Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the rest of the UK this morning.
Countryside cut off as rural 3G shut down
The countryside is being cut off by the mobile phone networks’ switch-off of 3G signal, leading rural organisations have warned.
The UK’s mobile networks have begun shutting down their 3G services – which allow people to use the internet – in preparation for the rollout of 5G.
But Ofcom data show that 7% of Britain, virtually all of which is in the countryside, including Aberdeenshire has no access to the 4G and 5G networks replacing 3G.
Countryside groups say people who live in rural areas are being left isolated and the switch-off will risk lives, as farmers are left without location services in an accident.
“It’s important action is taken to avoid a situation where rural businesses are cut off from 3G without reliable 4G coverage being in place,” said Rachel Hallos, the NFU vice president.
First-time buyers face toughest test for 70 years
First-time buyers are facing the toughest conditions in 70 years to buy a home, according to a report by the Building Societies Association (BSA).
Those buying a first home were increasingly reliant on having two high incomes or receiving parental support, it said.
Others have been priced out and "stuck" in renting from private landlords.
Building societies account for a quarter of mortgage lending, and their association suggests the market needs to change to allow more people to buy a home.
Mortgage rates are relatively high compared with the last decade, and the cost of renting has also soared.
Latest official figures showed private rental costs in the UK have risen by 9.2% in the last year.
Britishvolt site to become a data centre
The Britishvolt saga and any potential for a lithium-ion gigafactory at the Northumberland, UK site looks to be over after US private equity firm Blackstone acquired it to set up a data centre.
In a proposal submitted to Northumberland Council, the cabinet has been asked to amend the existing buy-back option on the Northumberland Energy Plant site and re-enter an agreement with Blackstone. The deal would result in a £110 million (US$137 million) “growth and investments endowment fund”.
Receivers for one of the Britishvolt companies, Bob Maxwell and Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor Group, told the Guardian that Blackstone planned to turn the site into “one of the largest data centre facilities in western Europe”.
Man charged after car 'driven at independence marchers'
A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged after a car appeared to be driven towards people on a Scottish independence march in Glasgow.
Video footage shows the car entering West Regent Street as the crowd walked down the road on Saturday afternoon.
Stewards and a police officer are seen stepping in front of the vehicle before it reversed back down a side street.
It is understood no-one was injured during the incident.
Asda bosses ‘knew IT changes would leave staff underpaid’
Bosses at Asda were warned in advance that IT changes could cause employees to be paid incorrectly, according to a report.
They were told of the problems underlying the migration, which has affected 30,000 employees at Britain’s third-biggest supermarket chain and led to some being underpaid by hundreds of pounds, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
The IT transition is ultimately being overseen by Mohsin Issa, the company’s co-owner, and has led the GMB union to call for him to apologise.
A spokeswoman for Asda said: “The first payroll run with a large-scale systems migration rarely passes without any issues in any industry. For Asda colleagues, we unreservedly apologise to those impacted and continue to work with colleague representatives, including our unions, to rectify any outstanding issues, as a top priority. For the April payroll, Asda can confirm that the number of payroll queries was significantly reduced.”