Author Archives: Robert Booth
No fracking in home counties, village residents tell oil company
Cuadrilla’s plan to drill test well in West Sussex leads to furious reactions at public meetingAfter earthquakes in Lancashire and tales of poisoned water and flaming taps in the US, “fracking” for gas or oil in the English home counties was never like… Continue reading
Olympic companies call for end to ban on promoting work on games
Architects, engineers and technology companies speak out against protocol enforced by London 2012 organising committeeDavid Cameron is facing calls to end a ban on companies involved in the London Olympics from publicising their work on the games and h… Continue reading
David Hockney joins Order of Merit
Artist who refused to paint the Queen or accept knighthood is appointed to the exclusive royal orderHe was the 1960s radical who turned British painting on its head, but on Sunday the Queen sealed David Hockney’s transformation into national treasure b… Continue reading
Downton Abbey and Doctor Who battle for National Television Awards prize
Doctor Who stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan also in running in best actors categories but no such nominations for Downton castITV’s Downton Abbey and the BBC’s Doctor Who have been shortlisted for the top drama prize at the National Television Awards … Continue reading
Surfers to be tested for drugs
Drug screening of professional surfers could wipe out sport’s alternative image In the 1960s and 1970s, it was the counter culture’s sport of choice. With the long hair and beach bum lifestyle came marijuana and LSD. But surfing is set for a radical im… Continue reading
New Year honours: Recognition for unsung heroes in the public sector
Awards for Britons who helped during emergency rescue efforts, youth outreach workers, school principals and police officersAfter a year beset by international crises from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the Libyan uprising, Britons who helped i… Continue reading
New Year honours for leading figures in sport, the Olympics and Paralympics
List includes world taekwondo champion Sarah Stevenson, who was controversially not on sports personality of the year shortlistAfter the controversy over her omission from the BBC sports personality of the year shortlist, world taekwondo champion Sarah… Continue reading
Summits at the summit: the Shard could host talks for world leaders
Europe’s tallest building could include exclusive space on 78th floor for top-level meetings, says building’s developerIt would be the summit at the summit. The top floor of the Shard, Europe’s tallest skyscraper, could be made available for high power… Continue reading
London’s Shard: a ‘tower of power and riches’ looking down on poverty
Renzo Piano’s skyscraper, which will be Europe’s tallest building, may provide a shot in the arm for London – or be merely a symbol of Qatari financial muscleSlicing through the air above the dank and dripping Victorian tunnels by London Bridge is a … Continue reading
Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations fall victim to town hall cuts
Bunting, bulbs and beacons for royal party on a tight budget as 100 councils reveal they have no plans to mark occasionTown halls are planning cut-price celebrations for the Queen’s diamond jubilee as austerity measures squeeze their budgets, a survey … Continue reading