Children have revealed the top changes they would make if they were in charge of the country – including protecting all animals, no more homework or school uniforms, and teaching kids to cook from an earlier age. A survey, of 1,000 6-12-year-olds, and their parents, found that more than a …
Read More »Woman debunks everything we think we know about ‘fluffing’ a Christmas tree
Whether you are about to delve into your loft for last year’s festive favourite, or buying a new one, a ‘faux fir’ Christmas tree is a firm favourite for many. And with December fast approaching, most of us will be starting to think about putting up our decorations soon, to …
Read More »Nurses tell Health Secretary it’s ‘pay negotiations or nothing’ to avert strikes
The Royal College of Nursing has told the Health Secretary it is negotiations on pay “or nothing” after he urged the union to return for talks about working conditions to avert strikes. Steve Barclay was on Saturday (November 26) doubling down on his refusal to discuss pay as nurses prepare …
Read More »Full list of the 10 Royal Mail strike dates announced in run up to Christmas
Royal Mail workers are striking again this month as part of a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The Communication Worker’s Union (CWU) has formally notified its members will strike on three further dates in November plus seven more in December. Strikes held so far are already said to have …
Read More »First Royal Mint coins featuring King Charles III’s head now in production
Production of the first coins of the King for circulation has started at the Royal Mint, beginning the transition from Queen Elizabeth II to her son’s portrait on the nation’s coinage. The move represents the biggest change to UK coinage since decimalisation, with a memorial 50 pence in honour of …
Read More »Royal Mail 100-day warning as thousands of stamps will become unusable
Existing Royal Mail stamps will become unusable in 100 days after a new barcode system is rolled out, and people have until January 31, 2023 to use them. People risk being charged for using the old 1st and 2nd class stamps once they become outdated. If stamps that have passed …
Read More »Ambulance workers to start voting on whether to go on strike
More than 15,000 ambulance workers across 11 trusts in England and Wales start voting on Monday on whether to strike over pay. Members of the GMB union are being balloted in the coming weeks amid continuing industrial unrest in many sectors of the economy. NHS workers in other unions, including …
Read More »Full list of 18 Royal Mail strike dates in the run-up to Christmas
Royal Mail staff are poised to walk out again as a dispute over pay continues. From Thursday (October 20), workers will walk out on 18 days from October to December, covering the busy pre-Christmas period which includes Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Over summer more than 100,000 postal workers took …
Read More »Existing Royal Mail ‘everyday’ stamps will be unusable after barcode roll out
Existing Royal Mail stamps will become unusable in the new year, after a new barcode system is rolled out. However, households will have until January 31, 2023 to use old stamps that don’t have the new barcodes – and, after that will be able to exchange them. The Royal Mail …
Read More »Royal Navy frigate and Marines on patrol in Arabian Sea seize £15m of crystal meth
A Royal Navy frigate has seized £15.5 million worth of drugs from a dhow in the Arabian Sea in its fifth narcotics raid this year. HMS Montrose targeted the small vessel after the ship’s Wildcat helicopter tracked the movements of the suspect boat. A boarding party of Royal Marines searched …
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