Rail pledge after ‘unprecedented’ repairs to Welsh trains
BBC Transport for Wales service has been dubbed “second rate” by critics Engineers have been working around the clock to fix an “unprecedented” number of trains taken out of service for repairs, according rail bosses. Commuters have been critical of disruptions since Transport for Wales (TfW) took on the franchise in October. Thirty-six out of […]
Saltburn star deactivates Instagram over ‘hatred’ he receives
Getty Images The Irish actor said he has received messages online that “no person should ever have to read” Irish actor Barry Keoghan has deactivated his Instagram account after receiving messages “no person should ever have to read”. It comes after rumours that the 32-year-old Saltburn star has split from his girlfriend, US pop star […]
The tiny town that dreams of saving the planet
TazzyBro Photography Manningtree has been given special environmental status after its businesses agreed to stop using disposable plastics The riverside town of Manningtree in Essex may be small, but when it comes to the environment, it’s making big waves. The tiny place on the River Stour has been given special environmental status after its businesses […]
New interest rate misery and ‘battle of the band’
Thursday’s interest rate rise and its effect on the economy is the topic of several front pages on Friday. The twelfth consecutive hike means more than 200,000 Scots homeowners will have seen an average of £2,400 added to mortgage repayments, says The Herald. The base rate was raised from 4.25% to 4.5%. The Times leads […]
Facebook investigates data firm Crimson Hexagon
Getty Images Facebook said it had found no evidence data was improperly obtained – but would suspend Crimson Hexagon while it investigated Facebook has suspended a US-based analytics firm while it investigates concerns about the collection and sharing of user data. Crimson Hexagon, based in Boston, describes itself as offering “consumer insights” and has contracts […]
Rock band to headline summer open-air concert
Rock band Texas has been announced as a headliner at an open-air concert next summer. The group, whose hits include I Don’t Want a Lover, Say What You Want and Inner Smile, will perform at Lloyd’s Amphitheatre in Bristol on 27 June. They join previously announced headliners, Olly Murs, Kaiser Chiefs and Supergrass. Hundreds of […]
Scottish salmon farming petition signed by 30,500
Getty Images Campaigners want to see waste water tested as a matter of routine More than 30,500 people have signed a petition urging the Scottish government to routinely test effluent from salmon processing plants for diseases. Campaigners claimed that some polluted waste water contained pathogens that could “threaten” wild salmon stocks. The Scottish government said […]
What’s eating the restaurant trade?
Getty Images The restaurant sector is hardly sizzling at the moment. Last month burger chain Byron agreed a rescue plan with lenders and landlords which could lead to the closure of up to 20 restaurants. Also in January, Jamie Oliver’s restaurant group said 12 of its 37 outlets would shut their doors – the second […]
so is it still a new town?
Gavin Dickson Telford turns 50 this year When is a ‘new town’ not a new town? If one possible answer to this question is “when it’s 50 years old”, then Telford in Shropshire is indeed no longer a new town. But, fundamentally, it always will be. It was part of the post-war reconstruction of Britain […]
‘The best way to effect change is through music’
Beyond Skin/ Smack Jay Smack Jay filming a music video in Belfast Zambian rapper and human rights activist Samuel Miyoba, known by his stage name Smack Jay, believes that a country’s music reveals a lot about its character and culture. He is visiting Northern Ireland in partnership with the peacebuilding charity Beyond Skin and its […]