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Today

Trump Hits Canada With Tariffs of 50% In Trade Dispute

President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on around US$20 billion of Canadian imports, marking a major escalation in the trade dispute between the two countries.  The tariffs are due to take effect on 19 August 2026 unless there is a negotiated settlement before then.  

Today

Are Britain's Best Companies Being Sold Too Cheaply? And What Happens When the Profits Leave the UK?

Are Britain's Best Companies Being Sold Too Cheaply? And What Happens When the Profits Leave the UK? Hardly a week seems to pass without another well-known British company becoming the target of an overseas takeover.   American investment funds.  

Today

Who Owns Britain Now? A Look at Foreign Ownership of UK Businesses and Infrastructure

Who Owns Britain Now? A Look at Foreign Ownership of UK Businesses and Infrastructure.   If you ask people whether Britain is being "sold off", the answers are likely to be passionate.  

Today

If the Profits Leave Britain, Does It Make Us Poorer?

If the Profits Leave Britain, Does It Make Us Poorer? Every time another British company is bought by an overseas investor, the same question appears.   "If the profits go abroad, doesn't Britain become poorer?" It sounds like a simple question.  

Today

Why Trump Keeps Using Tariffs – And Why the Whole World Pays Attention

Why Trump Keeps Using Tariffs – And Why the Whole World Pays Attention.   Whenever President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the headlines usually focus on the country involved.  

Today

Who Really Pays a Tariff? The Answer May Surprise You

When President Donald Trump announces a new tariff, the message is usually simple.   "Foreign countries will pay." But that is not quite how tariffs work.  

17/7/2026

 
THE GREAT BELLY‑FAT BREAKFAST SCAM

If you’ve been online lately, you’ve probably seen those ads shouting “Drink THIS every morning to melt belly fat!”.   They always feature a mysterious fruit, a glowing mug, and a doctor who looks suspiciously like a stock photo model named Kevin.  

16/7/2026

Is China Heading for a 'Japan Moment'?

For more than 30 years, China seemed unstoppable.   Its economy grew at astonishing speed with new cities appeared almost overnight and millions of people moved from the countryside into better-paid jobs.  

15/7/2026

China's Hidden Economic Problem: Why the World's Biggest Exporter Isn't Spending at Home

Every week there seems to be another story about China.   Chinese electric cars are becoming cheaper.  

9/7/2026

8 and 9-year-olds now eligible to use eGates

The UK Government has announced that children aged 8 and 9 can now use eGates at major UK airports and at international rail terminals.  Previously, only travellers aged 10 and over were allowed to use them.  

9/7/2026

Enclosed Farmland Natural Capital Accounts, UK: 2026

The ONS report measures the natural capital of enclosed farmland meaning the economic value of the land, soils, habitats, and ecosystem services produced by fields, hedgerows, and managed agricultural landscapes across the UK.   Key points from the report Enclosed farmland covers around a third of the UK’s land area, making it one of the country’s most significant land uses.  

9/7/2026

Ofcom fines Virgin Media £28m for repeatedly preventing customers from cancelling contracts

Millions of calls were likely mishandled over nearly a three-year period, preventing or delaying customers from switching away to a better deal.   Investigation uncovers deliberate call-dropping tactics, excessive and unnecessary call transfers and putting customers repeatedly on hold for no reason.  

3/7/2026

10 Google Maps Mistakes Visitors Make When Exploring Sutherland

Sutherland is one of Europe's great wilderness landscapes.   From towering mountains and white-sand beaches to remote glens and picturesque fishing villages, it offers some of the finest scenery anywhere in Britain.  

3/7/2026

 
Britain Discovers Fertilizer: A Love Story in Three Acts

Before the Strait of Hormuz made the evening news, most of us thought potash was a new vegan spread and phosphates were something you rinsed off your dishes.  Now, half the country is debating Moroccan mineral reserves like it’s the World Cup.  

1/7/2026

The £100 Million Question: Why Higher Council Tax Doesn't Always Mean Better Local Services

The £100 Million Question: Why Higher Council Tax Doesn't Always Mean Better Local Services Every spring, millions of households receive a council tax bill that is a little higher than the year before.  At the same time, they often hear about cuts to local services, delayed road repairs, fewer leisure facilities or postponed building projects.  

1/7/2026

From Globalisation to Scarcity: The New Economic Era and What It Means for Britain

AI, energy, defence and commodities are colliding to reshape the global economy and the effects are already reaching households and businesses in the Highlands.   The world economy is shifting from efficiency to constraint and from cheap abundance to strategic competition For three decades the global economy rested on a simple assumption: that supply would adjust, prices would stabilise, and globalisation would smooth out shocks.  

29/6/2026

 
Independent John Murray Wins - East Sutherland and Edderton by-election result

The by-election to elect a councillor to represent Ward 4 East Sutherland and Edderton on The Highland Council has been won by John Murray, Independent who was one of 5 candidates who contested the vacancy.   Voters went to the poll (Thursday 25 June 2026) and the by-election count was held Friday morning in Dornoch Academy.  

24/6/2026

The End of the De Minimis Rule: What It Means for Temu, Shein — and the UK High Street

For years, ultra‑cheap online marketplaces like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress have reshaped the way people shop in the UK.   But now the Government is preparing a major change that could shift the balance back toward the high street: the abolition of the de minimis import threshold.  

24/6/2026

How a Super El Niño typically transmits into the UK economy, especially through food prices, supermarket inflation, and energy bills

This year a predicted Super El Niño affect may hit prices in the UK.  There is no certainty about how it will play out but better to know what may be affected.  

24/6/2026

Will A Super a Super El Niño event raise prices

A Super a Super El Niño event can significantly raise the risk of commodity price spikes and crop failures, but the impact depends on its strength, location, and how global supply chains respond.   Here’s how it works in practice.