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Cap to be expanded across the north east of Scotland from April 2027. Bus passengers across North East Scotland will benefit from more affordable public transport from April 2027 when the £2 Bus Fare Cap is expanded to the region.

Fund to Leave scheme investment doubled to £4 million. An initiative supporting women and children to escape abusive relationships will see its funding doubled from £2 million to £4 million for the current year.

A new digital platform for recording, transcribing and translating spoken Gaelic has been awarded £600,000 through the CivTech innovation programme. AITEAL – which means “ray of light” – will help in developing advanced technologies, including AI, for Gaelic speakers.

Prolonged fuel costs threaten to push up food prices, transport charges and household bills, with rural communities in Scotland particularly exposed. Households across Britain could face another squeeze on their finances in 2027 if oil, diesel and heating oil prices remain high for as long as some analysts expect.

Scottish pensioners will receive a separate winter heating payment this year, while the UK Government continues its own scheme elsewhere in Britain. Income rules, payment dates and additional support all matter as household energy costs remain a concern.

Tesla's latest announcement has revived the dream of taking to the air in a personal vehicle, but technical challenges, safety rules and cost mean flying cars are unlikely to become commonplace overnight. For generations, the flying car has been a familiar feature of science fiction.

The week brought a significant change for public transport in Caithness, with local bus operations moving into public ownership while the loss of a direct link to Inverness raises fresh questions about rural connectivity. Caithness faces an important week for public transport, with two developments highlighting the opportunities and difficulties of providing essential services in the far north.

Artificial intelligence is attracting billions of pounds in investment, transforming expectations for business and raising hopes of a new wave of productivity. But as spending on computer chips, data centres and AI services continues to grow, investors are asking an increasingly important question: will the profits eventually justify the enormous cost? The question became more pressing this week as technology shares came under renewed pressure on international stock markets.

The proposed closure of Syngenta's chemical manufacturing plant puts 377 jobs at risk, just over a year after the company received public funding to expand production. The case raises difficult questions about industrial competitiveness, energy costs and how governments should support businesses.

Britain's discount retailers should be well placed to benefit from the cost-of-living squeeze. When household budgets are tight, shoppers look for cheaper food, cleaning products, toiletries and everyday essentials.

More Russian oil and diesel could help ease competition for supplies from other producers. However, additional exports will take time to reach buyers, and the effect will depend on the scale of the increase and the ability to transport fuel safely.

A new project at the Port of Inverness could create around 70 jobs by tackling one of the less visible problems facing Scotland's renewable energy industry: what to do with wind-turbine blades when they reach the end of their working lives. Northern Ireland-based company Plaswire has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Inverness to establish a facility for recycling wind-turbine blades.

A college + university like no other  With 19 campuses and centres across the North and West Highlands, Skye, and Outer Hebrides, we cover a geographic area larger than Wales, comprising 40% of Scotland’s coastline. Our campuses and centres are located within historic towns and villages, set amongst the shorelines, mountains, and moors, with local staff working across our region to support our students and communities.   Position: We are seeking a Work Based Assessor in Aquaculture, to be based at any of our NWH campuses.

The Highland Council’s Environmental Health team is advising members of the public to exercise caution following the identification of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) at Loch Migdale, Sutherland. The situation is being investigated by Highland Council’s Environmental Health team in partnership with NHS Highland Public Health Department and wider colleagues.

Morven Fancey, Head of housing, skills and population with Highland and Islands Enerprise looks a Childcare. Investing in childcare is an investment in people, in communities and in the long-term success of the Highlands and Islands and the region’s contribution to Scotland’s economy.

Britain is being encouraged to become better prepared for emergencies, with households advised to keep supplies of food and water that could see them through several days. That sounds sensible enough.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join QS, supporting UHI North, West & Hebrides with examinations. QS are looking to recruit a Depute Chief Invigilator to be responsible for supporting the Chief Invigilator (CI) with the organisation and supervision of invigilation for National Qualifications, in accordance with QS policy and procedures.

Bacon has suddenly become a rather more complicated item on the shopping list. Should we worry about nitrates and nitrites? Is nitrate-free bacon healthier? And if supermarkets are now selling bacon without added nitrites, is it worth paying extra for it?.

Women going through the menopause are being offered an ever-growing range of supplements promising to help with hot flushes, poor sleep, mood changes, brain fog, tiredness and a host of other symptoms. But new research raises an uncomfortable question: are some women paying hundreds of pounds a year for products that offer little more than a much cheaper ordinary multivitamin? The answer is not that all menopause supplements are useless.

There are times when a story from thousands of miles away makes you look at your own garden slightly differently. Reports from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky describe residents facing such severe shortages of food that some have reportedly been eating plants growing in their gardens that most of us would simply call weeds.

A beautiful mid-terraced, three-bedroom (one with ensuite), stone-built home which retains many of the original features, with a large area of garden to rear. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, sitting room/dining room, Ashley Ann fitted kitchen and a utility room on the ground floor, upstairs from the landing there are three bedrooms, one with ensuite and a family bathroom.