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Yesterday

Top 10 Caithness News Stories of the Past Week

A busy week for Caithness, with a tragic incident at Dunnet Head, major council decisions, a Wick/East Caithness by-election and continuing debate over vital local services.  Some of these have been reported in more detail on our pages over the past few days.  

Yesterday

The Martian: A Survival Guide for Caithness Residents Travelling to Inverness

Forget Mars.  If you really want to understand what it means to be stranded far from essential services, try living in Caithness and being told your appointment is in Inverness.  

Yesterday

 
Is It Already Too Late to Save Britain's High Streets?

Andy Burnham's latest focus on high streets reflects a growing political consensus: town centres matter, shops are closing, and something must be done.  Burnham has spoken about making high streets "the symbols of Britain's renaissance" and has highlighted the need to tackle vacancy and decline.  

Yesterday

 
AI has a serious image problem

When even AI bosses are worried about the impact of the technology, is it any wonder the public are scared?.  Analysing their major survey of British public opinion, Bobby Duffy and Elena Simperl argue that, while the risks should not be downplayed, if we want to realise the benefits of AI it is important that the public are not already set against it.  

Yesterday

Are We Talking Ourselves Into a Cost-of-Living Crisis? What Inflation Headlines Do to Consumer Confidence

The constant stream of bad economic news may be influencing how people feel about spending — even when the underlying picture is not quite as gloomy as the headlines suggest.   Every month brings another inflation announcement.  

Yesterday

The Great Economic Disconnect: Why Are Stock Markets Booming While Consumers Feel So Gloomy?

The economy looks worrying, consumers remain cautious and inflation is still causing concern yet stock markets continue to climb.  Is this confidence justified, or are investors looking at a very different world from everyone else? There is something increasingly strange about the economic picture.  

Yesterday

Andy Burnham's Employment Revolution: Could England Be Learning from Scotland?

The new government's plan to devolve employment support could transform the way people out of work are helped but Scotland has already been experimenting with a more local approach.  Could Burnham's English reforms eventually put pressure on Scotland to go further? There is an interesting development taking place almost unnoticed beneath the much bigger political stories.  

Yesterday

"Scotland is powering Britain's future defence" says Defence Secretary on first visit to Rosyth Shipyard and forces housing

Defence Secretary on his first visit to Scotland tours Babcock’s Rosyth facility and Service Family Accommodation in Edinburgh.   On his first visit to Scotland as Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting has today underlined the nation’s vital role in the UK’s defence.  

Yesterday

What Has the Museum Ever Done for Me?

"I never go to museums.  I don't visit art galleries.  

Yesterday

 
Wick Town Centre - Another View

Another view of Wick town centre for those of you who do not live in Wick.   The £2million project to change the surrounding is complete.  

Yesterday

UK Universities: Are Redundancies Really Being Driven by Falling Overseas Student Income?

Over the past two years, reports of job cuts, restructuring programmes and course closures have become increasingly common across the UK higher education sector.  A widespread perception has emerged that universities became overly dependent on international student fees and are now paying the price as overseas recruitment falls.  

Yesterday

Aldi and Lidl should be subject to the same rules as major supermarkets

CMA proposes that Aldi and Lidl should be covered by the same land agreement rules as the UK’s largest supermarkets to ensure customers get the best choice of where to shop.   CMA proposes to prevent Aldi and Lidl from blocking rival supermarkets opening close to their stores.  

Yesterday

Arts festivals put Scotland on global stage

Edinburgh’s festivals provide a “global platform” for Scotland as well as the artists who take part in performances, the Deputy First Minister has said.   Jenny Gilruth will attend the opening concert of the Edinburgh International Festival – All Rise – tonight along with Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad.  

Yesterday

Does it matter what you eat at work?

What, when, where and how we eat can signify many things.  Eating healthily might impress your colleagues but doing so on a video call is unprofessional.  

Yesterday

Venture capital access expanded for early-stage companies in UK

Intention to invest £100 million through British Business Bank’s Investor Pathways Capital Initiative to boost growth in every postcode.   As many as 10 new venture capital funds to be launched across the UK expanding access to venture capital beyond London.  

Yesterday

Ask Questions. Don't Accept the Answers

If you watch the BBC you will be familiar with the current campaign so we chase the question they ask a little further.   Why Are We Funding This? When governments, councils, universities, museums, arts organisations and public broadcasters face criticism, their first instinct is often to provide answers.  

Yesterday

Why Britain Will Struggle to Meet Housing Targets Without Planning Reform

Britain's housing crisis is no longer a matter of debate.  House prices remain out of reach for many first-time buyers, rents continue to rise, and employers in many parts of the country struggle to attract workers because of housing shortages.  

Yesterday

Is Making Tax Digital Making Business Simpler, or Merely Making Tax Administration More Digital?

On 6 April 2026, Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax became mandatory for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income above £50,000.  Their first quarterly update was due by 7 August 2026.  

Yesterday

 
Which Way to Hormuz? Alice, the Cheshire Cat and the World's Most Important Strait

When America says a deal is almost done, Iran says there is no deal and everyone is trying to work out which way the oil tankers are going, perhaps it is time to ask the Cheshire Cat for directions.   Alice found herself in Wonderland with a rather familiar problem.  

7/8/2026

Why America Is Watching Japan So Closely And What It Says About the Future of the Dollar

When most people think about the global economy, they picture stock markets, oil prices or inflation.   Few would imagine that the value of the Japanese yen could become one of the biggest concerns for the United States.