VIDEO: Leopard on the loose in Indian school
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A leopard entered a school in the Indian city of Bangalore and injured six people while trying to capture it. It took ten hours to catch and tranquillise the animal, which entered the Vibgyor International school on Sunday. A scientist, a forestry employee and a TV camera man were among those hurt, although all the injuries were minor. Watch Video Here
Tory tax credit U-turn to hurt up to 800,000 families
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A little noticed change that slipped past the Chancellor’s U-turn will clobber hundreds of thousands of workers. George Osborne stated he was ditching tax credit cuts, which would have seen over three million families lose around £1,300 per annum. However, it has been revealed that changes to the 'income rise disregard' would still go ahead from April this year. The policy, which says how much income can increase by before tax credits are recalculated, will...
Trash Journalism Is A Threat To Democracy
Some recent news items: Celebrity Big Brother contestant's possible affair, Oscar nominee takes his clothes off, Madonna's son seen with 'suspicious-looking' cigarette. This kind of trash journalism is everywhere. It clutters social media and arrogantly masquerades as socially relevant information. Every serious journalist should choke on stories about Kim Kardashian's arse and Made in Chelsea break-ups. And like a neighbour who's built a heap of rotting rubbish in his garden, pseudo-news is more than just an eyesore – it's genuinely...
Alex Lodge: Weekly Report Vol. 34
By Alex Lodge (@alexlodgemusic | Insta @alexlodgemusic7) Alex Lodge is a music supervisor for film, TV and advertising at Studio 32 Music. 2016 has really gotten its claws in now. New releases are starting to come thick and fast, including some very interesting re-releases. I’ve included a track from the Bread Woman project from Anna Holmer and Steve Moshier, a definite contender for re-release of the year. Also an unbelievable Moroccan funk cover of James Brown’s ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New...
Breweries And Music Line Up Announced For Craft Beer Rising 2016
Over 600 beers and ciders will feature at next month's Craft Beer Rising festival at The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. This year will see the largest and most diverse mix so far, featuring established UK breweries such as Beavertown, Thornbridge, and Harviestoun, to international talent from Little Bichos, Lagunitas, Mikkheller, and Bronx Brewery. A selection of newcomers will also make their debut with Bad Seed and Mondo both making an appearance. But it's not just about the beer. Brand new for 2016 is a...
Independent Venue Week Review: Oscar
By Declan Roberts (@DeclanMR) 28.1.16, Engine Rooms, Southampton SXSW has finally found its way to the south coast of England. Radio 6’s Steve Lamacq has brought new bands to Southampton’s Engine Rooms for Independent Venue Week, flaunting some of 2016’s most promising acts. Avec Sans - a duo from London who make dance/electronic music – open the night with a speaker-busting bass blast. The short sharp shock of distortion is attention-grabbing; Jack St. James’ drum machine is an added bonus,...
Tory MP forgot declaration of £400,000…but remembered 49p claim for milk
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Geoffrey Cox, Westminster's highest-earning Tory MP was a tad careless and forgot to declare £400k worth of income from outside interests, but managed to remember to claim for a pint of milk, at a cost of 49 pence. Cox is paid £74,000 a year as an MP but works hundreds of hours as a QC. Unfortunately he broke time limits for registering five hundred hours work he did between Jan and Aug 2015. His excuse...
The Weekly Cocktail Recipe – Las Iguanas’ ‘Carnival Kitsch’
By Jonathan Hatchman, Food Editor, @TLE_Food Today (February 5th) marks the start of the world famous Rio Carnival, so to tie in with celebrating the festival carrying on into the weekend, Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas have created their own celebratory cocktail. Combining Malibu, blue curacao, mango and orange, ‘Carnival Kitsch’ is available from Las Iguanas until Tuesday (February 9th) priced at £8.95. Alternatively, the restaurant has shared the simple recipe for readers to celebrate Rio Carnival and make...
Cutting Running Costs and ‘Bed Blocking’ Would Save NHS £5bn a Year
By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Inefficiencies in the NHS is costing five billions pounds a year. Patients staying in hospital too long, reliance on agency workers, costly supplies and inefficient use of staff is making a huge strain on the public purse. Two official reports have published these findings. 8,500 “bedblocking” patients are stuck in NHS hospitals on a daily basis – costing £900m a year and increasing the need to use the private sector to meet patients' needs. Jeremy Hunt, the...