Map shows which areas of the UK are voting in the 2025 local elections

Joann, a well-known fabric and crafts retailer, will close one-third of its stores by the end of April and all remaining locations by May, following its second bankruptcy filing in 11 months. A total of 255 stores will shut down this month, with over 500 closures announced by the end of May, impacting communities and employees significantly. The Hudson, Ohio-based chain, which has operated for over 80 years and once had more than 800 locations...

Explosion at Fire Station Injures Six, Including Children Six individuals, including five children aged 8 to 10, were injured in an explosion at a fire department in Grębynice, Poland, during training exercises. The explosion of a glass container occurred around 7 PM, resulting in minor injuries for all victims, with one child suffering eye injuries. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and approximately 30 firefighters were present at the scene as rescue operations were...

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Amazon for its reported plan to display the cost of President Trump's tariffs alongside products, labeling it a "hostile and political act." Leavitt questioned why Amazon did not take similar actions during the Biden administration's inflation spike and accused the company of partnering with a Chinese propaganda arm. An Amazon spokesperson clarified that showing tariff costs was only considered for its budget section,...

A power cut caused by a damaged pantograph left Manchester Metrolink trams stranded on the tracks today, affecting around 130,000 daily passengers. Services in the city centre and some other lines were suspended, leading to evacuations and significant delays, particularly at Deansgate-Castlefield station, which remains out of service. Transport for Greater Manchester is investigating the incident and has implemented a revised service pattern while repairs are underway, with hopes to resume normal operations by tomorrow...

The European Space Agency launched the 'space brolly' satellite to orbit today, designed to automatically open in space. This Biomass satellite will utilize radar to measure forest biomass, providing crucial insights into carbon storage and the health of rainforests, rather than serving any geoengineering purpose. Its 12-meter-wide mesh reflector, developed by over 50 companies including Airbus UK, aims to improve understanding of forests' role in the carbon cycle, which is vital for addressing climate change....

In a twist of irony, the infamous anti-piracy advert from 2004, which equated downloading movies to theft, is now under scrutiny for allegedly using a pirated font itself. Analysis by a user on Bluesky revealed that the campaign utilized a bootlegged version of the font FF Confidential, known as Xband-Rough. While the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) declined to comment, this revelation highlights the prevalence of bootleg content at the time, indirectly undermining the advert's...