Orkney Presbytery of the Church of Scotland has sent over £6,100 to support partnership projects in Malawi, following the success of it’s Christmas Gift Project.

This gave the opportunity to buy a gift certificate for any amount as a present for someone, with the funds donated directly to the Malawi projects.

Orkney Presbytery's Partnership Convener, Iain MacDonald, said: “The generosity of Orkney’s people shouldn’t take us by surprise any longer, but this is a truly superb effort. Rather than receiving yet another pair of socks or a third soap-on-a-rope, this kind of scheme means that people receive a gift with real meaning and with life changing possibilities.”

An incident occurred between two men in the Grainpark area of Kirkwall between 2am and 3am on Wednesday morning.

Police enquiries have established that three people walked along the Ayre Road, in the direction of the Peerie Sea at this time.

The police request that anyone with information as to the identity of these three people contact them on 872241.

Farmers in Orkney are being invited to a meeting to discuss the proposals contained within the Brian Pack independent inquiry into the delivery of agricultural support in Scotland.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, will be held in the Albert Hotel, Kirkwall, on Wednesday, February 10, at 7.30pm.

The initial findings of the inquiry have been welcomed by NFU Scotland as an “excellent start point for stimulating debate”.

The initial report, produced by leading industry expert Brian Pack and his inquiry team, was published on Thursday, January 21.

The inquiry team will be attending a number of public meetings around the country in the coming weeks to discuss its proposals and a final report is expected to be presented to the Scottish Government in late spring.

Orkney Islands Council has received the Carbon Trust Standard for reducing its carbon emissions by six per cent over the last three years.

The authority has reduced emissions from 19,100 tonnes in 2006-2007, to 17,860 tonnes in 2008-2009.

Energy saving measures adopted by the council include ground source heat pumps installed at the Stromness Swimming Centre in 2009, and air source heat pumps at the Pickaquoy Centre campsite.

The council has also installed wind turbines at primary schools in North Walls, Flotta, Firth and Sanday, which are feeding into the schools’ electricity supplies, and Shapinsay Primary School had photovoltaic panels installed.

Orkney businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are to be given the opportunity to receive £1,000 to take on a new apprentice.

The Modern Apprenticeships Grant scheme, managed by national skills body, Skills Development Scotland, is aimed at businesses across a range of sectors, enabling them to recruit Modern Apprentices from both the 16-19 and 20 plus age groups.

Grants of £1,000 per apprentice are available until March 26. Modern Apprenticeships training equips employees with the skills and qualifications they need to build their career.

To find out more about the new scheme, go to www.modernapprenticeships.com, or call Skills Development Scotland on 08081 008095.