Author: BBC

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended a decision to reject compensation for women hit by changes to the state pension age after a backlash.She said “the vast majority” of women knew the changes were coming, and “as Chancellor I have to account for every penny of taxpayers money spent”.However, politicians have called for the government to backtrack on the decision, with Labour MP Brian Leishman saying he was “appalled”.Campaigners say that 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.”We’re certainly not giving up the…

Amazon workers in the US could go on strike ahead of Christmas, after members of the Teamsters union voted to support industrial action.The workers say the online retail giant has refused to recognise their union and ignored a 15 December deadline to hold talks over their contract.Amazon’s facilities in Southern California, New York and Illinois could be affected, according to a Teamsters statement.”The corporate elitists who run Amazon are leaving workers with no choice,” said Teamsters General President Sean M O’Brien. “Amazon must be held accountable to workers and consumers alike. If workers are forced onto the picket line, Amazon…

Family HandoutJessica Powell died after staff did not adequately supervise and secure her therapy roomAn inquest has found a woman, who died while trying to abscond from a psychiatric ward, did not intend to take her own life.Jessica Powell, from Yeovil, Somerset, became trapped in a therapy room window in an apparent attempt to escape from Summerlands Hospital in August 2020.A jury investigating the death of the 20-year-old ruled that staff failed to adequately supervise and secure the room.Jane Yeandle, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s service group director for mental health, said: “We are very sorry that she died as a…

Bluey, the puppy and star of the Bafta-winning children’s TV show, is hitting the big screen in her first feature film. It will arrive in cinemas in 2027 and will then stream on Disney+, ABC iView and ABC Kids in Australia.BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial arm, is teaming up with Disney for the project.Bluey is a blue heeler dog, who lives with her mum, dad and little sister, Bingo. She turns everyday events in her life into adventures. The show’s creator, Joe Brumm, said: “I’ve always thought Bluey deserved a theatrical movie. I want this to be an experiential event…

Watch: Merope Mills discusses the early success of Martha’s Rule schemeAlmost one out of every eight phone calls made under the Martha’s Rule scheme has led to a potentially life-saving change of treatment, NHS England has revealed.The scheme allows rapidly deteriorating patients and their families who feel their concerns are being ignored to dial a phone number at the hospital and request an urgent review from a critical-care outreach team.Merope Mills began campaigning for the scheme after an inquest found a change of care plan could have prevented her 13-year-old daughter Martha’s death from sepsis in 2021.And on Tuesday, she…

Zakir Hussain, one of the world’s greatest tabla players, has died at the age of 73.The Indian classical music icon died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease, at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said in a statement.Hussain was a four-time Grammy award winner and has received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.Through his performances, he transformed the tabla into a globally loved solo instrument that was the star of the show.The tabla – a pair of drums used in Indian classical music – was historically viewed as an accompaniment to the main performance.As news of Hussain’s…

PA MediaThe sale of Royal Mail’s parent company to a Czech billionaire has been approved by the government. The £3.6bn takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group has been given the go-ahead after agreeing “legally binding” undertakings.The government will retain a so-called “golden share” that will require it to approve any major changes to Royal Mail’s ownership, HQ location and tax residency.The new owners will also have to maintain the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service Obligation (USO), which currently means it has to deliver letters six days per week, Monday to Saturday, and parcels Monday to Friday.Mr Kretinsky told the BBC earlier this…

Getty ImagesOnline platforms must begin assessing whether their services expose users to illegal material by 16 March 2025 or face financial punishments as the Online Safety Act (OSA) begins taking effect.Ofcom, the regulator enforcing the UK’s internet safety law, published its final codes of practice for how firms should deal with illegal online content on Monday.Platforms have three months to carry out risk assessments identifying potential harms on their services or they could be fined up to 10% of their global turnover.Ofcom head Dame Melanie Dawes told BBC News this was the “last chance” for industry to make changes.”If they…

BBCJamie Lonsdale was delighted when Lauren Lane answered his plea on FacebookA man who made a desperate online plea for a kidney donor is now recuperating from a successful transplant after a former work colleague answered the call.Jamie Lonsdale, 36, put the appeal out on Facebook and it was spotted by Lauren Lane, 30.Mr Lonsdale, from Monton, Greater Manchester, spent more than two years on the transplant list after his previously donated kidney started failing in 2022. “I was just expecting people to wish me well but to have Lauren come forward was just a dream come true,” he saidJamie…

Richard DonaldsonRichard Donaldson is recovering from treatmentA man who has been fighting prostate cancer has described how group fitness sessions have helped recovery and offered a “sense of belonging”.Richard Donaldson, 55, is among a group of 16 men who have completed the varied health programme at Aberdeen FC’s Pittodrie Stadium in recent weeks.Prostate FFIT (Football Fans in Training) has been provided by the Prostate Scotland and SPFL (Scottish Professional Football League) Trust charities.Mr Donaldson, from Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, said the group members had formed a close lasting bond.Richard Donaldson has been taking part in events at Pittodrie StadiumFollowing a biopsy, cancer…