One of the emerging realities of the global economy is that access to reliable water is becoming almost as important as access to electricity. Shale gas extraction and AI data centres are major examples, but a growing list of industries now require enormous quantities of water for cooling, cleaning, chemical processing, hydrogen production, or power generation.
The Regional Returning Officer for Highlands and Islands, Derek Brown has declared the results for the Scottish Parliament Highlands and Islands Regional list. Maree Todd who lost out to the libdem candidate David Green gets back in on the list.
The standoff in the Strait of Hormuz has already made fuel and energy noticeably more expensive. But energy prices are only part of the story.
With 14,666 votes for David Green, the Scottish Lib Dems have taken the seat from the SNP's Maree Todd. The Constituency and Regional Returning Officer for Highlands and Islands, Derek Brown has declared the results for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May 6th) sold 471 Prime Sheep. New Season Lambs (6) averaged 398.0p per kg and sold to 398.0p per kg and £203 gross.
For more than a century, armies recruited the same way: find the strongest, the toughest, the most physically resilient. But the rise of drone warfare from Ukraine’s FPV units to long‑range strike teams has flipped that logic on its head.
For once, Caithness is not on the periphery of a national project — we’re right at the landfall. The 1 GW Ayre Offshore Wind Farm, a floating ScotWind development by Qair, will bring its cables ashore at Keiss and feed into the new Banniskirk Hub.
Oil prices hovering around or above $100 per barrel are about far more than expensive petrol. High oil prices ripple through the entire global economy, influencing inflation, interest rates, government borrowing, mortgage costs, and household finances.
The U.S. is in a bizarre situation in 2026: It’s facing a looming energy shortage, yet the Trump administration is making deals to pay offshore wind developers nearly US$2 billion in taxpayer money to walk away from energy projects.
Drones have rapidly moved from niche military tools to one of the defining technologies of modern warfare. The war in Ukraine, tensions around Taiwan, and the wider global military build up have all demonstrated the same reality.
When Modella Capital bought WH Smith’s high‑street estate last year, the promise was bold: a fresh start, a new name, and a renewed role as the “hub of the high street”. Less than twelve months later, that vision has collapsed into a stark warning — up to 150 stores may close, hundreds of jobs may go, and another familiar name may fade from Britain’s town centres.
A snapshot of Caithness in 2026 over the past few days. Big announcements, bigger frustrations, and the quiet competence of local people keeping the place going.
The near‑collapse of TG Jones — the rebranded WH Smith high‑street chain is more than a corporate misstep. It is a case study in the fragility of the modern High Street, especially in rural Scotland where every closure lands harder and lasts longer.
New paperless systems shown to significantly reduce processing times, with steps that often take days completed in an hour under pilot conditions. UK exporters could see lower costs and faster access to global markets thanks to the innovative tech.
Landlords are leaving the UK rental market at the fastest rate in years. But what does this mean for renters?.
Australia’s decision to tighten rules around LNG exports (LNG Exporters to Reserve 20% of Gas for Domestic Market) is attracting growing attention across global energy markets. While the policy is not a full export ban, it does signal a shift toward prioritising domestic energy security over unlimited exports.
JD Sports Fashion and much of the wider sportswear retail sector are seeing a slowdown in sales growth, especially in the UK and Europe. However, the picture is more of a “consumer slowdown and margin squeeze” rather than a collapse in demand.
Administrators handling the sale of collapsed Scottish rocket manufacturer Orbex have received 15 offers for parts of the business and its assets. FRP Advisory, which was appointed after the Moray-based firm went into administration earlier this year, said there had been a “high level” of interest from buyers.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (May 5th) sold 17 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (13) averaged 320.9p per kg and sold to 342.0p per kg and £2385.60 gross.
Hydrogen‑powered businesses promise a cleaner future but EcoJet’s collapse is a reminder that vision alone isn’t enough. Even with a high‑profile founder like Dale Vince and a compelling mission to decarbonise aviation, the structural barriers facing hydrogen‑electric ventures are enormous.