Music technology project teaching Cumbrian teens life skills
BBC Niamh McMullin has enjoyed what she has described as a “steep learning curve” Teenagers have been learning the music technology skills needed to put on professional shows. At The Gather in Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria, a group have been taking part in a series of workshops funded by Arts Council England. The sessions equip them […]
Christmas pudding sales slump in challenging festive period
BBC Are the days of families tucking into a Christmas pudding after their festive dinner slowly coming to an end? Figures from market research company Kantar suggest they may be, as sales of the traditional dessert fell by 16% in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. There was also an 11% drop in sales […]
Optimism and uncertainty as Middle East awaits Trump’s return
Frank Gardner Trump had a warm relationship with Saudi Arabia during his first term in office As leaders of dozens of Arab and Islamic nations gather in the Saudi capital for a summit, there is widespread speculation about what a second Trump presidency will mean for the region. In sharp contrast to the fears voiced […]
China’s drinkers develop taste for home-grown wines
Silver Heights Winery Emma Gao says that Chinese wine has greatly improved in quality in recent years Emma Gao says that “when people taste our wine they’re happy”. Ms Gao runs the Silver Heights winery and vineyards in China’s Ningxia province, about 1,000 km (620 miles) west of Beijing. They sit in the foothills of […]
Hundreds lodge complaints over dynamic pricing
Fear PR Hundreds of Oasis fans have made official complaints about how tickets for the band’s reunion tour were advertised, as the government pledged to look into the use of “dynamic pricing”. The system led the prices for many tickets to shoot up by more than £200 during the day after they went on sale […]
US envoy vows climate fight will continue under Trump
Getty The US will still continue fighting climate change and curbing its emissions of planet-warming gases despite the election of Donald Trump, the US special envoy told the COP29 conference on its opening day. John Podesta, a Biden administration appointee, labelled the incoming president a climate denier and said he would dismantle environmental safeguards. But […]
New Hull hospital tech removes need for cancer patient tattoos
Getty Images Surface Guided Radiotherapy means some cancer patients will no longer need tattoos Cancer patients at Hull’s Castle Hill Hospital will no longer need permanent tattoo markings to guide their radiotherapy treatment thanks to new technology. Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) is being introduced at the Queen’s Centre at a cost of £1.4m. The NHS […]
‘Zero UK growth in 2023’ and ‘£100 to fill a car’
Getty Images A number of the papers lead on a speech to be delivered on Thursday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Lancashire. The Times reports he will announce a plan to help benefit claimants buy homes in England, which it says could put three million people on the housing ladder. The paper says the […]
New blueprint to bring investment to Wolverhampton
A fresh plan to maximise new jobs and business opportunities in Wolverhampton is set to be approved by councillors. The City Investment Plan has been drawn up to attract new firms, and encourage existing employers to grow. The document said the council would “accentuate the benefits” of the city, and target firms looking to relocate […]
Italian authorities bust ‘international forgery ring’
Police in Italy say they have busted a major European criminal network forging and selling artworks by some of the biggest names in modern art. More than 2,100 forged artworks were recovered, including works attributed to Banksy, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. Thirty-eight people were arrested over the forgeries, which carried a potential sale value […]