Doubts Sargeant inquiry will report before FM steps down
BBC Former communities secretary Carl Sargeant is thought to have taken his own life Potential witnesses to an inquiry into Carwyn Jones’s handling of Carl Sargeant’s sacking from his cabinet have been told they could be invited to give evidence in June or September. Mr Sargeant was found dead in November, four days after being […]
‘I saw strong women cry at their desks’
Bullying in the beauty industry is described as “toxic” The British Beauty Council is calling for an independent body to be set up to investigate claims of bullying and unfair dismissal in the industry, which does not have a trade union. It comes after the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme uncovered cases of bullying across all […]
Saudi Arabia allows free thinkers to talk to students
Riyadh philosophy conference The conference was first of its kind in Saudi Arabia A major international conference on philosophy has been held in Saudi Arabia aimed at encouraging critical thinking in a country where citizens have been jailed in recent years for expressing what are seen as dissenting views. The leading American philosopher Michael Sandel […]
Music technology project teaching Cumbrian teens life skills
BBC Niamh McMullin has enjoyed what she has described as a “steep learning curve” Teenagers have been learning the music technology skills needed to put on professional shows. At The Gather in Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria, a group have been taking part in a series of workshops funded by Arts Council England. The sessions equip them […]
Christmas pudding sales slump in challenging festive period
BBC Are the days of families tucking into a Christmas pudding after their festive dinner slowly coming to an end? Figures from market research company Kantar suggest they may be, as sales of the traditional dessert fell by 16% in the UK in the run-up to Christmas. There was also an 11% drop in sales […]
His first year as Labour leader
Reuters No adoring crowds – no ‘moment’ – accompanied Keir Starmer’s elevation to the Labour leadership on 4 April 2020. There was no rousing speech. It was a low-key address, and almost a year on, Sir Keir’s internal critics claim his leadership has remained underwhelming. They say when he promised, on that day, not to […]
New Zealand border to reopen from next month, PM Ardern says
Getty Images New Zealand says it’s keen to welcome back international tourists New Zealand has brought forward plans to reopen its borders to international travellers after a Covid lockout of more than two years. Australians will be allowed to enter the country without needing to quarantine or isolate from 13 April. All arrivals will have […]
Optimism and uncertainty as Middle East awaits Trump’s return
Frank Gardner Trump had a warm relationship with Saudi Arabia during his first term in office As leaders of dozens of Arab and Islamic nations gather in the Saudi capital for a summit, there is widespread speculation about what a second Trump presidency will mean for the region. In sharp contrast to the fears voiced […]
China’s drinkers develop taste for home-grown wines
Silver Heights Winery Emma Gao says that Chinese wine has greatly improved in quality in recent years Emma Gao says that “when people taste our wine they’re happy”. Ms Gao runs the Silver Heights winery and vineyards in China’s Ningxia province, about 1,000 km (620 miles) west of Beijing. They sit in the foothills of […]
UN elects first female tech agency secretary-general
Getty Images Doreen Bogdan-Martin speaking following her victory Doreen Bogdan-Martin has become the first woman to be elected as secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU is the main technology agency within the UN. Originally founded in 1865 to manage the first international telegraph networks, the ITU now has an important role in […]