Latest news with #RossCullen
CNA
05-08-2025
- Politics
- CNA
UN plastic treaty talks: Countries embark on 10-day talks in Geneva to hammer out global agreement
Negotiators are making another push to finally secure a binding global treaty to tackle plastic pollution, as 10 days of talks get underway at the United Nations in Geneva. Ross Cullen reports from Paris.
CNA
04-08-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Negotiators, diplomats meeting in Geneva to seal pact on plastic pollution
Negotiators and diplomats are meeting in Geneva on Aug 5 to try to reach a binding global treaty on tackling plastic pollution. The UN is calling this a serious environmental issue that is global in scale, with a lasting impact on societies, economies and health. Ross Cullen reports.
CNA
04-07-2025
- CNA
France airport strikes: About 40% of flights serving Paris cancelled amid second day of protests
A second day of strikes by French air traffic controllers have disrupted more flights and caused cancellations at airports in France. About 40 per cent of flights serving the country's capital Paris have been cancelled, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers scrambling to find backup plans at the height of the summer travel season. French air traffic controllers are holding a two-day walkout in protest of under-staffing and what they described as "toxic" working conditions, as well as ageing equipment. The strikes are adding to uncertainty across Europe's wider travel sector, due to ongoing geopolitical tensions and consumers' budgetary constraints. Ross Cullen reports.
CNA
04-07-2025
- CNA
Summer tourism picks up in Europe amid economic, geopolitical worries
The summer tourist season is under way in Europe as crowds flock to the beaches of Spain, the mountains of Italy, and the countryside in France. But there is uncertainty across the wider travel sector, due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, and consumers' budgetary constraints. Ross Cullen reports.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chalk: Belfast band ready for big Glastonbury moment
Belfast band Chalk are in no doubt - "Glastonbury is the biggest festival in the world".Despite this, however, the post-punk/techno trio aren't Goddard, Chalk's guitarist, said he had deliberately "not thought" about the upcoming band will play the BBC Introducing stage on Friday at 13:30 BST, as well as the Strummerville stage at 23:30 on Saturday. Ross Cullen, Chalk's vocalist, told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that playing the festival was a "bucket list moment"."It's what you always watch on TV with your family," he Goddard said playing Glastonbury, which will see about 200,000 people descend on Worthy Farm in Somerset, was a "really big moment" for the band."We're on the right track", he said. Inspiration from Belfast and Dublin Chalk formed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and drew on inspiration from the rich music scenes of both Belfast and Dublin. "We wanted to take something from what was happening in the Belfast electronic scene, and also the Dublin guitar scene that's been rising the past 10 years", said Mr Cullen. Numerous Dublin-based bands have seen success in recent years, including Fontaines D.C. who won Best International Group at the 2025 Belfast electronic scene has also thrived, with groups such as Bicep performing around the world. Chalk will be joined at Glastonbury by a number of other artists from Northern Ireland - including Kneecap, an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has appeared in court charged with a terror offence, relating to allegedly displaying a flag at a gig in November in support of Hezbollah, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Ó hAnnaidh, charged under the name Liam O'Hanna, was released on unconditional bail after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he did not think Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance was "appropriate".Asked about groups such as Kneecap sharing political messages at concerts and festivals, Mr Goddard said Chalk believed artists "should be free to speak out against injustices and atrocities". "Glastonbury has always been a very politically active space," he said. Other bands from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland performing at Glastonbury include CMAT, Inhaler, Snow Patrol, The Script, The Mary Wallopers and Orla Gartland. The 1975, Neil Young, and Olivia Rodrigo will headline the Pyramid Stage, with other highlights including Charli XCX, Doechii, Rod Stewart, Loyle Carner, The Prodigy and Wolf will be more than 90 hours of coverage across BBC radio, television and are also some surprises in store - more than 50 slots are marked "TBA", with rumoured guests including festival stalwarts like Haim and Pulp alongside more far-fetched options such as Lady Gaga and Radiohead.
