Liam O’Toole

Cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast face bitter times as chocolate market slumps Chocolate bars may have shot up in price but West Africa's cocoa farmers are facing economic ruin.

The price of chocolate bars has shot up across the world over the past year, meaning they can feel like a luxury - yet West Africa's cocoa farmers have not been reaping the benefit

In fact, many are in a desperate state as they have not been paid for months

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Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Vienna All about the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. Date, City, Participants, Arena, Eurovision Village, Euroclub. 35 countries will participate in Eurovision 2026

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will be held in Vienna, Austria, in May, following JJ’s victory in Basel

Eurovision week will feature 3 shows: Semi-final 1: 12 May , Semi-final 2: 14 May , Grand Final: 16 May

The Austrian capital will host the contest at the Wiener Stadthalle

lrot.link/wwix4m

'IT nightmare' anagram of name of Norfolk village with no signal Exasperated mobile phone users in Itteringham say what the jumbled up letters spell out is very apt.

“It is exasperating," said Mike Hemsley, who lives in the village of Itteringham, Norfolk

While it is picturesque, it has almost no mobile reception, and he is quick to point out how apt an anagram of its name is – IT nightmare

lrot.link/lg24w6

This iceberg was once the biggest in the world. Now it has just weeks left - BBC News A23a was once twice the size of Greater London but now its 40-year journey is coming to an end.

The story of one of the world’s oldest icebergs is nearly at an end, after a breathtaking 40-year journey that has captivated scientists

The #iceberg, known as #A23a, was once the largest on #Earth, covering an area over twice the size of Greater London

Now it has just weeks left

lrot.link/9otuda

Price of first class stamps to rise to £1.80 Royal Mail says the increase reflects the rise in delivery costs, but the move angers consumer groups.

Royal Mail has announced stamp prices are to rise again next month, as the postal service faces criticism for failing to hit delivery targets

From 7 April, the price of a first class stamp will increase by 10p to £1.80, while a second class stamp will go up by 4p to 91p

lrot.link/litu9w

The Greater Manchester schools giving pupils a free uniform to start Year 7 Families will have the branded items supplied ahead of the new school year

The Greater #Manchester #schools giving #pupils a free #uniform to start Year 7

From September 2026, every student starting Year 7 at Co-op Academies Trust, will receive any branded items free of charge

lrot.link/y665ru

Research indicates scale of BBC local radio failures Over a third of BBC local radio weekly listeners aged 45+ believe ‘the BBC has ruined its local radio stations’. 16% strongly agree that is the case.New research indicates almost half of BBC local rad...

Over a third of BBC local radio weekly listeners aged 45+ believe ‘the BBC has ruined its local radio stations’. 16% strongly agree that is the case.

More from
@davidlloydradio.bsky.social

lrot.link/pst9jo

Closure of #Radio #Guernsey and Radio #Jersey on MW

To continue listening to BBC Radio Guernsey, please tune in to 93.2 FM on Guernsey or 99.0 FM on Alderney

To continue listening to BBC Radio Jersey, please retune your radio to 88.8 FM

lrot.link/92pw2u

'Blood rain' and fiery sunsets as Saharan dust sweeps UK North African dust carried to the UK by a weather system are forecast to have some unusual effects in the coming days.

‘Blood rain' and fiery sunsets as Saharan dust sweeps UK

A remarkable display is expected in the skies over the UK later this week as a vast plume of Saharan dust drifts north over much the country

lrot.link/5dlc2f

Historic harvests and sky-high prices – so why can’t Colombia’s coffee-growers hire pickers? Though coffee is one of the world’s most important commodities, little of the profit trickles down to the farmers, while workers are abandoning the countryside in search of more lucrative jobs in the ...

Coffee crisis

Historic harvests and sky-high prices – so why can’t Colombia’s coffee-growers hire pickers?

Though coffee is one of the world’s most important commodities, little of the profit trickles down to the farmers

lrot.link/mb2s38

Connecting everyone, from seabed to stars Find out how we’re connecting people, businesses and communities through a purpose-driven ecosystem spanning land, sea driven ecosystem spanning land, sea and space, ensuring inclusive, secure and sus...

Connecting everyone, from seabed to stars

Connectivity is more than just technology - it’s the pulse of the modern world

Today, staying connected underpins almost all aspects of how we live, how businesses run and how governments serve

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UK social media ban for under-16s consultation begins Discussions over what measures to implement to protect children's wellbeing will last for three months.

The UK government has launched a public consultation on whether to ban social media for under-16s, inviting young people and their parents and guardians to submit comments ahead of a government decision on the proposal.

lrot.link/5mc016

Vodafone and Amazon Leo sign agreement to extend mobile coverage across Europe and Africa Vodafone and Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network, have signed an agreement to connect many more 4G and 5G mobile sites in remote areas to improve coverage for customers wi...

#Vodafone and #Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit #satellite broadband network, have signed an agreement to connect many more 4G and 5G mobile sites in remote areas to improve coverage for customers with limited connectivity across #Europe and #Africa

lrot.link/fc87d5

Satellite Connect Europe launches to deliver direct-to-device broadband satellite connectivity for European Mobile Network Operators Satellite Connect Europe formally launches today as Europe’s open access direct-to-device satellite broadband service provider connecting mobile network operators across Europe.

Satellite Connect Europe launches to deliver direct-to-device broadband satellite connectivity for European Mobile Network Operators

lrot.link/cuzm52

A man ate at the same Florida restaurant every day for a decade. When he stopped showing up, the chef went looking for him. Charlie Hicks ate his lunch and dinner at the Shrimp Basket in Pensacola, Florida, every day for 10 years. When he suddenly stopped showing up, the chef went looking for him, and ultimately saved his ...

A man ate at the same Florida restaurant every day for a decade

When he stopped showing up, the chef went looking for him

@cbsnews.com

lrot.link/1si6pv

MANCHESTER | Crepe City Crepe City Sneaker Festival is the leading event in Europe! Join the best sneaker sellers as they showcase the rarest and most sought after sneakers. If you are a sneakerhead or a streetwear fan, this...

Europe's leading #Sneaker Event returns to #Manchester

Sunday 26th April at #BOWLERS ARENA for an epic sneaker event that you won't want to miss

Top sneaker vendors are showcasing the rarest and most desirable pairs of trainers

lrot.link/53ro5s

The last cassette shop in the UK is right here in Manchester, and it's expanding within the city's most iconic emporium The latest expansion of Mars Tapes comes after seven years of growth, moving down to a larger unit on the first floor of Afflecks.

The last cassette tape shop in the UK is in Manchester, and it’s expanding within the city’s most iconic emporium

An article by @secretmanchester
@mars_tapes
@afflecks_manchester

lrot.link/qxssbp

Eurovision exhibition to open at the National Science and Media Museum Setting the Stage will come to the United Kingdom in May

The National Science and Media Museum in #Bradford will unveil an exciting new temporary #exhibition Setting the Stage: 70 Years of the #Eurovision Song Contest in May

The exhibition will explore the technological history and innovation

lrot.link/ta5vr4

In a divided world, local news brings us together At the BBC we will keep fighting for local news and storytelling, because every community deserves a voice

In a divided world, local news brings us together

At the BBC we will keep fighting for local news and storytelling, because every community deserves a voice

Because when local news disappears, whether that’s on TV, radio or online, so does a piece of who we are

lrot.link/v0w9d2

Chocolate kept in anti-theft boxes as shops warn it's being stolen to order Retailers and police forces tell the BBC that thieves are targeting chocolate and selling it on.

Chocolate bars are being locked in plastic boxes in some UK shops as retailers and police forces warn thieves are stealing them to order

Sainsbury's said it had begun using "boxes on products which are regularly targeted"

lrot.link/a825x5

Manchester's black cab driver who has become an online sensation From comforting tearful passengers to sharing laughs with locals and tourists alike, Manchester cabbie Mike Daniels has turned his daily journeys into an online sensation, delighting tens of thousands...

“Job on approach": The Manchester black cab driver who has become an online sensation

From the seat of his traditional black cab, Mike Daniels has seen it all over the past 38 years

lrot.link/rxui76

Watch the Official Trailer for Toy Story 5

Times may change but friends are forever #ToyStory5

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Or just go to lrot.link - view details towards the bottom of the page

New CBeebies cartoon Rafi the Wishing Wizard set in Manchester Manchester landmarks such as Beetham Tower and the Aquatics Centre appear in Rafi the Wishing Wizard.

The makers of a new CBeebies cartoon about a young wizard say they made a "deliberate choice" to set the comedy in Manchester.

The show will be sold to international broadcasters, showcasing Manchester to global audiences.

lrot.link/e27qj5

15 Forgotten British Sweets That Need to Make a Comeback

If you grew up in Britain before the 1990s, then these sweets will feel instantly familiar

Watch this nostalgic video

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When local news disappears, people turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip - Poynter People without local news consume information at similar rates — and don’t believe they’re missing anything, a Medill survey found

When local news disappears, people turn to social media feeds, influencers and gossip

A survey revealed that among people who consume news daily in news deserts, a little more than half (51%) said they get local news from nonjournalistic sources, like social media groups

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The Manchester-made tool reducing space satellite crashes The tool links what a satellite needs to do, like capturing high‑resolution images, with collision risks.

Researchers at the University of Manchester have created a new system that could help stop satellites from crashing into each other in Earth's increasingly crowded orbits.

lrot.link/4g6o9e

Toy Story 5: Woody and Buzz reunited in trailer for new Disney movie The old friends come face to face with a new threat - a frog-like tablet device called Lilypad.

Woody and Buzz reunite in trailer for Toy Story 5

A new trailer for the forthcoming Toy Story movie, the fifth in the US animated adventure comedy film franchise, has been released by Disney and Pixar.

Toy Story 5 is released in cinemas on 19 June.

lrot.link/a3jvk2

Improved mobile connectivity could unlock 49,000 new businesses Nearly two-thirds (62%) of would-be start-up founders say unreliable connectivity has prevented them from starting a business in their local area.

Improved mobile connectivity could unlock 49,000 new businesses and add £6.6bn annually to the UK economy – New VodafoneThree research finds

The findings come as VodafoneThree announces the removal of 16,500 km2 of not spots

lrot.link/ux3gb4

Boston business warns of rise in counterfeit cash transactions Fiona Watts is training her team to identify fake notes, as police warn of a rise in reported cases.

The owner of a bowling alley says being given £200 of fake notes is "a slap in the face" as police warn the circulation of forgeries is on the rise.

lrot.link/078b8w

How are UK passport rules changing for British dual nationals? Entry requirements to the UK for dual nationals are being overhauled as part of sweeping changes to the immigration system.

Under the existing rules, a dual national is able to travel to the UK using a passport issued by a second country - but from 25 February that will no longer be the case

Instead, they will need to show either a British passport, or a document called a certificate of entitlement

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