Campaigners' Efforts Pay Off - Caithness Health Action Team's persistence on maternity services at Wick hospital finally prompts government review. Shoebox Gifts Initiative - Local volunteers highlight how shoebox donations will make a vital difference to families this winter.
For years, Scotland's health service has relied on an obscure but increasingly important financial tool: brokerage. Most people in the Highlands have never heard the word, yet it now sits at the centre of NHS Highland's financial future — and it shapes everything from staffing levels to the long-term sustainability of local services.
Young carers up to age 19 will now receive Young Carer Grant following an expansion of the benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland. The grant which was previously open to 16 to 18-year-olds is a Scottish only benefit that gives young carers a yearly payment of £390.25.
HMS Prince of Wales and other UK aircraft carriers are protected against drone threats, but their defences rely on a layered system of escorts, sensors, and aircraft rather than the carrier alone. The Royal Navy is actively integrating new counter-drone technologies, but this remains an evolving challenge.
Industry and academia are being invited to collaborate with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in a new strategic initiative to help the UK's marine sector become cleaner, safer and even more successful. Today (17 November 2025) the MCA is for the first time publishing a list of Areas of Research Interest (ARI), signalling what issues, questions and investigations will enhance its regulatory mission, including clear guidance on emerging technology.
Britain's biggest businesses have joined the Government's hiring drive to get prison leavers into work in effort to cut crime as part of the Plan for Change. Over 300 businesses join efforts to plug labour shortfalls and grow the economy.
Lower earnings and employment growth in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK is reducing the impact of devolved taxes on the country's budget. Holyrood's budget has been boosted by over £4 billion since the introduction of devolved taxes in 2015/16.
As she carefully prepares the UK's reaction to her second budget the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has now hinted that she may be ready to scrap the two-child benefits cap. This controversial policy prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children (this is different to child benefit payments which are not limited by family size).
Scotland's three enterprise agencies have joined the UK's national innovation agency to agree a collaboration framework that aims to help Scotland become one of the most innovative small nations in the world. The Innovation Collaboration Framework for Scotland brings together Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Innovate UK with a commitment to support ambitious businesses to invest in research to drive economic growth, create good jobs and help tackle major societal and environmental challenges.
The UK government is considering changes to gambling taxes, including potentially higher taxes on "fruit machines" (machine gaming) and other online gambling. But nothing is fully settled yet.
Financial support to help pensioners heat their homes this winter has started to roll out across the country. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will provide support to at least 880,000 pensioners to help with heating bills.
Umbrella vs Limited Company — the choice UK contractors make without realising it can cost them up to £10,000 a year. In this video, we break down the 2025/26 numbers and show how tax, National Insurance, IR35, and even your payslip structure change your real take-home pay.
You might not care very much about the prospect of the AI bubble bursting. Surely it's just something for the tech bros of Silicon Valley to worry about - or the wealthy investors who have spent billions of dollars funding development.
Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC has been appointed to lead an independent review of laws on public order and hate crime. Following the terrorist attack in Manchester on 2 October, the Home Secretary announced an independent review of existing public order and hate crime legislation.
NDA announces £1 million investment to develop masterplan for clean energy development on land adjacent to Sellafield. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced today it's investing £1 million of funding to develop the masterplan for a clean energy development on land adjacent to Sellafield, known as Pioneer Park.
An independent report by an expert group set up to review the current law on abortion in Scotland has been published today. The Abortion Law Expert Group was commissioned following a Programme for Government commitment for 2023 -24 to independently review the existing law and ensure that abortion services are safe and treated first and foremost as a healthcare matter for women.
There is strong evidence that an increasing number of Americans are missing (or falling behind on) car payments, particularly in the subprime auto‐loan market. And this trend has broader implications for the U.S.
UN humanitarian fund receives Scottish Government funding in addition to UK Government contributions. Are Scottish Taxpayers paying twice? £600,000 humanitarian aid for the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Most people in the UK still believe in the power of royalty — and the power of the honours system. We accept that a knighthood is created from nothing with a tap of the King's sword.
Thousands of Scottish workers will gain new skills and enhance their career prospects through a £2 million investment delivered by trade unions. The latest round of the Scottish Government's Union Learning Fund will support 23 programmes in sectors ranging from social care to the steel industry.
