Whisper it – alcohol-free wine has arrived in France
BBC Frédéric Brochet is one of the wine makers now working on alcohol-free bottles In the vineyards of Bordeaux, the unspeakable has become the drinkable. Wine without alcohol has arrived. The heresy of yesterday is now – thanks to science and economic crisis – the opportunity of today. Wine estates which would have torched their […]
Real gladiators of Britain revealed in touring exhibition
Colchester and Ipswich The Colchester Vase depicts a real battle between a secutor and retiarius gladiator For hundreds of years, bloodthirsty spectators would gather across the Roman Empire to watch gladiators fighting for their lives. These gruesome contests are traditionally associated with arenas like the Colosseum in Rome but many took place across Britain. A […]
Fishermen on Scots trawler win £20,000 modern slavery claim
Marine Accident Investigation Branch The fishermen were rescued from the scallop-trawler Olivia Jean A group of migrant fishermen recognised as victims of modern slavery have been awarded £20,000 each compensation by the UK Government. The Ghanaian crew were rescued in 2020 from the scallop-trawler Olivia Jean, owned by a Scottish fishing firm TN Trawlers. The […]
Incinerator doubt after Aviva Investors pull out
The future of a controversial waste wood incinerator looks in doubt after an investment company pulled out of the site. Aviva Investors said the decision had been made because of significant cost and technology-related challenges at the Barry Biomass plant in the Vale of Glamorgan. Campaigners have fought for years for the wood incinerator in […]
Syria says 14 security personnel killed in ambush by Assad loyalists
Syria’s new rebel-led authorities say supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad have killed 14 interior ministry troops in an “ambush” in the west of the country. They say 10 other troops were wounded in the fighting on Tuesday near the Mediterranean port of Tartous, a stronghold of Assad’s minority Alawite Muslim sect. Reports say the […]
How ancient Maya cities have withstood the ravages of time
Getty Images Constructed over 1,200 years ago, the imposing 65m-tall (213ft) Temple IV at Tikal, in modern Guatemala, is a testament to ancient Maya masonry (Credit: Getty Images) Ruins of ancient cities keep turning up in the forests of central America. How have these structures remained standing for millennia despite tropical rains, hurricanes and the […]
New £2.45m Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat welcomed with water salute
A new £2.45m lifeboat was welcomed by a water salute and dozens of spectators as it arrived at its new station. Hartlepool RNLI volunteer crew were aboard the new all weather Shannon class lifeboat as it approached the Ferry Road station on Sunday following a four day passage from Poole in Dorset. Chairman Malcolm Cooke […]
Artists sought for Shrewsbury town centre mural trail
Artists are being invited to help create a trail of murals around Shropshire’s county town. The trail is part of work by Shrewsbury’s Business Improvement District (BID) to improve walking and cycling routes in the town centre in 2025. The murals will be painted on to street furniture such as bollards and signal boxes under […]
How StumbleUpon pioneered the way we use the internet
Serenity Strull StumbleUpon, a tool that led users to random websites, had a stranglehold on millennials in the 2010s. Its influence echoes through everything we do online. For Kaitlyn Arford, a 31-year-old freelance writer based in Kentucky, US, memories of her early experiences with the internet all coalesce around one website: StumbleUpon. “Any time I […]
Work to begin on cultural centre after long delays
Work on a cultural hub in Sheffield city centre will get started in 2025 after several delays to the project. Vacant buildings at 20-26 Fargate are set to be turned into Event Central, a £7m venue for cultural and community gatherings. Sheffield City Council said work on the five-storey building will start early next year […]