Category: United Kingdom

Pacific islands first to welcome in new year

Islands in Polynesia and the Central Pacific have ushered in the new year as the UK counts down to the start of 2017. Cities in the island nations of Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were the first to welcome the new year as the clock hit 10am on New Year’s Eve in London.

2016 Mattapoisett Woman of the Year: Jo Pannell never stops giving to the town

The Council on Aging, the Historical Commission and Society and the public library - Jo Pannell has more than made her mark on all these town organizations in decades as a dedicated volunteer.  She worked with persistence to obtain the town’s first wheelchair accessible van, COA treasurer Liz Field said in her written recommendation of Pannell, and she is helping to create the Brick Memorial Park walkway at Ned’s Point and Shipyard Park.  As Field’s recommendation points out, Pannell has been a member of the Historical Commission since 1998 and is now chairman. She’s a member of the Friends of the Public Library and a regular volunteer there.

Pic credit: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Photographers, dance teachers, anti-slavery ambassadors, and charity and community workers are among those named in the New Year’s Honours list. The British Empire Medal is a medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.

Team GB lead the way in New Year Honours list

Britain’s first ever Tour de France cyclist, a cutler to the Queen with 76 years under his belt and the director of an agricultural show are among the Yorkshire recipients of New Year’s Honours Nationally, Olympic heroes Mo Farah, Andy Murray and Sheffield’ Jessica Ennis-Hill lead the way in a list dominated by Rio 2016’s Team GB. Others who will claim the title Sir in the new year include Kinks frontman Ray Davies, 72, and veteran comic Ken Dodd, 89, recognised for services to the arts, and entertainment and charity, respectively.

I lived in Times Square for a year – here’s what it’s like…

Registration will allow you to post comments on ctpost.com and create a ctpost.com Subscriber Portal account for you to manage subscriptions and email preferences. I lived in Times Square for a year – here’s what it’s like to live in the most hectic part of New York City NEW YORK – While most New Yorkers avoid the wandering crowds of tourists, costumed characters, and bombarding big screens of Times Square, I chose to live there.

Councillor cash goes to worthwhile local projects

Hertsmere Borough Council ‘s Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme gives each of the 39 councillors A 500 to spend on projects throughout the year. Cllr Morris Bright , Leader of the Council, said: “Our Ward Improvement Initiative Scheme is all about funding small projects in local areas to benefit active communities.

All the fun of the Bear! Whittlesey to fight off winter blues with…

Thousands of people are expected to descend on the Fenland town from all over the world for the annual event, which this year runs from January 13-15. The colourful folk festival will see about hundreds of performers follow the Straw Bear around the town, on what promoters say will be a “fascinating weekend of music, colour, humour and dancing.”

Money pours in for young dad who has lost leg and hand

NEARLY A 20,000 has been raised for a Swindon dad left with life-changing injuries after he suffered an electrical shock while working on scaffolding last week. Jamie Mines was five meters up on the scaffolding in Galton Way last Monday when the accident happened, seeing crews from Swindon, Stratton and Chippenham attend.

Breaking Live: Newport-Cardiff trains disrupted as engineering works overrun

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: “Due to overrunning engineering works in the Cardiff area, there will be disruption to services on the South Wales Mainline and Valley line services at the start of service this morning. Up until just after 8am this morning, trains travelling to/from the east and north continued to start and terminate at Newport, as well as running between Swansea and Bridgend.

Economy in doubt, Brits save

Britons are holding on to their cash in a sign that they may be hunkering down in the face of economic uncertainties, according to the British Bankers Association. Personal deposits grew an annual 4.8 percent in November, data compiled by the association show.

Economy in doubt, Brits save

Britons are holding on to their cash in a sign that they may be hunkering down in the face of economic uncertainties, according to the British Bankers Association. Personal deposits grew an annual 4.8 percent in November, data compiled by the association show.

Residents say new homes could increase flooding risk

RESIDENTS opposed to a new housing development on a former football field in Apperley Bridge have claimed that building on the site could pose a flood risk to nearby homes. Bellway Homes has applied to Bradford Council to build 45 houses on the Harrogate Road site, which was the home of local amateur side Crag Road United until 2011.

Jobs to be created at new care home

Outside the new development of Windsor Court, from left are, Bryn Bates, relationship director healthcare, Royal Bank of Scotland, Shona Williams, company secretary, Horizon Healthcare Homes Limited, and Roger Williams CEO, of Horizon Healthcare Homes Lim It is being developed by Leeds-based Horizon Healthcare Homes, which also runs the Beckside Lodge care home in Cooper Lane, Buttershaw . The new home, on the site of the former Bell Dean pub, which was knocked down in 2015, will have eight bedrooms.

Chris Gillespie, Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch and More Slated for Bemelmans Bar This Winter

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel, will welcome Chris Gillespie , Champian Fulton and Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch to Bemelmans Bar for Sunday night residencies throughout the winter 2017 season. Featuring top artists from the worlds of jazz, cabaret and Broadway alongside special unannounced guests, Sunday nights at Bemelmans Bar have become a favorite spot for a wide range of performing musicians across the city.

Vicky’s Six Brilliant Things to do this Week

THE Emperor and the Nightingale by Neil Duffield, based on The Nightingale by Hans Christian Andersen is showing at Theatre by the Lake until January 14 . This charming tale of China’s young emperor Wu, who is kept a virtual prisoner in his palace by his scheming guardian and told the world outside the Forbidden City is a dangerous place.

Hartlepool youngsters showcase their maths skills Shanghai-style

Year 6 pupils from Eldon Grove Academy, Hartlepool, demonstrated their flair for fractions at an open classroom event under the expert tuition of teachers Huang Wei-yi of the Shanghai Huangpu Luwan No1 Central Primary School and Peng Yu-yun of the First Central Primary School of Jingan District, China. The live lesson, watched by dozens of headteachers from across the North East at Hartlepool College of Further Education, was the culmination of a primary maths global exchange programme.

Deadline looms for flood grant applications

Flood-affected residents and businesses across Calderdale are being reminded that time is running out to apply for grants to repair and protect their properties, as the application deadlines are fast approaching. Calderdale was the worst hit area by the unprecedented floods last Boxing Day, with over 2000 residents and more than 1000 businesses flooded.

Deadline looms for flood grant applications

Flood-affected residents and businesses across Calderdale are being reminded that time is running out to apply for grants to repair and protect their properties, as the application deadlines are fast approaching. Calderdale was the worst hit area by the unprecedented floods last Boxing Day, with over 2000 residents and more than 1000 businesses flooded.

More years lost for whites versus South Asians, blacks with T2DM

Whites with type 2 diabetes have more life years lost than South Asians or blacks, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in Diabetes Care . Alison K. Wright, Ph.D., from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a cohort study using Clinical Practice Research Datalink data from 383 general practices in England.

More volunteers wanted for befriending service

Silver Talk, run by housing provider Isos, needs additional call handlers to join its nine-strong team – which keeps in regular, weekly contact with elderly tenants. Operating from its offices in Burn Lane, Hexham, the free and confidential befriending service is available to its tenants across the county.

Fireworks drama in King’s Lynn on Christmas Day

The drama unfolded at about 2.30pm when the ambulance were called to the park off Tennyson Avenue to deal with a man who had been badly burnt by “an explosion of fireworks”. The East Anglian Air Ambulance was called and the man was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge but later transferred to the critical burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

Former Union Flag protestor credited with aiding Trump election victory

Jim Dowson addressing loyalist flag protesters at a demonstration against the decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall A loyalist convicted over his role in the Belfast flag protests has been credited with helping Donald Trump win the US presidential election. According to the New York Times, Jim Dowson – a regular speaker at rallies protesting against the decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall in 2012 – bombarded millions of Americans with “fake news” demonising Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton.