State of Inverness bus services to be studied
Highland Council also runs a number of bus services in Inverness after taking over Highland-based company D&E Coaches in February.The local authority has introduced new services for Lochardil and the Crown-Kingsmills area.Councillors on the city of Inverness area committee agreed to a study being carried out.Highland Council said the research would explore:Key destinations and route directnessAccessibility and journey timesService frequency and reliabilityFare structures and information availabilityThe local authority said study would focus initially on the southern area of the city, but could be expanded city-wide. It said major employers, including NHS Highland, and council staff would be among those consulted.
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Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Judge orders Craig Burley to pay back £465,000 tax… and even has a dig at his World Cup nightmare
Former Scotland star Craig Burley has lost a legal battle with HMRC over a £465,000 unpaid tax bill. The ex-Celtic and Chelsea midfielder was told by the tax authorities he owed money related to his investments in a film production scheme. During the hearing, the judge reminded Burley about his World Cup nightmare. The Scotland player was sent off as Craig Brown's side were humiliated by Morocco, crashing out of the 1998 tournament in France after a 3-0 defeat. In his decision published last week, Judge Mark Baldwin said: 'Mr Burley used to be a professional footballer. '[His lawyer] Mr Cannon told us that he played for Scotland in the World Cup, although not how well Scotland fared.' The hearing was told he was sent demands totalling £465,967 for the tax years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. On the advice of financial advisers, Burley had transferred his interests in two film schemes into a limited liability partnership (LLP) of which he was a member. The 53-year-old, who now works as a pundit for US broadcaster ESPN, claimed the move meant he either owed no tax or the lower rate of tax on any profits from the schemes. However, HMRC disagreed and told the former midfielder he would have to pay the full amount. Burley challenged the tax closure notices issued to him at the First-Tier Tax Tribunal in London. Following a hearing, Judge Baldwin has now found in HMRC's favour and said Burley was still personally liable for tax from the film profits. Burley told the tribunal that around 2001 he was persuaded to invest in two film schemes, which were presented as having the effect of reducing his personal tax liability by making use of government incentives to invest in the film industry. He could not recall it being made clear to him that, if the films were successful, he would be obliged to pay tax on the proceeds, even though those proceeds were not paid to him but were instead applied in reducing associated bank loans. He was therefore faced with unexpected tax liabilities when the films returned profits. He said he and his accountant met with a tax adviser who suggested the interest he had in the film partnerships could be introduced to the LLP and those profits could be attributed to his limited company which would then bear tax at a lower rate. HMRC's legal team said it was 'unrealistic to analyse income within the partnerships as being used to discharge Mr Burley's personal liabilities without there being any form of income credit to him'. In his ruling, Judge Baldwin said: 'The security arrangements over the film leasing transactions had been entered into by the partnerships as a collective, and they continued wholly unaffected by the additional, personal arrangements between Mr Burley and the LLP. 'Mr Burley's share, through the partnerships, of the film leasing income continued to be applied by the partnerships in the same way as it had been before [and] was paid directly to Mr Burley's lenders and used by them to discharge his obligations to them. 'If the use of income in that way meant Mr Burley was entitled to the profits of the partnerships before he executed the assignment in favour of the LLP, it is hard to see why the same analysis did not obtain afterwards, since nothing changed so far as the receipt, use and application of those amounts were concerned. 'Mr Burley was entitled to the income because the income was being applied for his benefit... it is his income on which he is fully chargeable to income tax.' Burley, who is now based in the United States, was capped 46 times for Scotland.
North Wales Live
5 hours ago
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Reuters
5 hours ago
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Everyday Alerts and Public Behavior: Lessons from Taiwan's Instant Lottery Ritual
ALBUQUERQUE, NM, August 20, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- In Taiwan, checking the results of 539, opens new tab, the country's most popular official charity lottery, is more than a quick glance at numbers. It's part of a nationwide ritual that blends cultural tradition, social contribution, and the simple thrill of possibility. With more than 10,000 lottery shops across the island, buying a ticket is woven into daily life. For many, it is not only about the chance of winning a jackpot but also about contributing to social welfare programs funded by lottery revenues. In this way, a habit as ordinary as checking results becomes a small but consistent act that reflects deeper patterns in public behavior and trust in information systems. , opens new tabThe Appeal of Instant Information The Taiwanese lottery culture reflects a broader global trend: people's increasing reliance on immediate, accurate information. In the case of 539, the draw results are provided by legal agencies authorized by the government and delivered through digital platforms with speed and precision. The attraction lies in more than the possibility of winning, it is about instant certainty in an uncertain world. From stock market tickers to real-time sports scores, the human appetite for up-to-the-minute updates has reshaped how information is consumed. Just as lottery participants expect to know the winning numbers without delay, consumers now demand the same immediacy from news, weather alerts, and even health notifications. The speed of delivery is no longer a luxury, it's an expectation. , opens new tabA Cultural Routine with Broader Lessons Taiwan's daily lottery checks are, on the surface, a leisure activity. But they also demonstrate how repetitive, trusted touchpoints can become ingrained in public routines. This habit shows that when information is perceived as reliable, accurate, and accessible, it becomes part of the daily rhythm, often without conscious thought. Businesses and public institutions can learn from this. Whether it's a retailer sending real-time stock availability alerts or a city government pushing emergency weather updates, building consistent and dependable information channels can strengthen engagement and trust. , opens new tabPublic Trust and Information Sources One of the most significant aspects of the 539 lottery system is the level of trust placed in the results. This trust is rooted in two things: government oversight and transparency in how numbers are drawn and announced. The results are not just timely, they are verifiably correct, which encourages continued public participation. The same principle applies to other spheres. A notification system is only as effective as the confidence people have in its accuracy. Health agencies, for example, follow strict protocols when releasing updates on disease outbreaks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opens new tab provides real-time public health alerts, relying on credibility and consistency to ensure people act on the information provided. The lesson is clear: in the absence of trust, speed alone is meaningless. , opens new tabHow Instant Updates Influence Behavior Psychologists and sociologists have long noted that immediacy affects decision-making. The quicker the information, the more likely it is to prompt an immediate reaction, whether that's placing another lottery bet, stocking up on supplies ahead of a storm, or adjusting a business order based on new market data. In the case of 539, participants often adapt their buying strategies from one day to the next based on the latest draw. In a similar vein, investors may reallocate funds within hours based on market alerts, and commuters may reroute their journeys in response to live traffic updates. The underlying driver is the same: instant data triggers instant action. , opens new tabDigital Platforms and the Real-Time Mindset Over the past two decades, the move from print and broadcast to mobile alerts and web updates has redefined 'timely' information. Digital lottery platforms like are just one example of how public-facing services have embraced this shift. For governments, media outlets, and private companies, the challenge is maintaining the speed of delivery without sacrificing accuracy. Misinformation can travel as fast as official updates, so systems must be designed with verification processes that do not introduce significant delays. , opens new tabThe Social Dimension of Alerts The act of checking lottery results is not always solitary. In many communities, shop owners, family members, and friends share the moment together. This social aspect reinforces the behavior and, in turn, the platform delivering the information. In broader contexts, this dynamic is seen when neighbors discuss emergency alerts or when sports fans collectively react to live scores. The more an alert becomes a talking point, the more embedded it becomes in community culture. For organizations aiming to encourage public engagement, whether in public health, environmental monitoring, or civic participation, this community factor is critical. , opens new tabPotential Risks in the 'Always On' Model While instant updates can be empowering, they also bring challenges. Continuous notifications risk creating alert fatigue, where the volume of messages reduces the likelihood that people will act on them. In high-stakes areas like public safety, this can undermine the effectiveness of communication systems. With the 539 lottery, the stakes are low, missing a result simply means waiting for the next draw. But in critical services, careful filtering, prioritization, and user control are essential to prevent overload. , opens new tabCross-Sector Applications The instant-results approach seen in Taiwan's lottery system can inspire strategies across multiple sectors: In each case, the keys are accuracy, timeliness, and an easy-to-access delivery method, whether that's an app, SMS, or web portal. , opens new tabLooking Ahead: The Future of Instant Information As technology evolves, so too will expectations for immediacy. Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics may soon allow alerts not only to inform but to anticipate user needs. In the lottery context, that could mean trend-based notifications on number patterns; in healthcare, it could mean predicting outbreaks before they happen. Yet the foundation will remain the same: people must trust the source, understand the message, and be able to act on it quickly. Taiwan's 539 ritual, while simple, encapsulates this dynamic, showing how a small, daily habit can reflect larger truths about human behavior in the digital age. Media Contact PressWhiz Supportsupport@ ### SOURCE: PressWhiz Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
