Why some women are ditching pills and coils for fertility apps
Getty Images Some women are ditching pills and coils for fertility apps When the BBC reported a shift in contraception use from “hormonal” products like the pill to “natural” fertility tracking apps among some women seeking abortions, many other women got in touch sharing their experiences. Their stories reveal how difficult it can be to […]
Gaza rescuers reckon with scale of destruction
Reuters Palestinians walk past the rubble of houses and buildings in central Gaza On the first full day of peace in Gaza on Monday, rescue workers and civilians began to reckon with the sheer scale of the destruction to the Strip. Gaza’s Civil Defence agency – the strip’s main emergency response service – said it […]
Where Trump’s ‘frenemy’ relationship with Europe goes from here
BBC “It’s insane! We’re heading for a general election. The country feels broken. Our economy is stagnant… But most German news outlets just seem obsessed with Trump, Trump, Trump!” Iris Mühler, a teacher in engineering in north-east Germany is one of a number of voters I’ve been talking to ahead of February snap elections. She […]
The promise and peril of Trump’s inaugural speech
Watch: Donald Trump promises ‘golden age’ in first speech as 47th US President Donald Trump, who rode back into power on a wave of voter dissatisfaction with the status quo, promised a new “golden age” for America in his inaugural address. The speech was a mix of promises – and contradictions – that underlined some […]
Trump vows to quit global pact and ‘drill, baby, drill’
Trump’s day so far: Tea with Biden, a Melania air kiss and the oath of office President Donald Trump has once again vowed to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement, the world’s most important effort to tackle rising temperatures. The first Trump administration made a similar move in 2017, but that step was […]
The West African nation welcoming the world
Alamy (Credit: Alamy) Long known as one of Africa’s great beach destinations, a new generation of Sierra Leoneans is eager to show visitors that the formerly war-torn nation is now safe and reintroduce it to the world. Sitting in the shade of a palm tree on Tokeh Beach, one of Sierra Leone’s many postcard-worthy, white-sand […]
Norfolk teacher sets up travel website for staff and parents
Supplied Ms Bickford said she started the website as her family “loves travelling” A former teacher says she wants to “disrupt the system” with her website that finds holiday deals out of term time. Rachel Bickford, 43, launched OTTO holiday club late last year, and shares cheap deals online and via a mailing list free-of-charge […]
Sherburn in Elmet family butchers to change hands after 130 years
BBC/Julia Lewis Wayne Jackson’s family has run the butchers in Sherburn in Elmet for more than 130 years A North Yorkshire butcher whose family has run the business for more than 130 years is hanging up his apron. Jackson’s butchers in Sherburn in Elmet opened in 1893 by brothers George and Percy Jackson and was […]
‘Common sense is secret to old age’
Family handout Marjorie said everybody had a lovely time at her birthday celebrations A great-great grandmother who has just turned 105 said there were “no secrets” to old age apart from “common sense”. Marjorie Rigby, from Dukinfield in Tameside, Greater Manchester, celebrated the milestone with family and friends over a glass of Baileys. She said […]
How the cost-of-living crisis is affecting grassroots music
Kingpin @djkingpin33 Madi Saskia has been writing music and performing since she was 16 Singer Madi Saskia has been recording music and performing at venues across the UK since she was about 16 years old. The R&B and soul artist from Smethwick, near Birmingham, was soon put forward for a music programme which culminated in […]