2+ day, 20+ hour ago (594+ words) Jonathan Porritt described the COP30 climate talks as "a sustained exercise in suicidal fantasy" during his opening remarks at a book launch event at the Department of Engineering. The campaigner and author of the newly-launched Love, Anger and Betrayal began with a blistering critique of the recently-concluded climate conference in Belem, Brazil, during the event on Thursday (27 November), which was introduced by Hugh Hunt, professor of engineering at the University of Cambridge and deputy director of the Cambridge-based Centre for Climate Repair. Sir Jonathon, who is on a nine-city book tour, began by speaking of the challenges that climate breakdown is already bringing to millions of people around the world. "The 10 million residents of a capital city will have to be moved, according to the nation's leader," he said. "Who said that? It was the president of Iran, who said the…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (889+ words) Dr SJ Beard, an academic and research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, a research centre based at the University of Cambridge, has written a new book titled Existential Hope: Facing Our Future When the Signs Look Bad. Published by Polity, it is the author's attempt to respond to the "twin problems of existential anxiety and existential risk in a world that feels like it is hurtling out of control. "And I think as an academic researcher, there's a lot of big problems to get your teeth stuck into it. But as an ordinary person, these problems are too big and they make us feel really alienated and "What can I do?'. "I really tried to investigate that question and understand "What does existential risk mean for me, not as an academic researcher but as an…...

3+ day, 9+ hour ago (527+ words) Famous faces and literary legends descended on Cambridge at the weekend (22-23 November) for the winter edition of the Cambridge Literary Festival 2025. From household names like John Cleese and John Suchet to well-known politicians such as Nicola Sturgeon and acclaimed writers such as Andrew Lownie and Irvine Welsh, a wide variety of speakers delivered their talks at the Cambridge Union's TTP stage, the Cambridge Union Library and the Old Divinity School. John Cleese drew laughter from the sold-out audience on the Saturday evening when he recalled how he first started writing comedy with the late Graham Chapman while they were both students at Cambridge " most notably the germ of an idea that went on to become the "Flying Sheep' sketch in Monty Python's Flying Circus. The comedy giant was a student at Downing, which he humorously referred to as "one of…...

6+ day, 7+ hour ago (363+ words) Permit Room, the Indian all-day bar-caf" at 17 Trinity Street, Cambridge, has launched its Christmas Feast Menu - a "joyfully abundant spread of Bombay-inspired festive specials" - which is on now until 24 December. The turkey raan is the main dish on offer. It is a turkey leg spiced and slow-cooked in the traditional Indian-raan style. When we went along to try the menu, we were informed that this particular dish would be enough for two people - and so it proved. The turkey - "merrily spiced and slowly cooked till falling apart" - is a generously-sized portion easily enough for two people and it comes with roasted vegetables - carrots, parsnips and broccoli - gravy, roasted Indian sweet potatoes and "cranberry and green-chilli-smacked naan". Cooked and served as it is, the turkey looks more like pulled pork than how you might expect turkey to look, but I have…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (227+ words) Joe Jackson and his band will perform seven UK dates in September/October 2026 - including one in Cambridge. These shows will feature work from throughout Joe's remarkable career, and also celebrate the release of his new album Hope and Fury, which will be released on 10 April 2026. The UK dates follow a major North American tour running from May to July 2026. In total, the Grammy-winning artist will perform more than 80 shows across 14 countries. Though often depicted as a chameleonic artist who constantly "changes his style, Joe insists that most of his albums are in "his own mainstream - collections of sophisticated pop songs, using different kinds of rhythms and combinations of instruments. At the same time, he reserves the right to step away from that mainstream. As he said in a rare interview for The Chap magazine: "I always knew I was in…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (380+ words) A new report highlights how equitable partnerships supported by Cambridge Global Health Partnerships (CGHP) are delivering long-term impacts to improve global health. The Cambridge-based charity's report, launched at its Raising the Bar for Global Health event on 6 November, analysed the feedback and perspectives from healthcare staff and students who participated in health partnership projects between April 2024 and March 2025. During the year-long reporting period, CGHP supported 12 global health projects spanning nine partner countries including India, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Uganda and the UK. The analysis concluded that CGHP-facilitated health partnerships are delivering long-term, sustainable impact and helping to strengthen healthcare systems globally. Two key indicators of the sustainable impact of partnerships are the retention of knowledge from previous activities and the implementation of recommended improvements to techniques and protocols. The report highlights the success of the "train the trainer' method and its…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (153+ words) A Cambridge home has been issued with a closure order after frequent reports of anti-social behaviour, violence and drug misuse at the property. The order was issued to 8 Donegal on Thursday (13 November) after a successful application from Cambridgeshire Constabulary to Cambridge Magistrates" Court. A closure order was granted and the property will be partially closed for three months. PC Sarah Pride, from the neighbourhood team, explained: "Residents living in the surrounding area of the property have endured no end of anti-social behaviour incidents. "The closure order allows the tenants to remain living at the address but will prevent those who have been attending to commit anti-social behaviour and other criminal offences." The closure order states that the house be partially closed in accordance with the Anti-Social Behaviour and Policing Act 2014. No one is permitted to enter except the tenant and…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (400+ words) Head coach Neil Harris believes that this weekend's opponents Barnet will provide his Cambridge United side with their "hardest home fixture' so far this season. The U's go into the contest at the Cledara Abbey Stadium with one of the best home records in the country this term having won nine of their 11 outings in all competitions, losing just once. However, the Bees have travelled well since their return to the Football League. Dean Brennan's side have the joint second best points return away from home in League Two, suffering only one defeat on their way to collecting 14 points. And Harris is anticipating a tough afternoon during what will be United's first home league fixture since October 18. "Barnet have done fantastic. I watched their preliminary round of the Carabao Cup (tie) against Newport (4-2 defeat on penalties) and it was a…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (385+ words) It's a full-circle moment for one of East Anglia's top musical exports, as Morganway, the award-winning Americana-rock band with deep roots in the Cambridge area, are set to play their biggest ever hometown headline show on Thursday, 28 November. The band's journey has taken them from Cambridge venues to main stages at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Country Calling, Fairport's Cropredy Convention, the Long Road Festival, Towersey Folk Festival and Belladrum, and they've shared the stage with the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Skunk Anansie, Elles Bailey, and Sunny Sweeney. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist SJ Mortimer, alongside Kieran Morgan (lead guitar), Nicole J Terry (fiddle), Matt Brocklehurst (keys), and Ed "Steady' Bullinger (drums), Morganway are known for their live energy and emotional punch. Their latest album, Kill the Silence, charted at number four on the Independent Album Breakers Chart, number nine on the Americana…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (178+ words) Operation Market Garden is an upcoming theatre production which began yesterday (11 November) and runs until Saturday (15 November) in the Corpus Playroom Theatre. Opening poignantly on Remembrance Day, Operation Market Garden is a verbatim theatre piece based on the real diary of Welsh paratrooper Neads, who took part in the historic 1944 mission in Arnhem, Holland. The play follows Neads and his comrades as they are dropped behind enemy lines, captured, and held as prisoners of war for almost a year. Told entirely in the soldiers" own words, it allows a very honest insight into the events of one of World War II"s most daring operations. The play is also raising funds for the Royal British Legion, with a portion of the proceeds supporting its vital work with veterans and their families. As a production rooted in real history, this piece…...