All posts tagged: diary

News diary 25-31 May: Energy price cap decision, Meta shareholder meeting, Colombia presidential election

News diary 25-31 May: Energy price cap decision, Meta shareholder meeting, Colombia presidential election

Published by Sam Flores

Closeup icons of Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook and Instagram seen in an iPhone screen. Picture: Koshiro K/Shutterstock On Wednesday, UK residents are to see a decision made on Ofgem’s quarterly price cap from July as the energy regulator makes adjustments in response to Iran war-related prices rises. With energy markets unsettled by the Iran conflict, major impacts are expected for inflation, consumer finances, and UK economic policy. On the same day, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta will be holding its annual shareholder meeting to discuss AI, human rights and antisemitism. At the end of the week, voters in Colombia will elect a new president, a move which could shape regional politics, security policy, economic direction, and relations with the US and other Latin American states. Leading the week A quiet week in Westminster with MPs away for a half-term break means attention will stay focused on the by-election hopefuls looking to secure a seat in the House of Commons next month. There’ll be a host of candidates hitting the campaign trail in Aberdeen, Arbroath and …

News diary 18-24 May: Starmer faces PMQs amid leadership woes, new BBC director-general, Premier League finale

News diary 18-24 May: Starmer faces PMQs amid leadership woes, new BBC director-general, Premier League finale

Published by Sam Flores

Keir Starmer stands outside 10 Downing Street as he delivers his first speech as prime minister in 2024. Picture: Michael Tubi It’s another crunch week coming up for Keir Starmer after Labour leadership rivals Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham made moves on Thursday in an attempt to force the prime minister into an orderly departure. But Streeting’s failure to produce the required numbers to trigger an immediate leadership contest means Starmer may yet have time to defend his position, with a by-election victory for Burnham by no means a sure thing after the local election results. It’s been business as usual so far from the PM, but he may need to offer more of a direct response to his challengers next week before returning to the despatch box for the first PMQs of the new session. One of the Prime Minister’s key allies, Rachel Reeves, is due to set out measures to help families and businesses struggling due to the effects of the Middle East conflict, though it remains to be seen whether the Chancellor’s …

Country diary: Nesting mallard, owl and woodcock in our garden – this is the ‘human shield’ effect | Birds

Country diary: Nesting mallard, owl and woodcock in our garden – this is the ‘human shield’ effect | Birds

Published by Sam Flores

A big moon is cresting the Scots pine as I sit at an upstairs window looking down on to the garden. Awaiting the dusk emergence of a female tawny owl has become an evening ritual. After a day spent in the confines of a nest box in our sycamore tree, her departure shifts back by a few minutes every night. Completely silent, she drops towards the woodland border and skims the plants, each time on the same trajectory, a grey shadow in the gloaming. Another movement on the path below catches my eye: a woodcock slinking along, using the box hedge to disguise her passage. If I hadn’t been watching for the owl I would never have known that she too is nesting somewhere in the garden’s thick leafiness. In July 2023, I wrote about a woodcock nesting in a flower border a few metres from the house, four chicks successfully hatching from four eggs. Last year, another attempt was disturbed by a cat captured on trailcam. This may be the same bird returned for a third time. Woodcocks …

News diary 11-17 May: Cannes Film Festival, Trump in China, FA Cup final

News diary 11-17 May: Cannes Film Festival, Trump in China, FA Cup final

Published by Sam Flores

Uma Thurman attends the ‘Ismael’s Ghosts (Les Fantomes d’Ismael)’ screening and Opening Gala during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2017 in Cannes, France. Picture: Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock The week begins with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s position under threat following the local and devolved elections, with the loss of several councils and hundreds of seats in England and projected losses in Scotland and Wales meaning the pressure is likely to increase significantly over the coming days. The prime minister is thought to be considering a ‘reset’ speech on Monday to convince voters – and his own MPs – that he’s the man to lead the country through the remainder of this parliament and into the next election, though a dire set of results this weekend are likely to embolden any potential leadership plotters and disrupt what’s looking like another crucial week for Starmer’s premiership. From Tuesday, the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival will take place until 23 May. South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook will serve as jury president …

News diary 4-10 May: Met Gala, David Attenborough turns 100, and the Baftas

News diary 4-10 May: Met Gala, David Attenborough turns 100, and the Baftas

Published by Sam Flores

London, 6th of September 2016. David Attenborough arrives to the UKTC LIve event at the BFI Southbank, London. Picture: Shutterstock/Dom Zara The weekend extends into Monday for UK residents, thanks to the May Bank Holiday. In the US, the Met Gala takes place, an annual event attended by celebrities and fashion’s biggest names. This year, guests will dress to the theme of Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Towards the end of the week, writer, broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough turns 100. The nature enthusiast is best known as the voice of natural history programmes for the past 70 years, and will be celebrated with a ninety-minute special event at the Royal Albert Hall, presented by Kirsty Young and broadcast at 8.30pm on BBC One. Also on Friday, Scottish broadcaster STV will see its journalists strike on election results day in response to a salary freeze. The strike has been timed to coincide with coverage of the Holyrood vote count. On Sunday, the Bafta Television Awards will be hosted in London to award the best of …

Tony Wilson death: Hot Chocolate star dies aged 89 as son shares ‘staggering’ diary entries

Tony Wilson death: Hot Chocolate star dies aged 89 as son shares ‘staggering’ diary entries

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the inside track from Roisin O’Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Hot Chocolate star Tony Wilson, who was best known for the band’s 1975 hit “You Sexy Thing”, has died aged 89. Wilson’s family confirmed that the bassist, who formed the band with Errol Brown, died on Friday (24 April), with his daughter announcing the news on Facebook. “He left a lot of music behind…forever and ever,” she wrote. “I am thankful that on Friday 17th, during our conscious talk time, he was led to the Lord with understanding.” She added that he is now “at peace”. Wilson’s son, Danny, also shared an emotional tribute to his musical dad, writing that he died at his home in Trinidad. “Words don’t do justice to the admiration I have for him as a human being or for his dedication to make his dream of getting the songs he wrote be heard,” he said. Errol Brown, Larry …

News diary 27 April – 3 May: Royal visit to US, Devil Wears Prada 2, World Press Freedom Day

News diary 27 April – 3 May: Royal visit to US, Devil Wears Prada 2, World Press Freedom Day

Published by Sam Flores

BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 7, 2019: Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in front of Brandenburg Gate. Picture: Chris Ghinda/Shutterstock The news agenda for the week is likely to centre around King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip across the pond, where they will meet with President Trump and make key stops in Washington, Virginia and US. This will be Charles’ first visit to the US since 2018, when he attended the state funeral of former President George Bush. Results from major tech giants are also released this week, with Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft set to publish their quarterly financials – an indication of the status of the global tech sector. On Friday, the sequel of the box office hit The Devil Wears Prada enters cinemas in the UK, with the likes of Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci set to grace the screen. On Sunday, World Press Freedom Day takes place, a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, defends the media from attacks on their independence and pays …

Country diary: A tree can define a landscape – even when it has fallen | Trees and forests

Country diary: A tree can define a landscape – even when it has fallen | Trees and forests

Published by Sam Flores

How quickly something that defines a landscape for centuries becomes the absence that redefines it – so it is with ancient trees. The trunk snapped like a carrot at the roots and crashed, its bony branches splintered. Now it lies like a shipwreck stranded in an open field, its hulk of twigs an animal pelt stilled. A day before, looking at its 300-year-old architecture of mostly dead wood yet so vividly alive, admiring its form and persistence through years and trouble, standing alone with spring coursing through the land and its timbers, I wondered how long, in tree time, it had left. Storm Dave answered quickly: “None.” This fallen tree is a common lime, Tilia x europaea, a hybrid of our native small-leaved lime, T. cordata, and large-leafed lime, T. platyphyllos; probably of natural origins, probably introduced, but certainly common since 17th- and 18th-century plantings. Back then it was called the Dutch lime because so many were planted from Dutch nurseries in parks, avenues, gardens and streets in the baroque style throughout Europe. This common …

News diary 20-26 April: US-Iran ceasefire expires, tube strikes, London Marathon

News diary 20-26 April: US-Iran ceasefire expires, tube strikes, London Marathon

Published by Sam Flores

21 April 2024, London: Groups of people running in the London Marathon 2024. Poicture: Mikecphoto/Shutterstock Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under renewed pressure over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US, following the revelation that he failed a security vetting. The top civil servant in the Foreign Office Olly Robbins has been fired as a result, with Starmer claiming he was never told about Mandelson’s failed checks. Beginning Tuesday, British trade union RMT is carrying out tube strikes in London. Disruption is expected across parts of the Underground network through to Friday. On Wednesday, Iran and the US’s temporary two-week ceasefire is due to expire, although mediators are looking to extend the arrangement. On Saturday, around 50,000 runners will take part in the London Marathon, a highlight of London’s sporting calendar. Leading the week  Monday (April 20): Keir Starmer addresses MPs on Peter Mandelson vetting scandal; King Charles visits Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition. Tuesday (April 21): Olly Robbins called to give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on …

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole casting confirmed for new BBC series

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole casting confirmed for new BBC series

Published by Daniella Wilson

Following reports last month, it has now been officially confirmed that Changing Ends star Oliver Savell will lead the cast of BBC’s new series, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾. Savell will play Adrian, the iconic character from Sue Townsend’s best-selling book of the same name, in the BBC’s forthcoming adaptation, which has begun filming in Hartlepool. A first-look image has now been released of Savell in character, while a host of other stars have been confirmed for the nine-part series, which is set to air in 2027. Rivals star Lisa McGrillis will be playing Adrian’s mother, Pauline, while Slow Horses star Colin Hoult will be playing his father, George. Lisa McGrillis and Colin Hoult. Mike Marsland/WireImage, Euan Cherry/Getty Images Additional cast members include Pam Ferris (Call the Midwife) as Grandma, Galaxie Clear (Secret Service) as Pandora, Alun Armstrong (After the Flood) as Bert, Jude Forsey (Hollyoaks) as Nigel, Rory Keenan (The Regime) as Mr Lucas, David Wilmot (Industry) as Mr Scruton and Karl Collins (Doctor Who) as Mr Cherry. The adaptation comes from …