Weekly News Rundown Stories – Sunday 10th March 2024

Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.

Serious News

On Wednesday, the chancellor announced the budgets.

The red box was unveiled early afternoon on March 6th, and the key points were: the National Insurance for workers is to be cut by 2p (making it fall from 10% to 8%), child benefit threshold to rise from £50,000 to £60,000 and that more houses for young people are set to be built across Sheffield, Blackpool, and Liverpool.

The rate of tax credit for the film industry is set to rise by 5%, while a tax relief will be in place for both touring and non-touring theatre productions.

However, Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated that “the national credit card is maxed out”.

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Crazy News

St Paul’s Cathedral is set to host a “once in a lifetime” stay in a secret hidden library to commemorate this year’s World Book Day. 

Up to two guests can stay for one night only at the bargain price of just £7 and set to be the first to stay in the building since World War II when volunteers stayed inside to put out fires during the blitz. 

The lucky guests will enter the cathedral and meet the Dean, followed by climbing the spiral staircase designed by English architect Sir Christopher Wren more than three centuries ago. 

The stay includes dinner and breakfast, and will be able to be booked through Airbnb from next Tuesday, 5th March. 

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Happy News

Last weekend, The O2 Arena hosted the 2024 Brit Awards.

Raye was the big winner of the night, bagging six awards: British Album of the Year for 'My 21st Century Blues', Song of the Year for 'Escapism', British Artist of the Year, Best R&B Act, Best New Artist and Songwriter of the Year.

Other winners included 'Chase & Status' for Producer of the Year, 'Dua Lipa' bagged Best Pop Act, Best Dance Act was won by 'Calvin Harris'. The Global Icon Award was given to 'Kylie Minogue', who also closed the show with a medley of her hits such as 'Padam Padam', 'Can't Get You Out of My Head', 'Love at First Sight' and 'All the Lovers'.

Nominees and Winners for each category:

British Album of the Year:

• Raye – My 21st Century Blues
• Blur – The Ballad of Darren
• J Hus – Beautiful and Brutal Yard
• Little Simz – No Thank You
• Young Fathers – Heavy Heavy

Song of the Year:

• Raye featuring 070 Shake – "Escapism"
• Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding – "Miracle"
• Cassö, Raye and D-Block Europe – "Prada"
• Central Cee – "Let Go"
• Dave and Central Cee – "Sprinter"
• Dua Lipa – "Dance the Night"
• Ed Sheeran – "Eyes Closed"
• J Hus featuring Drake – "Who Told You"
• Kenya Grace – "Strangers"
• Lewis Capaldi – "Wish You the Best"
• PinkPantheress – "Boy's a Liar"
• Rudimental, Charlotte Plank and Vibe Chemistry – "Dancing Is Healing"
• Stormzy featuring Debbie – "Firebabe"
• Switch Disco and Ella Henderson – "React"
• Venbee and Goddard. – "Messy in Heaven"

British Artist of the Year:

• Raye
• Arlo Parks
• Central Cee
• Dave
• Dua Lipa
• Fred Again
• J Hus
• Jessie Ware
• Little Simz
• Olivia Dean

British Group:

• Jungle
• Blur
• Chase & Status
• Headie One & K-Trap
• Young Fathers

Best Pop Act:

• Dua Lipa
• Calvin Harris
• Charli XCX
• Olivia Dean
• Raye

Best R&B Act:

• Raye
• Cleo Sol
• Jorja Smith
• Mahalia
• Sault

Best Dance Act:

• Calvin Harris
• Barry Can't Swim
• Becky Hill
• Fred Again
• Romy

Best Rock/Alternative Act:

• Bring Me the Horizon
• Blur
• The Rolling Stones
• Young Fathers
• Yussef Dayes

Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act:

• Casisdead
• Central Cee
• Dave
• J Hus
• Little Simz

Best New Artist:

• Raye
• Mahalia
• Olivia Dean
• PinkPantheress
• Yussef Dayes

International Artist of the Year:

• SZA
• Asake
• Burna Boy
• Caroline Polachek
• CMAT
• Kylie Minogue
• Lana Del Rey
• Miley Cyrus
• Olivia Rodrigo
• Taylor Swift

International Group of the Year:

• Boygenius
• Blink-182
• Foo Fighters
• Gabriels
• Paramore

Best International Song:

• Miley Cyrus – "Flowers"
• Billie Eilish – "What Was I Made For?"
• David Kushner – "Daylight"
• Doja Cat – "Paint the Town Red"
• Jazzy – "Giving Me"
• Libianca – "People"
• Meghan Trainor – "Made You Look"
• Noah Kahan – "Stick Season"
• Oliver Tree and Robin Schulz – "Miss You"
• Olivia Rodrigo – "Vampire"
• Peggy Gou – "(It Goes Like) Nanana"
• Rema – "Calm Down"
• SZA – "Kill Bill"
• Tate McRae – "Greedy"
• Tyla – "Water"

Rising Star:

• The Last Dinner Party
• Caity Baser
• Sekou

Songwriter of the Year:

• Raye

Producer of the Year:

• Chase & Status

Global Icon Award:

• Kylie Minogue