Trump home plans for Menie move forward
Donald Trump's plans to build hundreds of homes near his Aberdeenshire golf course have taken a big step forward.
The former US president's lawyers have agreed a deal with Aberdeenshire Council on how much Trump International will have to pay to build as many as 500 houses and 50 holiday homes on the Menie Estate, near Balmedie.
The Press and Journal reports that, for the first 77 homes, £770k will be paid towards affordable housing in the Ellon area. That total will increase by £10k for each extra property added as the work goes on.
It's more than two years since councillors voted through the £150m proposals.
Detailed plans for the first 82 homes were approved at that time, with the principle of another 418 agreed as well.
A legal contract has now been agreed, setting out the 28 conditions Trump International must meet before spades can break ground.
It was signed on December 6 by Donald Trump Jr in Jupiter, Florida.
Energy 'surge pricing' on the way for UK
Energy "surge pricing" is to be introduced for millions of British households for the first time after three of Britain's largest suppliers threw their weight behind a revolutionary overhaul of the country's power market.
Scottish Power, EDF and Octopus Energy said that they support radical new tariffs under which customers will be charged more for using energy during peak periods, and less in quieter ones.
The Telegraph says the three businesses - which together have 11million customers, equal to around a third of British households - gave their backing to a plan in which smart meters will automatically send half-hourly updates to suppliers about household energy use.
This change paves the way for the widespread use of surge pricing, raising the possibility that families could pay higher electricity rates for watching television or putting on the washing machine during peak times such as the morning and evenings, as prices fluctuate throughout the day.
Sturgeon admits independent Scotland would have to fund own pensions
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of "tying herself in knots" after finally admitting that English taxpayers would not be responsible for funding the state pension in an independent Scotland.
The Telegraph says the SNP faced widespread ridicule last week after Ian Blackford, the party's Westminster leader, stated that "absolutely nothing" would change about the payment of the state pension following a Scottish separation.
In an effort to reassure OAPs, who overwhelmingly voted "no" in the 2014 referendum, he claimed "that commitment to continue to pay pensions rests with the UK Government".
He compared Scotland leaving the UK to a British expat living in a foreign country but continuing to claim the state pension. Kate Forbes, the SNP Finance Secretary, endorsed his view.
The SNP repeatedly doubled down on the claim over the past week, stating that Scots "would be entitled to the pension contributions they had made to the UK system".
Ms Sturgeon on Wednesday finally conceded that on "an ongoing basis it will be for the Scottish Government to fund Scottish pensions" if she succeeded in breaking up Britain.
However, the First Minister continued to argue that the state pension would be included in divorce negotiations with the UK Government over "historic assets and liabilities".
Donald Cameron, the Scottish Tories' Shadow Constitution Secretary, said: "Nicola Sturgeon is tying herself in knots over this issue".
Kwarteng defends oil and gas industry
The UK's Business and Energy Secretary has defended the role of the oil and gas industry in the transition to net zero.
Kwasi Kwarteng says the Government cannot simply turn its back on the sector and the 250,000 people in this country that rely upon it for work.
Energy Voice also reports that he also made the case for domestic supply, arguing that oil and gas produced in the North Sea is "much cleaner" than in other parts of the world.
While the industry has made progress on its commitment to transition, the environmental impact of burning oil and gas means some still regard it as the architect of climate change.
That has resulted in a steady rise in calls for Westminster to terminate North Sea production and prioritise green energy.
There are fears that doing so, however, would forego thousands of jobs and stifle the UK's efforts to create the technology needed for net zero.