Scottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 18 December, 2012 - Business - Scotsman.com Plans to close 11 sheriff courts throughout Scotland have been criticised for failing to take account of their impact on local traders, with business leaders warning that the move is at odds with Scottish Government plans to regenerate town centres (Scotsman). Profit warning rocks Aggreko The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and a lack of major events to replace income from the Olympics - along with weaker growth in emerging markets - are among the factors expected to hit 2013"s figures (Scotsman) Dana gets go-ahead for $1.6bn North Sea project Dana Petroleum has been given the green light to press ahead with a $1.6 billion (£988 million) project to develop two oil fields in the North Sea. The Aberdeen-based firm said the Department of Energy and Climate Change has approved the Western Isles project, which will develop two fields called Harris and Barra in the northern North Sea, about 100 miles east of the Shetlands and 7.5 miles west of the Tern field (Scotsman) Talisman looks forward to exciting future in North Sea Talisman Energy said yesterday it was looking forward to an exciting future in the North Sea after completing the £956million sale of nearly half its UK assets. Talisman said the deal with Chinese oil firm Sinopec had been approved by both the European Union and the Chinese government and had now been finalised (P&J). Norbert Dentressangle unveils new Eurocentral site for luxury packing LOGISTICS and freight firm Norbert Dentressangle has invested an undisclosed sum in a clean room for white glove-packing activities for luxury items in Scotland. The 6500 square feet facility at Eurocentral opened recently and was purpose-designed for premium products that need careful handling, such as high-end whisky (Herald). Glasgow-based technology outfit M-Squared Lasers and researchers at Dundee University's photonics and nanoscience group will look at how findings from the university's studies can make lasers more efficient (Scotsman).