Media Scotland has launched Scotland Now, a website “for Scots around the world or anyone who loves Scotland.”

The publishers say 2014 is the perfect year for the launch as the country is taking centre stage with a number of high profile events including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, the MTV music awards and the Independence referendum.

Editorial content will focus on the news and sports stories making the headlines in Scotland, features on the country’s heritage, culture, food and drink, and promote successful Scottish businesses. The site also hosts a Scotland shop that showcases the work of Scottish creatives including designers, artists and writers.

Editor Katrina Tweedie said: “The appetite for information about our small country has never been greater, not least from the 700,000 Scots expats across the UK and an estimated 50 million people around the globe with an affinity to Scotland.

“Unashamedly patriotic, Scotland Now will be a place for Scots throughout the world to share what we’re talking, reading, thinking and laughing about. In a year when Scotland takes centre stage, we believe this is the perfect time for a website that speaks to global Scots.”