Highland city, capital of The Highland Council since 2000
The National Trust says a sapling from the Sycamore Gap tree, planted in Wray Castle, Cumbria, has been stolen between 9 and 16 June. The theft follows the 2023 felling of the original iconic tree and the sentencing of two men. Police are investigating and appeal for information. The sapling was part of a UK-wide restoration effort.
The government is expanding use of former military sites to house asylum seekers, planning to accommodate about 3,750 people across Bicester, Barnham and Linton-on-Ouse, with extensions at Crowborough and Wethersfield. Local opposition persists in several communities as the plan unfolds.
Cameron Ross has been jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of rapes and a long pattern of abuse against women between 2012 and 2022. He resigned from Police Scotland and is on the sex offenders register; investigations into his misconduct identified failings by the force.
Riverside County is working to rehome around 480 ducks from a sanctuary accused of neglect, while authorities on Kangaroo Island are continuing efforts to control destructive corellas. Both cases highlight ongoing wildlife management challenges and community concerns today.
A parliamentary-style essay argues that AI offers productivity gains but risks widening inequality unless Scotland aligns strategy across economy, education, and governance. Leaders are urged to act quickly to shape a future where Scots build their own intelligence instead of becoming simply customers of global AI.
A North Coast 500 economic impact study shows substantial local benefits, with 336 million to 360 million in economic activity for Highland communities since 2015, while residents report environmental damage, litter and congestion along the route. Local leaders urge action to address negative impacts without derailing the route’s positives.
Police Scotland has charged a 36-year-old man after five men were wounded in a sequence of attacks across west and north Edinburgh on 19 June. Videos show a bare-chested man carrying a long weapon and battering a restaurant door; three victims required hospital treatment. Counter-terrorism officers are supporting the inquiry and prosecutors have received a report.