UK News

Max Polyakov and the Momentum Behind Britain’s Next Space-Industrial Chapter

Britain’s space story often gets pictured as big rockets, dramatic countdowns, and distant launch sites. The real momentum, though, usually starts in calmer places: an engineering workshop that learns a new manufacturing trick, a university lab that turns into a supplier, a logistics firm that...

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Nelson Mandela dies at the age of 95

Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president Jacob Zuma announced tonight.

In a statement on South African national TV, Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela, who was 95, had "departed" and was at peace.

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said. He said Mr Mandela, who preached reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years, will receive a full state funeral.

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Marine A named as Sgt Alexander Blackman

Judges have ruled that the Devon-based marine who shot and killed an injured prisoner will be publicly named as Sgt Alexander Blackman.

Three of the UK's most senior judges made the ruling this morning and say that the two acquitted marines should also be named.

Lawyers defending the five servicemen involved in the case have argued that naming the defendants will put their...

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5-year-old's apology note to John Lewis

John Lewis are trying to contact Faith, a 5-year-old girl who wrote to the store to apologise for accidently breaking a Christmas bauble. In a hand-written note to the John Lewis store in Cambridge Faith wrote: “To John Lewis, Cambridge. I’m sorry I broke a Christmas bauble on Saturday. It cost two pounds. Here is the money for it. Sorry again” and signed the letter “Faith, aged five”. She...

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Rise in pension age brought forward

The date at which someone must be 68 to draw a state pension has been brought forward by around 10 years.

The change to be announced today as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn statement will see the current scheduled date to be forward from 2046 to sometime in the mid-2030s.

Many commentators expect that the state pension age will rise again to 69 by the late 2040s and...

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Wildlife Trusts urge Government to enforce bee-harming pesticides

Coalition of UK environmental organisations urges UK Government to enforce bee-harming pesticide bans.

Thirteen leading UK environmental organisations are today calling for the UK Government to show its commitment to reversing bee declines by fully enforcing the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.

From Monday 2 December 2014, the EU-wide ban on three neonicotinoid pesticides...

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Environment Agency helps communities 'bounce back' from winter floods

Many of the communities devastated by last winter's floods are now much better prepared thanks to a dedicated team of Agency officers who have been out and about helping people develop greater flood resilience.

Two villages that have benefited from their support and advice are Roadwater and Washford near Minehead, Somerset where nearly 20 properties flooded in November 2012. Both...

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Happy couple move into ‘cracking’ new home in record time

Husband and wife, Mal and Chrissy Sawdy relocating from Queensland, Australia, have finally found their dream house, located at Balidon Place, Yeovil. The Ex-pats completed all legal requirements and even arranged new carpeting throughout the new four-bed detached property before moving in within just eight working days from the first viewing in time to celebrate Christmas in their new home...

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Social media users given legal advice

The Government’s chief legal advisor will in future issue advisory notices to Twitter and Facebook users to help prevent them committing a contempt of court.

The advice has previously only been issued to journalists on a ‘not for publication basis’ is designed to make to make sure a fair trial takes place will warn people not to comment on certain aspects of court cases.

The...

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RBS to compensate customers

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has promised to compensate customers who were unable to make card payments yesterday evening.

Customers from RBS , Natwest and Ulster Bank were all affected by the systems issue which left many customers being unable to make credit and debit card payments between 18:30 and 21:30.

In a statement released this morning, RBS wrote: “We would like to...

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Improved coast path open at Watermouth

A new section of the South West Coast Path at Watermouth Bay will be officially opened on Thursday (5 December), creating a safer route for walkers and road users alike.

The £277,000 project has completed a missing link off the A399 thanks to funding from Devon County Council, the South West Coast Path Association and the South West Coast Path Team’s ‘Unlocking our Coastal Heritage’...

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