Primark shuts Disney cafe in Birmingham after ‘mouse sighting’
Cloud 9 Photography The Disney cafe is one of three places to eat in the flagship Birmingham store Primark’s £70m flagship store was forced to temporarily close its Disney-themed cafe after a reported sighting of a mouse. Pest control was called to the store in Birmingham city centre on Wednesday. Environmental health officers conducted an […]
How do sex workers keep safe during pandemic?
Gemma Dunstan BBC Wales News Getty Images A charity has changed the way it works to keep sex workers at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Safer Wales has been running the StreetLife project since 2005, aimed at helping woman trapped in prostitution. Chief executive Bernie Bowen-Thomson said: “We recognised that the essential outreach work we […]
What are water companies doing to tackle leaks?
Reality Check team BBC News Getty Images A drought has been declared in large parts of England and millions of households are facing hosepipe bans. Announcing this, the Environment Agency urged people in the affected areas to “use water wisely” but added “government expects water companies to act to reduce leakage and fix leaking pipes […]
RSPCA urges Wales ban on fair prize pets
Getty Images Goldfish have been given out as funfair prizes for more than a century A century-old tradition of goldfish as funfair prizes could come to an end as the RSPCA calls for a Wales-wide ban. The animal welfare charity said goldfish given as prizes in fairgrounds could end up living in poor conditions. But […]
A grim two weeks at the Hotel Caledonia
Douglas Fraser Business and economy editor, Scotland Google Crieff Hydro is the flagship hotel in the group Crieff Hydro has joined the hotels shedding staff, as the hospitality industry looks ahead to limited revenue and rising furlough costs. The coming week brings the deadline for larger employers of deciding between paying towards furlough or redundancy. […]
Firms call for urgent help with energy bills
Getty Images Five business groups have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging support for businesses and consumers as energy costs soar. The groups, representing small and large businesses, bosses and manufacturers, said price rises on the horizon could push millions of people into fuel poverty. They said businesses had also been hit by steep rises […]
Theresa May’s Brexit: metaphorically speaking
Douglas Fraser Business/economy editor, Scotland Getty Images The venue for the prime minister’s speech was changed at short notice The optics were not good. No, not an eye-drop, or a dram measure in your pub gantry. That’s politico-speak for the way it looks on telly. The flat backdrop obliterated a magnificent example of London’s neo-classical […]
Is the UK doing enough to monitor air pollution?
BBC Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah lived 25 metres from the South Circular Road in south-east London Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah was just nine-years-old when she suffered a fatal asthma attack on 15 February 2013. Fast forward to 2020, and she became the first person in the UK to have air pollution listed as a contributing cause of their death. […]
Derry high-tech healthcare training facility opens
BBC The centre’s high tech simulated home features a range of ways tech can support independent living A high-tech training facility has opened in Londonderry to help students understand how technology can help keep people out of care. The Design Innovation Assisted Living Centre (DIAL) is based at the North West Regional College. The college […]
Evening update as shops reopen, and England star makes free school meals plea
15 June 2020 Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Monday evening. We’ll have another update for you on Tuesday morning. 1. Long queues as shops reopen Some shoppers waited for more than hour at retailers such as Primark, TK Maxx and Foot Locker as non-essential businesses opened in […]