Ivory Coast: Ouattara wants EU sanctions lifted
Ivory Coast is the world’s biggest cocoa-producing nation, but uncertainty and violence since the disputed election has badly damaged the industry. Mr Ouattara said the central bank would begin reopening its branches, and the army would secure delivery of medical supplies to hospitals and food to markets. He blamed Mr Gbagbo for plunging the country […]
Who is Theresa May? A profile of the Conservative leader
On the plus side, crime levels fell, the UK avoided a large-scale terrorist attack and in 2013, she successfully deported radical cleric Abu Qatada – something she listed as one of her proudest achievements, along with preventing the extradition to America of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. However, the Passport Office suffered a near meltdown and […]
Inside the ‘town’ behind Sellafield’s security fence
Sellafield Ltd The Sellafield site is constantly changing with old buildings being demolished and new ones built Sellafield is one of the largest nuclear sites in Europe and with 11,000 people working in 1,300 buildings connected by 25 miles (40km) of roads across 700 acres (283 hectares), is comparable in size to a small town. […]
T20 World Cup: Cricket ‘owes’ South Africa in ‘crucial moments’
Cricket “probably owes” South Africa at crucial moments as the side look to finally lift a major international trophy at the T20 World Cup in Australia, says batter Pieter Malan. The Proteas open their Super 12 Group 2 campaign against Zimbabwe, who qualified from the first round, on Monday in Hobart. Malan believes the country […]
The NI photographer working with Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott
Aidan Monaghan Fermanagh photographer Aidan Monaghan with Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal at the World Premiere in Leicester Square, London It’s a long way from rural County Fermanagh to walking the red carpet at one of the biggest film premieres in the world, but that’s the journey one man from Ederney has travelled. On Wednesday […]
Fake alcohol on sale in many UK off-licences
The counterfeit alcohol that is sold in off-licences enters the retail market from the backs of vans across the country. Counterfeit alcohol tends to be rebottled wine, where cheaper wine is poured into a more expensive bottle, or fake alcohol made in illegal factories in the UK. “It’s a growing problem, which we are getting […]
UK ‘heading towards digital skills shortage disaster’
WorldSkills UK The UK is heading towards a “catastrophic” digital skills shortage “disaster”, a think tank has warned. The Learning & Work Institute says the number of young people taking IT subjects at GCSE has dropped 40% since 2015. Meanwhile, consulting giant Accenture says demand for AI, cloud and robotics skills is soaring. Experts say […]
Rugby World Cup: ‘Anything is possible’ for South Africa, says Lusanda Dumke
Dumke was a late arrival on the rugby scene, only starting to play the game at the age of 15 after moving from the Transkei to East London, over 100km away, shortly after the death of her mother three years earlier. Her father had passed away just 10 days before Dumke was born. Making the […]
US university says diversity slumps after affirmative action ban
A prestigious US university has recorded a sharp fall in admissions from “members of historically under-represented racial and ethnic groups,” following a Supreme Court decision to end affirmative action. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said 16% of its new intake identify as being black, Hispanic, Native American and/or Pacific islander – down 10 percentage […]
Pig farmers rally for government help
Hundreds of pig farmers are holding a rally outside Downing Street to appeal to the government to help their industry. They say they are being forced out of business by the rising cost of feed and low prices from the supermarkets. Cameron Naughton, a pig farmer in Wiltshire explained to the BBC how his business […]