A selection of photographs submitted to BBC Scotland News from around the country this week.

The Labour leader called for an end to a 'culture of bureaucracy' and a reduction in Scottish health boards.

Chris McEleny said he and Alex Salmond planned a new Scottish town called Independence.

Scotland will not be making any excuses for their opening Nations League defeat by Austria, says Kirsty Hanson.

Scottish distilleries and MPs claim England's methods would damage the reputation of single malt.

Clinicians have warned of potential brain injury risks for those taking part.

Ukrainians who fled the conflict with Russia speak of their hopes for a safe future in Aberdeen.

Authorities are no longer bound by a council tax freeze and most look set to confirm big increases.

In just a year and a half, at least eight victims of drug misuse have been buried in Oban's Pennyfuir cemetery.

Debate around single-sex spaces has made headlines after a nurse took a health board and a trans colleague to tribunal.

Anas Sarwar told the Scottish Labour conference he would end the growing bureaucracy in the NHS.

And an archaeologist from Galashiels finds a pharaoh’s tomb.

A rare hair specimen from a 400-year-old skeleton has revealed that present-day Scots could be just as deficient in vitamin D as their ancestors.

Jayne Donn says her son, James, died in 2022 from a drug overdose aged 29.

Police were called to a demonstration near Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

A theatre-lover was "astonished" to find a 119-year-old message in a bottle during a tour.

Residents say changes to the town's link with Corpach have affected people trying to get to work.

The emergency services - including an air ambulance - were called to the A96 near Colpy.

The incident - after heavy rain in the area - is causing major disruption to rail services.

Four properties in Dundee and the West Midlands were raided as part of a joint investigation.

All the Calcutta Cup talk is of England ending Scotland's dominance, but it would be foolish to write off the visitors, writes Tom English.

Scotland will not be making any excuses for their opening Nations League defeat by Austria, says Kirsty Hanson.

Scott Arfield scores the opener as Falkirk move five points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship with a dominant win at Greenock Morton.

Scotland fall at the first hurdle of their Nations League campaign game with a solitary goal defeat by Austria.

England must control their emotion to help "create a new story" in their Calcutta Cup match against Scotland on Saturday, says captain Maro Itoje.