News Archive

25/4/2025

 
New shellfish processing plant to create jobs in Buckie

The former premises of a seafood firm in Buckie, which closed in 2022, has been brought back to life as a state-of-the-art shellfish processing facility.   Over the next three years, the project is expected to generate nearly £1m in turnover and create 12 new jobs.  

25/4/2025

 
Are US Ports Empty and What Impact Does the Tariff Have on Global Shipping?

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the impact of the tariffs set by the Trump Administration on global shipping and in US ports, with a focus on Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey.   This video really shows the real problems coming for Americans with the worst yet to come.  

25/4/2025

Major step for fraud prevention with landmark ban on SIM farms

The UK will become the first country in Europe to ban the possession and supply of SIM farms - technical devices used to defraud the public.   Members of the public will be better protected from fraudsters and scammers through a landmark, Europe-first ban on the possession and supply of SIM farms, the Fraud Minister Lord Hanson has confirmed today.  

25/4/2025

Chancellor unveils plans to maintain level playing field for British business

British businesses will be supported to trade freely as the Chancellor chooses to act on practices that undercut fair trade, such as the dumping of cheap goods into the UK.   Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes action to mitigate the impacts of practices such as potential future ‘dumping' of cheap goods into the UK to help boost growth and deliver the Plan for Change.  

25/4/2025

Unlocking the power of Engineering Biology

New report outlines the transformative potential of Engineering Biology to tackle modern-day challenges.   Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean has today launched a new Foresight report, Engineering Biology Aspirations, which highlights the transformative potential of Engineering Biology (EngBio) to address some of the major challenges of our time - from lab-grown blood to biologically derived materials for fashion.  

25/4/2025

Rent control consultation published

Views sought on exemptions from rent control and where rent could be increased above cap.   A consultation has been published on potential for certain exemptions from rent controls or increases above the rent cap.  

25/4/2025

High Street and online sales rose in March as shoppers held their nerve

Despite reports of a slump in consumer confidence, retail sales volumes rose by 0.4% in March - the third rise in a row.  The spring sunshine helped the High Street but online sales also increased, says the home delivery expert Parcelhero.  

24/4/2025

Public sector finances UK March 2025 - Borrowing Moves Higher

Borrowing - the difference between total public sector spending and income - was £16.4 billion in March 2025.  this was £2.8 billion more than in March 2024 and the third-highest March borrowing since monthly records began in 1993.  

24/4/2025 : Local Authority

 
The Highland Council must focus on delivering its ambitions for the region

An ambitious plan to improve transport, roads and buildings, as well as a greater shift to using digital to deliver services, has the potential to transform the Highland Council's services over the next 20 years.   Delivering its capital programme could prove challenging.  

24/4/2025

 
The USA will have a crash, and the world will follow. What do we need to do to prepare for that?

No President can turn in his economy as Trump has done and not send it into recession or even depression.   The question is, how do we manage the chaos that follows from that? .  

24/4/2025

 
New rules for a safer generation of children online

Ofcom finalises child safety measures for sites and apps to introduce from July 2025.   Tech firms must act to prevent children from seeing harmful content.  

24/4/2025

Corporate insolvencies in Scotland rise for second year in a row

There were 1,175 corporate insolvencies in the year 2024-2025.  This was a slight increase of 0.6% from 2023-2024's figure of 1,168, and an increase of 3.8% on 2022-2023’s figure of 1,132.  

24/4/2025

Business insights and impact on the UK economy - 24 April 2025 - Businesses Less Optimistic

More than 1 in 6 (18%) trading businesses reported that their turnover had increased in March 2025 compared with the previous calendar month, up 3 percentage points from February.   In contrast, 22% reported their turnover had decreased, down 4 percentage points over the same period.  

24/4/2025

Reeves - I will always act to defend British interests

Chancellor Rachel Reeves travels to Washington DC for her first spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).   The Chancellor has pledged to "stand up for Britain's national interest", as she heads to Washington DC for her first spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  

23/4/2025

 
Toyota, Honda & Nissan Just Pulled The Trigger to CRUSH the U.S.A.'s Auto Industry - Mass Layoffs!

On April 3, 2025, U.S.  25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian vehicles misfired, slamming Japan's auto giants—Toyota, Honda, Nissan—supplying 1 in 3 U.S.  

23/4/2025

 
BREAKING! Tariffs Just Pushed U.S. Farmers Over the Edge — And There's No Coming Back

BREAKING! Tariffs Just Pushed U.S.  Farmers Over the Edge — And There's No Coming Back - America’s farmers are being crushed by the global trade war, and the damage is now impossible to ignore.  

23/4/2025 : Local Authority

"Call" for Development Sites in Highland - deadline approaching

Anyone wishing to gain Council endorsement of a significant building project in Highland should consider responding to the current Call for Development Sites.   Every 10 years, each council in Scotland must, for its area, prepare a planning document called a local development plan.  

23/4/2025

 
Even Ukraine Can't Believe What SWEDEN Plans - This is UNBELIEVABLE!

Sweden just dropped a $1.6 billion military aid package to Ukraine — its largest ever.  But this move isn't just about money.  

23/4/2025

IMF Announcement On Growth Keeps The Currency Fluctuating But The Pound Still Gaining On the dollar

The British pound (GBP) to U.S.  dollar (USD) exchange rate has been fluctuating today, reflecting market reactions to the IMF's downgraded UK growth forecast and broader economic concerns.  

23/4/2025

 
International Monetary Fund Slashes UK Growth Forecast For 2025 As Tariff Uncertainties Bite

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed the UK's growth forecast for 2025, revising it down from 1.6% to 1.1%.   The downgrade is largely attributed to the impact of U.S.