Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
New park at Aberdeen Beach ‘to host 11,000-person events’ as aerial images reveal major progress
A new Aberdeen Beach events park will be able to host crowds of 11,000 people for seaside extravaganza.
Fresh council reports have offered an insight into progress on the multi-million-pound regeneration scheme at the city seafront.
And they hint at the type of bash that could soon be taking place to entertain crowds of thousands at the reimagined spot next to the sands.
Check out the latest images in The P&J here.
Stock markets rally on US-Iran peace hopes as oil hovers above $100
Global equity markets rallied, touching fresh highs, but oil remained above $100 a barrel as investors pinned their hopes on the United States and Iran nearing a deal to allow ships to deliver crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
At one point during the trading day in Europe, Brent crude was down 10 per cent at $98.32 a barrel, but on Wednesday night the global benchmark was trading at $101.27 — 7.8 per cent lower and its lowest settle value since April 21. It is currently trading at $102 a barrel.
Equity investors latched on to the potentially encouraging signals over reopening the strait despite the fact that Tehran downplayed the likelihood of it agreeing to the US proposals in their current form. The Iranian Tasnim news agency quoted an official close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as saying that there were “unacceptable provisions”.
Get the full story in The Times.
Up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores to close
Up to 150 of the 480 High Street stores formerly part of the WHSmith business will be closed in a restructuring plan launched by the owner of the chain.
The WHSmith High Street bookshops were purchased by Modella Capital last year, and the stores were then rebranded under the name TGJones.
Hundreds of jobs are at risk through the restructure, but Modella Capital told the BBC the plan was an "essential part" of the company's turnaround plan.
Read more here.
Wetherspoon boss slams Ryanair proposal to limit airport drinking
Strict policing of drinking alcohol at airports would be a “Big Brother” approach that could lead to passengers being breathalysed, the boss of JD Wetherspoon has said.
The pub chain, which has a strong presence at UK airports, said it had “never been suggested” that its customers had caused issues on flights and claimed the majority of its sales was not from alcohol.
Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair chief executive, has called for airports to ban the early-morning pint and impose a two-drink limit as part of measures to tackle bad behaviour by passengers.
Get the full story in The Times.
Hedge fund founder hits back at Mamdani's 'creepy' wealth tax video
A war of words has erupted between Zohran Mamdani and billionaire Ken Griffin over the New York mayor's vow to "tax the rich".
The founder and chief executive of hedge fund Citadel, who also owns America's most expensive apartment, said Mamdani was "making it really clear: New York doesn't welcome success".
Griffin said he would "double down" focusing on Miami to grow his business interests rather than Manhattan.
The full BBC article is available here.
'We had people come just to see it': Amazon delivers its first UK parcels by drone
Amazon has become the first retailer in the UK to start a drone delivery service with a limited launch in Darlington, County Durham.
Packages weighing less than 5lb (2.2kg) and containing everyday items such as beauty products, batteries and cables are now being delivered within a 7.5 mile (12km) radius of Amazon's fulfilment centre.
The tech giant is convinced there is demand for ultra-fast deliveries and hopes to slowly expand the service.