Also in the news – 17 August 2026
- Search is on for next junior jarl
- More praise for journalist Jen Stout
- Lower Voe oil spill
- Child benefit deadline for children in education
APPLICATIONS to become the next junior jarl are now open for young people in S2 at school in Lerwick.
Current junior jarl Frankie Walterson will hand over the axe to the next jarl at the beginning of October.
Before then he and his squad will be carrying out a number of final duties, including attending the Global Intergenerational Congress in Glasgow.
Application forms to become the next junior jarl can be requested by e-mailing juhacommittee@gmail.com or by visiting this webpage.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday.
SHETLAND journalist Jen Stout has been made an honorary fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) for her work in bringing stories from the frontline of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In praising her work RSGS said that though her reporting from Ukraine Stout has highlighted a country defined not only by this conflict, but also by the resilience of its people, the richness of its history, and the depth of its culture.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022 Stout has covered the human angle of the conflict with her work being used by national and international news outlets.
She is also the author of the acclaimed book Night Train to Odesa, which covers the human cost of Russia’s war.
AN OIL spill in Lower Voe required attention from Shetland Islands Council’s roads department over the weekend.
The SIC said its roads team was made aware of the spill on Sunday, which stretched from the brig at the Burn of Kirkhouse up along the B9071 road to near the Loch of Gonfirth.
The spill was treated with sand spread by a gritter, and slippery road signs were placed in the area.
PARENTS of 16 to 19-year-olds have just two weeks left to tell the taxman whether their child will continue in education or training, or risk missing out on child benefit payments.
For families whose teenager is staying in non-advanced approved education or training, child benefit can continue, but only if parents act before 31 August, HMRC has said.
More than 372,000 parents have already extended their Child Benefit payment digitally ahead of the deadline.
Those who received a letter from HMRC can also scan the QR code to go straight to the digital service.
Payments will stop automatically for anyone who hasn’t responded by the deadline.
Parents can extend their claim using the HMRC app or on GOV.UK
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