Scotland's papers: Rowling hits back at Putin, and ferry 'tax dodge'
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The Daily Express reports that JK Rowling, who on Friday was namechecked in a speech by Russia's President Putin, has responded to his claim that the West, having "cancelled" the author over her views on trans rights, hoped to do the same to his country. Ms Rowling's responded on Twitter: "Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine". The tweet included a link to a news story about the jailing of Alexei Navalny, a leading opposition figure in Russia.
The same story leads the Scottish Sun, which calls the Russian president "Vlademort" - a play on the name of JK Rowling's most famous villain, Voldemort. The paper says the Harry Potter author "blasts the tyrant" over the war in Ukraine.
Russia's announcement that it will be refocusing its war in Ukraine on the Donbas region leads a number of Saturday's papers, including The Telegraph. The paper says the shift is the "first sign that the Kremlin may be looking for a way to end the military campaign". The page also includes a picture of the UK government's Environment Minister Victoria Prentis with a 25-year-old office worker forced to flee Kyiv, who she has taken into her home.
The Times says Russia is "retreating" in Ukraine and notes that Friday's announcement comes after its forces suffered setbacks across the country.
The i has an account of what life is now like "Inside Chernobyl", the nuclear plant captured by Russian forces last month. It quotes the foreman of the site's radioactive waste processing workshop saying that staff are working 24-hours shifts, increasing the risk of an accident.
According to The Herald, state-controlled ferry company CalMac uses the same loophole as P&O to escape paying National Insurance contributions worth £46m.
The Star also leads with the prime minister's comments about Mr Hebblethwaite, but says they were hypocritical given Mr Johnson's refusal to stand down earlier this year following revelations about parties held in Number 10 during lockdown. "Absolute berk must walk the plank, says absolute berk who refuses to walk the plank," the headline reads.
Union leaders have warned of a "huge period of unrest" in coming months, with an expectation of industrial action including potential strikes as a result of the soaring cost of living, The Scotsman reports.
The Press and Journal front page reports that councils across the north and north-east are being urged to write off more than £240,000 in school dinner debt in a bid to "save families" amid the cost of living crisis.
A pledge by the UK government Justice Secretary Dominic Raab that free speech is to be given "legal supremacy" over other rights leads the Mail. Speaking in an interview with the paper, Mr Raab said he wanted to enact a British Bill of Rights to stop debate being "whittled away by wokery".
A Tory council candidate has been accused of misogyny over offensive comments he made about female politicians, The National claims. The paper says former teacher Stephen Paxton is standing for the Scottish Conservatives in the Cardonald ward for Glasgow City Council in May's election.
The Daily Record reports that Sir Rod Stewart has helped to rescue Ukrainian refugees after sending his nephews to the border to pick up fleeing families.
The Glasgow Times reports that McDonald's staff asked a drive-thru customer to park to wait on his food then called the police on him after they suspected him to be drunk.
The Courier reports that the family of a Brechin shop worker have told of their shock at his sudden death aged 31. The paper says Matthew Grant collapsed after taking unwell at a friend's flat in the town.
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that a thief broke through the roof of a city jewellery shop and made off with a haul of what he believed were expensive diamond rings - only to find that they were actually fake.
The Weekend Telegraph reports that a Dundee bus boss has apologised to the people of the area for "frustrating and horrendous" disruption.
Evening Express
A court has heard how a girl was trapped under her drunk dad for an hour while she slept. The paper says she filmed her "terrifying fight" to break free. It adds that the man has been found guilty of neglecting her and her little brother.
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Evening Express 