Revolution Bars Group, the UK’s largest operator of premium bars with 73 venues across the UK including has removed plastic straws across its estate as part of a new sustainability campaign. Revolution and Revolución de Cuba in Birmingham and Solihull will champion #TheFinalStraw and #NoStrawPorFavor, banning all plastic straw purchasing and putting an end to its annual 30 million order in time for its new menu launch. A biodegradable, fully compostable alternative manufactured from PLA (a plant-based plastic), will be available to customers who specifically ask for and require a straw.

Further significant measures to reduce wastage include switching to dehydrated fruit garnishes, replacing all beverage napkins with ceramic coasters at Revolución de Cuba sites and partnering with Refill (www.refill.org.uk), a free tap water initiative, adding all bars within the group to the 1,600 refill stations currently available across the UK.

Myles Doran, Commercial Director of Revolution Bars Group comments: “We have a huge responsibility as one of the leading premium bar groups in the UK to get behind the ‘no straws’ campaign. In 2017, we used over 30 million straws and removing these is us playing our part in significantly reducing the volume of plastic that damages our environment.”

Since their inception in 1981 Culture Club have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, with a stream of classic hits including; ‘Do You Really Want to Hurt Me’, ‘Karma Chameleon’, ‘Church Of The Poison Mind’, ‘Victims’, ‘It’s A Miracle’ and ‘The War Song’ .

The group is fronted by singer/songwriter Boy George, universally recognised as one of music's most iconic artists. George was recently presented with the Ivor Novello lifetime achievement award in 2015 for his contribution to the music industry.

Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss make up the remaining original line up for one of the most exciting tours of the decade!

The Life Tour: starring Boy George & Culture Club will also feature 80’s pop sweetheart Belinda Carlisle and new wave, synth pop artist Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, the tour will visit 11 cities across the U.K, stopping at Arena Birmingham on 16 November 2018.

‘We put together an amazing show that is going to be filled with hits and fabulous memories, we know it will be hands down this summer’s best night out,” says Boy George.

Culture Club will be at Arena Birmingham on 16 November 2018.

Birmingham brought the house down as it celebrated the official handover of the Commonwealth Games to the second city from Australia's Gold Coast.

During the closing ceremony in Australia, Lord Mayor Cllr Anne Underwood received the flag in front of a TV audience of up to one billion.

Showcasing Birmingham's Diversity, Youth and Talent, Victoria Square erupted in an explosion of colour as dancers performed a number of different routines across an uninterrupted shot.

The Floozie In The Jacuzzi was transformed into a tropical wonderland complete with Drag Queens, while pre-recorded raps, celebrations and chats played as the wonderfully choreographed performance

Speaking from the closing ceremony Birmingham's Lord Mayor Anne Underwood urged viewers to make their travel plans to visit Birmingham now, and stated "We are a very young and diverse city - we will showcase our city's youth and diversity."

The Commonwealth Games were awarded to Birmingham for 2022 and by the very high bar set for itself on this handover performance, the games in 4 years time will be a breathtaking spectacle.

Performing to ELO's Mr Blue Sky in a 5 minute uninterrupted shot was a bold move, started by poet Amerah Saleh as she ushered viewers out of a door that appeared to be backstage in the Gold Coast, but opened out onto Birmingham's Victoria Square.

“Birmingham you have stayed back too long. Told them to take the limelight for a while. They sparked coloured lights in celebration of everything but never in celebration of us.” Amerah explained.

Despite the mention by the BBC commentator of "months" of planning, the whole event, including casting and rehearsals was put on in just over a month. If this is what the team behind delivering the event in 2022 are capable of in a short space of time, just imagine what is to come with 4 years of planning.

Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Cabinet Member for Adult Health and Social Care said, "I am so honoured that Birminghamhas managed to pull this off, not on it's own but with the help of many others, and we will at last be able to show what this City is capable of.

"At this moment in time I am beaming, I am so so proud as we have pulled this off in a matter of weeks."

These are exciting times ahead for Birmingham, and we look forward, along with the rest of the city, to what is in store.

Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, speaking in Victoria Square after the spectacle said: "I think this has been a fantastic day for Birmingham, it was our first opportunity to show what we've got ahead of Birmingham 2022, to present ourselves to the Commonwealth and the wider world.

"I think that all of the young people that have been involved in puling off this dance routine today have been amazing and we're really showcasing the diversity and youth of this city and of course the talent.

"It's one of the reasons we were awarded the games on a shortened time frame because we are a city that can deliver as you have seen today."

Two tonnes of rubbish has been collected from the Sandwell side of Forge Lane in West Bromwich after extensive fly-tipping was cleared from the side of the road.

Carpets, fridges, bin bags and kitchen cabinets had been dumped at the spot close to Sandwell Valley.

The clean-up took place on Sunday (8 April) with the road being closed from 6am - 12pm so a cleansing team could safety collect the fly-tipped rubbish.

Now that the rubbish has been cleared, CCTV cameras and banners have been put up warning fly-tippers they face a fine of £400 if caught.

Sandwell Council has issued more than 50 £400 fines to fly-tippers after a new enforcement team started patrols.

The team began issuing £400 fixed penalty notices in May 2017. The latest seven fines were issued at the end of last month, taking the total to 55.

The countdown to Vaisakhi has begun, with thousands of visitors expected at Wolverhampton's premier park for the annual celebrations in May.

The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton together with the Asian community is holding the popular cultural festival at West Park on Sunday, May 6, 2018, between 10am and 5pm.

It promises entertainment for all the family, including a fun fair, stalls and prominent Asian musicians and singers performing live on stage.

There will be speeches by religious leaders, a variety of local organisations will showcase their services and free food will also be served throughout the day. Entry is also free.

Keren Jones, Director for City Economy, said: "Vaisakhi is always hugely popular and with less than a month to go preparations are underway by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Wolverhampton and the Asian community to ensure another fun filled family event.

"The City of Wolverhampton Council urge everyone to put the date in their diary and see West Park come alive to the sights and sounds of the Vaisakhi Festival."

Beforehand, there will be a parade from the Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara on Cannock Road to West Park, starting at 9am. Motorists are advised that temporary road closures will be in place while the procession makes it way to the park.

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar. It is the Sikh New Year festival, and this year marks the 319th Anniversary of the Creation of the Khalsa Order and making of Saint-Solider by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699.

More than two-thirds (68%) of people in West Midlands think the UK should do more to help the welfare of animals, according to a new poll by the RSPCA.

Figures from the charity reveal that although a massive 85% of people in the region consider themselves animal lovers, 34% feel a lack of money and 27% cite a lack of time as barriers to doing more to help animals. Worryingly one in ten (11%) people felt that their actions couldn’t make a difference.

This week, the RSPCA is launching its new #AnimalKind campaign which aims to encourage people to join it in creating a world which is kinder to animals. The campaign aims to give people practical advice about what they can do to ensure that all animals are better protected and cared for and has produced a free guide to show how little acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Klare Kennett, Assistant Director of External Relations, Marketing and Communications at the RSPCA, said: “It is really encouraging to see that we still consider ourselves to be a nation of animal lovers but we want to show people that it doesn’t take a lot of time or money to do your bit to help create a world that’s kinder to animals.

“We at the RSPCA are dedicated to improving the lives of animals everywhere but we cannot do it alone. We know so many people want to do their best for animals, be it pets, wildlife or those reared on farms, but they may not know how they can help.

“We wanted to give people ideas of little things they can do, such as signing a petition, doing a litter pick, or volunteering to walk a dog, which do not take lots of time or money, but change animals lives for the better.”

In the survey of more than 2000 people across Great Britain, carried out by YouGov, respondents in West Midlands said that the animal welfare issue they were most concerned about (39%) was animals being used in blood sports such as badger baiting or cock fighting.

However, just seven per cent said a lack of homes for animals was a major concern. Twenty-three percent, more than the national average of 17%, said farm animal welfare was one of their main worries.

While blood sports undoubtedly cause horrific suffering to animals, the numbers of animals involved are relatively small. However, in the UK each year hundreds of thousands of rescue pets are waiting in adoption centres looking for homes, and nearly a billion animals are reared on farms in the UK.

Klare added: “People are rightly concerned about barbaric and illegal blood sports which cause the animals involved untold suffering. However, the numbers remain, thankfully, relatively small.

“What many people perhaps don’t realise is that rescue centres are bursting at the seams with animals needing homes, and that kennel-life can be stressful and difficult for many animals who wait for weeks, months or even years for their forever home.

“Similarly, people probably don’t know that millions of farm animals are kept in conditions which just aren’t good enough, and currently only a relatively small proportion are in higher welfare schemes.

“So by choosing to adopt rather than buy a pet, or checking food for the RSPCA Assured label, you could be making a difference.”

With litter and plastic high on the public agenda, 33% of people revealed they were concerned about the destruction or damage to wildlife habitats and 21% worried about litter and plastic being hazardous to animals.