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Colors: Blue Color

UK government leaders have continued to appeal for relatives of one of the country's last Black veterans of World War II to come forward after he died alone and apparently childless.

Born in 1926 in Jamaica, Flight Sergeant Peter Brown was one of many who signed up for the British armed forces from the country's imperial territories. Aged only around 17, he trained in Canada and joined the Royal Air Force in September 1943, serving as a wireless operator and air gunner in Lancaster bombers, according to The Sun newspaper.

A major new TV and film studios in Birmingham is expected to create more than 700 jobs. Construction has started on Digbeth Loc. Studios, set up by Peaky Blinder's creator Steven Knight.

The site has been confirmed as the location for a new Peaky Blinder's movie, and is hoped to grow the local production industry. "It's going to change the nature of the opportunities for people in this city," Steven said.

Speaking at the Fazeley Street site's launch, the screenwriter said filming for the Peaky Blinders movie would start there soon, with a call for extras to be issued shortly. "All you need is a haircut - and a cap," he added.

The region’s economy will be powered up by the levelling up zones to be established by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as part of the ground-breaking Deeper Devolution Deal. Six zones have already been identified as having the potential to accelerate growth, development and regeneration.

Key investment sites within each will be unlocked by a new agreement with the Government that enables the region to retain Business Rates growth over the next 25 years, worth around £500 million.

When the Most Reverend Michael Curry was a boy, he gave up Bazooka bubble gum for Lent, just as many Christian children give up chocolate or some other candy.

Now, as presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, Curry sees more clearly what Lent means.

The Junior Rowing Academy programme at Leeds Rowing Club have purchased vital new equipment thanks to a grant from enfinium as part of its nearby Skelton Grange energy from waste project. A £50,000 Community Benefit Fund has been made available to community groups and organisations in Leeds during the construction phase of enfinium Skelton Grange, which is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Dudley Council bosses have welcomed news of multi-million Government funding for the Metro expansion from Wednesbury into Brierley Hill.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in parliament that Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is to get £60 million towards the completion of the second phase of the scheme. The first phase, from Wednesbury into Dudley town centre, is already well under way and is expected to be carrying passengers by next year.

The Coronation Champions Awards have been backed by a star-studded list of ambassadors, with celebrities supporting the awards and praising the efforts of volunteers across the UK. The exciting new awards launched by Royal Voluntary Service and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, have attracted the attention of big names including Dame Judi Dench, Alex Jones, Gethin Jones, Tasha Ghouri, Sam Ryder, Elaine Paige, Tom Read Wilson, Felicity Kendal and Nadiya Hussain.

A senior leader, a political economist, and a construction and manufacturing industry expert at Birmingham City University have reacted to today’s Budget announcement from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: It is really great news that the West Midlands has been chosen to host one of the Tech hubs clustered around universities in England.

A new world’s first collection of gold sovereigns, the first to be created in honour of the accession of a British monarch, has been released in celebration of the accession of King Charles III. As the nation prepares for the first royal coronation in 70 years, The 2023 King Charles III Accession Sovereign Range released by gold sovereign specialists Hattons of London, will be the first in history to bear the King’s royal cypher.

Worcester Cathedral has been awarded the Silver Eco Church Award, by A Rocha UK – the Christian environmental charity committed to equipping churches and their congregations to care for the environment.

After achieving the Bronze award last year, the Cathedral’s Eco Group has been busy working towards Silver, implementing a number of initiatives to improve its eco rating and involve the whole community.

Over half (55%) of people in poverty are finding it difficult to pay for their insurance amidst the cost-of-living crisis – leading some to give up insurance as they prioritise food and energy bills, new report warns.

New research by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), supported by Fair By Design, found that insurance is becoming increasingly unaffordable for those on low incomes as they are charged “a poverty premium” – meaning they pay more for insurance cover due to reasons they cannot control, such as where they can afford to live.

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to announce in this week’s Budget an additional £33 million over the next 3 years to support veterans, in recognition of the sacrifices they’ve made for the UK. The majority of the funding package (£20 million) will go towards the Veteran Capital Housing Fund - a new project to provide extra housing for veterans through the development of new builds and refurbishment of veteran social and charitable housing.

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