The following article is from the American version of The Conversation web site. The main thrust of the information and conclusions probably apply equally in the UK.
Published on 6 August 2025, this consultation seeks views on a draft Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan (LAJTP). The LAJTP will guide how Scotland moves its land-based sectors—principally agriculture, forestry, peatland restoration and related rural industries—towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in an equitable way.
As economic headlines pick up after a lull, the Fraser of Allander Institute highlights three key developments. Bank Rate cut, but only after a second vote - At its August meeting, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was split 5-4 on whether to cut Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points.
At yesterdays meeting (7 August 2025) the Bank of England were split 5-4 on cutting interest rates by a quarter of a percent. On the one hand the economy is slowing, unemployment ticking up, spare capacity rising..
Donald Trump has slapped a 39% tariff on Toblerone from Switzerland - but this isn't really about chocolate. It's about a dangerous trade war targeting allies and enemies alike.
LionVolt took over AMTE in Thurso in February 2024. LionVolt planned to repurpose the Thurso facility to produce its own innovative 3D solid-state batteries, which promise high performance and fast charging The battery sector requires long-term, patient capital.
A further £20 million will speed up actions to make Scotland's buildings safe from dangerous cladding, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan has announced. Publishing an update to the Cladding Remediation Programme action plan, Ms McAllan confirmed additional funding and expanded eligibility, setting out that social housing will now be eligible for remediation funding.
In November 2024 the University disclosed an anticipated £30 million deficit driven by a steep drop in international student recruitment, ongoing underfunding of UK higher education, inflationary pressures and rising National Insurance costs. Internally, decision-makers had pursued growth in research faster than the income generated by teaching and commercial activity, leading to a persistent structural imbalance.
Over 25,000 people in Scotland with complex needs and disabilities, and their families, could benefit from a £10 million Scottish Government investment in community toilet facilities. The Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund will support the provision of up to 150 specialist accessible toilets to meet the needs of disabled people who require carer support and equipment to use facilities.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. The MPC adopts a medium-term and forward-looking approach to determine the monetary stance required to achieve the inflation target sustainably.
The UK can't run out of pounds any more than it can run out of inches. In this response to Gary Stevenson, I explain why money is a public good, created by the state, and why it's wrong to claim the government is broke.
Caithness, in the far north of Scotland, is undergoing a dynamic transformation. While historically known for its nuclear legacy, the region is now diversifying into high-tech, green, and maritime sectors.
It's hard to imagine that back in 1976, an average London House price was just £14,000, just 25% more expensive than the average UK house price. Since then of course, London house prices have soared to over half a million pounds making it by far the most expensive place in the UK.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster calls for the country to prepare for the second national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday, September 7. With one month to go, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, is rallying the nation to get ready for the second ever national test of the UK's Emergency Alerts system.
First illegal immigrants detained under the ground-breaking UK-France treaty. Immigrants who arrived in the UK on a small boat have been detained under the UK-France treaty, which is now operational.
Investment by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Caithness and Sutherland during 2024-25 helped the organisation to meet or exceed 18 of its 20 key targets. The figures compiled by the agency are subject to review by Audit Scotland before publication of HIE's annual report in November.
The Government must use the £13 billion assigned to its Warm Homes Plan to deliver energy bill savings - worth £230 per year on average for the poorest households in leaky homes. At the same time using other tools, such as regulations, to keep the decarbonisation of home heating on track, new research published today (Thursday 7 August 2025) by the Resolution Foundation finds.
HMS Prince of Wales, flagship of the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG), will make a port call to Tokyo from late August to early September. This is part of Operation HIGHMAST, the Royal Navy's eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan.
The Government has chosen to raise the adult minimum wage (the National Living Wage) in line with average earnings growth in 2026, in a repeat of last year's cautious approach, although it has signalled it may adopt a more ambitious approach later in the parliament, the Resolution Foundation said on Tuesday. The Government published the new remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which will determine how minimum wage rates are set in April 2026.
The microscopic bacteria living in women's bodies could be a powerful tool for personalised, non-invasive treatment and earlier diagnosis. The vaginal microbiome is a largely overlooked area of medicine that could dramatically improve outcomes for millions of women, concludes a new review co-authored by the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published today (7 August 2025).
