Latest news with #Jarrow
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Exact date Britain's first American-style shopping centre will be DEMOLISHED by this year – with work to start in weeks
BRITAIN'S first American-style shopping centre will be demolished this year - and work is set to start in weeks. The Viking Centre in Jarrow, near Newcastle is being partially pulled down as part of a major revamp. 2 2 The plans have been given the go ahead from the council and demolition works are set to commence in the coming weeks. As part of the demolition a number of vacant units will be pulled down including the beloved former Wilko building on the corner of Bede Precinct and Ellison Street. Also being torn down are a number of former charity shops. But it's not all bad news with locals relieved to hear that the Jarrow Buffs Social Club at 96 Ellison Street will remain untouched. The major overhaul is aimed at opening up space for future developments on the site. The work is due to start in July and will be finished by 1 December 2025, meaning the site could be ready just in time for the busy Christmas season. The application for the demolition was submitted earlier this year by Sheet Anchor Investments Limited, the owners of the site, and was approved on April 29, 2025. No objections were received during the public consultation period. Planning officers noted that the method of demolition was appropriate for the site and that the restoration plans would leave the area in a 'tidy condition'. The buildings will be knocked down using a top-down method. Wrecking machines move in to demolish 'ghost town' Scots estate dubbed 'Britain's Chernobyl' This means the roof will be removed first, followed by the perimeter walls. The units will then be demolished down to 'slab level'. This comes as part of a string of demolitions across the country. The once-thriving Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham is set to be pulled down, sparking fierce backlash from locals. Once a bustling hotspot in the 90s, Broadmarsh has stood abandoned since 2020 when its former operator collapsed into administration. Now, years of decay could soon come to an end. Homes England, the government agency tasked with boosting affordable housing, has snapped up the site and submitted major plans to Nottingham City Council. They want permission to bulldoze the derelict structure and kick start a huge redevelopment project in the heart of the city. The £650 million revamp promises 1,000 new homes, 20,000 square metres of retail, office, and community space, and around 2,000 full-time jobs once finished. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
DOJ Calls Transgender Man a 'Woman' Months After Trump Crackdown
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A transgender man convicted of fraudulently collecting COVID funds has been referred to by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a "woman" in official correspondence. Newsweek reached out to the DOJ for comment. Why It Matters President Donald Trump has been aggressive in tackling transgender policies and issues, with one of his first executive orders recognizing two sexes only—male and female—and stating that they are "not changeable." Along with banning transgender women from competing in women's sports, he has also greenlit a ban on transgender military members that currently is allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Department of Justice seal and logo seen on a lectern at a news conference at the Department of Justice on May 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The Department of Justice seal and logo seen on a lectern at a news conference at the Department of Justice on May 6, 2025, in Washington, To Know A press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Louisiana refers to Brandon Jarrow, 33, of New Orleans, as a "woman" and mentions former name Brandi Jarrow. On May 8, Jarrow pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing funds and making false statements to receive over $115,000 in loans as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act program that provided relief to individuals and small businesses during the pandemic. The CARES Act was signed into law by Trump in March 2020 to order the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to dole out emergency assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. Jarrow's case stems back to the infancy of the pandemic. Charging documents show that on or about June 20, 2020, Jarrow submitted a false application to the SBA for an EIDL, leading to a loan worth $95,000. On February 4, 2021, Jarrow again made false statements to an approved lender for "another sham business," as described by DOJ, to obtain a $20,833 PPP loan. Though Trump's national approval rating has recently wavered, due in large part to economic turbulence, his stance on the transgender issue remains for the American public one of his most well-received initiatives. An Associated Press-NORC poll of 1,175 adults conducted between May 1 and 5 found that 52 percent of Americans approve of Trump's handling of transgender issues—higher than his job approval rating, which the poll measured at 41 percent. What People Are Saying Alithia Zamantakis, a research assistant professor in the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing at Northwestern University, told Newsweek that the DOJ correspondence is part of a broader theme within the current administration. "It's clear that the Trump administration continues to use anti-trans bigotry as a means to divide everyday people and to justify the administration's actions," Zamantakis said. "The administration has presented a caricature of trans people as fraudulent, a waste of government funds, and a harm to our society. Their reference to Brandon as a 'woman' only furthers that characterization." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reacting to a post about transgender treatments provided by the Pentagon, said on X, formerly Twitter, last month: "If this is true—we will find any way possible to stop it. Taxpayers should NEVER pay for this lunacy. As we stated—before a rogue judge blocked it—'service members with gender dysphoria are disqualified from military service.' Zero readiness reasons for trans troops." Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills said in a statement last month: "As I have said previously, this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a president can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation. I believe he cannot." J. Michael Bailey, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University, said in an opinion article for Newsweek: "Since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders that respect biological reality in areas from medicine to sports to intimate spaces, and protect the right to speak about the harms of gender ideology. These orders, including the most recent one, issued February 5, honor honest scientific inquiry and reverse the trend of activists distorting the scientific picture." What Happens Next Jarrow's sentencing date is scheduled for August 13. Jarrow faces up to five years in prison for false statement counts and up to 10 years for the theft of government funds. All counts carry a penalty of up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, per the DOJ.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Britain's first ever American-style shopping centre to be DEMOLISHED in huge overhaul this summer
THE UK's first American-style shopping centre is set to be bulldozed this summer after the council gave the go-ahead for a major revamp. The Viking Centre, located in Jarrow town centre, will undergo partial demolition following approval from South Tyneside Council's planning department. 3 3 The plans focus on tearing down "a number of units that are largely vacant, including the former Wilko building on the corner of Bede Precinct and Ellison Street". Several of the neighbouring units have been standing empty, with some last used by charity shops. The overhaul is aimed at opening up space for future redevelopment. According to the approved application, the Jarrow Buffs Social Club at 96 Ellison Street is not included in the demolition area and will remain untouched. The application was submitted earlier this year by Sheet Anchor Investments Limited, the owners of the site, and was approved on April 29, 2025. No objections were received during the public consultation period. Planning officers noted that the method of demolition was appropriate for the site and that the restoration plans would leave the area in a 'tidy condition'. Demolition work is due to start in July and finish by 1 December 2025, reports Chronicle Live. That means the site could be cleared in time for the busy Christmas season. The buildings will be knocked down using a top-down method, with the roof removed first, followed by perimeter walls. Major high street retailer with 17 Scots stores to close 'a THIRD' of UK shops They will be demolished down to 'slab level'. Extra safety and environmental measures will be in place, including fencing, dust suppression systems, and a wheel wash system for all site vehicles. Council officials confirmed the site is not listed, not part of a conservation area, and holds no local or national protected status. Checks with the council's countryside team found minimal risk to protected species like bats or nesting birds. However, two informative notes were included as a precaution. Under planning rules, demolition must begin within five years – but documents confirm that work on the Viking Centre is firmly scheduled to begin this summer. The Sun has approached South Tyneside Council for comment. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year 3
The Guardian
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Dogs on the Metro review – all stations to teenage angst
E milie Robson's insinuating new play is structured like random journeys on the Tyne and Wear Metro – or 'hopping the metty', as teenagers Jen and Dean would have it. The two are childhood friends who like to head to the end of the line to people-watch at the airport, or to walk the long way home to South Shields by bailing out at Bede, Jarrow or Hebburn. They tell their story – or, as she insists, Jen's story – as mixed-up memories, linked by a collage of subway trips during which two young people find it easier to talk about dogs on the Metro – a whippet in a jacket, for instance – than say what is really on their minds. The nearer they get to voicing the truth, the more Matthew Tuckey's soundtrack rumbles, Drummond Orr's strip lights flicker and the familiar yellow fittings and blue-grey upholstery of the subway set by Amy Watts seem to shake with the clatter of an incoming train. It feels reductive to say this is a play about sexual assault. It is certainly that – a crossing of boundaries between the two friends at a party – but Robson writes with such nuance that it is equally about the complex emotions around consent, desire, companionship – and the struggle for language to make sense of it all. A tragedy … Sarah Balfour and Dean Logan in Dogs on the Metro. Photograph: Von Fox Promotions Without excusing Dean's actions, the playwright presents his violation as a tragedy for both of them. With successive Metro journeys, we see not only what was but also what nearly was. Maria Crocker's finely judged production draws us in with the plain-speaking charm of Sarah Balfour (Jen) and Dean Logan (Dean). More than friends, less than sweethearts, they are young people learning to know each other before they fully know themselves. They perform with honesty and tenderness in a play that is funny and sad, subtle and wise. At Live theatre, Newcastle, until 17 May
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Starmer faces left-wing revolt over Trump state visit: More than a dozen MPs sign motion demanding ban on US president addressing Parliament
Keir Starmer is facing a backbench revolt over Donald Trump 's planned state visit to the UK later this year. More than a dozen Labour MPs have backed a motion saying the UK president should be barred from addressing parliament when he visits Britain. They argue that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to speak to politicians because of his record of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia', as well as his comments about Britain and stance on Ukraine. It comes amid widespread anger at Trump's latest attack on Volodymyr Zelensky after he rejected the terms of a Ukraine peace deal that gave major concessions to Putin. He has also slapped damaging tariffs on UK exports to the United States, including high-end cars, with ministers currently trying to do a trade deal to remove them. The US president is due in the UK in the autumn for an unprecedented second state visit that will see him meet King Charles, after he met Elizabeth II during his first term in the White House. Some 16 MPs have signed the early day motion (EDM) tabled by Jarrow MP Kate Osborne, include former Labour frontbenchers Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis. Several independent MPs who were formerly in the party including ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell have also backed it. Mr Trump revealed over the weekend that his 'friend' King Charles is looking at setting a date in September for his the visit. However, an effort has emerged to stop him being granted the honour of speaking at Parliament. Barack Obama did so in 2011, although Joe Biden did not more recently. Mr Trump was previously controversially barred from making a speech at Westminster by former Speaker John Bercow. Mr Bercow said in 2017 that it was 'an earned honour', not an 'automatic right'. The Commons Speaker, the Lord Speaker and the Lord Great Chamberlain - represented by Black Rod - are the three 'gatekeepers' who have to agree to such an address. Earlier this week Labour's Rachael Maskell, who has not signed the EDM, told MailOnline: 'It would be completely inappropriate for the US President to address the Houses of Parliament.' Another Early Day motion in 2019, the year Mr Trump made his first state visit, was signed by Mr Lammy, Mr Streeting and now Leader of the House Lucy Powell among others. But ministers have defended the idea this time, as they seek a trade deal for the UK. Yesterday education minister Stephen Morgan said he did not support the calls from some MPs and peers for a ban, insisting the UK needs 'strong and effective' relations with the US. He told Times Radio: 'I look forward to the US president addressing Parliament in due course.' In the latest round of barbs between the two men, Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of making it 'difficult to settle' the war with Russia over his opposition to recognising Moscow's annexation of Crimea. The US administration is urging Kyiv to accept Russia's continued control of occupied Ukrainian regions and Moscow's ownership of the Crimean peninsula as part of a peace settlement. Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces would also be required to withdraw from some territory, as would Ukraine's military. Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: 'Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognise Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? 'It's inflammatory statements like Zelensky's that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.' Later, Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he has 'a deal with Russia' and has 'got to do a deal with Zelensky'. He added: 'I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky, so far it's been harder.' Questions about a possible US trade deal continue to overshadow Rachel Reeves's mission to Washington as she prepares for talks with her US counterpart. The Chancellor has travelled to the US capital for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s spring meetings with finance ministers from the G7 and G20 this week. But it is a meeting with US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent scheduled for Friday that has dominated her visit as the Government pursues a deal that would alleviate the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs. The US president imposed a 10 per cent levy on British goods earlier this month, along with a 25 per cent charge on steel, aluminium and cars. Ms Reeves insisted on Wednesday that there was 'a deal to be done' and the US administration were 'keen', despite suggestions from senior American officials that the 10 per cent tariff was a 'baseline' Mr Trump was unlikely to go below. But the Chancellor has also appeared to rule out at least some changes to non-tariff barriers that the US is thought to be seeking. One sticking point is likely to be agricultural imports, with some US exports not meeting UK food standards.
