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Bellingham praises young trading card designer

by Louis April 22, 2025
written by Louis

An 11-year-old who won a competition to design a football trading card has been praised for his efforts by Jude Bellingham.

Archie, from Telford in Shropshire, was one of more than 2,000 entrants in the contest run by Topps, and he said: "I was very happy and super excited when my mum told me I had won. I couldn't believe it was real."

He said his design featured a flaming backdrop, because "he (Jude) was playing on fire".

The Stourbridge-born footballer congratulated Archie and said: "It's beautiful. I love the colours, I love everything about it."

The competition had challenged children to design a card featuring the England and Real Madrid midfielder.

Topps said the card designed by Archie "perfectly captures Bellingham's blazing form" and it will now be produced as a one-of-a-kind trading card.

Topps
The trading card produced by Topps (left) and Archie's original design (right)

Archie said he was a Bellingham super fan and liked to replicate his goal celebration on the playground.

He said: "I wish I could be like him when I'm older."

Rebecca, Archie's mother, said: "He smiled from ear to ear and thought I was joking when I told him he had won.

"Once I showed him, he started jumping about the bedroom. I couldn't be prouder of him."

April 22, 2025 0 comments
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Innovation

HK bans 'seditious' mobile game about fighting communists

by Roman April 22, 2025
written by Roman

Hong Kong residents found downloading or sharing a mobile game app about defeating the communist regime may be punished under national security laws, police have said.

According to the website for Reversed Front: Bonfire, players can "pledge allegiance" to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Tibet or Uyghurs, among other options, "to overthrow the Communist regime".

In a statement on Tuesday, police warned that those who download the game "may be regarded as in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention".

It comes as Beijing has tightened grip over the city and has been seen as increasingly cracking down on dissent in the wake of the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

In a line on the game's website, it stated that it was a "work of non-fiction", adding that "any similarity to actual agencies, policies or ethnic groups of the PRC in this game is intentional".

The game also allows for users to play as communists to fight enemies and support the communist revolution.

Police have also warned people against providing funding to the app developer, ESC Taiwan.

"'Reversed Front: Bonfire' was released under the guise of a game with the aim of promoting secessionist agendas such as 'Taiwan independence' and 'Hong Kong independence'," said the police statement.

"Those who have downloaded the application should uninstall it immediately and must not attempt to defy the law."

As of Wednesday, the game – which was launched in April – is no longer accessible on Google Play or Apple's App Store from Hong Kong.

But the warning might have inadvertently brought more attention to the game, which on Wednesday was the most popular search term on Google among Hong Kong residents.

The game's creators have appeared to embrace the news surrounding its ban in the city, writing in a post that the game had been "introduced to the entire Hong Kong" as a result.

In 2020, China imposed a national security law (NSL) on Hong Kong that critics say effectively outlawed dissent – but Beijing maintains is crucial for maintaining stability.

The law – which criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces – came in response to massive pro-democracy protests that broke out in Hong Kong in 2019.

Media mogul Jimmy Lai and activist Joshua Wong are among the pro-democracy figures that have been charged or jailed under the NSL.

Hong Kong is governed under the principle of "one country, two systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover.

But critics say the implementation of the NSL has breached the "one country, two systems" principle, though Beijing and Hong Kong have argued the NSL ensures the "resolute, full and faithful implementation" of "one country, two systems".

April 22, 2025 0 comments
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Economy

'No-fly throne' and 'Labour turmoil on ruling'

by Nolan April 21, 2025
written by Nolan

The Guardian reports that ministers are "scrambling" to avoid a rebellion this summer when MPs vote on controversial cuts to disability benefit payments.

It says Labour backbenchers may be offered the opportunity to "abstain" to avoid embarrassing the government, which is due to hold a vote in June.

A potential trade deal with the US is the lead for the i Paper.

It reports that the UK is under huge pressure to cut food standards to win a trade deal with America – and prevent the next round of Donald's Trump tariffs hitting Britain.

The paper says that the government has repeatedly ruled out allowing "chlorinated chicken" or "hormone treated beef" from the US onto the UK's supermarket shelves.

But it quotes Tom Bradshaw – president of the National Farmers Union – as saying that "there are serious concerns" about the pressure being applied to British negotiators to weaken its standards as a "concession for lower tariffs".

The Sun reports that a no-fly-zone has been imposed over the King's home at Sandringham, after several drones were spotted above the estate ahead of the Ukrainian President's visit last month.

The paper says the ban will be in place for a year. "No-fly throne" is the headline.

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April 21, 2025 0 comments
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Tech

Two arrests after man seriously injured in assault

by Riley April 20, 2025
written by Riley

Two people have been arrested after a man was seriously injured in an assault.

Lincolnshire Police said they were called to the Stonebow on Lincoln High Street at 04:49 BST on Wednesday.

Officers arrested two people in connection with the incident. They remain in custody.

A spokesperson said the force would retain a presence in the area and part of the High Street, from Caffe Nero to the Stonebow, was closed.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information to get in touch.

Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds latest episode of Look North here.

April 20, 2025 0 comments
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Global Trade

Evening services suspended after buses 'pelted'

by Grace April 19, 2025
written by Grace

Evening journeys on a bus route in Kent have been suspended due to safety concerns as vehicles have been "pelted with objects", the operator says.

Arriva said the most recent incident on its 482 route between Gravesend and Kings Farm saw a window smashed and shattered glass land on a child in a buggy.

The operator said there had been a "series of serious incidents" involving objects being thrown at its buses, so the final service would now leave Gravesend at 17:47 BST on weekdays and 17:35 on weekends.

Michael Jennings, head of commercial for Arriva South, said: "This kind of reckless and dangerous behaviour is completely unacceptable."

He said it was "extremely fortunate" no one had been seriously hurt, adding: "We cannot allow that risk to continue."

Arriva said it was hoping to restore its full evening service from 4 May, but if the "attacks" continued, it would have no choice but to permanently withdraw evening journeys on the route.

"We are working closely with the police and the local community and we sincerely hope to be in a position to reinstate evening journeys soon," Mr Jennings added.

The bus operator said: "This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and Arriva understands the inconvenience this may cause to customers.

"However, the safety of those customers and drivers must come first."

Kent Police has been contacted for more information.

April 19, 2025 0 comments
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Tech

Cells from dead rhino could bring new life

by Jonathan April 18, 2025
written by Jonathan

A skin sample from a rhino could bring the promise of new life thanks to the work of a wildlife charity, four years after the rhino's death.

The 40-year-old southern white rhino from Whipsnade Zoo died in October 2021, with vets teaming up with three specialist groups to collect tissue samples from the dead animal.

Now, Shropshire-based charity Nature's SAFE has created "millions" of new living cells from the sample. It believes this is the first time this has happened in the UK.

The charity, based in Whitchurch, said it was the first stage in an innovative process that could allow scientists to develop new egg or sperm cells from this rhino.

The Shropshire company bringing species back from extinction

It would enable the rhino to contribute to the breeding population of southern white rhino for years into the future, despite her having died in 2021.

Nature's SAFE preserved a skin sample from the rhino's ear while it was still in a living state, with the charity banking its hope upon the cells remaining alive while preserved at -196C, so that when thawed out in the future, they could be revived and cultured to create fresh cell lines.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "Although it may sound like science fiction, this technology is already developed in mice, demonstrating its potential to assist reproduction in other animal species too."

Nature's SAFE
Scientists revived the skin sample and used it to create new living cells

In April, the cells were carefully removed from the liquid nitrogen storage tanks and thawed.

Nearly four years after the rhino's death, the team have successfully cultured these and have grown new cell lines.

Lucy Morgan, the lab technician behind this success, said: "These cells represent living DNA from this rhino that is readily available for conservation use even though the rhino itself is deceased."

Whipsnade Zoo
The charity says if the species is ever threatened with extinction in the future, it could be saved by this development

Nature's SAFE, described as a "bio bank", has now stored biological samples from 300 species, including 37 which are critically endangered and four which are extinct in the wild.

Its ambition is to save animals from extinction by protecting the genetic diversity of wild animal species and supporting technologies, like artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilisation, to maintain and restore healthy animal populations.

Debbie Rolmanis, chief operations officer, said: "By preserving and cultivating skin cells from threatened species, we are building a living library of genetic material that can be used to help restore genetic diversity to declining animal populations and prevent extinction.

"The key benefit of utilising skin cells is that we can obtain them easily and continue to regenerate them indefinitely; they are not a finite resource. This provides a powerful, proven way to protect DNA within a functional cell."

Commenting on the reanimation of the rhino's cells, Tullis Matson, founder and chair of the charity, said: "This could be an absolute game-changer moving forward. Now we've proven that this rhino's cells are truly in a living state even though she passed away almost four years ago.

"This is a powerful tool for protecting many more of our critically endangered species; animals like the mountain chicken frog or Lake Patzcuaro salamander, which otherwise might have fallen into extinction, could be saved using these new bio-banking technologies.

"We are over the moon – this brings hope not just to the southern white rhino, but to any species on the brink!"

April 18, 2025 0 comments
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Industry

Fuels arrive to keep British Steel plant going

by Joseph April 18, 2025
written by Joseph

The government says it has secured the raw materials needed to keep the British Steel plant at Scunthorpe going "for the coming months" into the summer.

Ministers announced 55,000 tonnes of blast furnace coke arrived from Australia at the port of Immingham on Saturday and would be transferred by rail to Scunthorpe.

A shipment of more than 66,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets and 27,000 tonnes of iron ore fines is due to arrive from Sweden next week.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who led the government in its takeover of the plant, said the steel workers and their families could "breathe a sigh of relief".

The supplies have been paid for by the government using the existing Department for Business and Trade budget.

Reynolds said: "By securing the raw materials we need to keep Scunthorpe going for the foreseeable future we've helped protect thousands of crucial steel jobs.

"Now, British Steel workers and their families can breathe a sigh of relief and know that we are on their side."

Meanwhile, British Steel has appointed more new executives, including an interim chief operating officer and human resources director, after ministers passed an emergency law to take control of the company from Chinese owner Jingye.

PA Media
About 2,700 jobs had been under threat since before the government took control of the Scunthorpe site

Allan Bell, interim chief executive of British Steel, said: "We've successfully secured the raw materials we need to keep the blast furnaces running, meaning our production of steel can continue.

"We would not be here today without the hard work and dedication of our specialist procurement, technical and operational teams who have worked tirelessly on short timescales to secure the required raw materials.

"Over the coming months our focus will be on stabilising our operations for the long-term, cementing British Steel as one of the world's leading manufacturers of steel."

Alasdair McDiarmid, the assistant general secretary of the Community Union which represents steelworkers, welcomed the shipments.

He said: "The imminent shipments of coke and other raw materials needed to keep the blast furnaces running over the months ahead provide much-needed assurance for our members on site in Scunthorpe.

"We are grateful to British Steel and the government for the decisive work they have undertaken to secure a future for the business – we have seen their commitment and dedication first-hand."

The latest shipment comes after British Steel announced a consultation on redundancies launched in March would be scrapped, saving 2,700 jobs that were put at risk.

Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds latest episode of Look North here.

April 18, 2025 0 comments
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Economy

UK bans EU cheese and meat to stop disease spreading

by Rebecca April 18, 2025
written by Rebecca

The UK government has brought in a temporary ban on holidaymakers bringing in cheese and meat products from the EU in a bid to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Travellers have not been allowed to bring back items such as cured meat and cheese, including in sandwiches, since Saturday due to the growing outbreak on the continent.

The restrictions apply regardless of whether the goods are packed or packaged, or bought from duty free.

It follows an earlier ban of similar products from Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria after rising cases of the cattle disease in those countries.

FMD is a highly infectious virus that causes blisters inside an animal's mouth and under their hooves, and can cause lameness and problems feeding.

It causes no risk to humans and there are currently no cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK.

Any products of animal origin, like meat and dairy, could potentially be contaminated with FMD.

There are concerns that if contaminated products enter the UK, even if they are designed for human consumption, there is a chance that they could be consumed by animals – for instance if they are thrown away in a way that could come into contact with foraging wildlife or domestic livestock.

The restrictions apply to people arriving in Great Britain, not Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.

Products will be seized and destroyed if people try to bring them in, and in "serious cases" people could be fined up to £5,000.

The list of restricted products includes:

  • pork
  • beef
  • lamb
  • mutton
  • goat
  • venison
  • other products made from these meats, for example sausages
  • milk and dairy products like butter, cheese and yoghurt

People can bring up to 2kg per person of powdered infant milk, infant food, or special food needed for medical reasons.

April 18, 2025 0 comments
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