Scots have quipped that Boston and Glasgow now have a “special cone-ection” after the funny move.

The Tartan Army have brought Scottish humour to the US by propping a traffic cone on a Boston statue in tribute to the iconic Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow.

Scotland fans are currently swarming the Massachussetts capital ahead of the World Cup opening match against Haiti which gets underway at 2pm BST on June 14.

Supporters have been praised for their good-humoured antics in the host city so far – including persuading a cop to do keepy-uppies in the middle of a fan zone – but it seems they are now turning their attention to city figurines.

A photo being shared online shows a statue with a traffic cone placed on its head, in ode to the Duke of Wellington statue – one of Glasgow’s most infamous landmarks – situated outside the Gallery of Modern Art.

The US statue depicts Raymond Flynn, the former mayor of Boston. It is not clear who exactly was responsible for the crowning, but social media has erupted with comments from amused Scotland fans from across the world.

One Scot commented: “That’s it. Boston is officially twinned with Glasgow forever. May the cone hat never be removed from this day forward,” while a second joked: “We came we saw we cone’quered”.

Another quipped: “Glasgow and Boston now have a special cone-ection,” while a fourth said: “The highest of honours, America. Just roll with it,” and a fifth scribed: “I’m howling. This is hilarious. We leave our mark everywhere”.

A sixth proudly added: “A true mark of friendship if ever there was one. Boston is now “twinned” (unofficially) with Glasgow.”

Glaswegians have capped the Duke of Wellington statue outside the Gallery of Modern Art with a traffic cone for decades. The tradition is thought to have been started by late night revellers in the 1980s.

Attempts to free the Duke of his plastic hat over the years have quickly been thwarted, with the cone being replaced within days. Proud locals believe the cone showcases the best of Glaswegians’ sense of humour.

The cone hat image of the Wellington monument has previously been named by Lonely Planet as one of 10 Scottish inclusions in a list of the top 1,000 sights in the world.

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, is famous for defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and later becoming prime minister.

The statue of the Duke on his favourite horse Copenhagen was sculpted by Italian artist Carlo Marochetti and erected in 1844. It is a Category A listed sculpture.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

The singer posted a video of himself jetting to see Scotland take on Haiti hours after axing a gig due to ill health.

Rod Stewart has flown to Boston on a private jet to support Scotland in the World Cup. The singer posted a video on board the aircraft this evening where he told his 1.7m followers that he’s off to the US to support the squad.

The Maggie May chanter appeared in the clip alongside his son Alastair and was dressed in a white shirt and trousers and a blue blazer as he spoke excitedly about watching Steve Clarke’s men take on Haiti tonight.

The opening match kicks off at 2am BST on June 14 in the Massachusetts city. The 81-year-old, whose dad was Scottish and who is a devoted Scotland national team and Celtic fan, also shared his hopes for Scotland qualifying.

He said: “Here we are flying off to Boston to see Scotland in the World Cup. It’s been 28 years so these kids.. I’ve told them about [it] but they’ve never been…

“I’ve been to seven World Cups. Argentina, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, loads of them… this’ll be my seventh. We want them to get through to the next round and I’ll die a happy man. Come on, Scotland.”

It comes after the rocker pulled out of a gig in California last night just before he was due on stage after being struck down by illness.

The artist was due to perform in The Sunshine State as part of his One Last Time tour, but after travelling to the venue was forced to cancel the entire show.

A statement from his team broke the news to fans on Instagram. It read: “Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California.

“He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctors and following a diagnosis of an acute upper respiratory infection that has resulted in laryngitis, he is unable to take to the stage this evening.”

Rod later shared a photo of himself looking glum on stage as he revealed how close he’d come to making the performance.

He wrote: “Well here I am in beautiful Chula Vista as the stage is being taken down around me. Following treatment, I’m feeling much better, but my voice is not.

“I’m very disappointed and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to my fans. I did everything I could to make the show happen tonight, but unfortunately it just wasn’t possible. I will do my utmost to reschedule.”

Rod’s next gig is at the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in Colorado on June 15, giving him a few days to recover.

Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

The passengers were removed by police

A Ryanair flight from Manchester Airport had to be diverted due to ‘disruptive’ passengers.

The plane, which left Manchester on Wednesday (June 10), was bound for the popular Spanish holiday island of Tenerife when the captain decided to divert to Faro, in Portugal’s Algarve.

The airline said two passengers ‘became disruptive onboard.’ Portuguese police were called in and removed the passengers in Faro, they added.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

A video posted on social media showed two men stood in the aisle of a Ryanair aircraft. One could heard shouting ‘I’m here for dressing up, I’m dressing down’ as he danced and marched down the aisle.

He was pelted with abuse by some passengers who pleaded with him to sit down.

He then appeared to be tripped up by a fellow passenger as he came back the other way, prompting a flurry of laughter.

The man briefly sits down before jumping up again as the video ends.

“Great flight to Tenerife yesterday – had to redirect to Faro to drop off these 2 k*******s” the fellow passenger who posted it said.

A Ryanair spokesperson said: “This flight from Manchester to Tenerife South (10 June) diverted to Faro after two passengers became disruptive onboard.

“Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon arrival at Faro Airport, and removed these disruptive passengers before this flight continued to Tenerife.

“Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”

Armed officers flooded into the Haywood Mall in Greenville, South Carolina

Advertisement

Multiple people have been injured following a shooting at a shopping centre in the US.

The Haywood Mall in Greenville, South Carolina saw a massive armed police response on Saturday afternoon following reports of gunfire echoing through the building.

Panicked shoppers were forced to flee as emergency services flooded the area. The Greenville Police Department confirmed that officers were on the scene dealing with the unfolding incident.

According to officials, at least two people suffering from gunshot wounds were reportedly discovered inside the mall.

Armed officers are now working alongside deputies from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in a bid to clear the building and ensure public safety.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a number of people have already been detained in connection with the incident, reports The Mirror.

READ MORE: ‘Lying in hospital fighting for my life, I didn’t realise how close I came to dying’

READ MORE: Belfast says no to racism as thousands attend rally at City Hall after days of disorder

Thankfully, no further shots have been fired since the first wave of officers arrived at the scene.

The shopping hub has been placed on strict lockdown, with all access restricted to the public. The conditions of the victims have not yet been released.

Police have revealed that a preliminary investigation indicates a dispute boiled over and turned into a shooting, confirming that it was not a random attack.

The Greenville Police Department confirmed that two victims have been taken to the hospital and that several people have been detained.

Officers are working to clear the mall with help from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Fox Carolina said.

The ongoing saga of the Beckham family rift took another turn this week, as Harper was left standing on her brother’s doorstep

Brooklyn Beckham has offered an explanation after he failed to answer the door when his sister came to visit.

The whole Beckham clan was in Los Angeles, as Sir David was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Just a short drive away from Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street is where brother Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz-Beckham, live and Harper, the family’s youngest child, attempted to visit her older brother at his home.

However, attempts at a reconciliation fell flat as Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz, were nowhere to be seen, and the youngest Beckham did not go inside.

Now Brooklyn appears to have explained why he didn’t answer the door to his younger sister.

Taking to Instagram just hours after, he re-shared a post on his Instagram Story, showing him out for a run around New York – meaning he is miles away from his Californian home.

For years, the Beckhams have been plagued by family rifts, with wannabe chef Brooklyn snubbing his family.

Earlier this year, Brooklyn famously slammed his family, alleging that they had attempted to “ruin” his relationship with Nicola.

He also stated on his Instagram page that he had no desire to rekindle his relationship with his family and had instructed his parents to contact him only through lawyers.

But in a bid to heal the rift, Harper was seen arriving at Brooklyn’s home not long after the ceremony in Hollywood.

In pictures obtained by Page Six, Harper was seen walking to the gates alone, still wearing her pink silk dress from the ceremony. Insiders said Harper arrived ‘unannounced’ and she was the only one of the family to make the trip.

A spokesperson for Brooklyn told Page Six: “That photographers were in place as the letter was hand-delivered says it all — this was choreographed for the cameras.”

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

The Mirror reported how Brooklyn has struggled to keep a relationship with his sister while the row with his parents rumbled on. The 27-year-old is currently not talking to David and Victoria, or his brothers Cruz and Romeo, all of whom he has blocked on social media.

However, the situation is “very different” when it comes to his 14-year-old sister, who it’s understood Brooklyn has tried to shield from the family fallout.

But a source admits that the “fundamental logistics of his little sister living under the same roof as his parents…. makes things very hard, contact-wise”, and the two are not as close as they once were.

Brooklyn’s distance from his family only deepens further, as he didn’t make time for his father’s Walk of Fame celebrations earlier on Friday. In an interview prior to the ceremony, David refused to discuss the feud with Variety.

He said: “To be honest, I’m sorry to stop you there, but that’s a private matter. That’s the one thing that I don’t want to talk about.”

Earlier this year, Brooklyn furiously said: “I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life,” following claims he was being controlled by his wife.

Last month, Raducanu reunited with Andrew Richardson, who worked with her during her fairytale run in New York five years ago, when she entered the tournament as a qualifier and left with the trophy.

Since that moment, her career has been plagued with injury and fitness issues including surgery on both wrists and an ankle, and most recently the after-effects of a viral illness that she contracted ahead of the W250 final in Cluj in February.

The clay season might not have gone to plan with first-round exits in Strasbourg and Roland Garros but Raducanu’s attacking game is more suited to grass, and she showed the best of it in west London.

As she wrote “Made it to Sunday, Funday!” on the camera to sign off reaching the final, it was clear how much this moment meant to her.

“Any Brit would love to win the title here,” she said. “Me and my team have stuck together through some tough moments the last few months so I would like to thank them for getting me through.”

The World Cup 2026 match between Switzerland and Qatar played out in front of hundreds of empty seats to raise further questions about Fifa’s ticket prices for the tournament.

The Group B clash at the 70,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco on Saturday was the first game to be staged in the United States not involving the co-hosts and it failed to sell out.

While the fixture was always unlikely to be considered ‘in-demand’, pockets of empty seats could be seen clearly throughout the stadium. A 12pm kick-off local time and sweltering temperatures won’t have helped, with Fifa’s go-to excuse of fans being on the concourses rather in their seats potentially having some validity.

Tickets remained on sale in the hours before kick-off, although Fifa’s own ticketing website displayed a ‘limited availability’ message when entering the portal on Saturday.

The cheapest tickets on sale were for $450 in the Category 1 tier and were located in the lower-bowl of Levi’s Stadium and towards the corners.

There were thousands of empty seats in just the second match of the tournament between South Korea and Czech Republic in Guadalajara on Thursday evening. There were also some empty seats at Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.

Fifa, meanwhile, released a statement defending the swathes of empty seats in South Korea’s opening-day win against the Czech Republic by insisting that some fans “stood in concourses rather than in their assigned seat.”

“Official attendance figures reflect the number of tickets scanned and spectators present within the stadium footprint, rather than visual assessments of seating occupancy at any given moment during the match,” a Fifa spokesperson said.

“Fifa works closely with stadium authorities and ticketing teams to ensure all published figures are based on verified operational data. Please note that, during last night’s match in Guadalajara, several ticketed fans could be seen standing in concourses rather than staying in their assigned seats throughout the match.”

Only 29 matches had sold out before the start of the World Cup on Thursday, with tickets still available on Fifa’s ticketing website for 75 matches in the days before the opening match, despite Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s claim that demand has been “unprecedented”.

It comes as ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup are to be investigated by chief legal officers in the United States. The attorneys generals of New York and New Jersey insist Fifa must answer questions after allegations of “artificially inflating prices” and “misleading fans” over the sale of match tickets, with world football’s governing body subpoenaed to provide information.

Supporters have reported they were “misled” about the location of seats, including through the creation of more expensive ‘front’ category tickets released after the initial sales.

It is also alleged variable pricing through various phases and subject to demand had allowed Fifa to raise prices for about 90 of the 104 fixtures by an average of 34 per cent. Fifa has also been able to hold back seats before releasing them later, driving up pricing by increasing scarcity.

Infantino defended the price of World Cup tickets on the eve of the tournament, pointing towards the exorbitant cost of attending play-off matches in US sports, such as the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, and stating the World Cup is a bigger event.

The pricing of the World Cup has been a hugely controversial issue since tickets were first released in November, with the initial sales drop revealing £3,000 tickets for the World Cup final and fans with a £5,000 bill to follow their teams right through to the final. The 2026 World Cup is estimated to be up to five times more expensive than the last World Cup in Qatar, with Infantino targeting unprecedented revenues of $13bn from the tournament.

Many first-time visitors say “Rus-warp” when referring to the village, but locals know the correct pronunciation is actually “Russ-up”, with the “w” remaining completely silent.

Located less than two miles from Whitby, Ruswarp has become a destination in its own right, attracting walkers, cyclists and families looking for a quieter alternative to its famous coastal neighbour.

Ruswarp (Image: ALL TRAILS)

Often described by visitors as a “hidden gem”, “peaceful” and “far less crowded than Whitby”, the village combines railway heritage, scenic countryside and riverside charm.

One of Ruswarp’s most recognisable landmarks dominates the skyline.

Stretching across the River Esk valley is the village’s impressive railway viaduct, a 120ft-high structure built from more than five million bricks.

Constructed to carry trains on the Scarborough-to-Whitby railway line, the viaduct remains one of the most striking sights in the area.

Although the railway closed in 1965, the route has found a new lease of life as The Cinder Track, a popular walking and cycling trail connecting Whitby and Scarborough.

Visitors regularly describe the viaduct as one of the highlights of a trip to Ruswarp.

But Ruswarp’s appeal extends beyond its railway history.

Despite being only minutes from one of Yorkshire’s busiest tourist destinations, Ruswarp has retained much of its village character.

Visitors often comment on the slower pace of life, with independent businesses such as Jackson’s of Ruswarp, Colin Duck Grocer and the Bridge Inn helping to maintain its traditional feel.

The village’s railway station, served by the Esk Valley Line, continues a transport connection that has shaped Ruswarp for generations, linking it with Whitby, Middlesbrough and communities across the Esk Valley.

Many online reviews describe Ruswarp as the perfect base for exploring the North Yorkshire coast, offering easy access to Whitby while avoiding some of the crowds.

One visitor wrote: “It’s got everything you need for a day out – river walks, history, great views and somewhere to relax afterwards.”

And while visitors may still occasionally get its name wrong, those who discover “Russ-up” often find themselves returning again and again.

The budget airline issued the warning as it assesses the impact of the rising air passenger duty (APD) on demand and profitability.

APD, a tax imposed by HMRC and paid by airline passengers, reached a record high in April and is set to rise again next year in line with inflation.

Chief executive of Wizz Air, József Váradi, speaking in The Telegraph, said: “We are evaluating the impacts of those measures to see how they would play out, so that would affect our capacity in the UK.

“Nothing is ever engraved in stone.

“We have to evaluate how exactly that plays out on our network, our customer base and our financial performance and make decisions accordingly.”

Mr Váradi said Wizz Air is “committed to the UK”, but added that “if the cost of business is going up, that will result in capacity rationalisation if you are unable to pass it on to customers.”

Wizz Air boss issues update on fare prices

Despite increasing fuel prices driven by the conflict in Iran, Mr Váradi said the airline aims to keep fares stable this summer.

He said he had no concerns about fuel supplies, with good visibility until the middle of August, although some countries have begun tapping into strategic reserves.

Earlier this year, Wizz Air cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and other Middle Eastern destinations following the outbreak of conflict in the region.

These cancellations, along with suspended routes to Cyprus, cost the airline an estimated €50 million (£43.1 million).

Wizz Air fare prices look set to remain stable this summer, despite the conflict in the Middle East. (Image: Getty Images)

Flights to Tel Aviv resumed at the end of May, and the airline shifted its summer offerings to other destinations, including Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Albania.

British Airways and Ryanair among other major airlines to have cut flights

Several other airlines have been forced to cut flights, increase fares, or axe UK routes in 2026.

UK airline Skybus announced back in April that it had ceased all flights between Cornwall and London due to “the huge rise in the global cost of fuel” and “a significant drop in new passenger bookings”.

Due to the “ongoing uncertainty” caused by the conflict in the Middle East and airspace restrictions, British Airways (BA) was also forced to cancel or suspend flights to various destinations, including Dubai and Doha, in March.

BA had been set to resume its regular schedule to Dubai International Airport on July 1.

However, this has now been delayed, and all flights between the UK and Dubai have been cancelled until October 25.

All flights to Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled until October.

BA has also confirmed it is reducing its Doha schedule to one daily flight, set to resume from August 1, according to Time Out.

Ryanair has also been forced to make several major changes in 2026.

In April, the budget airline revealed it would be closing its Berlin base as of October 24, reducing the number of flights it operates out of the German capital by 50% (for its upcoming winter schedule).

Ryanair also announced it will close its Thessaloniki base and reduce capacity at Athens Airport for the 2026 winter season.

This closure will result in:

• 12 routes being cut
• The loss of 700,000 seats
• A 45% reduction in passenger capacity
• Suspension of operations in Chania and Heraklion

The airline said both these cuts were due to high airport costs.

All the cuts made by Ryanair recently due to rising costs have resulted in flights being cut from 19 airports across the UK and Europe, according to The Sun:

United Kingdom

• London Stansted
• Manchester

Ireland

Germany

• Berlin Brandenburg
• Cologne Bonn
• Hamburg

Italy

Portugal

Belgium

France

Poland

Hungary

Romania

Bulgaria

Spain

Travellers flying to or from these airports are being urged to check their schedules before flying to ensure their bookings are still going ahead.

Have you got any flights booked with Wizz Air in 2026? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

The Derry native has slammed the FAI’s decision to move Ireland’s UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue

James McClean has slammed the FAI’s choice to relocate Ireland’s fixture against Israel to a neutral location.

The Derry native has argued that the organisation missed a chance to “stand on the right side of history” by refusing to play the match, describing the decision as a “cowardly move”.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Ireland’s UEFA Nations League encounter with Israel would take place at a neutral ground instead of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

But, McClean, who earned 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland, has condemned the organisation for not taking a stance on the continuing situation in Gaza.

Speaking to RTE Sport on Saturday evening, the Derry City player said: “I think we’ve missed a massive opportunity here.

“I think the decision to move to a neutral venue behind closed doors, of all the decisions we could have made, is by far the worst one.

“The FAI have missed a massive opportunity to stand on the right side of history.

“If you’re going to go ahead with the game, at least have the courage to face the backlash that was going to come with it being played in Dublin.

“But to move it away is a cowardly move. If there’s one country that can relate to the oppression and famine and what’s going on in Gaza, it’s the people of this country.

“I think the decision-makers have kind of forgotten that, to be honest.”

On Saturday, the FAI published an extensive statement outlining the reasoning behind relocating the Israel match to a neutral venue.

“The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirms that UEFA has approved a request to host the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel on October 4 overseas, at a neutral venue and behind closed doors,” the statement read.

“Following consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact the delivery of the game on home soil, and therefore the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium.”

“The Association thanks An Garda Síochána for their support and advice over recent months and states that the decision to relocate to a neutral venue is one that has been considered an appropriate course of action by the FAI Board, with the support of UEFA.

“The Association understands and respects the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to this fixture.

“In recent months, the Association has been in communication with the Palestinian Football Association regarding the fulfilment of the fixtures and they have shared the following statement:

“‘The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.

“‘The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting and international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity and mutual respect.’

“The Association is deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza and continues to reflect the sentiment of the motion that was proposed and voted in favour of by members of the FAI General Assembly in November 2025. This motion was to issue a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions for a breach of UEFA statutes.

“While the Association submitted that motion to UEFA and has consulted with UEFA officials for almost two years on this issue, it also recognises the UEFA competition rules and regulations to which it has agreed. These outline that if an association refuses to play a match, that fixture will be forfeited and further disciplinary measures may follow, including potential disqualification from the competition.

“In February 2026, Ireland were drawn into Group B3 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League alongside Austria, Israel and Kosovo. The Association stated at the time that the Ireland team would proceed with all scheduled fixtures and maintains this position, given that any alternative would have a profound impact on Irish football as a whole.

“If the Association opted not to fulfil the fixtures, the immediate result would be:

“Beyond the sporting implications, there would be broader consequences for Irish football, including a reduced capacity to support clubs and leagues through critical services such as safeguarding, educational programmes and player development opportunities.

“There could also be implications for Ireland international teams, including the withdrawal of underage teams and a reduction in the level of support and services provided to players and staff.

“The Association will engage with its members at a forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting, but reminds its members that it is the responsibility of the FAI Board to protect the future interests of football in Ireland and therefore remains committed to fulfilling each of its 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures.

“While the FAI Board appreciates that its decision to fulfil this fixture affects many stakeholders, it would ask that consideration also be given to the players and staff.

“The Association acknowledges the impact the change of venue will have on its loyal Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members. Once all details surrounding the fixture on October 4 have been finalised, the Association will update its 2026 FAI Season Ticket holders and Club Ireland members on the appropriate ticketing arrangements, which may include compensation or the possibility of an additional home fixture in 2027.

“The FAI Board would like to reiterate that its decision to fulfil the fixture has been made in the interests of Irish football.”