News

It will probably not surprise many but the region who manages to get the most amount of state pupils into the elite Oxbridge universities come from the South East of the UK. I went to a bog standard comprehensive school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and I don’t remember anyone going to either university or it even being mentioned as an option, but I’m sure some would have held their own in the Oxbridge establishments; I don’t count myself in that number though....

Dog meat is promoted in North Korea as a superfood, with propaganda stating it has more vitamins than chicken, beef, pork or duck. According to reports in the Korea Times, the country's state media has suggested the meat is good for the intestines and stomach, claiming it is richer in vitamins than other meats. To improve its nutritional value, the reports also suggest 'beating' dogs to death and removing its fur before scorching. Radio broadcaster Tongil Voice described dog stew as...

Buying cheap and cheerful has resulted in a throwaway culture, according to new research. With more deals and low-cost products crowding the market, Brits are now making purchasing decisions based on a ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ mentality. But skimping on quality is costing us a small fortune, with the average Brit throwing out almost £700-worth of broken or unwanted possessions every year. The bin man will collect £80-worth of furniture, £77-worth of electricals and £73-worth of home appliances from each Brit per...

Specsavers has moved to put permanent dibs on the commonly-used verb "should've" after the opticians approached the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for a trademark. The company used the phrase "should've gone to Specsavers" in it marketing and branding and has become commonly associated with the word, which has given it grounds to apply for exclusive use. If approved, it would mean that other companies will not be able to use "should've" and "shouldve" in their marketing. Despite some commentators demonstrating...

The World's largest windfarm is to be built off the Yorkshire coast after the government gave the go-ahead for the project in Hornsea. In what Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark dubbed "as a marker of the UK’s status as a global leader in offshore wind”, the windfarm will consist of 300 turbines that will have the capability of generating enough electricity to power 1.8 million homes. He said: “The industry has grown at an extraordinary rate over the last few years, and is...

In the latest attempt to reduce air pollution across London, the city’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) could be introduced as early as 2019. This will be a year earlier than previously anticipated, with the roll-out initially focused on inner London, before expanding to both the North and South Circular starting from 2020. Mr Khan stated: “Just as in the 1950s, air pollution in London today is literally killing Londoners. But unlike...

The train system in the UK has always been the Achilles heel of the UK, a small-ish country, who simply can’t get their heads around running a train service efficiently and at a reasonable price. Ask any commuter in Surrey or Sussex what the think of their train service and I am pretty sure a number of expletives will be used. We all have our own horror stories of delays, sky high prices etc. For me, to get the “cheap”...

Almost all scientists agree that climate change is a fact and a huge issue that could wipe humans from the planet, but sadly quite a lot of people don't think it is real. Well step forward a newly elected Australian politician who thinks climate change is in fact a climate change, manipulated by NASA of all people. Don't worry though Professor Brian Cox was on hand to sort him out with, cold hard facts, something that seem to be increasingly...

As house prices have began to fall in the capital, there is more news that London may be struggling, perhaps the gloss has come off the largest city in the UK, until recently one of the most desirable cities in the world to live in. Now a new study has found that people living in the capital have the worst debt issues of anyone else in the UK. This news will come as no shock to people struggling in the...