Stock markets plunge as weak US jobs fuel fears
Getty Images Stock markets were hit by a global sell-off on Friday as weak US jobs growth stoked fears of a sudden downturn in the world’s largest economy. The tech-heavy Nasdaq index dropped by more than 2.4%, dragged lower by Intel and Amazon, after the companies reported disappointing results. Official data showed employers added 114,000 […]
UK will apply food tariffs in case of no deal
Getty Images Environment Secretary Michael Gove has promised that the government will apply tariffs to food imports in the event of a no-deal Brexit, to provide “specific and robust protections” for farmers. His remarks come as the government is poised to release details of tariffs (taxes on imports) that would apply to thousands of products […]
Telford AI phone assistant to answer some council calls
A council says its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) phone assistant will allow it to help more people, as customers can make queries without having to speak to a member of staff. Ask Tom was created at Telford and Wrekin Council in 2021, and was originally a digital assistant. An upgrade to the system sees Tom […]
Coldplay 2025 more tickets for Hull and Wembley to go on sale
BBC/Steve Barney Coldplay have pledged to power the Wembley concerts’ production with 100% solar, wind and kinetic energy Thousands of tickets have been sold for Coldplay’s 2025 UK dates in Hull and at Wembley Stadium but there is still a chance to get hold of them. In September, the band said they would appear at […]
Kim Jong Un wants Trump back, elite defector tells BBC
‘Kim Jong Un will even kill all 25 million North Koreans to ensure his survival’ Donald Trump returning to the White House would be “a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity” for North Korea, according to a man in a unique position to know. Ri Il Kyu is the highest-ranking official known to have defected from North Korea since […]
Sweets industry stands firm against sugar backlash
BBC The fair is the same size as 15 Wembley Stadium football pitches The world’s biggest trade fair for sweets is a Willy Wonka-esque display of tempting indulgences, but how is the industry adapting to a growing backlash against sugar? Suddenly the nougat-covered pretzel I had for breakfast doesn’t seem like such a good idea. […]
Cotswold District Council installs solar panels in net zero bid
A council has installed solar panels at one of its offices as part of a bid to reach net zero emissions. Panels fitted to Cotswold District Council’s Trinity Road base in Cirencester are expected to save the authority about £42,000 per year. The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and has since installed a […]
Call for higher animal welfare standards for Parma ham pigs
Tawintaew Animal welfare campaigners want all crates banned from pig farming Animal welfare campaigners say it is time supermarkets stopped selling premium ham produced by EU farmers still using methods banned in the UK. Compassion in World Farming said most Parma ham on UK shelves is farmed using crates that confine pregnant sows. Called “sow […]
Harrogate Station Gateway travel scheme images revealed
North Yorkshire Council Two lanes of Station Parade in Harrogate will continue to be open to traffic as part of the revised plan New images have been released of a revised scheme to make Harrogate’s railway and bus stations more accessible. The £11.2m Station Gateway scheme aimed to encourage walking and cycling in the town, […]
Wicked stars take to the green carpet for European premiere
London’s South Bank has been transformed into the Emerald City for the European premiere of Wicked. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldbum were among the cast to brave the rainy weather. The film is an adaptation of the stage musical which tells the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West from The […]