John Bercow ‘to quit as Speaker next summer’
Speaker: Commons needs new body to investigate bullying John Bercow has told friends he intends to stand down as Commons Speaker next summer, the BBC understands. His departure, in June or July, would coincide with his tenth year in office. The news comes after a damning report on the failure of high level figures in […]
Plymouth campaign targets people who view indecent images
PA Media Plymouth City Council is backing the campaign which is part of the city’s Safer Streets initiative to address violence against women and girls People who view sexual images of children online are being targeted in a campaign to curb the illegal practice. Stop It Now! in Plymouth aims to educate those worried about […]
Odile Ahouanwanou: From Benin footballer to heptathlon at World Championships
At the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ahouanwanou finished in 15th place, having been fifth after the first four events. She is now hoping to emulate Ghana’s Margaret Simpson, the only African to earn a heptathlon medal at the World Championships having taken bronze in Helsinki in 2005. But before that, Ahouanwanou is picking […]
There’s more to JC Stewart than his viral Friends parody
Warner Bros / JC Stewart The singer’s parody song was reposted by Jennifer Aniston Northern Irish singer JC Stewart has been releasing music since 2014 – but it was an inspired moment of lockdown fever that gave him a breakthrough last summer. Bored at home in Magherafelt, the 24-year-old wrote a parody of the Friends […]
Five big things that happened
AFP The Labour conference has drawn to a close. Jeremy Corbyn’s big speech was brought forward a day, so he could return to London in time for Parliament to sit again. There were debates and votes on Wednesday morning, but by then most MPs had returned to Westminster. So what have been the highlights of […]
Do mums really need breastfeeding help from technology?
Kristina Martin Ashley Albert used a breastfeeding app to help her keep track when nursing her girls Caring for a new baby can be an overwhelming experience – there’s lots to cope with and keep track of. And breastfeeding isn’t as easy as it looks. Can technology help new mums or is it just another […]
Government’s withdrawal of Nigeria from global basketball is ‘heart-wrenching’
Nigerian basketballer Upe Atosu has described the decision to withdraw the country from international competition for two years as “heart-wrenching”. The decision, announced by Nigeria’s ministry of youth and sports and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, means Atosu and her team-mates will miss September’s Women’s World Cup in Australia. As things stand it also means […]
How to choose the best – and most eco-friendly – swimwear
Alamy Make a splash this summer – from luxury vintage to sustainable fabrics, here’s our smart guide to swimming in style. It’s at this time of year when images of Jane Birkin in a ring-fronted bikini or Brigitte Bardot in her classic frilled bikini bottoms resurface. Swimwear brands name their designs after iconic stars, with […]
‘It’s the luck of the draw’
Getty Images UK nationals and residents returning from “red list” countries will be made to quarantine in accommodation such as hotels for 10 days, Boris Johnson has said. While exact details of the policy remain unclear, similar schemes are already in place elsewhere, including in Australia and New Zealand. So how does it work? After […]
Google changes policy on abortion advertising
AFP Google will require advertisers who wish to run ads about abortion to apply for approval first, according to a change in the company’s policy. Advertisers in the UK, US and Ireland will need to declare whether they do or do not provide abortions. That information will be displayed in Google search results. According to […]