British Isles
Parents spend hundreds on school uniforms
29 Jun 2023
The Children's Society reports that parents spend on average £422 a year on secondary and £287 on primary uniforms, despite government rules meant to lower the costs. Schools requiring parents to buy costlier branded items were…
Lithium mine to open for electric carmakers
29 Jun 2023
A French-UK joint mining venture in the St Austell area of Cornwall has been announced. The project will provide battery-grade lithium carbonate, a key component in electric cars. It will create more than 300 jobs, and…
Improve patient safety in mental health care
29 Jun 2023
The secretary of state has announced that in October a new Health Services Safety Investigations Body will be formally established to commence a national investigation into mental health inpatient care settings. It will investigate a range…
Loan sharks profit from soaring prices
29 Jun 2023
Loan sharks say business has never been so good, but there are huge risks attached to this type of borrowing. One loan shark calls himself an ‘enforcer’- referring to what happens if payments are missed. ‘The…
Police and politicians: sexual misconduct
23 Jun 2023
Michael Lockwood, ex-police watchdog director general, has been accused of six counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape against a girl under 16 during the 1980s. He left his post in December after it…
Churches urged to start benevolence funds
23 Jun 2023
A Christian economist has urged churches to consider setting up benevolence funds to help members struggling with the cost of living as inflation proves more persistent than expected. Former IMF economist and government debt manager Dr…