Industry

Investigation after man stabbed in city centre

by Angela
written by Angela

A police investigation is under way after a man was stabbed in Nottingham city centre.

A man in his 30s was attacked in Market Street at about 11:50 BST on Monday, and was taken to hospital with injuries that were "not thought to be life-altering or life-threatening", according to Nottinghamshire Police.

Police put a cordon in place at about 12:00 and the road was closed, causing disruption to tram and bus services.

Ch Insp Neil Humphris said: "This was an appalling act of violence carried out in full view of members of the public."

"A team of detectives is now working to understand exactly what happened in the moments before, during and after this incident," Ch Insp Humphris added.

"To this end they want to hear from anyone who saw or heard any part of what happened.

"We understand the concern incidents of this nature can cause and people should expect to see an increased police presence while we investigate the circumstances."

Tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) confirmed at 13:40 that it was running a full service once again.

Nottingham City Transport confirmed buses were back to normal routes following the closure, but advised passengers of possible delays.

Innovation

I felt like a burden as I figured out my sexuality

by Paisley
written by Paisley

A reality TV star has opened up about how figuring out his sexuality made him feel "like a burden in the world".

"I used to hold everything to my chest and show a fake face and a smile [while] inside I was crumbling," said Jake Devline-Reed, 29, from Swansea, who was a contestant on BBC Three's I Kissed a Boy in 2023.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or a minority sexual orientation are more than twice as at risk of self-harm and suicide than heterosexual people.

Mr Devline-Reed has teamed up with not-for-profit men's mental health organisation Helpu to launch a new online support group to help gay and bisexual men across Wales.

"When I was in school, I used to get bullied for being chubby and my lisp, my dyslexia, and I got bullied when my dad passed away," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"I struggled with my own mental health as a kid, finding healthy ways to manage my insecurities with gardening, walking, hiking, stuff like that.

"School is a bit brutal, especially when you're hitting puberty, not knowing what's happening next and not knowing your own sexuality as well.

"At one point, I reached that dark path where I felt like a burden in the world, felt like I didn't belong."

Industry

Beach electricity cable plans approved

by Kevin
written by Kevin

Highly controversial plans to bring an electricity cable from an offshore wind farm onshore at a Devon beach have been approved.

White Cross offshore windfarm wants to put seven floating turbines about 30 miles (52km) off the north Devon coast and plans to bring a power cable onshore at Saunton Sands, then under Braunton Burrows and across the Taw Estuary to connect to a new electricity substation.

More than 1,800 people objected to the plans.

Councillors at the North Devon Council planning meeting held at Barnstaple Rugby Club were won over by the developers' argument that the project would create new jobs and bring renewable energy to the region.

Protesters came to the planning meeting to try to stop the cable plans

Objectors cited concerns about the impact on tourism, on the environment and about high numbers of heavy goods vehicles.

About 100 members of the public came to the meeting with the vast majority against the plans.

Lucie Tamlyn, from Saunton Beach Villas, said there would be a huge impact on tourism.

She said: "We can't see how we would continue to attract guests during these works."

Helen Cooper, who has led a campaign to oppose the plans, said she was "bitterly disappointed but not surprised".

The electricity cable will be brought onshore at the north end of Saunton Sands under the plans

Leading figures from business and education spoke in favour of the application at the meeting held at Barnstaple Rugby Club.

Paul Coles, CEO of the South West Business Council, told councillors they should be excited about the opportunity and said: "Let's play a real part in delivering renewable energy in our region."

Bill Blythe, vice principal of Petroc College, described the project as "an investment in renewable energy and in the future of our students".

He said the scheme would bring "high quality jobs while preserving what makes our region special".

Al Rayner, the project director for White Cross, promised his company would "inject £153m into the local economy" and it was an "enormous" opportunity.

Global Trade

Plans submitted for 101 home development

by Jennifer
written by Jennifer

New plans have been submitted for a major high street development providing homes, a village square and shops.

Developer London Square wants to build 101 homes in Ascot, with space for businesses, community use and a park, south of High Street and east of the town's fire station.

A previous set of plans for 132 homes were dropped by the developer just days before they were set for refusal by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Council officers argued the previous plans did not include enough affordable housing and had an "unnecessary reliance" on private cars.

Currently, the land is close to Ascot railway station and is being used as a car park for the racecourse.

New plans have reduced the number of homes and said 40% will be affordable, which complies with council standards.

These would be 29 homes and 72 apartments, including 33 one-bedroom apartments, 29 two-bedroom apartments, 10 three-bedroom apartments, 16 three-bedroom homes and 13 four-bedroom homes.

Each apartment would have a private balcony, communal terrace or garden, with all homes provided with a private garden plus 135 car parking spaces.

A village green will make up 26% of the total land.

Along with the homes and green space, 960m sq of floor space would be provided, which could be used for offices, shops, restaurants and cafes.

Ricardo Rossetti from London Square said: "We hope that the quality of the updated application will be well received and assist in meeting long standing objectives to bring positive benefits to Ascot."

The plans have been received by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and are currently under consultation.

Innovation

Plan to build 250 new homes in village submitted

by Theodore
written by Theodore

A developer has requested planning permission to build 250 new homes in a Surrey village.

Mac Mic Group submitted an outline planning application with details of the proposed neighbourhood in Stoke D'Abernon.

Nearly 300 people raised objections to the Blundel Lane scheme, named The Paddocks, at an earlier stage of the planning process.

The developer said in planning documents the scheme would "make a vital contribution towards meeting local housing needs".

The proposal currently consists of a mix of apartments, terraced, semi-detached and detached homes of between one and four bedrooms each, half of which would be available below market value.

This could be altered at a later planning stage, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The plan "respects and enhances the natural beauty of the site and its context", according to the developer.

Two access points from Blundel Lane are proposed for the green belt site, as well as a pedestrian and cycle route along the road.

The land is currently covered by rough grass, scrub and areas of mature trees and is partially used for private horse riding, according to planning documents.

Objectors raised concerns about increased traffic, damage to the "semi-rural character of the village" and the "impact on crumbling infrastructure" at the previous planning stage.

Market

Specially-adapted minibuses destroyed in fire

by Jordan
written by Jordan

Seven specially-adapted minibuses used by people with disabilities and schoolchildren have been destroyed in a fire.

Police and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to Silk Mills Park and Ride in Taunton just after 19:50 BST on Saturday.

Nobody was hurt in the incident but the minibuses, which belong to Somerset Council, were destroyed at the compound in Bishops Hull.

Avon and Somerset Police said it is investigating the incident, which it said will have a "significant impact" on vulnerable members of the community.

Business

Dangerous driving arrest after van crashes into sign

by Morgan
written by Morgan

A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a van crashed into a car and flipped over into a pub sign.

Nottinghamshire Police said a 22-year-old man was arrested following the collision near the Radcliffe pub in Shelford Road, Radcliffe-on-Trent, at 13:20 BST on Monday.

He was also arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink and failing to stop following a road accident after being treated in hospital for minor injuries, the force said.

Sgt Nathan Lewis, of Nottinghamshire Police, said it was an "incredibly dangerous situation".

Police said the motorist had reportedly been driving in a dangerous manner, speeding and overtaking other cars on bends before losing control near the pub entrance and crashing into its sign.

The van was "completely written-off" and another car sustained "significant damage", the force said.

Sgt Lewis said: "This was an incredibly dangerous situation that thankfully didn't result in anyone sustaining any injuries.

"That this didn't happen was down to sheer luck, when you consider the damage caused to both vehicles and the crash's location near the entrance to a pub."

Tech

Firefighters to hold training drills at hospital

by Logan
written by Logan

Fire crews will take part in a training exercise at Lincoln County Hospital to help prepare them for high-rise emergency situations.

The sessions will be carried out in an area currently under refurbishment and synthetic smoke will be used to emulate real-life scenarios.

Fifty firefighters and six fire engines will be involved later and on Thursday, and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has urged people not to be alarmed.

Matt King, head of response at the fire service, said: "It's a brilliant opportunity for us to test our plans and preparedness."

He added: "It's really about making sure that we are well prepared for real-life emergencies.

"We really want to reassure people that there will be a lot of activity going on, there will be a lot of fire appliances, but there is nothing to be worried about.

"There is no fire involved, and it is just us in a training environment."

Firefighters will be on site from 19:00 to 21:00 BST, and on Thursday from 13:30 to 15:30 and 19:00 to 21:00.

Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds latest episode of Look North here.

Innovation

The Wurzels write song using artificial intelligence

by Victoria
written by Victoria

Folk band The Wurzels have released a new single written by artificial intelligence (AI) called Wurzel Me Up.

The Somerset band, best known for songs such as The Combine Harvester and I Am A Cider Drinker, said they had decided to use the technology as they had not written a song for a while.

Singer Pete Budd, 84, said: "We realised that it was a long time since we had written a new pop tune. We needed some 'cutting-hedge' technology."

The band's longest-serving member, Tommy Banner, 85, added: "We decided to explore this new artificial world to see if it could help us analyse our catalogue of Wurzel songs and give us some lyrical inspiration for a new release."

Tech

Voting for new Pope set to begin with cardinals entering secret conclave

by Jason
written by Jason

On Wednesday evening, under the domed ceiling of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, 133 cardinals will vote to elect the Catholic Church's 267th pope.

The day will begin at 10:00 (09:00 BST) with a mass in St Peter's Basilica. The service, which will be televised, will be presided over by Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Cardinal Dean who was also the celebrant of Pope Francis' funeral.

In the early afternoon, mobile signal within the territory of the Vatican will be deactivated to prevent anyone taking part in the conclave from contacting the outside world.

Around 16:15 (15:15 BST), the 133 cardinal electors will gather in the Pauline Chapel and form a procession to the Sistine Chapel.

All the while they will be singing a litany and the hymn Veni Creator – an invocation to the Holy Spirit, which is seen as the guiding hand that will help cardinals choose the new Pope.

Once in the Sistine Chapel, one hand resting on a copy of the Gospel, the cardinals will pronounce the prescribed oath of secrecy which precludes them from ever sharing details about how the new Pope was elected.

  • Follow the latest updates
  • How the Vatican keeps its pap vote secret

When the last of the electors has taken the oath, a meditation will be held. Then, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations Diego Ravelli will announce "extra omnes" ("everybody out").

He is one of three ecclesiastical staff allowed to stay in the Sistine Chapel despite not being a cardinal elector, even though they will have to leave the premises during the counting of the votes.

The moment "extra omnes" is pronounced marks the start of the cardinals' isolation – and the start of the conclave.

The word, which comes from the Latin for "cum clave", or "locked with key" is slightly misleading, as the cardinals are no longer locked inside; rather, on Tuesday Vatican officials closed the entrances to the Apostolic Palace – which includes the Sistine Chapel- with lead seals which will remain until the end of the proceedings. Swiss guards will also flank all the entrances to the chapel.

Getty Images
Cardinals gathered during the funeral of Pope Francis at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican in April

Diego Ravelli will distribute ballot papers, and the cardinals will proceed to the first vote soon after.

While nothing forbids the Pope from being elected with the first vote, it has not happened in centuries. Still, that first ballot is very important, says Austen Ivereigh, a Catholic writer and commentator.

"The cardinals who have more than 20 votes will be taken into consideration. In the first ballot the votes will be very scattered and the electors know they have to concentrate on the ones that have numbers," says Ivereigh.

He adds that every other ballot thereafter will indicate which of the cardinals have the momentum. "It's almost like a political campaign… but it's not really a competition; it's an effort by the body to find consensus."

If the vote doesn't yield the two-third majority needed to elect the new pope, the cardinals go back to guesthouse Casa Santa Marta for dinner. It is then, on the sidelines of the voting process, that important conversations among the cardinals take place and consensus begins to coalesce around different names.

According to Italian media, the menu options consist of light dishes which are usually served to guests of the residence, and includes wine – but no spirits. The waiters and kitchen staff are also sworn to secrecy and cannot leave the grounds for the duration of the conclave.

Getty Images
Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday 2025

From Thursday morning, cardinals will be taking breakfast between 06:30 (05:30 BST) and 07:30 (06:30 BST) ahead of mass at 08:15 (07:15 BST). Two votes then take place in the morning, followed by lunch and rest. In his memoirs, Pope Francis said that was when he began to receive signals from the other cardinals that serious consensus was beginning to form around him; he was elected during the first afternoon vote. The last two conclaves have all concluded by the end of the second day.

There is no way of knowing at this stage whether this will be a long or a short conclave – but cardinals are aware that dragging the proceedings on could be interpreted as a sign of gaping disagreements.

As they discuss, pray and vote, outside the boarded-up windows of the Sistine Chapel thousands of faithful will be looking up to the chimney to the right of St Peter's Basilica, waiting for the white plume of smoke to signal that the next pope has been elected.