Copper Kettle, Reeth named among top biker spots in UK
Sarah Gillis, owner of The Copper Kettle in Reeth, has seen her popular Swaledale café selected as an official stop on the 2026 MARK Bike & Brew Passport. The initiative, run by the charity Motorbiker Acts of Random Kindness (MARK), encourages riders to visit independent biker-friendly venues while raising money for local causes. The Copper…
Quarry Tea House in Hunwick wins ‘Best Café in County Durham’
Quarry Tea House, in Hunwick, received the gong at a ceremony held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on Sunday (March 22). Owner Julie Bell and head chef Katie Butler were invited to the stage to be presented with the award. Julie Bell and Katie Butler (Image: The Quarry Tea House) Julie said: “We were absolutely…
Amazon buys Fauna Robotics, maker of the Sprout humanoid robot
NEW YORK – Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, just under two months after the startup introduced a humanoid robot called Sprout designed to be a friendly addition to social spaces like homes and schools. The e-commerce giant is already a robotics powerhouse, having boasted of deploying more than 1 million robots across its warehouse operations,…
OpenAI pulls the plug on Sora, the viral AI video app that sparked deepfake concerns
SAN FRANCISCO – OpenAI is shutting down its social media app Sora, which went viral last fall as a place to share short-form videos generated by artificial intelligence but also raised alarms in Hollywood and elsewhere. OpenAI said in a brief social media message Tuesday that it was “saying goodbye to the Sora app” and…
Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen inducted into NZC Hall of Fame
Haidee Tiffen and Jeremy Coney have been inducted into the NZC Hall of Fame. Photo: Photosport The NZC Hall of Fame has honoured two of Aotearoa’s legendary cricketers Jeremy Coney and Haidee Tiffen – the first inductions since the inaugural “First Eleven” was unveiled last summer. Last summer’s inauguration saw the induction of Bert Sutcliffe,…
Live cricket: White Ferns v South Africa Proteas women – fifth and final T20
Follow all the T20 cricket action as the White Ferns take on South Africa for their fifth and final T20 international match. The White Ferns have already sealed victory 3-1 with a game to spare, after a commanding six-wicket win in the fourth match in Wellington on Sunday. First ball at Hagley Oval is at…
NRL: NZ Warriors still hope to retain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with contract extension
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is off contract with the Warriors at the end of this season. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster hasn’t completely given up hope of retaining superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck beyond this season. The veteran wing’s future at the club has been up in the air since last year, when he was linked…
Entrepreneurs Forum survey reveals optimism in North East
The quarterly survey of more than 100 founders across the region found that 71 per cent are optimistic about their business prospects over the next 12 months, with many reporting strong pipelines, new opportunities, and encouraging levels of demand. In contrast, the findings also highlight significant pressures facing SMEs. Elaine Stroud, chief executive of the…
Entrepreneurs Forum survey reveals optimism in North East
The quarterly survey of more than 100 founders across the region found that 71 per cent are optimistic about their business prospects over the next 12 months, with many reporting strong pipelines, new opportunities, and encouraging levels of demand. In contrast, the findings also highlight significant pressures facing SMEs. Elaine Stroud, chief executive of the…
Lovell boosted by performance in Newcastle and Morpeth
Lovell, part of the Morgan Sindall Group, has credited its success in 2025 to regeneration schemes across the region, including projects in Newcastle, Whitburn and Morpeth. Don Anderson, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “The record results achieved by the Group demonstrate the strength and resilience of the business in what remains a challenging market….
