Boris Johnson overhauls cabinet on first day as PM
Boris Johnson’s first speech as UK PM: “Never mind the backstop, the buck stops here” Boris Johnson has given key cabinet roles to leading Brexiteers after becoming the UK’s new prime minister. Dominic Raab and Priti Patel return to government as foreign secretary and home secretary respectively. Sajid Javid has been named as the new […]
Why stricter rules for Glasgow but not for Edinburgh?
Getty Images Most shops, hairdressers, gyms and restaurants in Glasgow are closing for three weeks as it goes into level four lockdown but in Edinburgh residents can continue picking out Christmas gifts and booking lunches. The prevalence of Covid in each area is the reason for different rules but is it possible to explain why […]
Women’s European Championship: Ten years, six landmark moments
The Lionesses may not have produced the perfect, free-flowing performance they were hoping for in their Euro 2022 opener against Austria at Old Trafford, but they could hardly have wished for a better atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams on 6 July. A crowd of 68,871 – a record attendance for a European Women’s Championship […]
Why air pollution bamboozles pollinating bees
Getty Images (Credit: Getty Images) Contaminated air is not only bad for us, it can also disrupt bees’ highly attuned senses for finding flowers. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, ecologist James Ryalls and his colleagues would go out to a field near Reading in southern England to stare at the insects buzzling around black mustard […]
Major restoration begins in Amsterdam
Courtesy of the Rijksmuseum The varnish has started to be removed, as part of the first stage The largest restoration of Rembrandt’s masterpiece, The Night Watch, is under way at the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam. Following five years of research using techniques such as digital imaging and artificial intelligence, eight restorers will begin “Operation Night Watch” […]
UK to set limits on harmful airborne particles
Reuters A new target will be set to protect people from the effects of breathing in tiny particles produced by transport and industry, the UK government says. The country falls some way short of a limit recommended by the World Health Organization for tiny particles called PM 2.5s. These are produced by burning fuels in […]
‘Routine’ for women to get abuse over clothes
Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey says it is “routine” for women in politics and public life to get abuse for what they wear. The shadow business secretary said it “shouldn’t matter what people wear at work”, but she knew she would get attacked on social media after her public appearances. “Some people tend to talk […]
Russia scraps age limit for new troops in Ukraine push
AFP Russian troops in the devastated port city of Mariupol Russia has scrapped its age limit for professional soldiers, paving the way for more civilian experts to be recruited for the Ukraine conflict. President Vladimir Putin has signed a law enabling people over 40 to enlist for the armed forces. They are expected to be […]
Appeal after rape claim against ex-president Jammeh
Fatou Jallow Fatou “Toufah” Jallow says she fled The Gambia after she was raped and now lives in Canada The Gambian government has called on all women and girls in the country to report any sexual violence committed by former President Yahya Jammeh. The appeal comes after former beauty queen Fatou “Toufah” Jallow told the […]
Civil Service Commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart launches cronyism probe
A review of appointments to some government jobs has been launched after accusations of cronyism. Labour has defended the appointment of three people to top civil service jobs who are also linked with donations to the party. The Conservatives have claimed the appointments are evidence of a “culture of cronyism” in government. Civil Service Commissioner […]