Award winning debate topics

Published 10 June 2021 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing McDonald's has won a planning row with a local authority in Wales over English-language digital screens at one of its restaurants. Gwynedd council last year refused the fast food giant permission for larger screens at its Caernarfon drive-thru on grounds of Welsh language requirements. All public signs in the county are required to be in Welsh and English. However, the council has backed down after McDonald's argued the site already included bilingual signs. McDonald's said the restaurant also included self-service ordering facilities in Welsh. "Within the McDonald's restaurant are facilities for customers to order their meals in a number of different languages on the self order kiosk and are proud that this has allowed members of the public to order in Welsh," the company said. Park's concern over … [Read more...] about McDonald’s wins English-only sign row at Caernarfon drive-thru

Will Smith’s ex-wife Sheree Zampino recalled the shocking moment when her former husband smacked Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 over a joke he cracked on Jada Pinkett Smith. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 54, told Us Weekly that she “couldn’t make sense” of the King Richard actor’s headline making move. “It was one of those moments where I froze,” Zampino told the outlet. “The first thing you do is you try to make sense of it in the [moment].” “And when it doesn’t make sense in the moment … we didn’t even really have time. I didn’t even deal with it,” she added. Zampino, who was married to Smith, 53, for three years from 1992 to 1995, went on to say that even though she “couldn’t make sense of it” later on, she thinks the reunion of Smith and Rock would be a “powerful” moment. “When Chris and Will can come together and heal in a public way and extend forgiveness to one another?” Zampino said. “Do you know how many people that’s gonna help and set free? … [Read more...] about Will Smith’s ex Sheree Zampino recalls the moment he slapped Chris Rock: ‘I froze’

By Steven McIntosh Published 41 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Kite Runner has become the first show on Broadway to require audiences to wear masks at certain performances. The move is particularly notable as the show's weekly mask-only night will be on Fridays - one of the most popular nights in New York's theatre district. Fans who are disabled or have other health vulnerabilities have long called for theatres to host mask-only nights. But the major theatres in London's West End have yet to introduce such a scheme. 'Audience demand' In England and Wales, the mask mandate was lifted in January, in line with a significant fall in Covid cases and deaths following the rollout of the vaccine. As a result, it has become increasingly rare in recent months to see audience members wearing facemasks at the vast majority of West End … [Read more...] about The Kite Runner: Broadway show first to adopt mask-only nights

Published 3 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A Hollywood-inspired sign welcoming visitors to a campsite will be taken down after a row over planning permission. Farmer Mark Rutherford said the "Camp Llandudno" display had brought a smile to the faces of everyone passing. However, he did not gain permission to advertise his pop-up campsite in such a way and would reluctantly remove it. Conwy council said it was "disappointed" permission was not sought. Farm owner Mr Rutherford explained he gained the required permission under the 28-day rule - which allowed him to temporarily change the use of the land - to create a pop-up campsite . Mystery of disappearing Eisteddfod sign letters McDonald's wins English-only sign row However, he did not realise he would need to gain a different form of permission to promote it. "The problem is that … [Read more...] about Llandudno campsite’s Hollywood style-sign to be taken down

Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Scottish Parliament "plainly" does not have the power to set up an independence referendum, UK government law officers have argued. The Supreme Court is to look at whether MSPs can legislate for a vote without Westminster's backing in October. The Scottish government has argued that any vote would be "advisory" and would not directly break up the union. But UK law officers said there was "no secret" that Scottish ministers would want the vote to lead to independence. Papers published on Wednesday said a referendum was "not designed to be an exercise in mere abstract opinion polling at considerable public expense", and it would clearly be used to push for "the secession of Scotland" from the UK. Judges will hear arguments at the court in London on 11 and 12 October. The SNP has also applied to … [Read more...] about UK government argues MSPs do not have power to set up indyref2

Published 5 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Ryan Giggs' ex-girlfriend has told a court she became "a slave to his every need and every demand". The former Manchester United star and ex-Wales manager, 48, is on trial accused of controlling behaviour and assaulting Kate Greville and her younger sister Emma. During cross-examination, she told Manchester Crown Court: "He made me feel like I had to do what he said otherwise there were consequences". He has denied all the charges. Ms Greville agreed she made a number of witness statements to police following the alleged assault in November 2020, including two in the last week. Giggs threw ex out of hotel room naked, court told Ryan Giggs headbutted ex-girlfriend - court hears Chris Daw QC, representing Mr Giggs, asked: "In the course of those statements, did you tell the police the whole … [Read more...] about Ryan Giggs’ ex became slave to his demands, court hears