Gerard Butler gears up for ‘fighting family Christmas’
Sky Cinema Gerard Butler is the voice of St. Nick in The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland Action hero Gerard Butler’s latest character role may share his bearded look, but the similarities between the two end there. The Scot plays Santa Claus in a new TV animation, The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland. But while […]
Olive tree killer disease still poses risk to Europe
EPPO The invasive pathogen has affected thousands of hectares of olive plantations in Puglia, southern Italy Southern Europe countries are said to be at the greatest risk from a deadly disease described as a “very serious threat” to the EU’s olive industry. The European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) says computer modelling has helped understand how […]
Canadian jailed for 11 years in China on spying charges
Reuters A file photo of Michael Spavor from 2014 A court in China has convicted a Canadian businessman of espionage and sentenced him to 11 years in prison. Michael Spavor has been detained since 2018, after being arrested with fellow Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig. The verdict will test a strained relationship between the Canadian and […]
Pig farmers say butcher shortage could lead to cull of animals
BBC Farmer Sophie Hope said she hoped a cull would not be needed Pig farmers are calling for help from the government to address a shortage of butchers which is leading to a backlog of pigs on farms. Some farmers say a lack of workers in processing plants has left them “desperate” and could lead […]
Momentum for marine power
Alamy Anstruther was rarely noted for its use of Gaelic, but within five years – on a reasonably fine day – the village in the East Neuk of Fife will have a whole lot of Neart Nan Gaoithe on the horizon. To Gaelic speakers, the name means “power of the wind”. For the phonetic, it’s […]
Residents return to homes as explosion risk removed
Ocado warehouse fire: Flames and smoke seen from miles around Residents evacuated from their homes after a large fire at an Ocado warehouse have been allowed to return. About 100 people were moved on Wednesday night due to fears a three-tonne cylinder of toxic ammonia gas in the building might explode. The fire service said […]
McDonald’s plans corporate job cuts and restructuring
Getty Images The head of McDonald’s has warned staff to expect job cuts in a huge reorganisation that will also see it speed up plans for new restaurants. Its boss Chris Kempczinski said the fast food giant was being hurt by an “outdated and self-limiting” structure. “We are trying to solve the same problems multiple […]
NI ministers agree to remove Portugal from travel green list
Getty Images Holidaymakers travelling to Portugal will have to self-isolate for 10 days on their return to Northern Ireland, ministers have agreed. It has now been placed on the amber list. The key difference is the self-isolation requirement. The move comes into force after 04:00 BST on Tuesday. The Northern Ireland Executive announced its green […]
East Coast Main Line to get £350m for digital signal system
Jim Ramsay/LNER The new system is designed to improve reliability, according to the transport secretary The government is to provide £350m to fund the UK’s first digital signalling system on a long-distance rail route. The technology is to be installed on a 100-mile (161 km) stretch of the East Coast Main Line between London’s Kings […]
Labour pledges new deal with no Irish Sea border
Reuters The Labour Party has said it will negotiate a new Brexit deal that would not effectively create a regulatory border in the Irish Sea. The party made the pledge in its general election manifesto. The deal agreed between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the EU would mean a regulatory border would be in place. […]