Axel Piper

Scotland’s local authorities are in the red again — this time by £647 million — as they scramble to balance budgets with a cocktail of cuts, tax hikes, and dipping into dwindling reserves. It’s a harsh dose of financial reality, and despite Holyrood boosting its support, watchdogs say the money just isn’t enough. Services are already shrinking. Expectations? Still sky-high. Taxpayers Squeezed Harder, Services Delivered Less For the first time since the freeze was lifted, all 32 councils across Scotland raised council tax — and they didn’t hold back. The average jump? 9.6%. But in Falkirk, that spike hit a…

A major contract with Scottish Power puts Hyosung Heavy Industries at the heart of Scotland’s green energy future, delivering massive 400 kV transformers to transmit wind power across the country. South Korea’s Hyosung Group just added another notch to its growing European portfolio. Its energy arm, Hyosung Heavy Industries, has inked a $60.8 million agreement to supply ultra-high voltage transformers to Scotland—marking yet another step in the UK's transition to a cleaner grid. High Voltage Transformers to Carry Wind Power from Coast to City It’s not just a contract—it’s a strategic placement. Under the deal, Hyosung will deliver 400 kilovolt…

A wave of grief has swept through East Kilbride and Ayrshire after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Kayden Moy at Irvine Beach, one of Scotland’s busiest coastal spots during the recent warm weather. The tragedy has left a family heartbroken, a school community stunned, and an entire town asking how a sunny day by the sea turned so dark. Police confirmed that Kayden was involved in a disturbance among a large group of teenagers shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries the following day. A 17-year-old male has since been arrested…

The UK government’s latest post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union—touted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as a “win-win”—has triggered a furious backlash from Scotland’s fishing industry, which accuses Westminster of trading away the future of coastal communities in exchange for smoother EU access for exporters. Announced at the first formal UK-EU summit under Starmer’s leadership, the 12-year deal cements access for European vessels to UK waters until 2038. In return, Britain will benefit from reduced food export checks and a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) framework that ministers say will ease cross-border trade friction. Fury from Scottish Fishing…

Scotland’s education system faces fresh scrutiny as discussions turn to Ireland’s unique approach: an exam-free Transition Year. This year-long break from high-stakes testing offers Irish students space to explore and grow before their final two years of intense study. Could Scotland take a leaf out of Ireland’s book and reshape its own senior phase? A Pause Before the Pressure Cooker Ireland’s Transition Year sits snugly between the Junior Cycle and the Senior Cycle. It’s a curious beast — a full school year without the usual exams or formal assessments that typically dominate secondary education. Instead, students engage in a variety…

From peaceful lambs in Achmelvich to a fiery beacon on Ballantrae beach, this week’s photo roundup captures the soul of Scotland in spring. Each image tells a story—of quiet beauty, of memory, of wild coastline and bluebell-covered woods. A Highland Afternoon, Framed in Wool Sometimes it's the simple scenes that hit the hardest. Peter Dawson’s photo of sheep basking under a blue sky in Achmelvich is one of those moments. Two lambs, a ewe, and nothing but grass, sun, and silence. It’s Highlands peace, bottled and framed. You can almost hear the wind rustle through the grass, can’t you? The…

Scotland’s capital is about to get a lot closer to Iceland. Starting September 2025, Icelandair will launch a new direct route connecting Edinburgh to Reykjavik, promising smoother transatlantic travel, rich tourism potential, and business opportunities for both nations. Direct Flights to Reykjavik: A Big Win for Edinburgh Airport Icelandair’s announcement couldn’t have come at a better time for Edinburgh Airport, which continues to build its reputation as a growing international hub. The new route, operating from September through April, will see up to four direct flights per week between Edinburgh and Reykjavik. The flights will be serviced by Icelandair’s Boeing…

In a major shift for Scottish law and ethics, the Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults, marking a significant step in a long-running national debate. MSPs backed the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at stage one by 70 votes to 56—a clear, though not overwhelming, majority. The vote confirms support for the principle of the bill, though further scrutiny and potential amendments will follow at stages two and three. The bill, introduced by Liam McArthur, Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney, would allow adults with a terminal diagnosis, who are…

More than 16,000 households in Scotland remain homeless, with over 10,000 children stuck in temporary accommodation. Despite the government’s declaration of a housing emergency a year ago, new data shows the problem is worsening — and families like Laura’s are feeling the squeeze more than ever. Living on Borrowed Time: Laura’s Story of Uncertainty Laura’s story hits close to home for many. Evicted from her private rental in 2021, she and her four kids have been stuck in temporary flats ever since. Her family’s home, once in South Queensferry, has turned into a revolving door of uncertainty. “Calling it a…

Swedish wave energy firm CorPower Ocean has secured a berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland, aiming to roll out a 5-megawatt wave energy array by 2029. The project could become the largest wave energy installation in the UK. Scotland’s Waters to Host UK’s Largest Wave Energy Array CorPower Ocean’s new venture at EMEC marks a significant step for wave energy in the UK. The plan is to install 14 wave energy converters (WECs) at EMEC’s Billia Croo grid-connected test site off Orkney. These devices will operate for approximately 15 years, tapping into the power of…