UK fruit picking farms like prison, migrant worker tells peers
Kat Pirnak/Bureau of Investigative Journalism A South African woman has described working as a fruit picker on farms in the south of England as “slave labour”. “We weren’t viewed as humans,” Sybil Msezane told a House of Lords committee. She said workers were addressed by numbers, rather than names, as if they were in prison, […]
The women who hope to break the mould of Scottish politics
No women of colour have been elected to Scotland’s parliament in its 22-year-history. When the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999 much was made about how it would reflect modern Scotland but fine words and good intentions have not necessarily led to equal representation. Women make up 51% of the population but currently only hold […]
GB rowing’s London 2012 Olympic success inspires thousands
It will be tough to emulate the achievements of 2012 where Britain qualified all 13 of their boats to A Finals on their way to topping the rowing medal table, but Tanner is confident. “There’s no doubting our team peaked at the London Games,” he said. “We enjoyed an enormous amount of success, but things […]
Repairs to 150 roads across Somerset planned for summer
Somerset Council Surface dressing will be taking place across Somerset all summer Nearly 150 roads across Somerset will be repaired this summer. Somerset Council has tasked its new highways contractor with surface dressing the routes. Road surface treatment specialists Kiely Bros were awarded a four-year contract by the council effective from April 1. Surface dressing […]
National Science and Media Museum to reopen Imax before Christmas
National Science and Media Museum The Imax cinema will relaunch with screenings of Mufasa: The Lion King The National Science and Media Museum has confirmed its Imax cinema will reopen in time for Christmas, ahead of the venue’s full relaunch in January. The Bradford museum has been closed since last summer for a “once-in-a-generation” refurbishment […]
The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire is a respite, not a wider solution
BBC For most of the people of Lebanon, a ceasefire could not come quickly enough. A leading Lebanese analyst at a conference on the Middle East that I’m attending in Rome said she couldn’t sleep as the appointed hour for the ceasefire came closer. “It was like the night before Christmas when you’re a kid. […]
GSK to sell Horlicks as part of UK review
Getty Images GSK has confirmed plans to sell its Horlicks business in the UK and close the site where the malted drink is made. As well as shutting the site in Slough, the pharmaceuticals giant said it will off-load its MaxiNutrition brand. The closure, as well as an intention to outsource jobs at a manufacturing […]
Democrats go soul-searching in Iowa
Getty Images After 2016 defeats, Democrats are being pulled in different directions On a mild late-November night in Iowa, Alec Baldwin gave Democrats what they wanted to hear – and then told them what he thought they needed to hear. The actor, who is probably most famous at this point for his scathing impersonation of […]
Eton College set to give ‘brick’ phones to first years
Getty Images Boys starting at the boarding school from September will have basic phones, which can only send and receive texts and calls Eton College is providing basic “brick” phones to pupils set to start at the school in September. The devices, which can only send and receive texts and calls, will be given to […]
Delay to Hull Maritime Museum reopening date
A multimillion-pound refurbishment of Hull Maritime Museum has been delayed. Work started on the building in 2021 as part of a £27.5m revamp of the city’s maritime heritage. It was originally scheduled to welcome visitors in 2025, but now, in a press release, Hull City Council said it was “expected to reopen in spring 2026”. […]