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BBC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Jenkyns to host Lincolnshire Great Exhibition based on 1851 event
The mayor of Greater Lincolnshire has announced details of a major event to promote "our amazing county".Dame Andrea Jenkyns said she had taken inspiration from the Great Exhibition of 1851, which showcased the industrial and cultural achievements of the UK and other nations to the Lincolnshire version would feature the very best of local innovation, invention and technology, she is due to be held at the Lincolnshire Showground, near Lincoln, on 22 October. Dame Andrea said the aim of the inaugural event was to attract new investment and trade, with the guest list including overseas delegates and investors, business figures and leading hoped the "Great Exhibition" would raise the county's economic profile and become a "flagship annual event" showcasing all that was great about the county."We are truly world-leading in some key industry sectors and have extraordinary potential for inward investment and innovation," she said."Our county is rich in so many ways – it is a place to trade, to innovate, and to invest." Dame Andrea pledged to stage the exhibition following her victory in May's mayoral election, when she represented Reform her victory speech, she vowed Reform would "reset Britain to its glorious past".The Great Exhibition of 1851 was the idea of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, who wanted to show off the work of the best inventors and scientists in the was staged at the mammoth Crystal Palace and attracted six million people, with notable attendees including Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte and Charles money made from the exhibition was used to set up the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum in London. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
CBS News
a day ago
- Science
- CBS News
Squishing spotted lanternflies isn't enough to eradicate the invasive insects. Here's what else you can do.
The dreaded spotted lanternfly doesn't bite and doesn't sting, but we have all been told to kill the invasive insect on sight. They are making a big comeback this summer and experts say there is a lot more you can do than just squish them to help end the threat. It may feel like you're helping, but experts say stomping on spotted lanternflies is no longer enough. They have been spotted nearly everywhere on Long Island this month, with many residents telling CBS News New York they have seen the insects in cars, on streets, on lawns, and even on themselves. Brittany Champey, with Spadefoot Design and Construction, says to halt the lanternflies' relentless attack on trees people need to rip out the invasive species or weeds they feed on. "If you really want to make a difference, you have to go where they are congregating," Champney said. "The biggest impact any person can make is doing invasive species removal." Champney says to take stock of what's growing in your yard. "Everybody should take a look at their backyards, which of these invasive species do they have, and how can they remove them because that directly impacts the lanternfly population," she said. That's what Spadefoot did on the grounds of the Science Museum of Long Island, replacing invasive with native plants. But in areas where invasive weeds still grow, armies of lanternflies are prevalent and about to grow wings. The insects, native to China, were first seen in the U.S. in 2014. They literally suck the sap out of 100 of our plant species, including grape vines. "Once an infestation takes over a winery they can reduce the crop by 90% or more in just one season," Champney said. They lay their eggs of the Tree of Heaven trees, and experts say those especially should be ripped out. "When the spotted lanternfly has access to that Tree of Heaven, that weedy species, it can lay seven times the number of eggs," said Brian Eschenaur of the Cornell Integrative Pest Management Program. Eschenaur says along with ripping out Tree of Heaven plants in your yard, you should buy or build traps with fly paper bags and even suck the insects up with a vacuum. "Take that Shop-Vac outside. That can be very effective," Eschenaur said. Another thing the public can do is check cars to make sure motorists are not giving the bugs a lift out East, where Long Island vineyards are on high alert. Lanternflies have already been spotted in the Finger Lakes wine region.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
William Wall: How a decades-old hip replacement turned me into a medical exhibit in Italy
My ancient artificial hip came apart as I was on my way to speak at a secondary school in the city of Genoa. It was, to say the least, painful. It wasn't exactly new. In fact it was 42 years old, well past its sell-by date as defined by the surgeon who gave it to me back in the prehistory of 1982. "It should last 25 years," he said. So much for guarantees! In Italy you can walk in (or hobble) and get an X-ray without a doctor's letter and have it read on the spot and so I did. I got a taxi to the centre. When the radiologist saw it he went pale. "You shouldn't be standing up, let alone walking," he said. "It's OK," I replied, "I have a taxi waiting outside". That did nothing to calm him. "Go to the hospital immediately," he said. I went home and phoned a friend. Maria Rosa was one of the first friends we made in Camogli. Former proprietor of a famous family restaurant where, among other stars, Umberto Eco used to eat, we couldn't have a better or more capable advisor. She took one look at me and called an ambulance. Fifteen minutes later I was on my way to San Martino, one of the biggest hospitals in Europe and a centre of excellence for orthopaedics. Before leaving I had phoned my GP in Ireland for advice. Should I fly home? "No" was his advice. "Stay where you are. They're used to skiing accidents, people falling off scooters, mad cyclists, car accidents. You couldn't be in a better place." He didn't say, perhaps not wishing to scare me, that flying brought the risk of thrombosis if your hip wasn't properly connected to the rest of your body. Writer William Wall. Picture: Larry Cummins When I presented them with the x-ray at A&E, the doctor there was puzzled. She had never seen a hip of that shape before. Did I have the technical details? I didn't, but my son Oisín used to be a curator at the Science Museum in London and they had one there, I could ask him. I texted him and shortly afterwards he replied with the full spec. The doctor burst out laughing. "I've read about this in the history of medicine," she said, "but I never expected to see one in my practice!" From then on I was Exhibit A. As they moved me first to Orthopaedic Emergencies and then to Complex Orthopaedic Injuries I became the centre of attention for every junior doctor and registrar in the place. I had my history taken by, perhaps, ten different people. Since nobody spoke English I developed a detailed Italian vocabulary on orthopaedics and medical procedures. I got to the point where I could recite my story by heart so that when, one evening, I was called upon by a Brazilian surgeon registrar who spoke English fluently, I didn't recognise the fact that he was speaking my language and kept replying to him in Italian until he pointed it out to me. The primario or chief surgeon was a quiet spoken, serious man, a professor of surgery at the university. They had no experience with hips of this type and age, he told me, and they would need to take some time to research it and get the right parts and instruments. He would keep me informed. In the meantime, I was, on no account, to leave my bed, there were huge risks and he couldn't believe I had been walking about on what was left of the hip before presenting at A&E. I joked that they wouldn't be engaged in surgery but in archaeology and that my hip was an historical artefact. Could I have it back? I'd like to have it mounted as a piece of sculpture. Chuckles all round. They'd think about it, but there were protocols to be observed By then I had no pain, my bed was beside a window that looked out on a little copse of pine trees full of colourful parrots, and the patient in the next bed in our two-bed room was a retired teacher who loved to talk about books. I settled in for a long wait, happy to be in good hands. Operation easier than first time round The operation, five days later, was much easier than the first time round. Anaesthetics have developed since 1982, and medicine has learned a lot more about what was once a revolutionary form of surgery. It's not that hip operations are routine, especially not when the object of the surgery belongs in a museum (and I don't mean me), but almost everything is known about them now and the procedure is well understood. Back in 1982 you spent a week in bed after the operation with the leg suspended in a flexible cradle. I don't know why, but at the time I thought of it as waiting for the glue to set. My metaphor, to paraphrase Miss Prism in The Importance of Being Earnest, was drawn from carpentry. And a doctor once said to me that orthopaedic surgery was essentially carpentry with blood. But with the new operation you're on your feet the day after and it is not fun. My previous hip was 42 years old and well past its sell-by date. File picture Possibly the worst part is the irrational fear that the artificial joint of titanium steel might 'break', despite the fact that you know that thousands of patients all over the world are getting awkwardly out of bed and standing on their shiny new steel prosthesis every day. Anyway, I did it and it didn't break. And afterwards there were six weeks of home physiotherapy as part of the process. And none of this cost a cent because I have a tessera sanitaria, a kind of healthcare card. On the other hand, as a citizen of the European Union, I would also have been entitled to free treatment with the standard EHIC. By contrast, I'm told that the replacement of a broken prosthesis would not necessarily be regarded as an emergency in Ireland and the mean waiting time for a hip replacement is around 80 days I won't even mention our peculiar public/private hybrid medical system and the vagaries of health insurance, nor the fact that the six weeks of home visits by a physiotherapist would be outside my wildest dreams in Cork. The healthcare system in Italy is superb even if it is under severe ideological pressure from the Right. Beginning with Silvio Berlusconi, a process of regionalisation has given control to each regional administration and the result is considerable unevenness, especially in the southern regions. Nevertheless, life expectancy in Italy is the fourth highest in the OECD. Do I have complaints? Certainly none about the medical or ancillary staff, nor about the treatment or follow-up care. All were exemplary. My one complaint is that the food was terrible. In a land where food is the constant topic of conversation, where a stranger is likely to ask what you had to eat the day before by way of polite conversation, where to be served a greasy lasagna means pistols at dawn, to say that I survived almost entirely on beef broth and the panini Liz brought me in is surely enough to condemn the entire system! Even at that I lost 3kg in as many weeks. Of course, I couldn't have lost them if I didn't have them to spare, so there is that. Oh, and my other 42-year-old hip is still doing fine, thanks very much. Happy days. Oh, and I never got my old hip back. William Wall's most recent novel is Writers Anonymous (New Island, 2025), a gripping story of a forgotten murder. Set in West Cork it has been described as 'Playful and propulsive, sinister and melancholic' by writer Colin Walsh, and 'insightful and elegiac' by Cillian Murphy. Mick Clifford is away.
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Small And Mighty: How The UK Is Powering Up Its Microbusinesses
Small Business Britain launches a nationwide initiative to turn the UK's smallest ventures into powerful engines of growth—with live mentorship, expert training, and a bold vision for scale. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a post-pandemic world reshaped by economic uncertainty, flexible work, and a new wave of entrepreneurship, microbusinesses have emerged as one of the most dynamic—and overlooked—segments of the economy. Now, Small Business Britain, one of the country's leading enterprise support organisations, is setting out to change that with the launch of Small and Mighty Live, an in-person, high-impact training event designed to unlock the next phase of growth for the UK's smallest businesses. Set to take place at London's Science Museum on October 2, 2025, Small and Mighty Live marks the physical evolution of the acclaimed Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, which has already supported over 4,000 entrepreneurs since its launch in 2022. From marketing workshops to live strategy panels and one-on-one mentoring, the day-long event will gather hundreds of sole traders and microbusinesses under one roof, giving them unprecedented access to business leaders, industry experts, and actionable tools for scale. "This event isn't just a celebration of opportunity and growth," said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain. "It's a powerful reminder of the vital role small businesses play in driving innovation, resilience, and boosting the UK economy." Delivered in partnership with Xero UK and ARU Peterborough, the Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme offers a free six-week online curriculum tailored to the nation's 5.2 million microbusinesses. This autumn, the programme returns on September 16, welcoming 500 entrepreneurs for expert-led training, live mentoring, and a structured path to building a 12-month growth strategy. Bethany Morton, founder of jewellery brand Silver & Steel, credits the programme for reigniting her business direction: "I hadn't looked at my business plan since launching. The programme gave me a much-needed refresher on setting goals, using new digital tools, and staying inspired." The live event in October is timed to coincide with the programme's midpoint—transforming its digital format into a vibrant, physical hub for community building and deep learning. Speakers at the event include Mike Soutar, entrepreneur and government adviser, Charelle Griffith, a top marketing mentor, and Professor Tom Williamson of ARU Peterborough. Workshops will tackle everything from SEO and PR to customer experience, alongside a live strategy panel hosted by money expert Emma Maslin, founder of The Money Whisperer. Attendees can expect not only knowledge-sharing, but tailored guidance through one-to-one mentorship, as well as peer networking opportunities with fellow founders facing similar growth challenges. "Microbusinesses are incredibly driven to grow," said Kate Hayward, Managing Director at Xero UK. "But they often struggle to access practical, relevant support. That's exactly what this programme delivers." Small and Mighty Live arrives at a time of growing ambition among the UK's microbusinesses. According to new research by Small Business Britain and Xero, over 60% of small business owners plan to grow their businesses by at least 50% in the next five years—a clear signal of intent that's now being matched with institutional support. By blending expert insight, community connection, and real-world tools, the programme doesn't just provide a platform for growth—it's quietly reshaping the UK's economic narrative, putting microbusinesses at the heart of the recovery and beyond. In a world increasingly defined by agility, resilience, and local impact, small may very well be the future of mighty. Applications for the next Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme are now open. To learn more or register for Small and Mighty Live, visit
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Moment 'speeding' e-bike rider gets instant karma after almost hitting pedestrian as he flees police
This is the moment a 'speeding' e-bike rider was arrested just moments after almost hitting a pedestrian while fleeing police. Police spotted the man reaching speeds believed to be over 40mph on an e-bike in Croxteth, Merseyside, on Wednesday, July 23. When he was questioned by officers at around 5pm, he rode away. The suspect then narrowly avoided a pedestrian while he was being pursued around a housing estate, police said. A police spokesperson said: 'He rode on pavements and pulled into the path of a car that had to brake suddenly before losing control of the bike and falling off. 'As the suspect tried to get back on the bike, the officers carefully drove their vehicle onto the bike's back wheel and detained the rider.' Dashcam footage shows an e-bike rider accelerating onto a main road, narrowly missing oncoming traffic. It then shows the moment police caught up with a suspect, before driving their car onto the back wheel of the bike. A 19-year-old man from Old Swan was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, drug driving, failing to stop, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance. Police said he has been released under investigation. The bike was found to be capable of top speeds of more than 50mph as well as having worn tyres, no brakes on the rear wheel and pedals that did not function Roads Policing Inspector Ian Cowell said: 'We simply will not tolerate people risking the safety of others and themselves by riding electric bikes at speed on our roads and pavements. 'The speed limit for electrically-assisted bikes is set at a maximum of 15.5mph for very good reason. When they are ridden at speed they can pose a very real danger to the rider and others. This risk only increases when the bike has faulty brakes, pedals that don't work and tyres that are worn. 'Through Operation Gears, we are taking proactive action by seizing illegal bikes, arresting offenders, and increasing high-visibility patrols where the public and our own patrols identify issues. 'Our activity is aimed at disrupting criminality and ultimately protecting our communities.' It comes after another e-bike rider also got a dose of instant karma after a dramatic police chase led to his arrest. Self-confessed 'stupid' phone snatcher Bradley McMillan, was one of two spotted by officers travelling at around 60mph on high-speed e-bikes on a busy road in central London. Armed response cops were called out after receiving reports of phones being snatched - with suggestions the thieves may have been carrying a knife. Taking off after McMillan, officers equipped with Tasers followed him up Exhibition Road in Kensington - a thoroughfare often packed with tourists visiting the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. 'We have two Sur-Rons failing to stop as part of a declared firearms incident,' the officer radios in, seen in dramatic body-worn footage issued by the Met Police. Sur-Ron is a Chinese firm that produces electric dirt bikes that are hugely popular with bike thieves despite most of its models being illegal to use on UK roads unless properly registered. McMillan leads police on a chase through west London - but a few minutes later, he crashes into the side of a car at a junction after riding through a red light on the wrong side of the road. The bike falls away from him as he tumbles to the ground, and he tries to run off as the armed cops warn him they're about to discharge a stun gun. He doesn't get far - toppling over as he's hit with 1,200 volts of electricity. The armed officers then move in to cuff him on suspicion of robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. Opening his bag, the cops find rolls of tin foil, which thieves will use to wrap up stolen phones in order to block their signals and prevent them from being traced. The dramatic arrest was one of two phone snatcher busts the police made in the space of an hour on March 16. A second thief, Ellis Parkinson, was caught after crashing into a postbox on Brook Street in the heart of London's posh Mayfair district. Aerial footage captured by a police helicopter shows him stumbling to his feet after the crash, before surrendering as an officer runs into view and tackles him, while two other cops leap out of a response vehicle. 'He's just being searched,' radios in an officer on the ground. 'We've recovered multiple phones on him.' The Met says it was able to return the stolen phones to their owners. The thieves, Ellis Parkinson, 31, and Bradley McMillan, 30, were jailed for 33 and 30 months respectively.
