In pictures: Residents told to stay put as council removes cladding
Frightened residents living in a 16-floor tower block say they do not feel safe after part of its cladding failed fire safety checks. Tenants have been told it is safe to stay in their flats while the council removes the cladding from Hanover Tower in Sheffield which contains 125 flats. The removal comes as Jane Dunn, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, admitted today that the cladding at Hanover Tower was not solid aluminium - as previously understood. Independent fire...
Gigantic “corpse flower” blooms for first time in 13 years
A rare flower that stinks of ROTTING FLESH has bloomed at a prestigious university garden. The Titan Arum - also known as the corpse flower - at Cambridge University's Botanic Garden burst into life on Monday night. Hundreds of people gathered for the occurrence which was happening for the first time in 13 years. The flower emits a rancid stench to attract pollinators and is more pungent at night when it heats up to about 40C. Prof Beverley Glover, director...
Cellist makes emotional return to stage to raise money for epilepsy
When cellist Anna Frazer played her first concerto with a full orchestra, it was an emotional moment for both her and her family. Anna is principal cello at London's Adoramus Orchestra but 16 years ago she made the difficult decision to give up her career as a full- time professional musician when her then six-year-old son William was diagnosed with epilepsy. But when the Radcliffe Orchestra, made up of medics from hospitals in the Oxford area, invited Anna to be...
Theatre Review: HIR, Bush Theatre
When the weather reaches over 30 degrees, all plays should have to incorporate an air conditioning unit into their set by law. Fortunately, HIR has come prepared, and sitting in the auditorium of the Bush Theatre is a sweet, blessed relief after the persistent heat wave raging outside. In the middle of the auditorium is a kitchen, with the audience sitting along each of the two long sides. Both edges of the stage are littered with laundry. Chairs are stacked...
History proves a US-backed regime change in Iran won’t work
The 1953 coup d’état was a failure. How could any politician believe this time would be any different? By Daniel Khalili-Tari Sixty-four years on from the calamitous Operation Ajax backed by the US and Britain why are some US politicians hinting for another regime change in Persia? Why after plunging Iran into a state of complete despair are some Republicans so keen to further abridge Iran? And why is President Trump so eager to use the violent actions of some Iranians...
London bookshop reveals shocking conspiracy about Griffin Poetry Prize
A London bookshop has uncovered a shocking conspiracy about the coveted Griffin Poetry Prize, linking winners of the award to the TV drama Midsomer Murders. The thread, which starts "does anyone want to hear my conspiracy theory", links winners of the poetry prize to elements of the show dating back as far as 2005. Although the latest incidents seem quite normal - Alice Oswald won the Griffin Prize in 2017 for 'Falling Awake' and her brother, Will Keen, played 'Preaching' Pete Kubatski in Midsomer...
Britain’s Most Hipster School Opens With No Rules, No Exams And Lessons In A Yurt
Britain’s most hipster school has opened where children have no rules, exams or uniform, climb trees barefoot and learn just three days a week – in a YURT. Pupils at The Green House Education Project spend their time playing outside and wearing what they like. They don’t have desks but instead sit on blankets and huddle round wood burning stoves. The kids are not tutored in traditional subjects but instead are taught ‘how to resolve problems’, ‘find their real passion...
Watch – Man miraculously survives being hit by out of control bus
This is the moment a man miraculously survives being hit and almost run over by an out of control bus - before walking away almost completely unharmed. Simon Smith, 53, was thrown down the street when the runaway double decker careered onto the pavement and ploughed straight into him. The impact of his head hitting the windscreen shattered the glass, yet he got up from the pavement seconds later. Astonishing CCTV footage taken at the scene shows Simon calmly walking...
Jeremy Hunt accused of cover up and conflict of interest in lost NHS patients records scandal
In extraordinary scenes in the House of Commons today, the Health Secretary was accused of a cover up and conflict of interest while presiding over the biggest scandal of lost patients records ever revealed in the NHS by his Labour Party counterpart in an emergency debate and responded: “transparency is not an absolute virtue.” Hundreds of thousands of confidential patient records contracted to be looked after by a company half owned by Jeremy Hunt's Department for Health and half owned...