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Luciana Berger, South Wales Earthquake, George Harrison and more – 5 things you need to know about today.
2 years ago
Here are five things that you need to know about today, Saturday 25 February 2023.
Celebrations have taken place to mark what would have been George Harrison’s birthday
George Harrison’s birthday has been marked by fans across the world but also here at the Liverpool Beatles Museum by Hare Krishna followers, where a pendant belonging to the musician went on display.
Members of the Hare Krishna movement joined more than 100 fans at the Liverpool Beatles Museum on Saturday, on what would have been the guitarist and songwriter’s 80th birthday.
George, who died in 2001 at age 58, donated Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), known as the Hare Krishnas, in the 1970s.
Museum owner Roag Best said he had been contacted by the Hare Krishnas ahead of the star’s birthday.
He said: “George was massively important to the Hare Krishnas and they approached us and said they wanted to do something in Liverpool to celebrate his birthday.
There’s been an Earthquake in South Wales
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 has shaken parts of Wales overnight.
The British Geological Survey said the quake, which had a depth of 3.6km (2.2 miles), happened at 11.59pm on Friday.
Its epicentre was Brynmawr in Blaenau Gwent – approximately 12 miles away from Merthyr Tydfil.
Residents throughout the region, mainly from within around 25 miles of the epicentre, reported the incident.
Reports described “the whole house was shaking”, “the rumbling and the bang woke me up”, “my bed seemed to move side to side”, and it “was like a large explosion”, the British Geological Survey said.
There’s a waring that fruit and veg shortages could get even worse
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned that shortages of some fruit and vegetables in UK supermarkets could be “the tip of the iceberg”.
NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said a reliance on imports has left the UK vulnerable to “shock weather events”.
Soaring energy bills exacerbated by the war in Ukraine have also put off some UK vegetable growers, he added.
He said the UK has now “hit a tipping point” and needs to “take command of the food we produce” amid “volatility around the world” caused by the war in Europe and climate change.
More protests have taken place over Asylum Seekers staying in hotels
Hundreds of protesters and counter demonstrators have taken to the streets over asylum seekers staying in hotels in two English seaside towns.
A rally of about 200 people took place in Skegness, Lincolnshire, while a protest and counter-protest occurred outside the Beresford Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, on Saturday.
In Skegness, marchers clutched banners stating “no more refugees” while people chanted “we want our country back”.
Liverpool MP Luciana Berger has refined Labour
Luciana Berger is re-joining the Labour Party after leaving four years ago due to concerns about antisemitism.
Ms Berger, originally from Wembley in north-west London and the Liverpool Wavertree MP for almost a decade, walked out on Labour in the spring of 2019, becoming one of several disillusioned MPs fleeing mainstream parties to form The Independent Group.
She cited a “sea of cases” of antisemitism within Labour, accusing its top brass of choosing to “brush under the carpet” any complaints.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “delighted” that Ms Berger has accepted his invitation to rejoin the party.
He wrote on Twitter: “My test for change was whether those who were rightly appalled by how far we had fallen believe this is their party again.
“I know we’ve more to do but we’re unrecognisable from the party that forced her out.”