Editorial Team

Modern Scot focuses on clear, factual reporting and analysis of Scotland’s civic, cultural, economic and environmental life.

The Renfrew Bridge geograph.org.uk 8060579

Community·Featured

Renfrew Bridge Closes for Months After Storm Floods Electrical Systems

Renfrew Bridge is to remain closed for months after Storm Boelo caused serious water damage to the electrical systems that operate the crossing, less than 18 months after it opened. The closure was announced from 8pm on Wednesday 28 October, removing the direct crossing

Spin The Globe

Iran Threatens Gulf Internet Cables If Its Infrastructure Is Attacked – INCLUDES VIDEO

Iranian officials have threatened to target undersea internet cables in the Gulf if the country’s infrastructure comes under attack, extending their warnings to the communications networks serving neighbouring states. A video attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards depicts a hypothetical collapse of banking and communications

101064324 worried woman on a sofa checking personal computer

Private Firms Can Access Personal Data Supplied by Scottish Public Bodies, New Fraud Code Confirms

Council-tax, payroll and electoral records feed a fraud-checking system involving councils, NHS organisations, colleges and government

Growing Up in Edinburgh Before the Internet: A New Memoir

A new memoir is bringing the streets, families and everyday experiences of west Edinburgh back into

The Scottish Business Making Money From Unwanted Laboratory Equipment

A business operating from the south of Scotland is building an expanding commercial operation around something

Scottish Healthcare

Scotland’s Cancer Campaign Reaches 1.2 Million as New Figures Reveal Gaps in Women Seeking Medical Advice

Only 57% of women in a Scottish Government cancer-awareness survey said they were very likely to contact their GP practice if they

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

77725612 pretty young woman goiing through a computerized axial tomography cat scan medical testexamination in a modern hospital color toned image shallow dof

Scottish Healthcare

Scotland Faces 16% More Illness by 2040

Scotland could experience a 16% increase in the annual burden of disease by 2040, even as its population begins to decline, according

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

79159226 harbour of kyleakin castle moil isle of skye scotland

Environment·Featured

Scotland Plans Fishing Restrictions Across 166 Marine Areas

Scotland is considering new restrictions on commercial fishing across 166 marine sites and proposed management areas, with the Scottish Government’s own economic

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

Environment·Featured

Nearly Half of Scotland’s Flowering Plant Species Are Declining

Nearly half of Scotland’s flowering plant species have declined in distribution over the past 50 years, prompting the launch of a national

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

Featured·Infrastructure

Did Automated Shutoffs Make Scotland’s Power Crisis Worse?

More than 22,000 homes and businesses in northern Scotland remained without electricity on Monday morning, 26 October, after Storm Boelo swept across

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Pentagon Orders 90-Day Survival Planning for Major U.S. Military Bases

UNITED STATES — 26 October 2026. The Pentagon is preparing America’s major military installations to operate for at least 90 days without

by Editorial Team

26 October 2026

Visual accompanying “54,000 Scottish Properties Still Without Electricity and Repairs Could Take Until Wednesday”

Energy·Featured

Storm Boelo: Around 45,000 Scottish Properties Still Without Power

Approximately 45,000 Scottish electricity customers were still without power according to the latest available network operator reports on Sunday evening, 25 October

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Spain Warns of Jihadist Calls for Attacks During Demonstrations in Four European Countries — But Were France and Italy Notified?

Spanish security officials detected online calls for jihadist attacks against police officers and demonstrators in four European countries on 23 October 2026,

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Oil Spill Forces Beach Closures Across Three United Arab Emirates

An offshore tanker oil spill in the United Arab Emirates has prompted beach closures across three emirates as authorities work to contain

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

Spin The Globe

US Reopens Russian Fuel Trade as Three Diesel Tankers Head Across the Atlantic

Three tankers carrying Russian diesel are heading towards North America after the United States authorised renewed imports of Russian-origin fuel, marking a

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

An artist's impression of a future biological data centre, in which living neural cultures are maintained inside controlled chambers and connected to electronic computing systems

Energy

Scottish Scientists Connected Living Brain Cells to Computer Chips in 2009

Scientists in Scotland were cultivating living nerve cells on electronic interfaces and recording their electrical signals in 2009, nearly two decades before

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

The oil tanker MYRA, formerly Summit Europe, photographed in January 2008. The vessel transmitted a reported distress alert west of Scotland during Storm Boelo on 24 October 2026

Community

Sanctioned Russian-Linked Oil Tanker Sparks Emergency Alert in Storm West of Scotland

EDITORIAL NOTE — 25 October 2026: HM Coastguard has confirmed that an RAF aircraft established contact with the 21 crew members aboard

by Editorial Team

25 October 2026

72577298 a man in the rain and storm a very windy day by the sea

Community·Featured

UK Prepares for Emergency: What Could Go Wrong in Scotland, and Where?

The UK Government’s advice to keep three days of food and water at home, together with an emergency bag ready for evacuation,

by Editorial Team

24 October 2026

Spin The Globe

France Deploys 70,000 Police as Nationwide Protests Approach; Louvre and Major Museums to Close

France will deploy approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country on Saturday as authorities prepare for another major day of

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

South Korea Asks North Korea for Military Talks as Dispute Grows Over Border Location

South Korea has formally proposed military talks with North Korea to establish exactly where their land border lies and reduce the growing

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Black Sea Drone Strike Sinks Cargo Ship Off Romania; One Dead, Three Missing

A cargo ship has sunk in the Black Sea after being struck by a drone near Romania, killing at least one sailor

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

New Zealand’s Military Chief Resigns Over Undisclosed Relationship

New Zealand’s Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Tony Davies, has resigned after disclosing what he described as an inappropriate relationship dating

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Washington Has Received No Response From North Korea on Proposed Trump–Kim Talks

A renewed summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un remains unscheduled, with Washington having received no

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Four Palestinians Reported Killed in Separate Israeli Strikes and Gunfire in Gaza

At least four Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli strikes and gunfire across Gaza on Thursday, according to health officials in the

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Egypt Weighs Military Support for Saudi Arabia as Yemen Conflict Escalates

Egypt is considering authorising military support for Saudi Arabia as fighting involving Yemen’s Houthi movement places new pressure on the kingdom and

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Powerful El Niño Brings Flooding, Deaths and Coastal Damage Across Latin America

An intensifying El Niño is contributing to severe weather across Latin America, with flooding, coastal erosion, mudslides and destructive storms reported from

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Millions of Cyberattack Attempts Follow Discovery of Critical PHP Security Flaws

Governments and companies around the world are rushing to secure internet systems after the disclosure of two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, one

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Nigeria Confirms First Ebola Case in About a Decade

Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Abuja, marking the country’s first Ebola infection in approximately a

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

France Reports World’s First Known Human Case of Shamonda Virus

French authorities have reported the first documented human infection with Shamonda virus, a virus previously associated primarily with livestock. The infection was

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Taiwan Shuts Down as Powerful Typhoon Champi Approaches

Much of Taiwan has shut down as Typhoon Champi brings powerful winds, torrential rain and widespread transport disruption to the island. At

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Spin The Globe

Magnitude 7 Earthquake Strikes Tibet: At Least 16 Dead, 65 Injured

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake has struck northern Tibet, killing at least 16 people and injuring 65, according to local authorities. The

by Editorial Team

23 October 2026

Scottish Websites We Love

Hebridean Connections

A surname, a croft number or the name of a fishing boat can all open a route into Hebridean Connections. This website

by Editorial Team

22 October 2026

78017756 air conditioner and heat pump outdoor unit

Energy

Scotland’s Certified Heat-Pump Retrofits Fell 29% in First Half of 2026

Government figures show a sharper fall than across the UK, while Scotland’s grant and loan programme reports increased completions over a different

by Editorial Team

21 October 2026

Community·Featured

ScotWire Beta Version 2: Scotland’s Public Service Updates, Closer To Hand

Built by volunteers, our free dashboard brings selected official updates and useful service links together for people who live in Scotland and

by Editorial Team

20 October 2026

An LNER Azuma passes through Glenrothes with Thornton station on 13 October 2026, photographed from the Main Street bridge scheduled for replacement. Photograph: Bill Roberton /

Transport

Thornton Faces Five-Month Bridge Closure as Bus Routes Divert from Monday

Residents of Thornton in Fife face months of changed journeys from Monday, 19 October, when Main Street closes completely to vehicles for

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

KirlDYMGrVK9rlmQ2LOcvjhXhYEaDzvUcJWfJcgmgOL0okAwVtHrCYMSTWk8iOlFX0KX3a5qlH2CrHzs5sopzSCjmBTTi2QcDam2HR1eM1qmPlAUKFd4xGdi9sRdlJgQhRUGcqkfqYkacbS4Q2tQ7D

Energy·Featured

Four Giant Tidal Turbines Planned for Orkney Could Generate Electricity Equivalent to 85% of Island Households

Four enormous floating tidal turbines could soon operate together in the powerful currents surrounding Orkney, generating enough electricity to meet the equivalent

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

A drone flies towards an offshore wind farm monitored by an Airspection engineer

Economy·Featured

Glasgow Drone Firm Flies 14km Round Trip to Offshore Wind Farm

A Glasgow aviation technology company has completed a series of drone flights from the coastline to an operational offshore wind farm and

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

Transport

From One Minibus to Public Ownership: D&E Coaches Takes Over Stagecoach’s Caithness Operations

A Highland coach company that began nearly 30 years ago with a single minibus is preparing to take over Stagecoach’s bus operations

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

Environment

Scottish Water Is Rebuilding the Landscape Around Scotland’s Drinking Water Reservoirs

Excavators have been working across the hills surrounding some of Scotland’s most important drinking water reservoirs, filling old drainage channels, reshaping damaged

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

Environment

58 Fish Rescued from Airdrie Stream as £8.6 Million Sewer Works Get Underway

Fifty-eight fish were rescued from a stream in Airdrie and moved to safety before construction began on part of an £8.6 million

by Editorial Team

15 October 2026

Community·Orkney Islands

Scotland’s Neighbours Are Still Trusted, but Fewer People Are Meeting Each Other

People across Scotland continue to express considerable trust in their neighbours, but the proportion meeting socially at least once a week has

by Editorial Team

14 October 2026

LDgPXvwVCA9Z9NtlE9wqps8L4XX2qPTuw3kEPyj4AO3bzv4Gkkx3fpZzW9rMmh3Vx gi

Community·Featured·Orkney Islands

Rats Force Historic Stromness Town Hall to Close, With Reopening Delayed Until January

A rat infestation has forced the closure of one of Orkney’s historic public buildings, with damaged pipework, suspected damage inside walls and

by Editorial Team

14 October 2026

81772732 person looking at computer screen

Economy

More Than 300,000 Scottish Premises Have No Gigabit Broadband and No Commercial Rollout Expected

More than 300,000 homes and business premises across Scotland have no existing gigabit-capable broadband infrastructure and no qualifying commercial deployment expected within

by Editorial Team

14 October 2026