Judge blocks Trump plan to put thousands of staff on leave
Getty Images A judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump from placing 2,200 workers at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on paid leave, hours before it was due to happen. Judge Carl Nichols issued a “limited” temporary restraining order, in response to a last-minute lawsuit filed by two unions trying to save the […]
Red diesel rules a ‘Tory cash grab dressed as environmental measure’
Getty Images/skaman306 From April the construction and manufacturing sectors will no longer be able to use cheaper red diesel to operate machinery New rules restricting the use of red diesel are a government “cash grab dressed up as an environmental measure”, an industry representative has said. Gordon Best, from the Mineral Products Association NI, said […]
North Korean TV appears to show early ‘A-bomb photo’
Alistair Coleman BBC Monitoring Korea Central TV Delegates don’t seem aware of the importance of this photograph of former leader Kim Jong-il North Korean TV footage of an arms and munitions industry conference appears to show the country’s former leader Kim Jong-il inspecting one of the country’s first ever atomic bombs. The photograph, never before […]
Bristol mum’s networking idea rolled out to more areas
Adele Williams, Super Funky Penguin The North Somerset hub of Freelance Mum Five new networking hubs for mums who run their own businesses while juggling childcare duties have been launched. Freelance Mum was set up in Bristol and groups have now been rolled out in Somerset, North Somerset, South Devon, Winchester and Southampton. By going […]
How will airlines get flying again?
Theo Leggett Business correspondent, BBC News Getty Images Airlines around the world have had to park up their planes Aviation is the most global of global industries. It employs millions of people, underpins the livelihoods of tens of millions more, and acts as part of the central nervous system of international business and leisure. Yet […]
Why are Canadians complaining about hard butter?
Getty Images Stock photo of butter being spread on bread Something is amiss with Canadian butter, according to local foodies, who have been arguing for weeks that their blocks are harder to spread than usual. These so-called “buttergate” anecdotes have been spreading online, with many Canadians complaining that their butter does not soften at room […]
Mark Robinson invited to help coach England’s men after World Cup success
England women’s World Cup-winning coaching team is to join up with the men’s side before the fourth Test against South Africa. Coach Mark Robinson and assistant Ali Maiden will work with Joe Root’s outfit on Wednesday, with the match at Old Trafford beginning on Friday. England’s women lifted the World Cup at Lord’s last Sunday […]
Why weather changes worry Wales’ ‘wettest town’
Steffan Messenger BBC Wales Environment Correspondent Blaenau Ffestiniog: What is Wales’ wettest town like? Appropriately enough, it’s drizzling on the day we visit the town billed as Wales’ wettest. A grey sky blends in with the towering slate mounds which surround Blaenau Ffestiniog, whose quarries once “roofed the world” and helped it earn Unesco World […]
Build all navy ships in UK, says Corbyn ahead of Govan visit
Reuters Mr Corbyn was speaking at a shipbuilding museum in Govan Jeremy Corbyn has called for navy shipbuilding contracts to stay in the UK in a speech in Glasgow. There has been speculation that a £1bn contract for three new Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ships could go to a foreign shipyard. The vessels will provide […]
Liberals still haunted by Trump win
Getty Images Just over a year ago, the political left in the US watched in shock as what seemed unimaginable happened – Donald Trump won the presidency. Since then, they’ve mourned, they’ve marched, and they’ve moved on. Sort of. There was a moment on the first full day of the Women’s Convention in Detroit, Michigan, […]