Sugar tax is ‘the least the food industry can do’
Money from a new sugary drinks tax should go to the Welsh NHS to help it tackle ill-health linked to sugar, a diabetes charity has said. The new UK-wide tax requires soft drinks firms to pay a levy on drinks with a high sugar content. First Minister Carwyn Jones has suggested some of the extra […]
US passes sanctions as nations condemn new law
AFP / Getty Protesters rallied against the new law in Hong Kong and police made several hundred arrests US lawmakers have approved new Hong Kong-related sanctions, after Beijing imposed a security law that has been widely condemned across the world. The US measure, which penalises banks which do business with Chinese officials, was passed unanimously […]
Who is the suspect in the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson?
Instagram A profile is emerging of the 26-year-old man charged with murder over last week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive, Brian Thompson, in New York City. Police announced on Monday they had arrested Luigi Mangione after he was recognised at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The Baltimore, Maryland, native was found in possession of […]
Supermarkets try to calm food shortage fears amid border chaos
Getty Images Retailers have played down fears of food shortages after France shut its borders to UK hauliers for 48 hours due to the UK’s new coronavirus variant. But they warned of “serious disruption” without a resolution, with Tesco and Sainsbury’s saying some fresh produce such as lettuce could run short. The prime minister’s spokesman […]
Holyhead plastics-to-oil plant ‘to create 52 jobs’
Getty Images Sweet wrappers are among the plastics which will be recycled by the plant A new facility to turn plastic into oil is set to create 52 jobs at a Holyhead waste management site, bosses say. Money from the UK government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) will used for the plant at Orthios […]
Timothée Chalamet is ‘brilliant and believable’ in ‘conventional’ biopic
Macall Polay Despite its “kinetic performances and irresistible music” from star Timothée Chalamet and cast, James Mangold’s Dylan biopic is disappointingly unambitious. Bob Dylan is a master of self-mythologising. Decades ago he created his image as a brilliant enigma, which has made him an ideal canvas on which film-makers have projected their own interpretations. Todd […]
What just happened in Syria and who’s in charge?
AFP Syrian rebel fighters and their supporters celebrated after entering Damascus with no resistance on Sunday The Assad family ruled Syria for more than 50 years with an iron fist. Now that has come to an end. Bashar al-Assad became president after the death in 2000 of his father Hafez, who had ruled for almost […]
‘Blue Christmas’ ends ‘worst year’ for retailers
PA Media Scotland’s high streets suffered a “blue Christmas” as retailers recorded their worst ever December trading, according to an industry survey. The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) said lockdowns at the start and end of the month “snuffed out” hopes of a late rally to end the year. Total sales plummeted year-on-year by 16.6%. Food […]
Have we become too reliant on Big Tech firms?
Keith Ingram During lockdown Keith Ingram shifted sales to Amazon “We wouldn’t have survived without Amazon,” says Keith Ingram, owner of vinyl records shop Assai Records. When lockdown hit on 23 March in the UK, Mr Ingram had to shut his shops in Edinburgh and Dundee, and sell his stock through Amazon Marketplace. Now, his […]
Manx milk prices set to rise by 15% over production costs
BBC The price of a litre carton will rise by 20p from Monday The price of Manx milk is set to go up for a second time this year due to rising costs in the dairy industry, the Isle of Man Creamery has said. When the 15% rise comes into force on Monday, a 500ml […]