Starbucks baristas launch strike in US, union says
More than 11,000 Starbucks baristas in the US have begun a five-day strike in a dispute over pay and working conditions. The walk outs began on Friday at stores in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle, Starbucks Workers United said. The union added the strike action would spread each day and reach hundreds of stores by […]
Palestinian Christians struggle to find hope at Christmas
Reuters A baby Jesus figure was placed on top of a pile of rubble in Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, with sermons focusing on the Gaza war The little town of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has good reason to consider itself the capital of Christmas but this year it does not feel like it. […]
‘Pray’ for Davina and ‘£280 hike to bills’
The Guardian leads with a claim that the growing addiction to unhealthy food costs the UK £268bn a year. The figure, which is more than the NHS budget, has been calculated in a report by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. It found that increasing consumption of food that was high in fat, salt and […]
what next for the booming cryptocurrency?
Bitcoin’s price has blasted through the much-anticipated threshold of $100,000, raising questions about how much higher it could go – and whether it can shake off its notorious volatility. The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose to around $103,400 shortly after 04:00 GMT on Thursday, before falling slightly. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, described it […]
Farmers’ protest heads to London
BBC Farmers have been in London to stage a protest against the government’s changes to inheritance tax rules A Welsh farmer has had sleepless nights and been left feeling “angry and scared” since changes to inheritance tax rules were announced. Jacob Anthony, 31, is one of hundreds from Wales who have travelled to Westminster to […]
Nvidia targeted by China in new chip war probe
China has launched an investigation into US computer chipmaker Nvidia, targeting one of America’s leading tech companies over alleged violations of anti-monopoly laws. The probe marks the latest salvo in an ongoing US-China tech war over the lucrative semiconductor market. Last week, Washington tightened restrictions on sales of certain exports to Chinese companies and the […]
Fairline Yachts staff in Oundle react to ‘shock’ redundancy news
Ant Saddington/ BBC Kathryn Hodson said the news of redundancy came as “a complete shock” Former employees at a luxury yacht manufacturer told the BBC how staff were reduced to tears after being made redundant. Earlier this month, private equity firm Hanover Investors sold its stake in Fairline Yachts and the firm was purchased by […]
Suffolk farmer ‘lost confidence’ over inheritance tax changes
Luke Deal/BBC Will Hitchcock runs his farm alongside his sister Katherine (left) and mother Liz (right) A farmer has said confidence among those in the industry has “dropped off a cliff” over the introduction of inheritance tax and called on the government to act. Will Hitchcock runs a farm in Claydon, near Ipswich, alongside his […]
El Salvador strikes $1.4bn IMF deal after scaling back Bitcoin policies
El Salvador has struck a $1.4bn (£1.1bn) loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after agreeing to scale back its controversial bitcoin policies. The global lender said risks related to the adoption of the world’s largest cryptocurrency had eased now that businesses will be allowed to decide whether or not to accept bitcoin. In […]
Charity shops report rising Christmas demand in cost of giving crisis
BBC/Simon Thake Sustainability-conscious Flo Patterson found a Versace bag for £15 in one charity shop visit Gail Wragg stands and surveys the scene unfolding around her. She’s at the centre of a sea of bin bags, shelving units packed with electrical equipment and also has the small matter of 800 artificial Christmas trees to sort. […]