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Catch up on the most popular stories on the BBC Scotland news website.

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER

Salmond wants freeze on HBOS deal

Alex Salmond calls for the Lloyds TSB take over of Halifax Bank of Scotland to be frozen at the SNP party conference.

Road accidents leave three dead

Three people have died and four others were injured in a spate of accidents on Scotland's roads in under three days.

Man seriously assaulted near pub

Police are treating a serious assault on a 40-year-old man near a pub in the south side of Glasgow as attempted murder.

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER

Salmond questions HBOS takeover

Alex Salmond has called for quick clarification on whether money offered to bail out banks would be available if HBOS remained independent.

More families to get free heating

The scheme to provide pensioners with free central heating systems is to be extended to some families on benefits.

Gang stabbed man as he left taxi

A man was stabbed during an unprovoked attack by a gang of three men and a woman as he got out of a taxi in the east end of Glasgow.

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER

Soldier jailed for Orkney murder

A soldier who was 15 when he murdered a waiter in an Orkney restaurant in 1994 is jailed for a minimum of 25 years.

Under-age drinkers plaguing town

Up to 200 teenagers are descending on a Fife town every week for co-ordinated drinking sessions, it has been claimed.

Your Pictures of Scotland

A selection of your digital camera pictures from around Scotland in the weekly picture gallery published on the BBC Scotland news website.

THURSDAY 16 OCTOBER

Survey shows recession 'looming'

A recession is looming in Scotland, with business confidence at a record low, according to a report by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC).

Men in court over funeral fight

Two men have been charged with attempted murder following a large-scale fight among mourners at a funeral in Fife.

Scottish bankruptcies up by 162%

The number of people declaring themselves bankrupt in Scotland is up 162% on the same period last year, according to new figures.

WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER

Glasgow in 'top 10 world cities'

Glasgow has made it into a list of 10 top world cities compiled by the travel guide company Lonely Planet and was the only UK entry in the list.

Can Scotland weather the storm?

BBC Scotland's business and economy editor Douglas Fraser looks at the nation's economy and whether it will cope with an impending recession.

Driver admits coach death charges

A coach driver from Lanarkshire has admitted causing the deaths of three passengers by dangerous driving in a crash near Heathrow Airport.

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER

Man admits head-on-beach murder

A teenager admitted torturing and murdering a Lithuanian woman whose head and body parts were washed up on a beach in the east coast of Scotland.

Head teacher accused of assault

The head teacher at a new £28m "super school" in East Kilbride, Douglas Cosgrove, has been accused of assaulting a 15-year-old girl.

City set for 'super deluxe' hotel

A Dubai-based hotel company has unveiled plans for a "five-star super deluxe" hotel in Argyle Street in Glasgow to be open by 2011.

MONDAY 13 OCTOBER

Old Course 'may crumble into sea'

An environmental expert in St Andrews has warned that the year 2050 could see the town's golf course crumble into the sea.

Bank chiefs quit after rescue bid

The chief executives of two big Scottish banks have stepped down after the announcement of a £37bn bank bail-out.

Queen Mary's body 'should return'

A Nationalist MSP has called for the remains of Mary Queen of Scots to be returned to Scotland from Westminster Abbey.