Here are the stories making the headlines in Scotland and across the UK today.
Ithaca Energy wrote to Humza Yousaf over ‘extremely disappointing’ Rosebank comments
Ithaca Energy wrote to First Minister Humza Yousaf over his “extremely disappointing” opposition to Rosebank, it has been reported.
The London-listed North Sea player wrote to Mr Yousaf on October 2, shortly after his announcement that Rosebank’s approval was the “wrong decision”.
According to the Daily Express, which has seen the letter, Ithaca called out Mr Yousaf for those comments, and his other remarks of “we don’t think the taps should be turned off tomorrow, but neither can the north-east have unlimited oil and gas extraction”.
The newspaper says the letter came from CEO Alan Bruce, who has since stepped down.
Read more in Energy Voice.
UK and US launch fresh airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen
The UK and the US have launched fresh airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Officials say the joint operation by British and American warplanes took out Houthi missile storage sites and launchers, in the second set of coordinated strikes against the Iran-backed militants since they began attacking international shipping in the Red Sea.
Monday night’s strikes were significantly smaller in scale than the first joint US-UK operation 10 days earlier, which hit as many as 60 different targets spanning the length and breadth of Houthi-controlled Yemen.
Despite those major strikes against the group earlier this month, ships have continued to be targeted along the vital Red Sea and Gulf of Aden trade routes. The Houthis initially said they were targeting vessels linked to Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians suffering in Gaza, and have since expanded their missile attacks to include British and American ships.
Government borrowing lower than expected in December
Government borrowing in December was lower than expected, helped by a steep drop in interest payments.
Borrowing - the difference between spending and tax income - was £7.8bn last month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The amount was far below forecasts with many economists and analysts expecting borrowing to be about £14bn.
Analysts said the lower figure could give the chancellor more "wiggle room" for tax cuts in the Budget.
Interest payments on government debt fell to £4bn last month, down by £14.1bn from December 2022.
Millions to be cut off from gas and electricity this winter as energy bill debt continues to rise
Millions will be cut off from gas and electricity services this winter, as new research from Citizens Advice details the extent to which households are affected by the inability to afford prepayment power top-ups.
The independent, state-funded advice service has said its advisers are helping more people than ever who cannot pay for energy. This winter is expected to be the busiest ever for people who cannot afford meter payments.
The number of people in energy bill debt has topped 5.3 million, according to its research. Being in debt means people are at risk of having a prepayment meter forcibly installed in their home, which they may not be able to afford to top up.
Such installation of meters has recommenced after a temporary pause following outrage when an undercover investigation by The Times revealed major energy companies were installing meters in the homes of vulnerable users.