Microsoft has announced that Skype will officially be retired on May 5, 2025. This decision is part of their plan to focus on Microsoft Teams, which has become their flagship communication platform.
Premium Bonds can be a worthwhile investment for some people, but it depends on your financial goals and risk tolerance. Here are some key points to consider: The prize rate for Premium Bonds has recently dropped to 4% for January's draw and is set to drop again to 3.8% in April.
The latest statistics on wildlife crime in Scotland were published today by the Chief Statistician for Scotland. Recorded wildlife crime offences were down by 23%, from 286 offences in 2021-22 to 220 offences in 2022-23, bringing recorded wildlife crime back close to pre-pandemic levels.
Great British Nuclear at final stage of Small Modular Reactor selection process. Great British Nuclear (GBN) has entered the final stage of the UK's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) selection process and is on track to make final decisions in the Spring.
New figures, show that as of 31 December 2024, the families of 326,080 children under 16 years of age were receiving vital support from Scottish Child Payment. Over £1 billion has now been paid to parents and carers since the payment was introduced in February 2021.
Home and workplace charging schemes extended for another year to support jobs and help make the UK a clean energy superpower. more than 1,400 electric vehicle charging sockets installed at UK schools and colleges thanks to £3 million government boost.
The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain resort returned to service on Thursday 27 February 2025. Scotland's only funicular railway has been out of action since August 2023, while an extensive programme of remediation works has been carried out, led by contractor Balfour Beatty on behalf of estate owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
GP contract reforms will fix the front door of the NHS and see the return of the family doctor, while helping end the 8am scramble for appointments. Biggest doctor's union backs new government deal with GPs to fix the front door of the NHS and bring back the family doctor.
Boost to internal market as Intertrade UK holds its first meeting today. The new body, chaired by Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee, was a key Safeguarding the Union commitment.
From Saturday (1 March 2025) UK alcohol producers will benefit from easier reporting and online payment services, as the new Manage your Alcohol Duty online service goes live. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has launched the new digital system to simplify and modernise the administration of returns and payments, working closely with alcohol producers and trade bodies on its implementation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President of the United States Donald Trump met today in the White House. The leaders discussed the depth of the special relationship between their two nations and their commitment to shared security and prosperity.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved a further £863,000 contribution to the Inverness Castle Experience project. Led by The Highland Council, the Inverness Castle Experience is a key project within the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, a joint initiative supported by up to £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.
Reforms to legal aid have been set out to make the system simpler and easier for both solicitors and those who need legal assistance - along with longer-term proposals for funding and improving the delivery of services. Actions set out in a discussion paper will simplify the funding system and build on recent improvements to reduce the amount of information needed during the application process.
Local authorities could be given the optional power to introduce a tax on cruise ships that visit their areas in future. The Scottish Government is seeking views on the practicalities of such a levy, as well as the potential market implications and effect on local economies and communities.
Scotland's onshore GDP grew by 0.6% in December 2024, according to statistics announced by the Chief Statistician. This follows growth of 0.2% in November 2024, revised up from ‑0.5%.
There was an increase in the number of young people aged 16 to 24 years not in education, employment or training (NEET) in October to December 2024. The total is currently estimated to be 987,000, up from 877,000 in October to December 2023.
Overall retail footfall increased by 6% in the week to 23 February 2025 from the previous week, coinciding with school half-term holidays for some parts of the UK. This was 5% higher than in the equivalent week of 2024 (MRI OnLocation).
Overall, UK household costs, as measured by the Household Costs Indices (HCI), rose 2.8% in the year to December 2024, compared with 2.0% in the year to September 2024. Over the past 12 months, the all-households inflation rate has followed the sixth income decile most closely; costs for these households rose 2.7% in the year to December 2024, compared with rises of 3.2% for high-income households (decile 9) and 2.6% for low-income households (decile 2).
During Donald Trump's meeting and press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell says that Trump was "humiliated by his own ignorance." Lawrence dissects both events and shares why he hopes the White House press corps took “performance notes” after The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg and British journalist Robert Peston pressed Trump on his lies..
The Highland Council's Education Committee has approved a proposal to create a new primary school to serve the Tornagrain housing development, east of Inverness. The decision follows a statutory consultation exercise undertaken in the autumn of 2024.
