Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
The government is set to roll out a test for the new Public Emergency Alerts.
Happening in the early evening on Sunday 23rd April, all devices connected to 4G and 5G mobile networks will receive this alert coming directly from the government.
The alarm will sound for 10 seconds, even if switched to silent and is free to receive with no additional software needed.
This system follows other countries, including the US, Canada, Japan and The Netherlands.
Focusing on serious weather-related events first, it could then expand to inform an area about potential terrorist activity.
Due to the fact that it is coming directly from a cell mast, it allows the area to be specifically chosen, only alerting the area it needs to.
Crazy News
Stag parties usually end up in places like Magaluf or Ibiza, but not Alfreton in Derbyshire – but that is where one Spanish man had his.
Cristóbal Novo Gonzalvo ended up becoming a mascot at Alfreton Town, when they went up against Darlington in the sixth tier (National League North) for his stag-do after playing as the team on Football Manager.
Bringing his friends to the game too, he walked the team out onto the pitch, had his photo with the captains and match officials, and even met some players after the match.
He first visited the town 12 years ago to learn about the club and was last there three years ago.
Speaking about his visit on Saturday 4th March, the Barcelonian said: “It was incredible. My future wife knows about me and my crazy problem with football and also Alfreton. My mother thinks that I’m crazy”.
Happy News
In a bid to save the environment, there are more cyclists than motorists in the City of London.
Year-on-year, there have been an increase of cyclists in 2019, 2021 and 2022; at peak times cycling represents 40% of the road traffic in the city and 27% throughout the day.
The findings were conducted on a wet windy day in November, and the document has been sent to the City of London Corporation, before a committee meeting that is to take place next Tuesday.
