British Open: Lexi Thompson to miss major to ‘recharge mental batteries’
World number five Lexi Thompson will miss the British Open next month so she can “recharge” her “mental batteries”. In a social media post, the 23-year-old American said the past 18 months have taken a “tremendous toll”. In March, Thompson said she still had nightmares about the four-stroke penalty which cost her victory at the […]
Quiz: Can you name the 2018 Best Fifa Football awards shortlists?
The Best Fifa Football Awards ceremony is on Monday, but can you remember who made the shortlists for the player awards last year? The men’s list included three World Cup winners, three Champions League winners and four players from the Premier League. The women’s shortlist included an England international and six players from Lyon. Can […]
Somerset’s teachers transforming a “weak” education system
BBC Suzanne Flack CEO of Redstart Learning Partnership leads a trust of 10 Somerset schools Last month a damning report labelled Somerset “one of the weakest areas nationally” for its educational outcomes, and described a “very weak” performance from early years to GCSEs. While experts say this is linked to “chronic underfunding”, it has been […]
Ministers facing ‘contempt’ vote ahead of big debate
AFP MPs are voting on whether to find ministers in contempt of Parliament over their decision not to release the full legal advice on the Brexit deal. Opposition parties say by limiting the information released, ministers ignored a binding Commons vote demanding they provided the full advice. A government attempt to refer the issue to […]
Smart lockers for patients’ drugs wins inventors’ award
James Oatway Inventor Neo Hutiri says he came up with the idea after he had to go to the clinic when he was diagnosed with TB An invention by a South African engineer that dispenses pills has won a major African engineering prize. Neo Hutiri invented the Pelebox, a locker patients can unlock with a […]
Nomadland, Anthony Hopkins and Daniel Kaluuya share glory
Reuters Daniel Kaluuya, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Chloe Zhao all triumphed at the awards Film drama Nomadland has scooped three Oscars including best picture, while British stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Daniel Kaluuya have won acting awards. Nomadland’s Chloé Zhao made history as the first non-white woman and second woman overall to win best director. […]
Leeds heads drive to ensure ‘no-one left behind’ in cost of living crisis
Getty Images More than two million households in the UK struggle to afford the internet, according to Good Things Foundation Leeds City Council is leading a national drive to improve internet access amid fears the cost of living crisis will worsen “digital exclusion”. The local authority has been working with hundreds of community organisations to […]
Stories from the UK’s first motorway service station
BBC It is a momentous day for Atiq Rahman and four of his children, who are making a surprise trip to see his mother for the first time in months Service stations are the multiple beating hearts of the nation’s road system. On the first Monday since the coronavirus alert level was downgraded, the BBC […]
Facebook blocks the Spinner’s ‘brainwashing’ tech
BBC/getty images Facebook has barred the behaviour-changing service from its platforms Facebook has issued a cease and desist notice to an Israeli firm that claims to be able to subconsciously alter people’s behaviour. The Spinner charges a fee to “subconsciously influence” targets by exposing them to online posts “disguised as editorial content”. But Facebook has […]
Lana Del Rey: ‘I’m not glamorising abuse’
Getty Images The star said she had been “honest and optimistic” about her bad relationships Lana Del Rey has defended herself against accusations that her lyrics are anti-feminist. Writing on Instagram, the star criticised “female writers” who have attacked her for “glamorising abuse”. She said her lyrics often talked about “the realities” of emotionally abusive […]