Shoreham pantomime dame claims to be tallest in the UK
George Carden/BBC Alex Forman is said to be the tallest pantomime dame in the UK Mirror, mirror on the wall – who is the tallest panto dame of them all? At 6ft 6in (2m), Alex Forman, also known as The Great Dame, believes it’s him (cue cries of “Oh no he isn’t!”). Wearing his trademark […]
Uber probed by US consumer watchdog over subscription plan
Uber is facing an investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into its flagship subscription plan, the company has said. As first reported by Bloomberg, the US consumer watchdog was probing the ride-hailing giant over the enrolment and cancellation procedures of the service. Uber One, which has more than 25 million subscribers around the […]
Porridge and crumpets fall under new ad ban
Getty Images Certain types of porridge with added sugar are classified as “junk food” under the ban – though porridge products with no added sugar, salt or fat are exempt. Certain types of porridge, crumpets and breakfast cereals are included in a list of products that fall under a new junk food advertising ban. The […]
What we know about North Korean troops in Ukraine
Getty Images Some observers now say we should not be too quick to dismiss North Korea’s military capabilities North Korea’s deployment of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine has attracted global attention – as well as speculation as to how they would be deployed on the battlefield. Pyongyang has sent at least 10,000 […]
Elon Musk’s curious fixation with Britain
EPA Elon Musk has waded into UK affairs a lot lately In 2012, Elon Musk had just completed a business trip to London and Oxford. “Just returned… I met with many interesting people,” he wrote on Twitter. “I really like Britain!” Fast-forward to 2024, and Musk’s views on Britain are a little different. “Civil war […]
Bee-harming pesticides’ emergency approval will end, vows Defra
Getty Images Legislation changes are being considered to completely stop the use of three specific pesticides that harm bees Emergency use of three pesticides that can be deadly to bees will soon be stopped for good, the government has said. Neonicotinoids were banned in 2018 but sugar beet farmers have been given special permission to […]
The people keeping services in Suffolk running over Christmas
UK Power Networks Call handlers at UK Powers Networks in Ipswich will be available to talk to on Christmas Day Keeping a county running at any given point in the year is no easy task – and Christmas Day is no different. As thousands of people in Suffolk open presents, eat plenty of food and […]
Parley waste site seeks to increase planned incinerator capacity
An energy-from-waste firm is seeking to increase the capacity of a planned incinerator that has been granted permission in Dorset. BCP Council agreed plans for the energy recovery facility (ERF) in Parley, near Christchurch, in 2022, despite 730 objections. Eco Sustainable Solutions said it is in talks with BCP about applying to increase the agreed […]
Hospitality staff shortages leave rural pub managers working alone
BBC Alex Barry says he sometimes has to run a rural pub and hotel single handedly Closing entire floors of hotel rooms and offering a £500 reward for new staff are just some of the ways hospitality owners in rural areas say they’ve had to cope with an ongoing “recruitment crisis”. Hotel and restaurant owners […]
Primary schoolchildren referred to East Midlands online crime unit
Getty Images Some youngsters have hacked school websites to post rude messages, officers said Fifty young people including children of primary school age have been referred to a specialist policing team that tackles online crime across the East Midlands. The East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) says this was due to the behaviour of some […]