Gilsland’s Samson Inn to reopen after being bought by community
BBC The Samson Inn will open its door once more next Saturday A village pub is set to reopen after hundreds of people in the community clubbed together to help buy it. The Samson Inn at Gilsland, on the Cumbria-Northumberland border, closed in October 2022, leaving the area with just one bar. The asking price […]
Saltash tunnel electrics to get £25m refurbishment
Lights and electrics in the Saltash tunnel on the A38 between Cornwall and Plymouth are to have a major upgrade over the next year, National Highways says. The £25m upgrade would refurbish electrics, traffic control systems and lights in the 36-year old tunnel, which was used by about 40,000 vehicles every day that also crossed […]
The weird history of the barcode
Alamy The barcodes that appear on almost every product bought and sold in shops around the world were born 75 years ago on a beach in Miami (Credit: Alamy) Few people think twice about the barcodes on their shopping, but in the 75 years since they were first dreamed up, they have helped save lives, […]
Work begins on £11m 224 youth centre for Knowle West in Bristol
Youth Zones More than 4,000 young people voted to name the centre 224, which stands for ‘Today, Tomorrow, Forever’ Construction has started on a new £11m youth facility that supporters said shows a “vote of confidence” in the city’s “amazing young people”. The 224 Youth Zone, being built in Knowle West, Bristol, will support up […]
‘Call to shield police from trials’ and Ofwat ‘faces axe’
The acquittal of Martyn Blake, the firearms officer who shot Chris Kaba in 2022, continues to lead the papers. The Times reports that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley wants officers to be exempt from criminal charges unless prosecutors can show they “deliberately departed” from their training. The Guardian says the National Police Chiefs’ […]
Coventry hospital in world-first cancer scanner trial
BBC Urology consultant Donald MacDonald said the technology was “an absolute game-changer” A Coventry hospital claims it is the first in the world to expand the use of a new scanner for cancer patients to people who have the disease in their head and neck. University Hospital Coventry is undertaking a trial using a machine […]
NI could face medicine shortages, warns pharmaceutical body
PA A new requirement for the labelling of medicines is due to be implemented A pharmaceutical body has warned of potential shortages of some medicines in Northern Ireland unless there is a delay to the implementation of the Windsor Framework. The framework is the post-Brexit deal between the EU and UK which governs trade between […]
Hurricane Oscar makes landfall in Cuba amid ongoing power issues
Hurricane Oscar has made landfall in eastern Cuba, packing winds of nearly 80mph (130km/h) on the third day of a nearly nationwide power outage. On Friday, the island’s main energy plant failed and knocked out electricity for 10 million people. Supply was partially restored on Saturday, before collapsing again. Energy and Mining Minister Vicente de […]
Man overcome by new accent ahead of wedding
This is the moment a young man from Birmingham was gifted a new West Midlands accent. Jack Reeve, 22, who has cerebral palsy, had been using a communication device with a robotic voice. But ahead of his wedding to fiancee Bethan in 2026, and with the help of special technology, he received a Dudley accent […]
Can fine dining weather the financial storm?
Claire Lishman PR Glynn Purnell said the demise of his Michelin-starred restaurant marked the end of an era The hospitality industry has endured a tough journey since the outbreak of the pandemic, sending many pubs and restaurants to the wall. But if there was one area expected to weather the storm, it was the fine […]