Reshuffle speculation ‘disruptive’ to DWP officials
Getty Images Speculation about a cabinet reshuffle this autumn risks “disrupting” the work of her department, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey has suggested. People “may not work quite at the same pace on the current leader’s ideas” if they think change is coming, she said. Ms Coffey is the seventh person to hold the […]
The highs and lows of Grammys 2024 – and why Taylor Swift won album of year
Getty Images SZA was one of the big winners at the 2024 Grammy Award The 2024 Grammy Awards ended with a bang: Taylor Swift taking home her fourth album of the year trophy. It cements her position as the one of the greatest songwriters of her era – although she was gracious enough to use […]
Wiltshire Council frustration over no warning for job cuts
Dyson Up to a third of Dyson’s UK workforce will be cut A council leader is “extremely frustrated” over a lack of notice surrounding huge job cuts at engineering giant Dyson. The British-founded company announced on Tuesday it planned to cut up to a third of its UK workforce to ensure it was “prepared for […]
The hard-working origins of the ‘blue-collar jacket’ – and other workwear classics
Alamy (Credit: Alamy) The humble barn jacket, chore coat and donkey jacket have all gone from functional workwear to “It-item”. As a trend, is it a betrayal of the garments’ US and UK working-class roots – or does it “honour the grit and resilience” that they represent? The barn, chore and donkey jacket are now […]
Tributes to three killed in crash
Ince/Britton/Watson families Tina Ince, Alex Britton and Tom Watson died in the four-vehicle crash near Andover Tributes have been paid to three people killed in a lorry crash on a dual carriageway. The crash on the A303, involving a Vauxhall Astra, a food delivery van, a DAF recovery truck and an HGV happened shortly after […]
UK immigration plans ‘devastating’ for Scotland, says Sturgeon
Getty Images The UK government’s plans for immigration would be “devastating” for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed. The Home Office has set out plans for a post-Brexit system which would not give visas to low-skilled workers. UK ministers want to “move away” from “cheap labour” from Europe and instead target the “brightest and best”. But […]
Is AI the answer for more better government services?
Getty Images Governments are exploring whether AI can give reliable advice Long before ChatGPT came along, governments were keen to use chatbots to automate their services and advice. Those early chatbots “tended to be simpler, with limited conversational abilities,” says Colin van Noordt, a researcher on the use of AI in government, and based in […]
Rare first edition Harry Potter book sells for £36k
Rare Book Auctions Christine McCulloch had watched author JK Rowling being interviewed on Blue Peter with her son, Adam, and daughter, Rachael before buying the book A rare first edition of a Harry Potter book has sold for £36,000. Christine McCulloch bought the copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for her son Adam […]
Ukraine fights to keep the lights on as Russia hammers power plants
BBC/Joe Phua Russia is targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the brutally cold winter Amid the monstrous heaps of twisted metal, pools of congealed oil and walls pockmarked by shrapnel, one incongruous detail catches my eye. Patches of snow. Inside a thermal power station. With another Ukrainian winter arriving, the vast turbine hall is full […]
Test changes a ‘hammer blow’ to travel, and the pros and cons of mandatory jabs
Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Sunday. We’ll have another update for you tomorrow morning. 1. Travel test changes a ‘hammer blow’ to industry Travel sector bosses have criticised the return of pre-departure tests for travellers heading to the UK. From 04:00 GMT on Tuesday everyone aged 12 […]