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The Undertones bring punk urgency to Edinburgh anniversary show
The Undertones brought their anniversary tour to Edinburgh, playing 30 songs in 90 minutes in a fast-paced set that revisited their early punk and new-wave catalogue. Their performance showed how songs such as “Teenage Kicks” still connect with fans, while the band’s urgency and humour kept the show from becoming a purely nostalgic exercise. The…
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How pocket-sized music players reshaped listening before smartphones took over
Portable MP3 players turned digital music into something people could carry in their pockets, helping reshape how music was stored, shared and heard. The iPod’s 2001 launch brought the devices into the mainstream, but smartphones and music streaming soon displaced them. The first commercial player, the MPMan F10, launched in 1998 with 32MB of storage,…
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Farage questioned over whether he should have declared £5m gift
Nigel Farage has been interviewed by the parliamentary standards commissioner as part of an investigation into whether he should have declared a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The half-hour interview last month suggests the inquiry may be nearing its conclusion; a finding of a serious breach could lead to sanctions and, if…
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IEA says electrification offers cost and emissions gains, but barriers remain
The IEA says electricity is increasingly able to offer a combination of lower costs, greater energy security and lower emissions, strengthening the case for electrifying more of the economy. Its director, Fatih Birol, presented this as a shift in the long-standing energy “trilemma”, while researchers cautioned that economic advantages alone will not make the transition…
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Burnham’s plans for social care and its workers are admirable but changes must come quickly | Heather Stewart
Heather Stewart welcomes Andy Burnham’s proposals to share the cost of personal care and put care workers at the centre of a national care service. Drawing on her family’s experience of paying for her mother’s residential care, she argues the plans recognise a system that leaves families struggling, but says help is needed well before…
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UK rail assaults hit record 25,000 as staff face rising violence
Assaults on UK trains have soared to a record high of almost 25,000 incidents in 2025-26, representing a 20% rise from the previous year. Nearly 2,500 of these were physical assaults on staff – roughly seven per day. The surge comes as the British Transport Police has lost more than 10% of its officers between…
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Leeds carpenter defends demolishing his half of a semi-detached home
A carpenter who illegally demolished his half of a semi-detached home in Pudsey, Leeds, has insisted he acted responsibly despite allegations he left his former neighbour’s property damaged and unsellable. Chris Rhodes, 47, has defended his decision to tear down his portion of the building, with Shivarna Mitra, 44, claiming the work left her side…
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Costa’s coffee shops return to profit with iced drinks and matcha on the menu
Costa’s UK and Ireland coffee shop business returned to operating profit in 2025, as store updates and a wider menu helped lift sales. The recovery matters as the chain faces strong competition and higher costs, while its owner Coca-Cola recently confirmed it had abandoned plans to sell Costa. Costa Limited reported a £20m operating profit…
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Glasgow council to rehire 23,000 staff on revised terms after talks fail
Glasgow City Council is proceeding with one of the UK’s largest fire-and-rehire schemes affecting nearly 23,000 non-teaching staff after union negotiations collapsed this week. The council plans to sack and rehire workers under less favourable terms to implement a new pay and grading system designed to resolve longstanding pay equality issues. This matters because it…
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Cambridge pub linked to Pink Floyd saved, but overshadowed by vast office scheme
The Flying Pig in Cambridge, known as an early meeting place for Pink Floyd members and a long-standing live music pub, has been retained after plans to demolish it were changed following public pressure. It will sit beside a £500 million office development more than 100 feet high, which the former landlady says has overwhelmed…