Concerns over plans to lease Cornwall Council owned car parks
Concerns have been raised following a bid to offload up to 50 council-owned car parks in Cornwall. Cornwall Council said the decentralisation of some of its car parks was part of a plan to save £2m. Local councillors said they were concerned about the car parks being managed by “unpleasant” enforcement companies. Senior council officer […]
Bristol proposes city-wide ticket levy to support music scene
BBC Carly Heath is “hopeful” enough venues and promoters will sign up to the Bristol Music Fund A city is hoping to become the first in the UK to launch a ticket levy after leaders laid out their proposals to the local music industry. The idea comes amidst a deep financial crisis in the music […]
Why are nets appearing over trees and hedges?
BBC The Wildlife Aid charity says this netting in Guildford was put in place to stop birds nesting so that the trees can eventually be removed It’s finally spring, the time of year when the flowers bloom, the sun is out for longer and birds are nesting. But nesting is not being made easy in […]
Deal or no deal? EU bewildered by Brexit confusion
Getty Images “Bobs” are quite the topic of discussion in the UK right now – people “bored of Brexit”, desperate to read, talk and hear about something, anything, else. But if Bobs are big in the UK, spare a thought for their numbers in the EU. And I’m not talking men and women at European […]
Can a tech billionaire create a civilian fighting force?
EPA 75-year-old Robert Tsao says he wants to wake Taiwanese people up to the threat In September this year a retired tech billionaire in Taipei, white-haired and bespectacled, called the island’s media to a press conference to tell them he was pledging one billion Taiwan dollars (£28m; $32m) to create a civilian army. Dressed in […]
Wimbledon 2014: Sania Mirza on being a sports star in India
“I had a good support system around me, fortunately. My parents were good, my family and friends kept me grounded. It’s easy to lose your way with that much going on.” On the subject of her husband, who will be supporting her in the crowd at Wimbledon this year, she said: “It’s good to be […]
Bedfordshire quarry doubles as Moonscape for space rover trials
Janine Machin/BBC The four-wheel rover known as ‘Codi’ can drive to and retrieve samples with an accuracy of about 10cm (4in) Two Mars Rovers have been spotted carrying out tests in a quarry – despite no plans to send them into space anytime soon. The four-wheel and six-wheel vehicles have been developed by the aerospace […]
Kraft Heinz shares fall as appetites wane
Reuters Kraft Heinz is one of the world’s biggest food companies Kraft Heinz’s share price has plunged to a record low amid signs that customer appetite for the company’s processed foods is weakening. The US food giant’s stock dropped 27% after it reported flat 2018 sales and said it would write down the value of […]
Uphill battle looms for New Zealand’s next PM
WATCH: Jacinda Ardern was the leader we needed – Chris Hipkins New Zealand MP Chris Hipkins says succeeding Jacinda Ardern as prime minister after her shock decision to resign amounts to “the biggest responsibility and the biggest privilege of my life”. “The weight of that responsibility is still sinking in,” he told reporters on parliament’s […]
The rise of the virtual girl bands
Pulse9 Eternity is a K-pop band generated using AI technology – all its members are virtual Since releasing their debut single I’m Real in 2021, K-pop girl group Eternity have racked up millions of views online. They sing, dance and interact with their fans just like any other band. In fact, there’s mainly one big […]