US man awarded $1m after 27 years wrongfully jailed
Michael Sullivan spent more than 27 years in a Massachusetts prison for a murder he insisted for years he didn’t do. He was released in 2013 after a new trial and new DNA technology proved his innocence. Earlier this month, Sullivan was awarded $13m (£10m) from the state, though Massachusetts regulations cap rewards for wrongful […]
The Leeds factory bringing back Wurlitzer jukeboxes
Sound Leisure Wurlitzer family members Gudrun and Luise are joined by Chris, Alex, Alan and Michael Black A family firm is celebrating one year of making one of music’s most distinctive jukeboxes after bringing the distinctive player back to the market. Leeds manufacturer Sound Leisure has been creating jukeboxes since 1978 but partnered with the […]
Australian social media ban on under-16s approved by parliament
Australia will ban children under 16 from using social media, after its parliament approved the world’s strictest laws. The ban, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they don’t comply. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the legislation is needed to protect […]
Dorset couple wins prize for ‘unique’ theme park design
Inspiring Heritage Portal Riders beat off competition from more than 30 countries to win a £20,000 prize in the Storyland Studios challenge A couple have said they are still “in disbelief” after winning a competition for designing a “unique” theme park ride. Richard and Amy Hale, who live near Weymouth, Dorset, said that after seeing […]
Jon Egging Trust boss bows out after helping 45,000 young people
BBC Dr Emma Egging is leaving the trust she set up after the death of her husband The founder of the Jon Egging Trust, which works with disadvantaged children, has stepped down. Dr Emma Egging, 45, set up the charity in the name of her husband Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died in 2011 whilst […]
New Transport for London bus involved in crash on launch day
Transport for London (TfL) has said it is investigating after one of its new electric “tram-like” buses collided with a car on the day the new fleet was launched. The Go-Ahead London bus was reportedly involved in the crash on Sevenoaks Road in Orpington, south-east London, on 20 November, when the new 358 buses came […]
Robot could sniff out profits for farmers
BBC Tracked robots are used to carry a sensor Robots could help farmers more quickly assess the health of soil, scientists hope as a technology trial takes place in Cornwall. A gamma ray detector on a device developed by a Cornish company is being used to assess soil quality. Farmer Malcolm Barrett, a tenant farmer […]
Cambridgeshire County Council plans 4.99% council tax increase
Ben Schofield/BBC Council leader Lucy Nethsingha said next year’s budget would be “challenging” A council said it needed to make “difficult choices” as it proposed a maximum increase to next year’s tax bill. Cambridgeshire County Council suggested increasing its share of council tax by 4.99% in its budget proposal for 2025 to 2026. The authority […]
We’re too boring for kids for social media ban
Getty Images Career-networking site LinkedIn has told Australian lawmakers it is too dull for kids to warrant its inclusion in a proposed ban on social media for under 16 year olds. “LinkedIn simply does not have content interesting and appealing to minors,” the Microsoft-owned company said in a submission to an Australian senate committee. The […]
Stowaway caught on flight from New York to Paris
A stowaway flew from New York to Paris without a ticket earlier this week, but was discovered towards the end of the flight. The woman flew on a Delta Airlines flight from New York’s JFK International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport without a boarding pass on Tuesday, and was taken into custody upon […]