Orkney Islands

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Scottish Council and NHS Websites Went Dark Over a Software Flaw First Identified in 2024

A security weakness first identified by software developers in 2024 remained unresolved until October 2026, when a worldwide emergency forced Scottish councils, NHS health boards and other public bodies to suspend access to websites and online services. By the evening of 21 October, at

Aberdeenshire·Featured·Highland·Infrastructure·Orkney Islands·Shetland Islands

Starlink’s Treatment of Scotland: Good Enough to Pay, Not Important Enough to Locate

More than 15,000 Scottish customers have signed up to Starlink satellite broadband, including thousands in communities where conventional internet infrastructure is inadequate. Yet Starlink’s published IP geolocation records identify its UK address ranges with London, with no corresponding entry for Scotland. The discrepancy can

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

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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

North Ronaldsay Faces Winter on Diesel as Power Cable Replacement Slips to Spring 2027

North Ronaldsay will spend the coming winter dependent on temporary diesel generation after replacement of its

Community·Orkney Islands

Orkney Dialect Takes Centre Stage at Kirbuster Farm Museum

Tom Rendall and Neil Leask will explore farming words, weather, poetry and Norse-rooted place names during a free event at one of

by David McDonald

23 July 2026

Community·Featured·Orkney Islands

Norman Rendall Retires After 20 Years at Orkney Council Headquarters

The senior caretaker has been thanked for two decades of work keeping the council’s School Place offices running behind the scenes. Senior

by David McDonald

23 July 2026

Featured·Infrastructure·Orkney Islands·Scottish News

Drilling Milestone Brings Orkney’s First Transmission Link Closer to Shore

Horizontal drilling beneath the Caithness coast has been completed at Dounreay, preparing the mainland landing point for a 53-kilometre subsea electricity cable

by David McDonald

14 July 2026

Featured·Na h-Eileanan Siar·Orkney Islands·Scottish News·Shetland Islands·Transport

Island Livestock Resilience Cannot Stop at the Farm Gate

On Islay, farm resilience is a daily concern. It is the feed that has to be secured before weather or ferry disruption

by David McDonald

9 July 2026

68705824 landscape wth windmills in scotland

Energy·Featured·Orkney Islands·Policy and Government·Scottish News

Scotland Was Warned. The Grid Bill Is Now Arriving.

Scotland’s electricity story is often told as a story of abundance. Wind in the North Sea. Hydro in the glens. Islands surrounded

by LM Bruce

9 June 2026

Featured·Highland·Infrastructure·Orkney Islands·Scottish News·Shetland Islands

Scotland’s Space and Defence Sites Face Fresh Scrutiny After US Israel Technology Proposal

A draft American defence provision would create a formal US Israel defence technology cooperation initiative covering drones, missile defence, cyber, artificial intelligence,

by David McDonald

1 June 2026

78380114 sad woman looking at her colleague

Community·Highland·Orkney Islands·Scottish News·Shetland Islands

When Abuse Is Not a Bruise: Older Women, Rural Scotland and the Law That Changed

Scotland’s domestic abuse law now recognises coercive control, psychological abuse and patterns of behaviour that may leave no visible injury. But older

by Andrew Robertson

31 May 2026