News Archive

23/9/2025

Tackling urban gull problems - £100,000 of funding will not go far

Communities across Scotland will benefit from £100,000 to tackle disruptive urban gull populations.   Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie will chair a summit in Inverness today bringing together local councillors, housing associations, business representatives, waste management organisations and community groups, scientific experts and NatureScot.  

23/9/2025

Super battery projects that maximise renewable-generated power enter next phase of Ofgem’s green power storage scheme

Ofgem is has confirmed the 77 projects entering the final assessment stage of a government-driven super battery support scheme.   This is designed to secure investment, promote growth and stop green energy going to waste..  Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) will play a key role in Great Britain’s grid expansion, storing extra renewable energy when the weather conditions are producing more than we need, and use later when the wind is not blowing.   As the UK accelerates its transition to clean power, we’re all familiar with the technologies at either end of the energy journey — from solar farms and wind turbines generating renewable power, to electric vehicle chargers and heat pumps using it.   But what’s happening in the middle of that net zero journey is just as vital.  Innovations in grid infrastructure and LDES are quietly transforming how we manage renewable energy.  

23/9/2025

TRA recommends new measure on engine oils and hydraulic fluids

TRA proposes anti-dumping duties on engine oils and hydraulic fluids from Lithuania and UAE to protect UK producers.   The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has (22 September 2025) proposed a new anti-dumping measure to protect UK producers of engine oils and hydraulic fluids.  

22/9/2025

Boosting collaboration between UK and US financial systems to drive innovation and growth in global markets

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the US Treasury Secretary establish a Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future to enhance collaboration on capital markets, digital assets and other innovative financial activities.   The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, welcomed US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, to Downing Street last week for a joint industry roundtable where they reaffirmed the deep and historic connection between the world’s leading financial hubs in the United Kingdom and United States.  

22/9/2025

 
“The DARKEST reality of money supply” Top Economist warns

Learn the truth about money supply..  

22/9/2025

 
How country-by-country reporting exposed tax havens - Richard Murphy

Something called country-by-country reporting, which I created, changed the tax world forever.   It forced multinationals to reveal how much profit they were shifting into tax havens.  

22/9/2025

 
Banks can’t survive climate change - Richard Murphy

A massive banking collapse is coming — and the cause isn’t speculation this time.  It’s climate change.  

22/9/2025

 
Gatwick Airport Northern Runway development consent decision announced

The Gatwick Airport Northern Runway application has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.   The project comprises of the amendment of Gatwick Airport to support dual runway operations through the routine use of the existing northern runway and to accommodate up to 80 million passengers per annum.  

22/9/2025

 
Ramped up job support for people on sickness benefits

Specialist Jobcentre staff redeployed to give skills and employment support to tens of thousands of people with no requirement to look for work.   Every Jobcentre in England, Wales, and Scotland now covered with Pathways to Work advisers, who aim to support 65,000 people this financial year.  

22/9/2025

Maritime Innovation Hub coming soon

'We’re strengthening our support for innovators to bring the latest technologies and findings to our shores'.   Accelerating maritime innovation without compromising safety is the driving force behind the UK Maritime Innovation Hub, launching in April 2026.  

22/9/2025

UK Anti-Corruption Champion visits British Virgin Islands

Baroness Hodge is visiting the BVI to assess progress on financial transparency.   Efforts to increase the UK’s security and resilience to illicit finance and money laundering are at the top of the agenda this week, as the UK’s Anti-Corruption Champion, Baroness Margaret Hodge, visits the British Virgin Islands to assess progress in implementing commitments on beneficial ownership registers.  

21/9/2025

 
The tech prosperity deal is huge. But will the UK reap the benefits?

The much-lauded UK-US tech deal landed to coincide with President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.  It has been dubbed the “tech prosperity deal”, but who, exactly, is set to prosper? After all, the deal will make the UK more reliant on US tech and may hasten the embedding of US artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the UK economy.  

21/9/2025

 
UK fighter jets begin NATO air defence missions to bolster European security

Royal Air Force Typhoon patrolled the skies over Poland as part of NATO's Eastern Sentry mission.   Royal Air Force Typhoons have flown their first NATO air defence sortie over Poland as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry, strengthening the Alliance’s defences on its eastern flank following a reckless Russian drone incursion.  

21/9/2025

Support for youth climate activists

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin has pledged support for the next generation of green leaders in Africa as Climate Week NYC gets underway.   A total of £165,000 of Scottish Government funding has been awarded to the Green Generation Initiative (GGI) Youth Accelerator Programme – run by Kenyan youth climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti.  

21/9/2025

Support for youth climate activists - Funding to mentor and upskill young green leaders

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin has pledged support for the next generation of green leaders in Africa as Climate Week NYC gets underway.   A total of £165,000 of Scottish Government funding has been awarded to the Green Generation Initiative (GGI) Youth Accelerator Programme – run by Kenyan youth climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti.  

21/9/2025

UK formally recognises Palestinian State - Gesture Politics?

The UK has formally recognised Palestine to protect the viability of a two-state solution and create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people.   Symbolic Recognition: The UK recognizing Palestine formally is a strong statement in the broader international political sphere.  

21/9/2025

 
Major safety boost for frontline prison staff

Thousands of prison staff will be safer thanks to a new £15 million investment in protective body armour and Tasers as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.   Up to 10,000 more officers to get protective body armour, and hundreds given tasers.  

20/9/2025

Things are done to us, not by us - George Gunn

George Gunn writing for Bella/Caledonia on 17 September 2025 hits out at the danger to culture in the north prompted by the closure for several months of the North Coast Visitor Centre in Thurso.  He points his arrows at several areas - Government, Highland council, Highlife Highland, Land ownership and much more.  

20/9/2025

Improving access to services for disabled people

Additional funding of £500,000 will be delivered to strengthen access to essential services and projects that disabled people rely on.   It comes as a result of dialogue with Independent MSP Jeremy Balfour on the best way to support Disabled People’s Organisations and follows his tireless campaigning on behalf of disabled people throughout this parliamentary session.  

20/9/2025

Compulsory purchase reform - Views sought on making system simpler and fairer

The Scottish Government is consulting on proposals to modernise the law on compulsory purchase, to make it easier and simpler to improve land and buildings.   The proposals would update laws dating back almost two centuries, making them more useful for public bodies, while also being fairer to property owners.