The Scottish and Welsh football associations could enter a joint bid to host the 2016 European Championships after both confirmed "tentative" talks over co-hosting the event.
Scotland's long-standing dream of staging the tournament appeared to have ended in September when Uefa announced they were increasing the number of finalists from 16 to 24 in eight years' time.
The country lacks the infrastructure to host an expanded tournament, but the Scottish FA (SFA) are looking to link up with one of their near neighbours.
They have also held talks with Northern Ireland, but this is believed to be a non-starter, leaving Wales as the only viable alternative.
"As we've always said, we would love to host the European Championships in Scotland," a statement from the SFA said.
"However, we realise it's a huge undertaking and, as far as 2016 goes, we simply couldn't host it by ourselves.
"We're meeting with the other home nations at the International Football Association board meeting in Belfast in February. I'm sure it's something we'll discuss.
"If there was a feeling that a bid was a possibility, we would then commission a feasibility study."
Talks between the SFA and the Football Association of Wales (FAW) over a joint bid have been mooted for more than a year, with the FAW revealing in April 2007 they hoped to enter into discussions.
This is the first time the SFA have confirmed such talks have taken place.
An FAW spokesman confirmed that "very tentative" discussions have been "ongoing for some time".
"We are interested in the idea and it's a question of where it goes from there," he said.
* PA Sport
Meanwhile, UEFA general secretary David Taylor insists Scotland would be a "great place" to hold the tournament.
Former SFA chief executive Taylor, who was involved in the unsuccessful bid to bring Euro 2008 to Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, added in the Herald: "It would be terrific. But I must be careful here.
"My enthusiasm for and advice to any country could be perceived in the wrong way. Many countries in UEFA are capable of hosting the tournament."
UEFA decided in September to expand the European Championship finals from 2016.
Current SFA chief executive Gordon Smith had lobbied for the change, despite admitting it would rule his country out of bidding individually for future tournaments.
However, as the expansion gives Scotland a much better chance of qualifying, Smith felt it was a sacrifice worth making.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
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Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
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Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14
- Northern Ireland v Switzerland
- Croatia v Greece
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Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
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Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
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