President Donald Trump's economic agenda took a major hit when the Supreme Court struck down many of his most sweeping tariffs. While Trump has options to restore some of the tariffs, he's losing his most powerful tool to impose them almost at will as a bargaining chip with other countries.
When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the legal foundation of former President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs, the ruling sent ripples far beyond Washington.
For a generation, Britain has told its young people that university is the surest route to success. Classrooms became lecture halls, polytechnics became universities, and participation targets climbed toward the symbolic 50 per cent mark.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that many of Trump's sweeping global tariffs were illegal because he lacked the statutory authority he claimed under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Court emphasized that only Congress has the power to impose taxes and broad tariff regimes, not the president acting alone under emergency powers.
New surveillance, detection and investigative capabilities rolled out by Environment Agency to tackle waste crime. Waste criminals will be detected and stopped before they even get started, thanks to a new package of surveillance and investigative measures announced by the Environment Agency (EA) today (Friday 20 February 2026).
When the UK Government announced its new "Pubs and Live Music Venue Relief" scheme for England a 15% business‑rates discount for 2026-27 it was presented as a lifeline for a sector battered by rising costs, falling footfall, and years of instability. The accompanying guidance to English local authorities set out how the relief should be applied, who qualifies, and how the Treasury expects councils to administer the scheme.
When the UK Government announced it would clamp down on "runaway" SEND spending in England particularly the spiralling fees paid to independent special schools. It was framed as a necessary correction to a system in financial freefall.
The UK Government's changes to the taxation of second homes, rental properties, and holiday lets may look like technical adjustments on paper, but in rural Scotland they will land with far greater force. What Westminster sees as a tidy fiscal reform will, in places like the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Skye, and the Western Isles, reshape housing markets, squeeze small operators, and expose the fragility of communities already struggling with depopulation, low wages, and a chronic shortage of affordable homes.
The UK Government's changes to the taxation of second homes and holiday lets will reshape rural Scotland in ways that Westminster has barely considered. But while councils cannot control national tax policy, they can shape how their communities absorb the impact.
After reading our article following ONS information - Healthy Life Expectancy in the UK: A Decade of Decline - that is somewhat gloomy we now look at how things could be improved. The recent decline in healthy life expectancy across the UK has understandably caused alarm.
January is always a strong month for government revenues, but this year's figures contained a striking anomaly. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) receipts jumped to unusually high levels, far above the normal seasonal spike that accompanies self‑assessment payments.
People with visual impairments will receive care closer to home through a new Community Low Vision Service (CLVS). Development work has begun on the new national service which will allow patients with visual impairment, that cannot be managed through glasses, lenses or surgery, to be supported by community optometrists instead of in a hospital setting.
Public debate about artificial intelligence in higher education has largely orbited a familiar worry: cheating. Will students use chatbots to write essays? Can instructors tell? Should universities ban the tech? Embrace it? These concerns are understandable.
In 2025, The Highland Council launched The Reuse and Repair Fund, with members agreeing to secure £500,000 across a two-year period for community groups across Highland. Round 1 of the fund is now closed, with 12 projects across Highland securing funding, totalling £272,366.
The latest ONS figures on healthy life expectancy paint a stark picture of a country where people are living longer but spending more of those years in poor health. Between 2011-2013 and 2022-2024, every nation of the UK experienced a decline in the number of years people can expect to live in good health.
Private dinners, lobbying networks, and think‑tank alliances quietly shape policy and procurement long before transparency rules apply and leaving the public in the dark about how power truly works. Now look into this influence affecting our lives hidden in the shadows.
As Highland Council prepares to set its next budget in the coming weeks, one question matters more than any line in the spreadsheets. Are we being told the truth about what's really happening to our local services? Because across Scotland and especially in the Highlands councils are increasingly relying on a quiet, opaque tactic to balance their books: vacancy management.
Retail sales at the start of 2026 offered a brief but telling snapshot of how households and businesses are coping with the wider economic climate. According to the latest ONS figures, sales volumes rose 1.8% in January, the strongest monthly increase since mid‑2024, and were 4.5% higher than a year earlier.
Nearly a third (31%) of trading businesses reported that their turnover had decreased in January 2026 compared with the previous month, which is broadly stable with December 2025, but has increased by 3 percentage points compared with January 2025; in contrast, 16% reported that their turnover had increased, up 3 percentage points from December 2025. Around one in eight (13%) trading businesses expect their turnover to decrease in March 2026, which is 7 percentage points down compared with February 2026, and the same proportion as March 2025; 21% of trading businesses reported that they expect their turnover to increase in March 2026, up 6 percentage points compared with expectations for February 2026.
January 2026 delivered a mixed but revealing picture of the UK's public finances, showing both short‑term improvement and long‑term structural pressures. Government borrowing fell compared with last year, tax receipts continued to rise, and some spending categories stabilised but debt remained historically high, interest payments continued to weigh heavily on the budget, and local authorities faced ongoing financial strain.
Semi-detached property in Wick 3 bedroom 1 bathroom and an en suite Large garden to rear Off road parking.
At £923.3bn, the UK's total export results for 2025 seem healthy at first glance, representing a 3.5% increase over 2024. But UK goods exports were only £377.5bn, down -2.2%.
CPI inflation fell in January, dropping by 0.4 percentage points compared with December to reach 3.0 per cent. This is the largest fall since September 2024 and should now settle back around the 2 per cent target in the coming months for the first time since before the pandemic, the Resolution Foundation said on Wednesday 18 February 2026.
At first glance, the healthcare systems of the United States and Scotland could hardly be more different. One is dominated by insurance markets, federal programmes, and private providers; the other rests on a universal, publicly funded model under the NHS Scotland, free at the point of use.
The next meeting of the Education Committee of Highland council on 25th February will discuss the next steps moving towards a new school. When might the it all be ready so we looked at how the Wick High school campus progressed below for comparison.
Washing machines are great when the work and usually last a few years but some manufacturers have been introducing ways to ensure profits by doing things to make them harder or impossible to repair. Coming across a man on Youtube who has been making excellent videos on how to fix things like washing machines, tumble driers, cookers and much we took a closer look at washing machines.
A traditional 5 bedroomed detached house with garage and outbuildings in the heart of Halkirk, approximately 7 miles from Thurso. Halkirk is a welcoming village with scenic river walks, shop, hotel, bar, garage, GP surgery, primary school and more.
A delightful 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow with off road parking and a private garden, presented in walk-in condition. Situated in the popular village of Halkirk, the property offers an ideal setting for families and professionals alike.
This four bedroom end terraced traditional stone-built property is located in an attractive conservation area, being only a short walk from local amenities and the town centre. Requiring some internal renovations the property is spread over three levels and benefits from wood framed double glazed windows to the front, UPVC double glazed windows to the rear and mains gas central heating.
A modern 2 bedroom end-terrace house in walk-in condition, featuring stylish contemporary décor throughout. The property benefits from a secure rear garden and sea views that add to its appeal.
We are looking to recruit a Clerical assistant with computer skills to work in a busy plumbing and heating office in Wick. No experience required as training will be given but must have a good telephone manner and be able to work on their own and as part of a team.
Here at Riverside house care home 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 as full training will be provided.
We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated full time nightshift care assistant working four nights per week to join our team at Riverside house care home. Previous experience in a care setting is desirable but not essential as full training will be given.
We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Activity assistant to join our team working three shifts per week 9am-4pm in providing engaging and meaningful activities for residents in a care home setting. Duties include assisting residents during activities, ensuring their safety and comfort at all times.
Blargoans Ltd have a 12 month contract opportunity to work within our Client’s facility in Caithness. Vacancies have arisen for operators within Site Services: Waste Operations & Logistics to provide support to processes that are relied on for the safe decommissioning of the site.
Do you enjoy working with people and want to make a real difference? We currently have Support Worker opportunities for caring, enthusiastic and self-motivated individuals to join our independent supported living team in Wick. Our Support Workers work in a flexible and customer-led manner that meets the needs and preferences of people we support, enabling them to live the life they choose.
We are currently recruiting for a Female Support Worker for a 24 hour contract role in our service in Thurso. In this role, you will support a lady with Downs Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, who lives at home with her dad.
Are you a supportive and motivated who loves going the extra mile to improve the lives of others? Is it important for you to have a satisfying job where you feel supported? If this sounds like you, maybe a Support Worker role with an award-winning charity is the change you’ve been looking for! We are currently recruiting for Part Time Male Support Workers (16 hours per week) to join our independent living support team in Wick. In the past, the people we support have faced a lot of challenges, but this hasn’t stopped them from enjoying life! You will be part of a team supporting a gentleman with an Acquired Brain Injury, Mental Health and Epilepsy to live independently in his own home.
Lyth Arts Centre is seeking an experienced, thoughtful and skilled Interim Director to provide senior leadership during a period of maternity leave. This is a part-time, Director-level role, focused on organisational stability, governance, fundraising oversight and maintaining strong relationships with funders, partners and the Board.
We are searching for someone to become an air B and B co-host for a holiday let in Caithness. You would register with Air B and B as a co-host for our beautiful holiday house, and would be in charge of bookings, handover of keys (lock box can be installed), liasing with holiday makers if required, arranging changeover cleaning and bedding, and general communications with the owners.
Job Title: Sole Chef / Head Café Chef Hours: Full-time, 38 hours per week Contract: Permanent We are a small café opening soon and are looking for a confident and motivated chef to run the kitchen independently. This is a sole-chef position, offering full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen.
Blargoans Ltd have 12-month contract opportunities for Senior Analyst/Senior Shift Analyst CSS to work within our client’s facility in Caithness. Chemistry support services (CSS) provide analytical support to site delivering a wide range of statutory analysis and analysis to support waste characterisation and decommissioning.
Taking the HS2 railway into central London is crucial to unlocking its full potential to create more jobs, more homes and to boost the British economy. the first of 2 HS2 tunnel boring machines begins its journey from Old Oak Common to Euston station.
Streamlined agriculture rules to cut duplication and make it easier for farmers to drive down water pollution. New, clearer rules proposed today (Tuesday 27 January) will help to improve water quality, reduce pollution in our rivers and give farmers the confidence to grow food sustainably.
Clearer pricing will help pet owners compare costs and shop around, saving families money. Millions of pet owners and vet professionals across the country will benefit from major reforms to the veterinary sector - the first overhaul in sixty years.
Working people and UK businesses will benefit from a more strategic and consistent UK relationship with China, the Prime Minister will pledge as he arrives in Beijing today. Prime Minister to travel to Beijing and Shanghai accompanied by nearly 60 British businesses and cultural organisations' As the world's second largest economy and the UK’s third largest trading partner, engagement with China is vital for the British people' He will pledge a partnership fit for our times, grounded in the UK national interest and focused on making the UK better off' Working people and UK businesses will benefit from a more strategic and consistent UK relationship with China, the Prime Minister will pledge as he arrives in Beijing today.
Business rates help has been announced for venues in England. Pubs and live music venues relief 2026 to 2027.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation's report "This isn't what change feels like" (27 Jan 2026) warns that while scrapping the two-child limit in April 2026 will lift 400,000 children out of poverty, progress will stall without deeper reforms. Poverty is projected to remain stubbornly high around 21% overall and over 4 million children still in poverty by 2029 unless government strengthens social security and tackles structural inequalities.
People urged to apply for School Age Payment before February deadline. Parents and carers in Scotland have until midnight on 28 February 2026 to apply for over £300 of support for children when they are old enough to start primary school.
Secretary of State sets out the need to prioritise homegrown talent for foundation and specialty training posts to support a sustainable NHS workforce. Thank you, Mr.
In a world where customers have endless choices and employees are seeking more than just a payslip, businesses face a critical question. How do you create an environment that delivers exceptional results for customers while keeping employees motivated and engaged?.
The government has unveiled a new social and affordable housing package today. New funding and financial flexibilities for councils and other providers to accelerate social and affordable housebuilding.
Location: North Highland Cancer Information & Support Centre, Thurso. Hours: 21.5 hours per week (part-time) Salary: £24,000.
The Highland Council is inviting parents and carers to enrol their child online for the next school session starting on 19 August 2026. If your child will be five years of age on or before 28 February 2027, they are eligible to enrol for Primary 1.
The Roman diet was simpler and often healthier in some respects, but the modern Italian diet is more balanced and nutritionally complete. Perhaps we could all learn some lessons from each.
Handwashing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of many infectious diseases, especially those transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces, food, or body fluids. It helps reduce both bacteria ("bugs") and viruses.
Position: We are seeking an Engineering Lecturer to be based at our Thurso or Stornoway campus. The post could also be located remotely with occasional visits to either campus for meetings and events.
Caithness Forums
What's On in Caithness
Property For Sale
Property For Rent
Sutherland Property
Planning Notices
Who Is Building?
Submit Your Details
Other Enquiries
