Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Businessman has buyer’s remorse over £40,000 bid for John Swinney
A dinner guest who bid £40,000 at a celebrity auction to hire John Swinney to join him at work has withdrawn his offer after waking up “horrified” at what he had done.
The first minister was available to the highest bidder as one of a series of luxury prizes at the British Business Awards in Edinburgh. Would-be winners were promised the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” of having Swinney as an “employee for the morning”. They were told the SNP leader could do anything from “make the coffee” to “delivering a speech”.
But one attendee got carried away on the night and took part in the bidding despite not having the funds to pay for the prize.
Read the full story here.
Sri Lankan restaurant plans APPROVED by council
Plans to convert a former gaming cafe on Aberdeen’s John Street into a new Sri Lankan restaurant have been approved.
The proposals emerged at the start of the year, showing how the space could have room for 65 diners.
It will be run by Amothen Kandasamy and design drawings indicate the new diner will be called Ceylon Vibes.
Read more in the P&J.
US says 'deal' reached with China after trade talks
Both China and the United States have said that they've made progress at trade talks between the two countries in Switzerland.
The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the discussions as "productive and constructive," while China's Vice Premier He Lifeng said the talks were "in-depth" and "candid".
The White House called it a "trade deal" but gave no further details. A joint statement with full details is expected on Monday.
Click here to read more.
Kim Kardashian brings her $4billion Skims empire to London
Skims, Kim Kardashian’s $4billion shapewear and swimwear label, is to open its first store in Britain on London’s Regent Street.
The brand, co-founded by the billionaire celebrity in 2019, will take over the former Ted Baker store at 245-247 Regent Street in summer next year. The site has been empty since last August after the closure of all of Ted Baker’s stores in the UK following the company’s collapse.
Skims, which counts Selfridges and Harrods among its UK stockists, has signed a ten-year lease for the store with The Crown Estate, demonstrating its belief in bricks-and-mortar shopping in Britain.
Read the full story in The Times.
Kwik Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer dies aged 84
The founder of the Kwik Fit garage chain, Sir Tom Farmer, has died at the age of 84.
The Edinburgh-born businessman died peacefully at his home in the city on Friday, his family said.
He built the company into the world's biggest independent tyre and automotive chain, selling it to Ford for £1billion in 1999.