What we learned this week
Precious work ‘The Players’, by the late artist John Bellany (main), is expected to fetch up to £50,000 at the Scottish Contemporary Art Auction taking place in Glasgow next week. It is one of 10 works by the artist, from Port Seton in East Lothian, being auctioned.
Historic appointment Labour’s Vaughan Gething has become the first black First Minister of Wales, as well as the first black leader of any European country.
Still searching The police investigation into Claudia Lawrence’s disappearance 15 years ago remains open, detectives said this week. Ms Lawrence, a chef at the University of York, was reported missing after she failed to attend work in March 2009. North Yorkshire Police are treating the case as suspected murder. Calling for people to come forward with information, Acting Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said: ‘The single barrier to unlocking the answers for Claudia’s loved ones and bringing those responsible for her disappearance to justice remains the same – silence.’
Wasteful Some 8.2 million shopping baskets of fruit and vegetables are wasted every year, according to a new report by Love Food Hate Waste. Britons spend £17bn a year on food that ends up in the bin, the campaign group found.
Riding out Britain’s most successful female
Olympian, Dame Laura Kenny (below), has retired from cycling. She won five Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship titles. Kenny, who gave birth to her second child last year, said: ‘I have had an absolute blast, but now is the time for me to hang that bike up.’
Movie money A new series of collectible ‘Star Wars’ coins has been announced by the Royal Mint, which has released a 50p piece featuring the ‘Millennium Falcon’ (inset). The Death Star II, TIE Fighter and X-Wing will be depicted on 50p coins being launched later this year.
Holiday hit Families expect to spend an average of £3,045 on keeping children occupied over the school holidays this year, according to American Express. Sports activities, toys, games consoles and days out are all set to contribute to the cost.
Outlawed Fifteen synthetic opioids that have similar effects to heroin and fentanyl have been classified as class A drugs.
Taking off Flying taxis could be just two years from becoming a reality and may be a regular sight by 2028, according to the Government’s Future of Flight action plan.
Football sustainability An independent football regulator is set to promote financial sustainability of clubs under the new Football Governance Bill. The body would have the ability to fine clubs up to 10 per cent of turnover for non-compliance. Executives could also be removed and struck off from owning clubs if they are found to be unsuitable.
Fewer humans Almost every country in the world will have a shrinking population by the end of the century, a new study published in ‘The Lancet’ has found. The research predicts that 198 out of 204 countries will have fertility rates below the level needed to sustain population size without immigration. Rates in Western Europe are set to decline, while Sub-Saharan Africa will account for one in every two children born by 2100, according to the study. Dr Natalia V Bhattacharjee, co-lead author at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine in the US, said: ‘The implications are immense. These future trends in fertility rates and live births will completely reconfigure the global economy and the international balance of power and will necessitate reorganising societies.’
Stubbed out Anyone turning 15 this year, or in the years to come, will never be able to buy cigarettes legally if the Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduced to Parliament this week becomes law. It would effectively raise the age at which people can buy cigarettes by one year every year, in an attempt to prevent a new generation from taking up the habit.
Sporting debuts ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ finalist Bobby Brazier, Erin Doherty of ‘The Crown’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!’ winner Sam Thompson will make their Soccer Aid debuts this year. They will play in an England team at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in June with TV presenter Paddy McGuinness, singer Tom Grennan and ex-footballers Jill Scott, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe. Among the World XI team are ex-Belgium star Eden Hazard, Jamaican former Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt and US-born radio host Roman Kemp.