The Scottish Government has revealed draft legislation allowing local authorities to charge up to double the full rate of Council Tax on second homes.
The draft regulations have been laid before parliament and aim to prioritise homes to live in.
If approved, the regulations would mean that local authorities could apply the Council Tax premium on homes that are not used as a main residence.
The change received majority support in a joint consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is inviting London boroughs to apply for a share of £5.3 million in new funding to support projects that reduce air pollution, which could include the installation of electric charge points or helping businesses introduce cleaner vehicles.

King Charles delivered his first King's Speech on Tuesday, outlining 21 laws that ministers intend to pass in the next year-long session of parliament.
Around a third of those laws have been carried over from the previous sessions or already published in some form.
The speech mentioned the already existing Renters (Reform) Bill which includes a ban on no-fault evictions.
The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill will mean that licences for oil and gas projects in the North Sea will be awarded annually.

The government has announced plans to roll out transport safety officers (TSOs) on public transport in four English areas in an attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses, trains and trams.
TSOs will patrol targeted routes and locations, working in co-ordination with local police forces and the British Transport Police. They will work to improve safety with an emphasis on engagement and education, however, they will also hold the power to issue fixed penalty notices in response to certain antisocial behaviour.

The government has announced regulations to be laid in parliament to require minimum service levels for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff in an attempt to "mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue if strikes are called".

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has issued a formal notice to South Cambridgeshire District Council after concerns were raised over its trial of a four-day working week.
A Best Value Notice has been issued, setting out "government concerns around the council and whether the trial offers value for money, including the removal of up to a fifth of the authority’s capacity".

£20 million has been awarded to swimming pools and leisure centres across England in response to increased operating costs.
The money has been awarded to over 100 local authorities.
The first £20 million of funding from the Swimming Pool Support Fund is going to to the swimming pools and leisure centres most at risk of closure or significant service reduction.
196 leisure centres and swimming pools in 103 local authorities will receive funding. It is hoped the money will support over 23 million swims a year.

The UK has launched the world's first AI Safety Institute, which will be tasked with testing the safety of emerging types of AI.
The Frontier AI Taskforce will now evolve to become the AI Safety Institute, with Ian Hogarth continuing as chair.

It has been revealed that details of more than 2,000 staff and councillors have been made public in a data breach at Southend-on-Sea City Council.
The data includes names, addresses and National Insurances Numbers.
The breach follows a Freedom of Information request from May.

Money from the Levelling Up Fund has been awarded to organisations and projects in Wales.
£17.7 million will be used by Neath Port Talbot Council to establish the Vale of Neath as a major visitor destination.
The money will be used to support development of the key heritage destinations in the Vale of Neath and deliver two major projects - The Gnoll Estate Country Park and The Waterfall Country Pontneddfechan.