LONDON (AP) — The body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was flown back to Scotland on a private jet Friday, six days after the politician died suddenly in North Macedonia.
A trumpet sounded as Salmond’s coffin, draped in Scotland’s blue-and-white Saltire flag, was loaded onto the plane at Ohrid airport in the country’s southwest by six members of North Macedonia's military. The 69-year-old politician died of a heart attack on Saturday while attending a conference in the lake resort city.
The flight, chartered by Scottish businessman Tom Hunter, landed Friday afternoon in Aberdeen, near Salmond's home in northeast Scotland. A bagpiper played as the coffin was carried from the plane and met by Salmond's relatives and members of his Alba political party.
Plans are being put in place for a private family funeral along with a public memorial service.
Salmond led the Scottish National Party for a decade and a half, taking Scotland up to the brink of independence from the United Kingdom in a 2014 referendum.
He transformed the SNP from a fringe party to a dominant force in Scottish politics and served as first minister from 2007 to 2014. In the referendum, Scots rejected independence, with 55% voting against and 45% in favor.
Salmond subsequently resigned and was replaced by his longtime ally, Nicola Sturgeon. Their later split dominated Scottish politics for years.
In 2019, Salmond was charged with sexual assault and attempted rape after allegations by nine women who had worked with him as first minister or for the party. He was acquitted after a trial in March 2020.
In 2021 he left the SNP and created a new party called Alba — the Scottish Gaelic word for Scotland — to press for a new independence referendum.
Members of the family and acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill, left, greet the coffin of former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond at Aberdeen Airport, Friday Oct. 18, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
Image issued by the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy of Alex Salmond attending the the Ohrid Forum on Cultural Diplomacy in Ohrid, North Macedonia on Friday Oct. 11, 2024. (Academy for Cultural Diplomacy via AP)
DENVER (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 29 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 and the Boston Celtics held off the depleted Denver Nuggets 118-106 on Tuesday night as three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic sat out because of an illness.
Porzingis had 11 rebounds, while Jrue Holiday contributed 19 points. The Celtics attempted 35 3-pointers, which was well below their season average of 50.17. Instead, they outscored the Nuggets by a 60-46 margin in the paint.
Russell Westbrook had 26 points for Denver and eight turnovers. Michael Porter Jr. added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Nuggets dropped to 10-7 at home. They were 33-8 last season.
Trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Nuggets rallied to make sure the game stayed tight down the stretch. There was a momentary break with 8:56 remaining when a cup of ice spilled on the court. It took several minutes to clean up. Christian Braun followed with a 3-pointer to tie it at 93.
Boston went on a 15-0 run to help cement the win.
The game between the last two NBA champions was setting up to feature two of the top players in the league. But Jokic went from probable to questionable to finally ruled out. The Nuggets were also missing Aaron Gordon (calf).
Celtics: Stellar defense down the stretch, including steals from Al Horford and Tatum.
Nuggets: The bench had a solid showing with Julian Strawther scoring 19 and Peyton Watson 14.
Porter appeared to be fouled by Sam Hauser going in for a dunk with 2:57 left in the third quarter and Denver trailing 80-77. The Celtics won the challenge.
There were 10 lead changes and eight ties.
The Nuggets turn around and host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, while the Celtics play at home against Sacramento on Friday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) goes up for a basket as Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and forward Sam Hauser (30) defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front drives to the basket as Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) and center Luke Kornet (40) defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, center, drives to the basket past Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, right, and center Al Horford in the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., center, goes up for a shot as Boston Celtics centers Al Horford, left, and Kristaps Porzingis defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, front, gets trapped with the ball by Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, looks to pass the ball as Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, gets trapped with the ball by Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and center Al Horford, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, center, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun, left, and forward Dario Saric defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, front, hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket over Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after dunking the ball for a basket and drawing a foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
