Saudi Arabia has an important advantage over many other major oil-producing countries. It has an alternative route for exporting much of its oil without having to send tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict in the Middle East is usually discussed in terms of oil, gas, shipping and military installations. But there is another vulnerability that could have even more immediate consequences for ordinary people - drinking water.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions of pounds trying to transform its economy and its international reputation. For decades, the kingdom was known primarily for its oil wealth.
ParcelHero warns that the new €2 EU handling charge and mandatory Product Identifiers, introduced on 1 November, are landing on top of July’s €3 customs duty fee just as Christmas parcel volumes peak. Charged per product line, they can quickly add up on mixed parcels, and could push up the price of UK goods sold to EU consumers and cause delays.
The Caithness Area Committee which met (Monday 2 November 2026) has approved six applications submitted to the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF). This approval securing significant investment to support local projects that will benefit communities across the north.
Britain faces a growing problem in recruiting enough people to look after its elderly, disabled and vulnerable citizens. Care homes, home-care providers and local authorities all need a reliable workforce, yet recruitment and staff retention have become persistent difficulties.
Highland Council has set out an ambitious vision for the economic future of the Highlands, with the possibility of attracting between £10 billion and £16 billion of public and private investment over the next 25 years. On paper, it is an impressive prospect.
British supermarkets are increasingly replacing traditional paper price labels with electronic displays. The technology promises greater efficiency, fewer pricing mistakes and the ability to change thousands of prices within minutes.
The prospect of another difficult year for British businesses is beginning to influence decisions about wages, recruitment and employment. Ryanair is reportedly considering a pay freeze as it faces increasing operating costs, but it may not be alone.
Elections in USA take place on Tuesday and out of general interest we look he systems in USA and UK. Democracy is supposed to give every citizen an equal voice.
Settlement will be earned through contribution and good character. The right to live in the UK forever will no longer be granted to migrants almost automatically after 5 years.
We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers to run almost every aspect of modern life. Cars, buses, trains, electricity networks, water supplies, supermarkets and even household appliances now contain digital systems that monitor, control and sometimes operate equipment remotely.
The Isle of Skye could soon have its first Tesco supermarket, following the submission of a detailed planning application for a major new retail development in Portree. The proposed development represents a multi-million-pound investment and could create around 100 jobs when the store opens.
Britain and the European Union appear to be moving towards one of their most significant trade agreements since Brexit, with a proposed deal that could remove many of the checks, certificates and costs imposed on food and agricultural products crossing between the UK and Europe. A draft agreement, covering around 200 pages, has been circulated to EU member states ahead of a meeting of European representatives.
UHI Inverness has launched an innovative new health course to provide senior Highland pupils with a route to studying medicine or pharmacy degrees at universities in Aberdeen. The Highland Pathway to Healthcare: Medicine & Pharmacy programme is open to sixth-year pupils across the region and guarantees students who pass the course an interview at the University of Aberdeen for medicine or at Robert Gordon University (RGU) for its pharmacy degree.
Britain's manufacturing industry has started the final quarter of 2026 on a more encouraging note, with new figures suggesting that factories are experiencing their strongest growth in more than two years. However, behind the positive headlines is a rather different story.
Scotland has ambitious plans to become a major producer of renewable electricity, with offshore wind farms, onshore wind developments and other renewable technologies expected to play an increasingly important role in the country's energy future. Yet a recent decision by the Scottish Government highlights an uncomfortable reality.
Scotland faces a growing challenge in ensuring that it has enough skilled tradespeople to meet the demands of the economy over the coming years. Yet the businesses expected to train those workers are increasingly concerned about the financial burden of taking on apprentices.
The idea that a supermarket freezer could become a target for cybercriminals might once have sounded far-fetched. Yet recent attacks across Europe have shown that hackers can interfere with refrigeration systems, raise temperatures remotely and leave retailers facing thousands of pounds in spoiled food.
What happens when the government spends money?. Most politicians talk about public spending as though it is simply a cost.