BBC to pull MasterChef Christmas specials after Gregg Wallace allegations
BBC/Shine TV Wallace stepped aside from presenting the show last week The BBC is pulling its MasterChef Christmas after presenter Gregg Wallace was accused of inappropriate sexual comments. The corporation had said on Monday that all MasterChef episodes that had already been filmed would be aired as planned, including the festive editions. Wallace stepped aside […]
Drought-tolerant barley could help ‘future-proof’ whisky industry
Heriot-Watt University Dr Peter Morris and Dr Ross Alexander examine barley plants in the lab Researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have found a gene that helps barley cope with climate change. They said it enabled barley to resist drought and thereby “future-proof” the whisky industry – and could be extended to other crops. Barley […]
Scottish Gossip: Celtic. Rangers, VAR, Hibernian, Aberdeen, Hearts, Barton
The VAR offside line drawn for Jota’s disallowed Celtic goal at Fir Park looked like it was “drawn by a child”, says former Scotland striker Kris Boyd, who thinks the new technology is a hindrance for officials. (Scottish Sun), external Ange Postecoglou has managed to perform “a terrific juggling act” rotating his Celtic squad through […]
Kellogg’s changes palm oil policy after sisters’ petition
Harvinder Dhinsa Asha and Jia Kirkpatrick visited Kellogg’s on Thursday Two sisters have won a victory in their environmental campaign after a food giant agreed to remove “unsustainable” palm oil from its products. Asha and Jia Kirkpatrick, aged 12 and 10 and from Bedfordshire, launched a petition after hearing about rainforest destruction stemming from the […]
How the great online toaster hoax was exposed
BBC For more than a decade, a prankster spun a web of deception about the inventor of the electric toaster. His lies fooled newspapers, teachers and officials. Then a teenager flagged up something that everyone else had missed. “I read through Wikipedia a lot when I’m bored in class,” says Adam, aged 15, who studies […]
European Union reveals fast fashion crackdown
Getty Images Fashion production has a big impact on climate Clothes, furniture and smartphones sold in Europe must be longer-lasting and easier to repair under new rules proposed by the European Union. The strategy, launched on Wednesday, targets products at every stage of use, including design, repair and recycling. The initiative aims to boost the […]
PM Narendra Modi pitches for harmony as India takes over presidency
Getty Images India takes over the G20 presidency from Indonesia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the country will work to promote a “universal sense of oneness” while it leads the G20. India formally took over the presidency – which rotates annually between members – of the Group of Twenty countries on Thursday. […]
Somerset’s teachers transforming a “weak” education system
BBC Suzanne Flack CEO of Redstart Learning Partnership leads a trust of 10 Somerset schools Last month a damning report labelled Somerset “one of the weakest areas nationally” for its educational outcomes, and described a “very weak” performance from early years to GCSEs. While experts say this is linked to “chronic underfunding”, it has been […]
Ministers facing ‘contempt’ vote ahead of big debate
AFP MPs are voting on whether to find ministers in contempt of Parliament over their decision not to release the full legal advice on the Brexit deal. Opposition parties say by limiting the information released, ministers ignored a binding Commons vote demanding they provided the full advice. A government attempt to refer the issue to […]
Leeds heads drive to ensure ‘no-one left behind’ in cost of living crisis
Getty Images More than two million households in the UK struggle to afford the internet, according to Good Things Foundation Leeds City Council is leading a national drive to improve internet access amid fears the cost of living crisis will worsen “digital exclusion”. The local authority has been working with hundreds of community organisations to […]