Why now is the best time to visit wild, untamed Sri Lanka July 18, 2023 It has been a tough few years for Sri Lanka but Steve Dinneen finds a country that’s ready to welcome tourists The last few years have been devastating for tourism-reliant countries across the world, but few have had it quite as bad as Sri Lanka. Visitor numbers fell to virtually zero following the 2019 Easter [...]
McDonald’s UK apologises after 100 workers allege sexual harassment or bullying July 18, 2023 The boss of McDonald’s in the UK has apologised after more than 100 workers at the fast food chain, past and present, alleged they had been sexually harassed or assaulted or subjected to racism or bullying. Alistair Macrow told the BBC the company had “fallen short” in some cases after the corporation spoke to dozens [...]
California holidays: Why Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara make the perfect road trip July 17, 2023 There’s more to California than Los Angeles and San Francisco – try Monterey, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara, says Richard Franks America is the land of the road trip, and its Pacific Highway is up there with its most iconic. Hugging some 656 miles of rugged Californian coast between San Francisco and San Diego, the [...]
Survey reveals extent of remote working loneliness July 16, 2023 Ever since the pandemic the conversation has rattled on about the benefits and setbacks of remote working. Increased flexibility, it turns out, has a downside: loneliness. A new survey by Promoleaf has revealed that more than a third of female remote workers (39 per cent) feel lonely working from home, and a much higher rate [...]
5 reasons to go to Bilbao BBK festival in Spain July 15, 2023 Bilbao BBK is one of Spain’s most loved festivals, but Brits don’t often go. Alongside a decent line-up of music and the opportunity to explore a fascinating part of Spain, the Basque Country, Bilbao BBK offers you the chance to party like a Spanish local. Here are five things we loved about visiting the festival, [...]
Drive around London in a Barbie movie inspired car with Sixt July 14, 2023 Unless you’ve been hiding under a pink sound-proofed boulder this July, you’ll have noticed that the Barbie movie is coming out soon, next Friday 21 July. It’s hard to remember a movie in recent years that has had more pre-release publicity, from the on-set photos of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken [...]
Artificial sweetener aspartame used in drinks like Diet Coke is ‘possible’ cause of cancer – WHO July 14, 2023 An artificial sweetener used in thousands of products including diet fizzy drinks, ice cream and chewing gum has been ruled a “possible” cause of cancer by the World Health Organisation (WHO). But a panel of experts has said the sugar substitute aspartame is safe in limited quantities. In a report released late on Thursday, the [...]
Beneatha’s Place at the Young Vic, review: Canny direction, excellent acting July 13, 2023 Kwame Kwei-Armah’s play (which he also directs) Beneatha’s Place is a more straightforward proposition than its circuitous history might suggest. It’s the first UK staging of his 2013 work, which premiered in Baltimore and acts as an unofficial sequel to Lorraine Hansberry’s seminal 1959 play about the African American experience. You don’t really need to [...]
Royal Court writer on staging a play about mobile phone addiction July 13, 2023 We caught up with the creator of this new play, a dark comedy about mobile phone addiction and three generations of women in one family WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION FOR CUCKOO COME FROM? It started with being interested in things you’re allowed to say and talk about, about having opinions and people disagreeing. I also [...]
See Hugh Jackman before he was famous in 1990s musical now in cinemas July 13, 2023 A West End musical may be the furthest thing imaginable from a Hollywood superhero blockbuster, but the 1998 National Theatre revival of Oklahoma! has a special place in superhero history. It’s the production that gave star Hugh Jackman recognition outside of his native Australia, with the actor auditioning for Wolverine during the show’s run. The [...]