Living in Caithness means living with long winters, biting winds, and homes that often lose heat faster than they should. With heating‑oil prices rising sharply and electricity still expensive, many households are rethinking how they heat their homes.
First the Press Release. Protecting families from heating oil profiteering is top of the Prime Minister's agenda as he visits Belfast As global events continue to impact the daily lives of communities across the UK, the Prime Minister is visiting Belfast today (Thursday 12 March) to highlight his relentless focus on cutting the cost of living for working people.
HM Coastguard, the RNLI and RYA are working together to launch their water safety campaign aimed at recreational boaters. Water safety organisations in the UK are sharing an important message ahead of another busy boating season.
The Scottish Government has announced £245,000 of funding to support the King's Baton Relay (KBR) in Scotland ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The funding, awarded to Commonwealth Games Scotland, will support at least 22 community events during the host nation leg from 1 to 23 July 2026, with the relay travelling to cities, rural areas and island communities.
In an unprecedented move to stabilise global energy markets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has approved the largest release of emergency oil reserves in its history. They will be coordinating the flow of 400 million barrels into the market as the conflict involving Iran sends crude prices soaring and disrupts key shipping routes.
The world's largest‑ever release of emergency oil reserves is unlikely to bring meaningful relief to households relying on heating oil. According to industry analysts warn that the measure cannot offset the scale of disruption caused by the Iran conflict.
The world's largest‑ever release of emergency oil reserves is unlikely to deliver the price relief governments hope for, according to energy analysts who say the scale of the Middle East disruption far outweighs the impact of the International Energy Agency's intervention. The IEA confirmed this week that 32 member countries have agreed to release 400 million barrels of strategic reserves in response to the Iran conflict and the severe disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices jumped sharply today (12 March 2026) and briefly went above $100 per barrel for the global benchmark Brent crude. The main reason is escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, Israel, and U.S.
Government breaks down barriers to help more women and girls enter the tech sector. Women at every stage of their careers are set to benefit from new government measures announced today, aimed at boosting female participation in tech.
UK joins International Energy Agency members in coordinated oil stock release. The UK has on Wednesday 11 March 2026 joined International Energy Agency (IEA) partners in a coordinated release of oil stocks to the market.
No new regulation needed on salmon mortalities. Scottish salmon farms are operating as they should and no further regulation is needed according to preliminary research on fish deaths.
Midwives and other healthcare professionals have a vital role in improving uptake of pregnancy vaccination. This is according to a new survey from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in which pregnant women and women who recently gave birth rank them as their most trusted source of information.
The Middle East War is already pushing oil and energy prices higher, and that means UK inflation pressure will rise again. But this is not normal inflation.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is launching a UK‑wide training programme to support the development of project professionals across the nuclear sector. The One NDA Project Academy is an expansion of a programme initially launched at Sellafield in 2016.
Even if President Trump ends his attacks on Iran today, the residual disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and other ocean and air cargo routes means the cost of imported goods to the UK will climb, warns Parcelhero. The international delivery expert cautions that the cost of global shipping is already increasing.
The Government has launched a consultation asking the public to share their views on how digital ID is used to make public services quicker, easier and more secure to access. Consultation will let the public have their say on how digital ID is used to make public services quicker, easier and more secure to access.
In early 2026 the United Kingdom has once again been reminded of the vulnerability of its energy system to global events. A sudden surge in heating oil prices has left many rural households facing sharply rising costs, while policymakers in Westminster debate how best to respond.
Retail employment fell more sharply in central high streets and shopping centres than in non-central high streets and retail parks between 2015 and 2024. The composition of employment in central high streets between 2015 and 2024 shifted away from retail (a 19% decline) into other sectors, particularly accommodation and food services (an 18% increase).
More than 100 grassroots organisations across Scotland will share £2.2 million to recruit and support volunteers in their communities. Over the next two years, the Volunteering Support Fund 2025-27 will benefit small and medium sized third sector organisations from the Highlands to the Borders with grants of up to £20,000 to projects that are making a real difference to people's lives.
Mortgage rates are rising today, and many fixed‑rate deals are being withdrawn at speed across the UK. Lenders have pulled nearly 500 mortgage products in the past 48 hours, and average fixed rates have now surged above 5%, marking the sharpest disruption since the 2022 mini‑budget.