The Islands Accommodation Unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital has reopened following a £130,000 refurbishment partly funded by donations from Shetland and Orkney.

A rock star with one of the world’s biggest bands says he has been scammed for over £2,000 by somebody claiming to live in Cunningsburgh. Daniel Adair, the drummer with Canadian hard-rockers Nickelback, is furious about being ripped off over the internet and this week he turned to The Shetland Times for help.

Shetland’s economy received a major boost today when a private IT firm announced plans for a £12 million data centre in Lerwick, representing the first trickle of what the council is hoping will turn into a flood of interest from such companies.

When Leslie Irvine takes part in the Shetland Round Britain and Ireland Race this summer he will end up circumnavigating the country not once, but twice.

Two talented practitioners and experimental pioneers of jazz music appear in Shetland over the weekend of 15/16th May in concerts promoted by Shetland Arts and Shetland Jazz Club.

All five of the general election candid­ates for Orkney and Shetland are demanding major reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to give greater control over the direction of the industry to communities that depend on it.

Former Shetland Times reporter Paul Cowan has hit literary gold across the Atlantic with his book How the Scots Created Canada.

Long-serving Hay & Company Buildbase employee Sydney Hunter was recently flown down to Glas­gow, where he believed he was to receive some kind of presentation for racking up half a century with the company.

Shetland Wheelers cyclists Chris­tine McLean and Carlos Riise both won silver medals in the Scottish 10-mile time trial championship in Fort William at the weekend.

Delting Dolphins Calum MacColl and Felix Gifford outclassed all at the Buckie championship at the weekend, winning 18 gold medals between them.