Author: News Room

In her latest story, Gaye Roark shares the mischievous adventures of Josh and the scarecrow that comes to life. Milton Keynes, UK. – Children’s literature gains a new addition this December with the upcoming release of Josh, and Edgar Blenkinsop, a humorous story written by Gaye Roark.  Josh and Edgar Blenkinsop tells the story of nine-year-old Josh and his unusual companion, Edgar Blenkinsop, a comical and often grumpy scarecrow who comes to life when no one else is watching.  Their friendship leads to a series of playful misadventures, from mischievous pranks on Josh’s older sisters to secret missions…

By The New York Times By Keith Bradsher | Visuals by Qilai Shen Dec. 17, 2025 As an American reporter living in Beijing, I’ve watched both China and the rest of the world flirt with cutting-edge technologies involving robots, drones and self-driving vehicles.But China has now raced far beyond the flirtation stage. It’s rolling out fleets of autonomous delivery trucks, experimenting with flying cars and installing parking lot robots that can swap out your E.V.’s dying battery in just minutes. There are drones that deliver lunch by lowering it from the sky on a cable.If all that sounds futuristic and…

Oct. 30, 2003 Broadway Opening Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel in the Broadway debut of “Wicked” at the Gershwin Theater. “Wicked” is an undisputed juggernaut — one of the biggest productions in musical theater history. The stage show, by the composer Stephen Schwartz and the librettist Winnie Holzman, has grossed $1.8 billion on Broadway, and $6.2 billion globally. Worldwide, it has been seen by more than 72 million people.But none of that was a foregone conclusion. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which in turn was based on L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the musical had a…

British parents are being offered a new approach to winter headwear with the launch of Comfy Headbands, a UK brand inspired by Scandinavian outdoor traditions. Comfy Headbands launches today, introducing Norwegian-style headbands designed to keep children comfortable during outdoor play, even in cold and changeable weather. The idea behind the brand comes from parents who lived in Norway and saw how effectively Scandinavian children stay warm without overheating. Their solution tackles a familiar issue for UK families: children who dislike wearing hats but still need protection from cold air. “Every British parent knows the battle,” explains the founder. “It’s a…

An experienced Wiltshire celebrant has expanded her work with families by launching a new digital service designed to preserve personal stories and voices for generations to come. Sarah Mead, who has spent over a decade supporting families in Swindon and across the region, has unveiled My Cherished Memories, a venture focused on recording meaningful life stories in lasting digital formats. The concept draws inspiration from Sarah’s own family history. Growing up, she witnessed the impact of her father’s habit of recording relatives during the 1980s, a practice that left her with treasured memories and a strong sense of connection. “Every…

Caron Sanders-Crook, a former army professional with extensive experience in health and social care, has launched Moral Injury UK, a new initiative focused on supporting people living with Moral Injury. Often mistaken for workplace stress or burnout, Moral Injury represents a deeper psychological and emotional wound caused when personal values and moral beliefs are compromised. Moral Injury UK has been created to address this gap by offering structured identification, measurement and repair of Moral Injury, with wellbeing and ethical integrity at its core. The organisation will provide early support to individuals while also working proactively with organisations and sectors to…

Hereford-based charity platform Hope Spring eCards has announced the release of its Christmas eCards for 2025, expanding its digital offering with over a dozen animated Christmas cards and twenty festive video Christmas cards. Designed to support water poverty alleviation, the platform enables users to send digital Christmas greetings while contributing to charitable projects that deliver access to clean water. Christmas eCards are available for individuals who want to send to their friends and loved ones,  and for small businesses who want to send Christmas eCards for business purposes, catering to small and large organizations, as well as faith-based groups. The…

Victoria Hargrave, founder of Beau Bronzage and owner of The Tanning Room, has unveiled Prep & Prolong, a natural body wash created to help preserve tanning results while supporting skin health. The new product officially launches on Friday 12th December and will be stocked across all Tanning Room locations, signalling the next phase of growth for the Beau Bronzage brand. Prep & Prolong was created in response to a long-standing problem Victoria has identified within the tanning industry. Many high-street body washes contain soaps, synthetic fragrances and chemicals that strip moisture from the skin and cause tans to fade unevenly.…

Droben Matchmaking, under the leadership of its renowned CEO Ksenia Droben, has reinforced its position as one of Europe’s premier matchmaking agencies by closing its 2025 calendar with an extraordinary dating experience unlike any other. The company hosted an exclusive three-day gathering at the striking Castle Hohenbocka in Germany’s Lower Lusatia region. Fifty carefully selected singles from around the world — including participants from the UK, Canada and several European countries — took part in the retreat. Designed to encourage genuine interaction, the event combined science-driven matchmaking practices with guided communication sessions and personalised introductions, all within a serene…

A growing movement of high-performing women across the UK are choosing a new science-led approach to fat loss that avoids strict diet rules, calorie counting, or constant self-control — with the next programme group launching in January 2026. The SMART RESET™, created by multi award-winning Eating Behaviour Expert Hanna Longstaff, is a 21-day structured programme built for women with full schedules, senior responsibilities and little mental bandwidth for nutrition tracking. Only 30 places will be available in the upcoming round to maintain connection, accountability and individual attention. Hanna designed the programme after resolving a personal 35-year struggle with restrictive…