£500m defence cuts as ships, drones and helicopters scrapped
The UK will save £500m by scrapping old military equipment early, the defence secretary has announced, despite a warning that the UK faces “increasing global threats”. Ships, drones and helicopters – some more than 50 years old – will be decommissioned ahead of schedule, John Healey told the Commons. But critics said the move would […]
Merseyrail train ticket system ’embarrassing’
Parliament TV Anneliese Midgley said she found it “embarrassing” and “wild” that Merseyrail did not allow digital ticketing An MP has said the lack of a digital ticketing system for a city region’s trains is an “embarrassment” to the region. Passengers who purchase Merseyrail tickets online must physically print off their tickets at home or […]
What have we learnt about Novichock incident?
BBC Dawn Sturgess died after being poisoned by Novichok When Dawn Sturgess unwittingly sprayed herself with what she believed was perfume in June 2018, she became caught in the “crossfire of an illegal and outrageous assassination attempt” of which she was not the target. Hidden inside the bottle was the nerve agent Novichok, which counter […]
It’s outright frightening – parents’ online safety concerns
PA Media Parents have spoken out about Jersey’s decision not to adopt the UK’s Online Safety Act Some parents in Jersey have said the lack of legal protection for children in the island is “outright frightening” and “really concerning”. The island did not adopt the UK’s Online Safety Act when it was being drafted in […]
Ferguson shipyard’s interim boss extends contract amid recruitment struggle
PA Media John Petticrew took over as chief executive in March The interim boss of the Ferguson Marine shipyard has agreed to stay on until Easter as the firm struggles to recruit a replacement chief executive. A candidate had been identified but pulled out 10 days ago, MSPs have been told. The current chief executive, […]
Bet365 boss takes big pay cut but still makes £158m
Denise Coates, chief executive of the gambling firm Bet365, took a massive pay cut last year, but still received a package worth almost £158m. Ms Coates, understood to be the highest-paid director of Bet365 Group and one of Britain’s wealthiest women, was paid a salary of £94.7m in the year ending March 2024, down from […]
Instagram testing tool that removes all recommended posts
Instagram is testing a new feature which allows people to completely remove all the content being recommended to them. Its “reset” tool – which it says will be available globally “soon” – effectively cleanses a user’s feed of content suggested by the site’s algorithm, though Instagram says recommendations will “start to personalise again over time.” […]
Taxi licence safety row blows up between two councils
Labour Party Stephen Simkins said Wolverhampton City Council had spent more than £1m to make its licensing system more streamlined A row has broken out over taxi passenger safety is being compromised because of the alleged high number of driver licences being issued in Wolverhampton. A total of 8,563 taxi drivers were awarded a licence […]
Scottish clubs reported to watchdog for youth football deals
Getty Images Scotland’s professional football clubs have been reported to the UK’s competition watchdog over the rules for registering child footballers. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been asked to investigate how young players are registered with elite clubs and move between them. Complaints to the CMA from Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner and grassroots campaigners […]
The indigenous women saving India’s endangered giant yams
Sai Krishan, Thirunelly Tribal Special Intervention Programme Lakshmi and Shantha with a species of tuber locally called the Noorang (Credit: Sai Krishan, Thirunelly Tribal Special Intervention Programme) In a tribe in southern India, a group of women are working hard to revive the country’s ancient native tubers, and bring them back into everyday culture. Lakshmi […]