Blackpool's free ice skating rink staying open for rest of school holidays as festive village extended

Escape From Tarkov developer Battlestate Games has confirmed that snow, which was added as part of the game’s temporary Christmas event, could become a regular fixture in the hardcore shooter.Along with the return of Christmas trees and an in-raid Santa Claus that hands out gifts, Escape From Tarkov‘s December update also blanketed each of the game’s maps in snow.While the shift in weather was presumably designed as a seasonal event, Battlestate Games COO Nikita Buyanov has teased that players could be seeing it more often thanks to its popularity.“Sooo, you like snow, right,” asked Buyanov in this Reddit post. “Vote up! We are thinking about [keeping] it and add as [a] weather event.”The idea has been met with enthusiasm from Tarkov‘s community – Buyanov’s post racked up over 2000 upvotes within three hours of being posted, along with tens of replies approving the change.However, it remains to be seen whether snow would work the same as rain and fog – which can appear in raids year-round – or be one of Tarkov‘s rarer events.Elsewhere, Buyanov added that Battlestate Games is “aware of issues” within the game, though asked for fans’ patience.

Ready Player One author Ernest Cline has teamed up with AI tech company Futureverse for a new “multi-IP” experience, similar to Fortnite.Announced late last night (January 4), Readyverse Studios has been set-up by Futureverse co-founders Shara Senderoff and Aaron McDonald alongside Cline and the producer of the Ready Player One film, Dan Farah.The first release from Readyverse Studios is set to be the Readyverse, which is due for launch later this year. According to a press release, The Readyverse is a “a dynamic interactive platform of interconnected digital experiences,” with many fans comparing it to Fortnite.Readyverse Studios has already confirmed a partnership with Warner Bros.

David Bowie is set to be opened next week – meaning France will have a street to honour the musician, while his home country of the UK does not.News that the French capital would be naming a street after the iconic singer was first shared back in 2020, when Mayor Jérôme Coumet – a professed fan of Bowie – revealed that he was planning the move.Now, the street is set to open next Monday (January 8), and will be a new road near Austerlitz train station, rather than a pre-existing one that has been renamed.According to Coumet, the idea for the “rue David Bowie” emerged as the “Space Oddity” singer had “a strong link with the city of lights” (via The Connexion).An inauguration party is also set to be held at Salle des Fetes that same day to celebrate the launch, and a variety of photographs and paintings related to the singer will be showcased at the Galerie Athéna until January 14.As highlighted by The Connexion, Bowie’s ties to France not only include his countless shows across the country, but also his time recording music at the legendary Miraval studio – which is now owned by Brad Pitt.While his home country of the UK does not yet have a street named after the late music legend, his birthplace of Brixton does have a famous mural of the singer, painted by Australian artist James Cochran.Bowie died in 2016, following a cancer diagnosis.In other news about David Bowie, back in November it was reported that the artist’s handwritten lyric sheet has been estimated to fetch up to £100,000 at auction.The documents contained the late singer’s corrections, drafts and notes to his tracks ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’ and ‘Suffragette City’.

NME recently supported the Featured Artist Coalition’s 2023 End of Year Party and AGM at Walthamstow’s Signature Brew in London. Following on from 2021 and 2022, NME returned to support the event as well as chairing an artist-led ‘Year in Music’ panel discussion featuring Murray Matravers of the band formerly known as Easy Life, Sam Duckworth of Get Cape.

David Soul, who was best known for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the hugely popular Starsky & Hutch TV series, has died aged 80, his wife has said.

Avant-garde composer-performer Laurie Anderson, R&B icon Gladys Knight, groundbreaking rap group N.W.A, disco queen Donna Summer and country legend Tammy Wynette are among this year’s Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honorees, the academy announced today.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Sarah Personette, who quit as Twitter’s head of ad sales after Elon Musk bought the social network in the fall of 2022, has landed a new gig as CEO of digital news startup Puck. Personette will start at New York-based Puck on Jan. 7, assuming the role at the company that has been vacant since the exit of Puck co-founder Joe Purzycki in May 2023.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music N.W.A, Laurie Anderson, Gladys Knight, Donna Summer, Tammy Wynette and the Clark Sisters will receive 2024 Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awards during this year’s Special Merit Awards ceremony, the Academy announced today. Also being honored are longtime Linda Ronstadt/ James Taylor producer/manager Peter Asher, hip-hop pioneer DJ Kool Herc and veteran attorney (and longtime Academy executive) Joel Katz with Trustees Award recipients; Tom Kobayashi and Tom Scott with Technical Grammy Awards; and “Refugee,” written by K’naan, Steve McEwan, and Gerald Eaton (a.k.a.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Fat Joe, Jelly Roll and Wyclef Jean will team up with Power to the Patients for an event in Washington, D.C. on January 10 at Hamilton Live to advocate for a more affordable and equitable healthcare system through price transparency. With Congressional leaders and government officials in attendance, the artists “will shed light on the injustices created by a healthcare system that hides its prices, stifling competition and evading accountability for overcharges and price gouging,” according to the announcement.

Emily Longeretta Bachelor Nation knows a thing or two about a wedding special. They’ve been able to pull it off effortlessly through the years — from Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter’s 2003 nuptials to the most recent “I do” between Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin, which aired as a part of this season’s “Bachelor in Paradise.” However, the last time a wedding special aired live was when Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici married in 2014. Ten years later, “The Golden Bachelor” couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist did just that — with all the above individuals in attendance — at the La Quinta Resort and Club just outside Palm Springs, Calif.

Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper has sadly passed away at the age of 56 after a long battle with Covid-19.The Good Morning Britain presenter shared the heartbreaking news on social media, explaining that Derek was surrounded by loved ones in his final moments. Derek, who was a former political advisor and lobbyist, first went to hospital with the virus in March 2020. He and Kate have two children together, Darcey, 17, and William, 14.

Hollyoaks hunk Owen Warner has been getting cosy in snaps from a picturesque skiing holiday, as he was seen packing on the PDA with his co-star and real-life girlfriend, Jemma Donovan - and also hanging out with her famous dad. Owen must get on very well with former Neighbours star and pop singer Jason Donovan, as the latter is evidently on the snowy ski trip with them - all three seen posing for a smiley snap together, during a moment of R&R off the slopes.

Two men have appeared in court in connection with the death of a dad following a collision in Bury.

Kate Garraway spoke of her husband Derek Draper's 'determination' to be by her side during their last public outing together before his sad death. The Good Morning Britain presenter confirmed on Friday (January 5) that her beloved Derek had died, aged 56.

New powers that would assist the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in tackling benefit fraud have been criticised in Parliament.

The U.S. economy added 216,000 jobs in December, slightly higher than expected, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%.

Happy New Year, everybody. Jesse Whittock with you for the first Insider of 2024, as we look forward to bringing you the biggest stories throughout the year. Read on, and please and sign up here to get the newsletter delivered to your inbox every week.

Kate Garraway and her husband Derek Draper were due to celebrate their second wedding in August 2020, but sadly it didn't happen due to Derek battling Covid-19. The reminder of their plans for a second wedding come as Good Morning Britain host Kate, 56, has confirmed Derek has died aged 56 after a devastating three year battle with Covid-19.

Kate Garraway's husband has sadly lost his ongoing health battle, aged just 56. The Good Morning Britain star issued a statement on Instagram today, Friday 5 January, saying she held her husband's hand as he died.

Sue Cleaver was unrecognisable as she joined Loose Women as a guest panellist, with fans saying the Coronation Street favourite looked "amazing". The actress, 60, joined Kaye Adams, Linda Robson and Olivia Attwood Dack on the ITV show on Friday, 5 January and looked worlds away from her soap role as she sported a chic green blouse and thick rimmed glasses, with her blonde hair now cut into a cropped style. Fans took to social media to gush over Sue, with one writing on X: "#loosewomen Is that Sue cleaver at thend she's looking amazing that green really suits her too," while a second said: "Sue is looking so good." Others were pleased to see her back on Loose Women, with one fan saying: "totally loving having sue cleaver on the panel," and another added: "Haven't watched #loosewomen for ages but how lovely to see Sue on today".

Kate Garraway's husband, Derek Draper, has sadly passed away at the age of 56. Derek battled the long-lasting effects of Covid-19, leaving behind a grieving wife and their two children, Darcey and William. Kate expressed her deep sorrow over the loss, acknowledging her "luck" in sharing her life with him and holding his hand through his final hours.