Author: Dave Carter

Fashion retailer, Next, has warned that stores may have to close if it loses its appeal against a landmark equal pay ruling. An employment tribunal found that 3,500 predominantly female shop staff had been discriminated against by being paid less than predominantly male colleagues doing similar work in warehouses. Next’s half-year results showed that stores… Continue reading Next may close stores if equal pay appeal fails

Bad landlords allowing raucous late-night stag and hen parties, pop-up brothels, and drug dens are causing misery for neighbours of short-term holiday lets across the UK, according to a group of MPs. They are calling for new laws to impose licensing on holiday let landlords and limit their numbers. Rachael Maskell, MP for York, said,… Continue reading Parties, brothels and drugs plague holiday let neighbours, say MPs

The Met Office has announced that yellow thunderstorm warnings will be implemented on Friday and Saturday, signaling an end to our recent warm weather. Southern parts of England and Wales may experience significant rainfall of up to 50mm (2in) and subsequent flooding and transport disruption occur. This is a stark contrast to the warm and… Continue reading Thunderstorm warnings for England and Wales mark end of UK summer

A rare 500-year-old engraving by Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer has sold at auction for £26,500. The engraving, titled Knight, Death and the Devil and signed and dated 1513, was discovered by Mat Winter from Cranbrook, Kent when he was just 11 years old and did not realize its worth until he took it to a… Continue reading Albrecht Dürer work 'found at tip' sells at auction for £26,500

The COVID-19 inquiry has heard that there is weak evidence that high-grade face masks provided better protection to health workers than surgical masks in the pandemic. Despite concerns raised by groups representing doctors and nurses, national guidance throughout the first two years of the pandemic recommended healthcare workers wear basic surgical masks as opposed to… Continue reading Evidence for high-grade face masks was weak, Covid inquiry told

Geoffrey Hinsliff, the actor best known for portraying Don Brennan in Coronation Street, has died at the age of 86. Hinsliff, who hailed from Leeds, first rose to fame through his role in the popular ITV soap in 1987. His time on the show, which saw him play a variety of storylines involving relationships, affairs,… Continue reading Coronation Street star Geoffrey Hinsliff dies aged 86

Despite electronic monitoring being a condition of early release as part of efforts to ease overcrowding in prisons, some prisoners have not been fitted with electronic tracking devices. Reports reveal that some prisoners who were released early had not been fitted with ankle tags, a situation which could increase the risk of reoffence and danger… Continue reading Some offenders released early without being electronically tagged

The NHS regulator in England has stated that many of the maternity failings at scandal-hit hospitals are becoming more widespread. Investigations into units in Shrewsbury and Telford and East Kent found poor care may have led to babies dying or having life-changing injuries. However, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said these problems were also being… Continue reading Harm at risk of being normalised in maternity care

It’s that time of year again when the tech giants fall over each other to get people to buy their latest and greatest smartphones. Google has recently released its latest Pixel 9 handsets, followed by Apple’s unveiling of the iPhone 16 while Samsung launched the latest variants of its foldable phones, the Z Flip6 and… Continue reading What's the point of buying the latest smart phone?

On Thursday, the Bank of England is expected to keep interest rates at 5% after a new report reveals that inflation in the UK has remained at 2.2% over the past month. Though this figure is just above the Bank’s 2% target, Governor Andrew Bailey warns that there will be no swift fall in rates… Continue reading Bank of England expected to hold interest rates at 5%