one of Wall Street’s 10 biggest companies.

Some indexes say they will not include companies that have poor corporate governance standards or other narrowed criteria, but investors need to look for them.

The S&P 500 ESG index famously kicked Tesla out in 2022, for example.

Available for over a year

Paddy is back from holiday and he’s also back from Ashton-in-Makerfield.

He joins Laura to discuss a new poll that suggests Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain could steal enough votes from Reform UK to hand Andy Burnham a win.

Luke Tryl from More In Common – the pollsters behind the research – also joins with Joe Pike who’s sat in on a focus group they ran.

A full list of candidates and loads more information about the Makerfield by-election is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrp1z8n4w2o

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes are released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC.

The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Frank McWeeney. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Paddy Young shared the shocking news with his social media followers

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A TV comedian has revealed he was hurt by a samurai sword in a freak accident.

The news was shared on social media by Paddy Young, part of the cast of Sky’s Saturday Night Live UK.

As well as snaps from the hospital bed and throughout his recovery, the 34-year-old revealed: “Cut my finger with a samurai sword!”

He added: “Thank you, Bebe Ed Horatio, for breastfeeding me back to good health. Thank you, Sam, for bringing the sword to my home and running away when I fainted.”

Paddy hilariously added: “Fringe run 90% sold out. Tendon 90% lacerated. Aura 100% lost. Tour selling fast – see u there.”

In one photo, the comic was all smiles in the hospital bed despite his entire left hand being bandaged. In others, Paddy posed with concerned friends whilst wearing a sling and maintaining his humour, reports the Express.

While he appeared to be recovering well, emotional fans rushed to the comments with well-wishes. As one penned: ” Nooooooooooo!!!!! Hope you will feel better soon, Paddy.”

Another echoed: “Man, those compression socks are the worst! Get well soon, Paddy.”

“This is a very chill response to a friend causing you to lose the use of your hand,” remarked one fan.

As a fourth added: “Omg get better soon bud, we miss you on our TV screens on Saturday nights, good luck with touring.”

READ MORE: Tartan Army send rallying cry to national team ahead of opening match against Haiti

READ MORE: Susan Boyle sends ‘No Scotland No Party’ message of support to World Cup team

Meanwhile, SNL UK director Will Farrell joked: “Sam told me he thought the sword wouldn’t have cut you if you were honourable.”

Paddy joined the cast of the British SNL show alongside Hammed Animashaun, Ayoade Bamgboye, Larry Dean, Celeste Dring, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano, Annabel Marlow, Al Nash, Jack Shep, and Emma Sidi.

Despite its controversial arrival, SNL UK has been renewed for a second series, which was officially confirmed in May.

According to Deadline, the satirical sketch comedy will be back for 12 more episodes, set to air in autumn 2026.

Producer Lorne Michaels, who created the original American iteration in 1975, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our team and the show. It keeps getting better every week.

“I’m grateful to [Sky Group CEO] Dana Strong and Sky for believing in and supporting SNL UK. I’m excited for the season ahead.”

The original SNL has remained wildly successful and is recognised as the launchpad for many famous comedians to break through into the acting industry.

This includes Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

The excitement is at fever pitch ahead of the opener against Haiti tonight with fans desperate to see us start our campaign with a win.

After 28 long years the wait is finally over. Scotland are back playing football on the biggest stage of all – and the Tartan Army out in Boston just can’t wait for kick off.

The excitement is at fever pitch ahead of the opener against Haiti tonight with fans desperate to see us start our campaign with a win.

Supporters pulled on their Scotland tops and dusted off their kilts as hundreds of fans headed into the city centre early doors for some nerve calming lagers.

Elsewhere, at Rowes Wharf, buzzing footsoldiers slapped on the sun cream before marking the historical moment by heading off on a three-hour party boat.

Chris Gibson, 50, from Maud in Aberdeenshire, helped organise the cruise for over 200 fans ahead of the match.

The builder and landscaper told the Record: “I’ve got a nervous energy. Just the game, how the team are performing – but I’m excited and I know a few beers on the boat will calm my nerves.

“We have 200 of the guys on board. It’s an open bar – which I am worried about. I just hope they have enough beer!

“We’ve done nine all over Europe. So this is the first one outside of Europe.”

Fans headed down to the waterfront on Saturday morning as hundreds of excited fans boarded the aptly named ‘Freedom’ vessel.

The three-hour cruise includes an open bar, with fans lining their stomachs with sandwiches before starting on the early lagers at around 11am local time.

“It’s an early start but there’s a lot of older guys on board, so hopefully they take it easy”, said Chris.

“I’m worried about missing the game and stuff. Because it’s early days, but if anyone misses it I’m taking no responsibility!”

Asked for his prediction ahead of the match, Chris said: “I’ve got a feeling I’ve got to do something special. Become the first Scottish team to get through the group.

“It’s obviously such a big game. This one in particular – if we win this one we have a good chance to get out the group.”

Most of the fans donned the new away strip as they cheered and sang songs while boarding the boat.

As the ship set sail, the captain delighted the revellers by blasting “Freed from Desire,” with fans instead cheering “Scotland’s on fire!”

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Ewan Oman, 28, a plumber from Peterhead, said: “”It’s been the trip of a lifetime already. We flew into New York. We’ve been to Mike Tyson’s local to see where he keeps his racing pigeons – it been mental.

“Then we had the boat party today which was fantastic.

“It’s such a big day. We have waited so long for this moment. I genuinely feel we are going to show up.

“We’re going to play our best team and I think our quality will show.

“History isn’t kind to us. I think in the past we have underestimated teams like this, so hopefully we’ll learn our lessons from the past. Honestly it feels different this time.”

Most fans had their travel and accommodation booked up back in November after qualification was secured against Denmark.

But Ellis Mutch, a farmer from Turriff, decided he was coming just 10 days ago after having deciding he couldn’t miss out.

The 33-year-old told the Record: “I was only six when the last World Cup took place so my memories are very faint.

“I just booked this trip 10 days ago – they talk about FOMO – a fear off missing out. I was getting serious FOMO so I just took the plunge and booked it. I packed very light, my kilt is the only bottoms I’ve got. But we are here and the atmosphere is amazing.

“The folk from Boston are so friendly. We’re here for a good time – and let’s hope we get a good win.”

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Suzanne Nisbet, 52, and her husband Robert, 56, have travelled across to Boston from their home in Kirkintilloch.

Suzanne, a community staff nurse, said: “It’s been amazing trip. Absolutely magic. Back in 1998 we had just got married. Just moved in to our house.

“It was a long time ago. We were starting to feel like this moment would never come.

“We’ve not got tickets but we’re looking forward to watching the game with all the fans in the city. I think we will get the win. It will be close, but we’re going to do it.”

Kevin Lynch, a 41-year-old police officer from Aberdeen, said: “It’s amazing to finally be here after waiting all this time.

“The whole place is bouncing. Everybody has been excited before we got here – but now we are here it is finally starting to sink in – we’re actually going to be at a World Cup.

“It think it’s going to be amazing tonight. It’s going to be emotional – but it’s going to be good.

“We’ve got tickets for all three games. I’ve got a month off my work, so I’m here until I’m here until we go home.

“I think we will get the win we need tonight – but I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.

“It won’t be a walkover, they’re going to be looking at us as their easiest opponent as well.

“So I think it’s going to be tough, but I think we’re going to win 2-0.”

Speaking from the party boat as he enjoyed his first beer of the day, Kenny Hall, a 61-year-old retired police officer from East Lothian, said: “It’s unbelievable to be here.

“The locals have been absolutely fantastic. The boat is absolutely brilliant. It’s an open bar which could be dangerous, though – so it’s a good job we’re speaking to you now and go later!

“I don’t know where we will watch the game tonight. We’ll just play it by years – head into the city centre, and try and get the party started.

“It’s obviously a huge game tonight but I think we will win. 2-0 Scott McTominay double.”

Bronwyn Heatherwick, a 28-year-old NDT technician from Aberdeen, added: “It’s absolutely amazing to be here. We’re here with the North East Tartan Army and we have organised a few of these boat parties – but this has to be one of the best.

“After this we will be heading to a tailgate party with a bbq before the match. I have a ticket for the game and we just can’t wait for it. I’m predicting a 3-1 win with Lawrence Shankland to score.”

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