UK inflation is rising again, and the danger is that the Bank of England will respond in exactly the wrong way. Inflation is now 2.9%, household energy prices are expected to rise sharply this autumn, and disruption to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz threatens further increases.
Russia is one of the world's great oil-producing nations. It has enormous reserves, produces vast quantities of crude and has an energy industry that has long been central to its economy.
There is something rather strange about the way we think about transport infrastructure. We spend millions of pounds building railway stations, bus terminals, airports, ferry terminals and roads.
Britain is adopting artificial intelligence at remarkable speed. But there is an intriguing problem developing beneath the headline figures.
The oil price has become one of those numbers that seems to move relentlessly in one direction. Brent crude is now around $94 a barrel, having risen by more than 7% over the past five days.
According to the Home Office, French police units prevented 185 small-boat crossing events between 27 April and 2 August, stopping more than 4,300 crossing attempts. The Government says that represents a prevention rate of 61% of all small-boat events during the period.
There is speculation everywhere, including in the Financial Times, that the USA might go bust within ten years, and that the day of the dollar is over. That framing is wrong.
When comparing mortgages, it is very easy to be drawn towards the lowest interest rate. A mortgage advertised at 4.25% immediately looks better than one at 4.49%.
The Highland Heart and Lung MOT: A Checklist You Can Do Yourself The Scottish Government has just launched what it describes as a new “MOT” for the heart and lungs, designed to identify health risks earlier and give people the chance to do something about them before they become serious. There is, however, a rather obvious problem for people living in the Highlands.
There is a tendency whenever artificial intelligence is discussed to imagine that a revolution is already happening. Jobs are supposedly disappearing, businesses are being transformed and computers are increasingly doing the work that people once did.
Food and drink businesses will be able to boost production, create jobs and grow their companies thanks to almost £6 million of support from the Scottish Government. The Food and Drink Processing Scheme Scotland will award almost £6 million of capital funding to 28 businesses.
In Scotland, the total organic land area (in-conversion and fully organic) was 168,200 hectares, a 28% increase compared with 2024, and a 62% increase compared with 2021. This represented 3.3% of the total agricultural area in Scotland in 2025.
The Scottish Government is strengthening bluetongue disease controls after a case was detected near Lockerbie. A Temporary Control Zone has been put in place in an area around Dumfries and Galloway as a precautionary measure while further investigations are conducted on the source and extent of the disease.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region. The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.
Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies. Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.
Donald Trump has given his latest confrontation with Iran a dramatic name: “Economic D-Day.” The language is deliberately uncompromising. The American president is promising what he describes as an unprecedented campaign of economic pressure designed to isolate Iran, cut off its financial lifelines and ultimately force Tehran to change course.
Britain's public finances are showing signs of improvement. But before anyone starts celebrating, there is a rather large qualification.
There are some stories which begin with something happening thousands of miles away and eventually arrive at the supermarket checkout. El Niño could become one of them.
There are weeks when the local news seems to consist of a collection of unrelated announcements. A council by-election here, an airport funding decision there, another report about housing, perhaps a development connected with energy or tourism.
Britain's shoppers appear to be in better shape than the latest monthly headline might suggest. Retail sales volumes fell by 0.5% in July, according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.
Britain has spent hundreds of millions of pounds trying to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. The latest agreement with France is worth £662 million over three years, with £501 million going towards strengthening existing controls in northern France and a further £161 million for new tactics.
The latest housing figures from the Office for National Statistics contain something of a surprise for anyone who has been following the UK property market. House price growth is slowing, while rents are beginning to accelerate again.
A national programme helping Scottish companies capitalise on the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has received funding for its second year. Backed by £1.8 million of continued funding, AI Scotland will help small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to develop new products and services, grow market share and attract new investment.
There is a question I think we should be asking now, before the next round of household bills and business costs begin to bite. Are incomes actually keeping pace with the rising cost of the essentials we cannot avoid buying? At first glance, the answer might appear to be yes.
There is something slightly counter-intuitive happening in financial markets at the moment. Governments are being forced to pay more to borrow money, yet to someone looking at a headline saying that “bond yields are rising”, it can sound like good news.
When the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, the implications for the world oil market appeared frighteningly simple. Around a fifth of the world's oil normally passes through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.
We are looking for part-time / relief bar staff to join our team. * Casual, part time work as and when needed * Must be able to work evenings and weekends * Must be over 18 * Full bar training can be provided If you would like to join our team, and for more info on this post, please contact our Head Steward Donna by messaging our Facebook page or pop in to the Seaforth Club and see her.
No booking required. Get ready to create..
Chef de Partie – Full Time We’re looking for a passionate and reliable Chef de Partie to join our kitchen team. You’ll work alongside our Head Chef and wider kitchen team to deliver high-quality food across breakfast, lunch and dinner service.
Waiting Staff – Full & Part Time We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic and reliable Waiting Staff to join our team. We have full-time and part-time positions available, with shifts covering breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A lovely two-bedroom cottage with two sun rooms, located on the roadside in Bilbster with enclosed mature garden grounds and views across the open countryside. Accommodation comprises vestibule, hallway, lounge, kitchen/diner, two double bedrooms, newly fitted modern shower room and two sun rooms, one to the rear and another to the side.
Set in a prominent location on the popular NC500 route is this well established 8-bedroom hotel (all ensuite), with public bar, lounge bar, dining room, owners’ accommodation, covered beer garden, detached garage and large commercial tarmacadam carpark. Originally a church manse, dating back to the 19th century, this impressive and substantial property boasts many original features throughout including a beautiful feature staircase, ornate cornicing, high skirtings and ceilings, and decorative internal archways.
Here at Riverside house care home in Wick we are looking to employ full or part time care assistants to join our team. SVQ level 2 in care would be an advantage but not essential full training will be provided.
Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd. is the largest crane hire and heavy lifting services company based in Caithness.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a dedicated and reliable domestic assistant to join our team. Hours to be worked are 8am-2pm covering four days including some weekends.
Gingerbread House is a beautifully presented detached cottage situated in the peaceful village of Mey, close to the Castle of Mey and on the world-famous NC500 route. Currently operating as a highly successful Airbnb holiday let, the property offers an excellent opportunity as either a lifestyle business or a charming private home.
A&D Sutherland Ltd have vacancies for general labourers. The positions are based on the main Quarry site in Spittal.
Patti Bremner, the Countryside Ranger for East Caithness explains why dune systems need our protection and why recreational fires pose a real risk to these habitats. Working in an office alongside the Dunnet Bay sand dunes I have come to appreciate and respect them more and more each working day.
This 3 bedroom detached bungalow is situated in a popular residential area in Thurso. It is a few minutes walk from the coast and a short walk into town.
Some medicines can make you more sensitive to the sun or increase the risk of dehydration without you realising it. The MHRA is encouraging people to know the risks and stay protected this summer.
We are looking for a cook in our busy pub kitchen to cook pub grub. Hours are 4.30 to finish.
A story on BBC by Luke Mintz caught our attention. Read it and think hard if your children remain unvaccinated.
Do you know someone affected by hoarding. An article by Barbara Potter, Kerry Musselbrook caught our attention.
Here at Riverside house care home we are looking to employ a full time domestic assistant to join our team, hours to be worked are 8am-2pm over five days including some weekends. Duties include dusting, hoovering, mopping and sanitizing surfaces in all areas of the home including kitchen areas, bathrooms, living spaces and bedrooms.
They are certainly not as exciting as dolphins, or as awe inspiring as eagles or even wonderful to watch like otters, but they are members of our Highland wildlife suite that are often talked about and they are both fascinating and worrying. They are ticks - animals that are part of the class of arachnids, along with spiders, scorpions, mites, harvestmen (see my blog about these harmless long-legged ones here).
Andy Summers, Ranger describes the efforts he and local volunteers have taken recently to help save this species. Oyster plant is one of Scotland’s northern coastal specialists, a species more at home on the cold shores of the North Atlantic and Arctic than further south.
This charming two-bedroom detached cottage is offered for sale with a range of useful outbuildings and approximately 7.5 acres of adjoining land. Ideally situated just a short distance from Wick, the property benefits from uPVC double-glazed windows and doors, external insulation, and oil-fired central heating.
Community groups invited to apply for funding to support projects that reduce waste and promote a circular economy The Highland Council is encouraging community organisations across the region to apply for the latest round of its successful Reuse and Repair Fund, which supports projects that help keep valuable materials and products in use for longer. Grants of between £2,000 and £50,000 are available to support a range of community‑led initiatives that will help people repair, reuse and upcycle materials - reducing waste and supporting a stronger circular economy.
For some of you out there this article is old hat so it is really aimed at people who may never have tried some of the old ways to save money and still make nutritious food When food prices are rising, the obvious response is to look for cheaper products. But there is another way to reduce the pressure on the household budget: Make the food you already buy go further.
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