The Strait of Hormuz is closed again as of Saturday, 18 April 2026, following a brief attempt to reopen it. Iran's military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced they have resumed "strict management and control" over the strategic waterway.
Oil markets lurched sharply lower today, 17 April 2026, after a dramatic shift in Middle East geopolitics removed much of the "war‑risk premium" that had been inflating prices for weeks. Brent crude plunged by around 10-11%, falling to roughly $88–$89 per barrel, its lowest level in nearly five weeks.
Police Scotland Crime Prevention Officers continue to see a rise in fuel thefts across all areas of the country. Much of this can be attributed to the recent in fuel prices and speculation about potential fuel shortages.
When my dog Buddy ate a tub of chewing gum - around 60 pieces - we rushed him to the vet, where he stayed overnight and thankfully he was fine. The same could not be said for our wallets.
Over the past 24 hours, President Donald Trump has issued a series of emphatic statements about the state of the Iran conflict, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the prospects for a near‑term peace deal. Iranian representatives, however, have publicly contradicted several of his claims, creating a widening gap between Washington's narrative and Tehran's position.
The Debate Over What Was Not Said to Washington. The joint statement issued on 17 April 2026 (see below)by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer co‑chairs of the International Summit on the Strait of Hormuz was designed to project unity, stability, and diplomatic resolve.
As cod stocks collapse and global fisheries tighten, haddock has quietly become the backbone of Scotland's whitefish economy. But even this dependable species is now under pressure.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz during the current ceasefire has brought a moment of relief to global markets. Oil prices dipped below $100 a barrel, and analysts briefly speculated that the worst of the crisis might be easing.
The number of people in the UK holding more than one job is far higher than most official statistics suggest. Traditional surveys have long reported a small minority of "second‑job holders", but new linked data research shows that multiple jobholding is now a mainstream feature of the labour market, driven largely by economic necessity.
The last parliamentary term of the Scottish Government was marked by a mix of notable achievements and significant challenges. This article combines thirty key successes with thirty notable failures to provide a comprehensive perspective on the government's performance, especially in relation to the Highlands and rural communities.
When the UK's biggest private car park company went into administration last month, some motorists might have been surprised. How could National Car Parks (NCP), a company that charged so much for parking, at so many prime sites across the country, run out of road?.
When the Strait of Hormuz first closed in March and oil hit US$120 a barrel, a very old question came back: is this finally the moment electric vehicles take off for good or just another false start?. EVs have been here before.
Administrators have today revealed that 59 firms across Aberdeen and the north‑east are owed nearly £2.4 million following the collapse of BrewDog, which entered administration last month with debts exceeding £550 million. The full creditor list includes a mix of major suppliers, councils, and small local businesses.
Robots, not people, could respond to future high-risk incidents following the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory's recent testing. Chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) substances can pose a significant risk to public health, especially in confined spaces which concentrate vapours and spills.
For years, politicians have insisted that work is the best route out of poverty. But in modern Britain, work increasingly comes with a footnote: "Terms and conditions apply and may require government subsidy." The UK now has millions of people in jobs that simply don't pay enough to live on and instead of employers raising wages, the state steps in with Universal Credit, Housing Support, Council Tax Reduction, and a patchwork of top‑ups.
There was a moment—not long ago, though it now feels like a strange fever dream—when eggs became the most controversial objects in the United Kingdom and the United States. Not oil.
Royal Mail has confirmed that Saturday deliveries for second‑class post are being phased out, with full national rollout expected by December 2026 — a seasonal gift nobody asked for. Under the new model, second‑class letters and bulk business mail will no longer arrive on Saturdays.
Sovereign AI is the UK's £500 million bet to back homegrown AI founders, drive growth and create jobs across the UK. Sovereign AI is the UK's £500 million bet to back homegrown AI founders, drive growth and create jobs across the UK AI is the most important technology of our era.
For years we've been told that Britain is a "high‑tax country", that the burden is crushing the wealthy, and that the nation's prosperity depends on easing the load at the top. But when you stop looking at headline income tax rates and start counting all the taxes people actually pays income tax, National Insurance, VAT, council tax, fuel duty, alcohol duty, and the rest.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have propelled drones into the headlines. The word "drone" now stretches to cover everything from hobbyist camera rigs available on Amazon to the Predator and Reaper systems the United States has relied on to fight terrorist organizations over the past 20 years.