News

Violent prisoners at an English jail are being allowed to care for and pet a hamster as part of efforts to help them manage their behaviour. The hamster, named Robinson, was introduced to HMP Northumberland, a 1,348-capacity Category C men’s prison, as part of a pet-care area on one wing.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen have played a significant role in the development of a landmark international treaty designed to better protect the world's oceans, following the UK's formal ratification of the agreement last month.  The UK has joined more than 90 countries in ratify

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) hopes changes to its IPO rules will make listing on the stock market a more appealing prospect for companies. The changes, which are the culmination of a lengthy consultation process, are designed to allow the UK listings market to compete more effectively with

The average house price in Scotland has increased 3.6 per cent in the last 12 months, with the average price rising to £223,246, according to the latest Lloyds House Price Index. The housing market north of the Border has performed well in comparison to most of the rest of the UK, with annual

A domestic abuser who murdered his partner in Aberdeen has been jailed for life with a punishment part of 22 years. Joseph Greer killed Samantha Lee at his home in the city following a prolonged and violent assault.

It is with deep sadness that Digby Brown has shared the news of the death of partner Catherine Hart, head of the firm’s professional support department, following a short illness. Ms Hart graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1988 and completed her diploma there before taking on a traine

Two US senators from Oregon have urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to ban prediction markets from accepting bets on destructive wildfires, warning they could encourage arson and allow investors to profit from natural disasters. The call follows reports that prediction platform Po

Shepherd & Wedderburn has secured a 5,000 sq ft suite on the third floor of The Capitol, 431 Union Street, Aberdeen. The letting coincides with a new programme of improvement works launched by the building’s new owners, DS properties, aimed at enhancing both the building iconic street pres

Despite another record month of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) revenue there are signs that this property tax may have peaked according to property firm DJ Alexander. The firm said that although the latest LBTT statistics revealed another record high figure of £758.1m in the 12 mont

Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been ordered to pay $567m (£421m) to address harm caused to children by its platforms. A US judge in New Mexico ordered that $420m (£312m) of the sum be spent on treatment services for young people, with the remainder allocated to

Laws intended to ensure the fair sharing of finances following divorce are not being correctly applied, new research warns. A landmark judgment by the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court) is failing to help wives during divorce who have made compromises and taken on more caring responsibilities du

Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace has promoted four members of its team to senior associate: Andrew Bruce, Ruth Lussier, Kirsty Dunning and Aaron Doran. Together, they bring decades of experience, with each promotion recognising not only their legal expertise but also the trusted relationships th

Stuart Millar has joined Macleans in Edinburgh, re-uniting with Lindsay Maclean, with whom he worked for 10 years at Gibson Kerr.  Mr Millar's appointment to the firm as legal director coincides with Macleans' two-year anniversary.

Several Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat-run councils have said they will resist new official guidance on single-sex spaces that came into force this week, prompting legal action from campaigners seeking to enforce compliance, The Times reports. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) up

A Brazilian state legislature has found itself playing host to an unlikely group of visitors, with capybaras repeatedly wandering into voting sessions. The famously calm rodents entered the Mato Grosso state legislature building in Cuiabá last week, surprising lawmakers who were preparing for