Oil prices do not always move in the same direction. Recent figures published by OilPrice.com illustrate why looking at Brent crude alone can sometimes give an incomplete picture of what is happening in the international oil market.
Households are being warned to prepare for another substantial rise in energy bills in January, just as many families are facing the expense of Christmas. Forecasts suggest that the next increase in the energy price cap could add hundreds of pounds to annual bills, although the final figure will not be confirmed until November.
Unfortunately, rising energy bills may not be the only financial headache facing households as winter approaches. The Bank of England is widely expected to raise interest rates in November, potentially increasing its base rate from 3.75% to 4%.
Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC is about more than an edited television programme. It raises important questions about journalistic responsibility, the cost of defending news organisations against powerful individuals and the meaning of press freedom in an age when accusations of “fake news” have become a regular feature of political debate.
When we discuss rising oil prices, we tend to concentrate on Brent crude because it is the familiar international benchmark. But Brent is only one part of a much larger market.
Millions of people could find it easier to keep track of their retirement savings when the Government's new Pensions Dashboard becomes available to the public. The service is designed to bring information about State Pensions, workplace pensions and private pension pots together in one place, potentially making it easier to understand what income people can expect in retirement.
For many young people, buying a first home is a long-held ambition. Years of saving, help from family and careful budgeting may finally make it possible to get onto the property ladder.
The Scottish Government has announced more than £1.34 million in funding for nature restoration projects across Scotland, including work to repair damage caused by this summer’s wildfires in the Cairngorms. The funding package, announced on 24 October by Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin, will support wildlife recovery, river restoration, deer management and efforts to control invasive non-native species.
Scotland's public finances are under pressure, and the Scottish Government is looking for ways to reduce spending. Against that background, reports that around 800 public-sector employees are costing taxpayers £27.6 million a year while waiting for new jobs have raised questions about how efficiently public money is being used.
The approval of the Jackdaw gas field has brought Britain's North Sea resources back into the headlines. But it raises a wider question: are there other discoveries that could help supply the country with gas, support jobs and reduce dependence on imports? The answer is yes.
The Government is asking households across the UK to prepare for at least three days of disruption by keeping essential supplies at home. It is a simple message, but one that has particular relevance in Scotland, where severe weather, long travel distances and the vulnerability of rural transport links can make an emergency more difficult to manage.
The Government's advice to keep at least three days of essential supplies at home has prompted a useful discussion about how well households are prepared for emergencies. But perhaps there is a bigger question to consider.
Oil prices climbing above $116 a barrel are a warning that markets remain deeply nervous about the outlook. The question is whether investors are simply pricing in the risk of renewed conflict, or whether several international pressures are combining to push prices higher.
The headline of April 2026 promised an end to a terrifying chapter in modern history. Following a high-intensity, devastating military campaign in February that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and obliterated key segments of the country’s defense infrastructure, US President Donald Trump announced a formal ceasefire.
Major package to unlock the opportunities of AI in every postcode, scale up home grown AI firms, and keep UK safe from threats announced by the Chancellor. A major package of investment to unlock the opportunities of AI in every postcode, scale up home grown AI firms, and keep the country safe from hostile threats will be announced by the Chancellor next week.
The Government is telling households to prepare for three days of disruption, while military chiefs warn that the public must face up to the possibility of war. Is Britain being given the full picture?.
National Audit Office warns that older debts are becoming harder to collect, despite improvements in HMRC’s performance HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reduced tax debt as a proportion of tax receipts for three consecutive years, despite dealing with significantly more new debt than before the pandemic. However, around half of the outstanding balance is now more than a year old, making it harder and less likely to be recovered.
Audit Scotland warns that cuts to community services could deepen inequalities, while councils lack the evidence to measure the full consequences. Scotland’s councils are spending less on culture and leisure services while asking the public to pay more to use them, raising questions about the future of libraries, swimming pools, sports facilities, museums and other important parts of community life.
Self Assessment customers have just 100 days to file their tax return for the 2025 to 2026 tax year and pay any tax owed. The Self Assessment tax return deadline for 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027.
A historic Wick church that could have become another empty building on the edge of the town centre is being given a new future in community ownership. Wick Development Trust completed the purchase of St Fergus Church on 8 October, securing the 196-year-old building for £80,000.