Author: Karen Contrino

The most popular dog names for 2024 have been revealed – with ‘Teddy’ topping the charts. Naming a new furry friend is one of the most exciting parts of welcoming them into your family, and Quotezone’s latest data highlights the trends shaping dog names this year and going into 2025. For dogs born and insured in 2024, Teddy has emerged as the nation’s favourite name, closely followed by Luna and Lola. Rounding out the top ten dog names for 2024 are Milo, Bella, Daisy, Reggie, Poppy, Willow, and Max. This year’s list shows a preference for short, snappy names, which reflects their ease of use during training and everyday interactions.…

Acer today unveiled its new Nitro V series in various screen sizes, showcasing a powerful lineup of entry-level gaming laptops designed to make AI-powered gaming more accessible. Ideal for students, creators, and essential gamers seeking all-around performance, the Nitro V laptops offer a blend of exceptional responsiveness, stutter-free visuals, and ample storage to support the demands of evolving AI features and applications. Available in various configurations and screen sizes, the new Nitro devices cater to diverse user preferences and styles. Additionally, they come with three months of PC Game Pass. PC Game Pass is designed for PC players, including games…

The recent talk of AI-generated characters being launched on Meta’s platforms has already caused significant backlash. In fact, the tech giant has already begun deleting its own AI-generated accounts after human users started to interact with them – with the results being far from desirable. And while there have been criticisms of “slop” infiltrating social platforms, Freddie Strange, co-founder of global social and influencer agency, Komodo, believes that the move could have a profound impact on the influencer industry, where authenticity and trust is vital: “Meta’s push for AI-generated characters is a bold move, but it raises serious questions about…

Burnout is no longer just a buzzword. It’s an occupational phenomenon, and for good reason. It’s what happens when work-related stressors like overwhelming workloads, a lack of recognition, and poor management take a serious toll. Seven in 10 professionals across the media, marketing and creative sectors reported experiencing burnout in the past 12 months, the 2024 Mentally Healthy Survey has revealed. For years, businesses have waited until burnout strikes before doing anything about it. The result? A decline in productivity, morale, and team engagement. The real question is: why wait for the storm when you can prevent it? That’s where…

A Midlothian company is literally bringing light into the lives of hard-working teams and big-hearted volunteers who staff Scotland’s charities with a brilliant initiative which will also cut waste and boost the circular economy. Blackmoon Lighting, which has been operating out of Loanhead since 2004, has established a scheme in which whenever it is engaged in a Category (Cat) B fit out, it recovers energy-efficient light fittings from existing Cat A fit outs which otherwise might be thrown away, refurbishes them and donates them to worthy causes. A Cat A fit out is a basic operational fit out that provides…

Specialist care for older and disabled people in North Yorkshire is set to be transformed with a multi-million pound investment in pioneering new hubs that are due to be built over the next few years. Vital services provided and commissioned by North Yorkshire Council are faced with increasing demand, especially for specialist dementia and rehabilitation care for people who are being discharged from hospital. The council’s executive has today (Tuesday, January 7) unanimously approved plans to build up to five new care and support hubs to help to respond to demand for services across the county, with the exact locations…

Conflicting information about food and health is everywhere. Unqualified advice on social media and trendy diets can make it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, leading to unhealthy eating habits and confusion about what constitutes a balanced diet. To help set the record straight, weight-loss experts at Voy have debunked some of the most common diet myths that could be holding you back from achieving optimal health. Carbs are the enemy Low-carb diets like keto have gained popularity, but not all carbohydrates are bad. Complex carbohydrates found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are essential for energy, brain function, and gut health.…

Tickets go on sale this week for Keswick Film Festival, where movie lovers are to be treated to the biggest ever line up of global films at the event’s 25th anniversary, including 2025’s Golden Globe Best Drama Film, The Brutalist. Taking place at various venues around the Lakeland town of Keswick, Keswick Film Festival is a platform for showcasing independent films and shorts from around the world. The anniversary year will see movies from right across the globe including Iran, Palestine, France, Finland and China, plus of course, some British films, including ones created by local Cumbrian talent. Amongst the genres…

Winter is about warm and cozy ambiance and hearty, comforting dishes. Rich, bold red wines are the go-to choices for the season. However, white wines are not just for summer or warm weather. In fact, many winter dishes pair better with whites than reds. In the world of wine, there’s no shortage of full-bodied, creamy, and round whites that deserve their place in winter. Oaked Chardonnay Chardonnay is a classic, produced in many different styles. Refreshing, easy-drinking Chardonnays are ideal for summer, but the true beauty of Chardonnay lies in oak aging. As a naturally round, full-bodied grape variety, oak…

2025 is set to be a big year, with Lana Del Rey, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Olivia Rodrigo all announcing tours.   Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter brings her ‘Short n’ Sweet Tour’ to the UK and Ireland and Dua Lipa announced a new UK date for her ‘Radical Optimism’ tour – performing at Wembley Stadium in London.  For those already planning their outfit, online fashion retailer Boohoo has analysed the biggest venues for 2025 tours and picked out the perfect bag based on each venue’s policy.   Wembley Stadium, London  Huge pop stars including Dua Lipa, Guns N’ Roses, and Lana Del Rey…