We keep returning to this topic recently as it may affect anyone with credit cards, loans or mortgages so making decision to increase these debts could be crucial. Higher government borrowing costs could mean higher taxes, tighter public spending and more expensive mortgages.
With mortgage rates back around 6% and government borrowing costs under pressure, homebuyers face an uncomfortable question: buy now, wait for a better deal, or risk taking on a debt that could become difficult to manage? Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most people will make. It is also one of the easiest decisions to justify emotionally.
Britain says it will maintain sanctions on Russia, Ukraine accuses Donald Trump of helping fund Putin’s war, and Europe faces an uncomfortable question: could the search for cheaper diesel undermine the pressure intended to bring the conflict to an end? Donald Trump’s decision to open the door to Russian diesel exports has exposed a growing tension between two priorities: bringing down fuel prices and maintaining economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. On 9 October, the American president announced an agreement with Vladimir Putin under which Russia would supply diesel to the United States and international markets.
Donald Trump wanted the Nobel Peace Prize. He has repeatedly pointed to conflicts he says he has helped settle and argued that his record deserved international recognition.
Class sizes, teacher shortages, school buildings and the pressure on teachers reveal a more complicated picture than politicians' headline figures suggest. Protests over the state of schools in France have raised questions that parents in Scotland might recognise.
Donald Trump wants cheaper diesel. Vladimir Putin wants access to markets and the money that comes with selling Russian fuel.
Britain knows what it means to live through a long war. As Donald Trump seeks cheaper diesel through an agreement with Russia, there is a bigger question than the price at the pumps: could concessions to Vladimir Putin encourage him to continue the war in Ukraine rather than bring it to an end? Donald Trump's reported agreement to allow additional Russian diesel into international markets has opened up a debate that goes well beyond energy prices.
Plans for a giant artificial intelligence campus at a former nuclear power station promise billions in investment. But the scale of the electricity demand raises a difficult question: how much should Scotland commit to one development, and what will local people actually gain? Scotland could be about to host one of the largest data-centre developments in the world.
The Government's pension review is examining whether future retirees will have enough money to live on. The uncomfortable question is who will pay for a decent retirement, and what happens to those who cannot afford to save more.
Following our announcement in August of Interim Community Council elections, The Highland Council is today (8 October 2026) able to confirm the candidates that have been elected to serve the Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council are as follows: AMIN Younes GUNN Andrew HENDERSON Donald SINCLAIR George SUTHERLAND Anne WALSH Denise The turnout was 50.72%.
Community development trusts can do remarkable things for rural communities. But as they take on more responsibilities and public money, there is a bigger question: who are they ultimately accountable to? A recent Highlands and Islands Enterprise event in Lairg brought around 20 development trusts from Caithness and Sutherland together to discuss housing, planning, funding, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Musicians, writers, artists and filmmakers are gathering in Salford to confront a question that could shape the future of the creative industries: can technology companies build fortunes from human creativity without paying the people who produced it? Artificial intelligence can write a song, produce an image, imitate a voice or generate a video in seconds. What once required years of practice, expensive equipment and hours of work can now be attempted with a few words typed into a computer.
BBC's £500 million savings programme shows there is now quite a lot more detail than when it was first announced. The BBC says the aim is roughly a 10% reduction in costs, with the programme running over the next few years.
Scotland's next Budget will not be short of money in headline terms. But that does not mean the Scottish Government will have an easy time deciding where the money goes.
Britain's gambling industry is facing a major change in taxation. Online casino games are already subject to a much higher tax rate, online betting is due to become more expensive for operators from next April, and betting shops, casinos and bingo halls are watching nervously for a possible increase in the tax on physical gambling machines.
October 2026 | A guide to the changes affecting benefits claimants across Britain, including Scotland. The benefits system is changing, and millions of households could be affected.
For generations, the local pub was part of the fabric of British life. It was somewhere to meet friends, catch up with neighbours, watch the football, celebrate a wedding or simply have a chat at the end of the day.
Tanks in Sellafield Ltd's Highly Active Liquor Evaporation and Storage (HALES) that had stored liquor for decades are now empty. We have completed the bulk removal of one of our oldest legacy inventories, helping reduce risk and prepare the facility for the future.
For months, artificial intelligence has been one of the great attractions of the stock market. Investors have poured money into the companies building AI systems, manufacturing the computer chips they need and constructing the enormous data centres required to run them.
With another difficult financial year approaching, Scotland’s health boards and councils face growing pressure to find savings. But can they do so without reducing services or losing staff?.