‘Ripped off’ caravan owners start compensation fight
BBC Joanne Horner-Bloomfield says she is “devastated” to have to rely on food banks since losing so much money from her caravan About 1,200 caravan owners across the UK, many of whom say they feel “ripped off”, are to begin legal action against the holiday parks that sold them. Members of the Holiday Park Action […]
Residents shocked by village store’s sudden closure
BBC Darley Abbey Store closed on 11 November Residents have expressed shock and disappointment at the sudden closure of a village shop in Derby. The decision to shut Darley Abbey Store was announced in a note placed on the shop’s door on 11 November. Owner Graham Mulholland blamed the “rapidly changing economic environment” for the […]
Peterborough GP promotes online booking system at open day
Shariqua Ahmed/BBC Bretton Medical Practice held an open day, which educated patients about its online booking system and available community health support A city GP surgery has held an open day to encourage more patients to use an online consultation and booking system, ahead of its busy winter period. Bretton Medical Practice in Peterborough launched […]
UK and Iraq strike deal to clamp down on people smuggling gangs
Lee Durant/BBC The home secretary met with Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari Britain and Iraq have agreed an unprecedented joint plan to tackle people smuggling gangs responsible for thousands of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. On a three-day visit to the country, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also signed a new agreement to […]
Google told to sell Chrome to end search monopoly
Reuters The US Department of Justice is proposing a host of remedies to prevent Google from maintaining its internet search monopoly The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded Google sells Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser. It is one of a series of remedies proposed by the DOJ in a court filing late […]
The quest for a longer-lasting whooping cough vaccine
Getty Images This 19th-Century killer is making a comeback – and with protection from the whooping cough vaccine waning over time, the hunt is on for something longer-lasting. Whooping cough wasn’t really on Juliet Lautenbach’s radar. During her pregnancy and her daughter’s childhood, both had received free public vaccines against whooping cough along with all […]
The end looms for two London markets
Getty Images Before it was moved to Poplar in east London, Billingsgate Fish Market was based in the City on the banks of the Thames London’s historic Smithfield and Billingsgate markets are set to shut after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them, bringing down the curtain on two establishments that […]
Social media ban for under-16s ‘on the table’ says UK government
Getty Images A possible ban on social media for under-16s in the UK is “on the table”, the technology secretary Peter Kyle has told the BBC. Speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, he said he would “do what it takes” to keep people and in particular children safe online. He also announced […]
How would parties spend the Apple tax windfall?
Getty Images The EU’s highest court ruled that Apple had to pay more than €14bn (£11.8bn) to the Republic of Ireland The Republic of Ireland’s general election will be held on Friday – and the parties vying to form the next government have been making promises about how they will spend a huge tax windfall […]
US colleges warn foreign students over Trump immigration crackdown
US universities have been emailing international students and staff advising them to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, amid concerns over his plans for mass deportations. “All international students are worried right now,” University of Colorado Denver professor Chloe East told the BBC. Trump, a Republican, has pledged to enact […]