A MAJOR Aberdeenshire shortbread brand has announced its acquisition of a neighbouring shortbread firm for an undisclosed sum. Source

CLAIM: “Why on earth are we exporting major Scottish products, whether that’s salmon or whisky or anything else, via Heathrow?” – Angus Robertson, SNP Government External Affairs Secretary, 30 January 2025 Source

JOHNNIE Walker and Guinness maker Diageo has warned that US President Donald Trump’s proposed US tariffs could deal a 200 million dollar (£161 million) blow to profits … Source

A major retailer has suddenly closed down its store on a busy Glasgow street … Source

Much has been made of the ever-shifting rightwards Labour party under Sir Keir Starmer, see the latest here (Blue Labour v Reform: The Pro-Worker, Anti-Woke Plan To Beat Farage). As if mesmerised, and bored, we ignore the Conservative party’s race to keep up with Reform UK. As Adam Bienkov notes: “Anyone wishing to know what […] Source

KEIR Starmer has been very vocal about the “nimbys” who do not want renewable energy projects, giant pylons, overhead lines, substations, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in their environment. Yet, with a bit of research and observation, it would appear Keir Starmer is the greatest nimby of them all. For all this junk being dumped in our countryside in the name of “net zero” comes at a price, and that price is the offshoring of our industry and therefore our carbon emissions. Source

Ross Douthat sits down with Steve Bannon to discuss the many right-wing factions vying for dominance in the Trump administration. He gives very little push-back on Bannon’s euphemistic ‘populist nationalism’ where he is given free-reign. His hot-take is that the tech oligarchs, the titans of capital, are ‘left wing’, is hilarious if it wasn’t so […] Source

CLAIM: The SNP are “to consider banning cats”. The Telegraph … Source

The theft of a motorcycle has seen police launch an appeal for information. …

A silent season at a distillery has led to staff redundancies being made. …

Fashion chain Quiz is on the brink of falling into administration, according to reports … Source

Three bands have been added to the line-up for a festival in Cooper Park. …

A JEWELLER is reviewing its policy after it told a customer it wouldn’t engrave “Free Palestine” on a charm for a bracelet because it could be “offensive” … Source

CONFIRMATION that a £40 million train manufacturing plant won’t be built at Longannet is “hugely disappointing”. Source