News Archive

25/10/2025

UK unleashes first dogs trained to detect synthetic opioids

Border Force becomes the first agency in the world to use specially trained dogs to detect both deadly fentanyl and nitazenes.   Criminal networks fuelling addiction and profiting from its devastating impact across the United Kingdom (UK) will face stronger barriers to concealing synthetic opioids.  

25/10/2025

New Digital ID to make life easier for millions

The Prime Minister yesterday set out how a new national digital ID will bring Britain into the modern age - making everyday life easier for millions, cutting red tape and putting power back in people's hands.   Prime Minister sets out broader vision for how a digital ID could make life simpler, easier and more secure.  

25/10/2025

 
Scottish Government - Care system reform lacks clarity and accountability - Audit Scotland

Plans to improve Scotland's care system have been slow to come together after not enough early delivery planning by the Scottish Government and COSLA.   The Promise, a national commitment to improving the lives of care experienced people by 2030, was made by the Scottish Government in 2020.  

25/10/2025

Government to seize millions from fake immigration ‘lawyers'

Rogue advisers illegally posing as lawyers will be stripped of their dirty money under new crackdown.   Sham immigration lawyers who look to cheat the system will have their cash confiscated under new powers.  

25/10/2025

The UK must prioritize cybersecurity or be left dangerously exposed

Recent high-profile cyberattacks on British businesses underscore the need to elevate cybersecurity on the political agenda and prepare for rapidly escalating threats from both hostile states and criminal actors.   As countries gather in Hanoi to sign the first-ever UN binding treaty on cybercrime, the UK's National Cyber  Security  Centre (NCSC) has issued a sobering assessment of the cyberthreats facing the country.  

25/10/2025

Scottish Housing Market Review Q3 2025

Quarterly bulletin collating a range of previously published statistics on the latest trends in the Scottish housing market.   The Scottish Housing Market Review collates a range of previously published statistics on the latest trends in the Scottish housing market.  

25/10/2025

 
Whose Economy Screws You Harder? (EU vs US)

US or EU? Whose economy screws you harder? Americans think Europeans have it better.  Europeans think the US has more opportunity.  

25/10/2025

Share of low paid workers across Britain has fallen to a fresh record low

Britain has continued to make progress on reducing the gender pay gap and the incidence of low pay in the past year, though overall pay growth has slowed in recent months, the Resolution Foundation said on Thursday in response to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).   The ASHE data, which was collected in April 2025, provides a unique insight into the how earnings - the most important driver of living standards – are distributed across Britain.  

25/10/2025

 
Coaliton of the Willing To Help Ukraine - Another Statement

The term Coalition of the Willing (in relation to the war in Ukraine) refers to a group of countries that have pledged enhanced support for Ukraine — including committing to a "reassurance force" deployed once a cease-fire or peace deal is reached — rather than a rigid alliance with a fixed membership.   All rather vague you may think.  

25/10/2025

UK leads global fight to stop ransomware attacks on supply chains

Critical businesses and services will be better safeguarded from costly cyber-attacks under new international guidance issued by the UK and Singapore.   UK businesses will be better protected from ransomware threats under new global guidance launched by the UK government and international partners.  

25/10/2025

The countdown begins - Self Assessment deadline is 100 days away

Self Assessment customers reminded to file their tax return with 100 days to go to the deadline.   Self Assessment customers have 100 days to file their tax return and pay any tax owed before the 31 January deadline.  

24/10/2025

 
A Small Animal Santuary in Caithness Needs Help After Storm Amy

Wendy Poole at Hilliclay, Caithness runs a small self-funded sanctuary for animals that owners no longer want, cannot look after them anymore, or who leave the area and are unable to take their pets/animals with them.   The barn where some of the animals live was hit hard in storm Amy.  

24/10/2025

 
MPs warn clean energy jobs not being created at the pace or scale needed to match North Sea oil and gas decline

Today's report from Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee warns that job losses from the North Sea oil and gas industry's decline currently outstrip jobs created by the scale-up of the clean energy industry.   The committee's report on the future of Scotland's oil and gas industry is the conclusion of the first part of its inquiry into GB Energy and the net zero transition.  

24/10/2025

Low and high pay in the UK 2025

The proportion of low-paid employee jobs fell to 2.5% in April 2025 from 3.4% in 2024, the lowest since the series began in 1997, while the proportion of high-paid employee jobs increased to 23.2% in April 2025.   Average hourly pay (excluding overtime) for employee jobs in April 2025 increased for all earnings deciles year-on-year; for full-time employee jobs, pay has increased most in the top and bottom deciles.  

24/10/2025

UK and Germany to jointly hunt Russian submarines from Lossiemouth one year after landmark defence agreement

Defence Secretary John Healey hosted his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, at RAF Lossiemouth on Thursday 23 October 2025.   The United Kingdom and Germany are ramping up their cyber and military cooperation to strengthen European and NATO security - with the two Armed Forces working closer than ever one year on from the signing of the landmark Trinity House Agreement on Defence.  

24/10/2025

 
Advances in science set to transform treatments for people living with dementia

From blood tests to AI, new ways to diagnose dementia sooner and treat it faster set to be unlocked by new research challenge.   From blood tests to AI, new ways to diagnose dementia sooner and treat it faster set to be unlocked by new research challenge.  

24/10/2025

Employee earnings in the UK 2025

Median weekly earnings for full-time employees were £766.60 in April 2025, which is a 5.3% increase on the year in nominal terms and a 1.1% increase in real terms; this figure is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH).   In April 2025, median weekly earnings for full-time employees increased across all major occupations and sector-level industries, when compared with April 2024.  

24/10/2025

UK retail sales - Britain embraces retail therapy

Retail sales volumes were up 1.5% in September year-on-year, following 0.7% growth in August.   The month saw sales volumes rise among computer and telecoms retailers as well as online jewellers where there was strong demand for gold, that was offset by a modest decline in sales in department stores.  

24/10/2025

Oil Price Jumps As President Trump Announces Sanctions On Two Russian Oil Giants

On 23 October 2025, the U.S.  announced new sanctions targeting Russia's two major oil companies: Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC, plus many of their subsidiaries.  

24/10/2025

E-commerce sales sparkled as canny shoppers snapped up gold jewellery in September

Retail sales volumes grew 0.5% in September, while online sales values soared by 1.4% as online jewellers reported a strong demand for gold.   The home delivery expert Parcelhero says canny Brits may have spent their money on a safe investment during a time of market turbulence.