Caithness residents are being advised to keep an eye on the weather forecast as unsettled conditions bring rain and strong winds across northern Scotland on Friday and Saturday, 23 and 24 October. The Met Office is forecasting a spell of wet weather associated with Storm Austen, followed by further unsettled conditions over the weekend.
Wick Harbour Authority (WHA) is to appoint a new strategy manager after securing up to £52,500 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help fund the post. The post holder will help WHA deliver its emerging harbour masterplan and outline business case, strengthen capacity and develop new business opportunities.
As the Chancellor prepares the Budget, the question for Caithness is whether the measures announced in Westminster will make it easier for local businesses to invest, employ people and build a stronger economy. Businesses across Caithness will be looking for more than promises about economic growth.
Website owners are being urged to check their security as warnings over serious PHP software vulnerabilities raise questions about how many sites remain exposed to attack. The recent PHP security scare has prompted some organisations to take websites offline or restrict access while they investigate the risks.
Rising inflation and fears of higher interest rates are creating fresh uncertainty for homeowners, businesses and the wider UK economy. Oil prices edging towards $112 (Brent Crude) a barrel and the latest increase in UK inflation have raised an uncomfortable question.
From banking and insurance to retail and professional services, artificial intelligence is changing the way large employers operate. The question is whether new jobs will replace those that disappear.
As artificial intelligence threatens to transform millions of jobs, should the government consider reducing the working week and sharing the benefits of higher productivity with employees?. Artificial intelligence is creating a difficult question for governments, employers and workers.
We are currently performing important routine security updates on our website server to maintain the highest level of safety and protection for our platform and users. While this work is underway, all website forms—including file and image upload features (such as property submissions)—have been temporarily disabled.
Elon Musk's ambition to bring electric cars, rockets, satellites and artificial intelligence under one corporate roof raises important questions for investors, regulators and the future of both businesses. The possibility of Tesla and SpaceX joining forces could produce one of the most influential technology companies in the world.
Scotland is being warned to prepare for unsettled weather as Storm Austen brings the prospect of heavy rain and disruption, with further strong winds possible over the weekend. The main concern is the combination of persistent rainfall and already wet ground.
The EU is expanding its planned satellite network to 348 satellites, with the first launches targeted for 2029. The aim is to give European governments and armed forces secure communications under European control, reducing dependence on American technology.
Reports of Israeli military preparations have raised fears of a new confrontation with Iran. For Britain and the world economy, the biggest danger may be the impact on oil supplies, inflation and interest rates.
The birth of a new baby can put financial pressure on household budgets. But there is a wide range of financial support available from the Scottish Government to ensure children have the best start in life.
With inflation rising and Christmas approaching, retailers are asking the Chancellor to reduce the cost of doing business rather than introduce further taxes that could feed through into shop prices. The Budget on 28 October comes at a critical time for Britain's retailers.
Average Highland house prices have risen by 7.4% in a year, well ahead of the Scottish average. But the latest figures also reveal a housing market where buying and renting present very different challenges.
Fraudster exploited three separate schemes designed to support businesses during the pandemic. Fraudster Zeeshan Ashraf has been handed a confiscation order of more than £300,000 Ashraf was jailed for three years and eight months last year after admitting five counts of fraud The 46-year-old defrauded the Eat Out to Help Out, Bounce Back Loan, and Covid Job Retention schemes A Birmingham accountant who defrauded Eat Out to Help Out and other Covid support schemes has been ordered to repay more than £300,000.
New figures reveal the scale of Scotland's effort to acknowledge the harm suffered by children abused in care, with thousands of payments made since the scheme began in 2021. But the latest report also highlights the continuing work involved in delivering decisions, payments and apologies.
First Minister John Swinney has announced that Scottish businesses are set to benefit from £500,000 of Scottish Government support for a programme of trade missions to help companies grow exports and build global partnerships. The First Minister announced the funding while addressing the Scotland-India Business Forum in Delhi.
Communities will have more opportunities to have their say in shaping how Scotland's largest landholdings are managed under proposals now open for public consultation. The Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 consultation paper is the next step in ensuring communities have more information about large land holdings of more than 1,000 hectares.
This week our Take Control of the Small Things campaign is focused on energy efficiency scams. Figures show that these scams are costing Scottish consumers an average of £5,000 per week.