7 h. ago ‘A timebomb’: could a French mine full of waste poison the drinking water of millions?

Scientists fear thousands of tonnes of chemicals dumped in mining tunnels in Alsace may seep into an aquifer, with devastating consequences for people and wildlifeEight police officers linger with their backs to the two-hectare (five-acre) site known as Stocamine. The place is nondescript in the morning drizzle: two mine shafts, some modern-looking office buildings, a staff car park, lines of landscaped trees. The reason for the police presence, however, is what lies beneath: 42,000 tonnes of toxic waste stored under our feet.Stocamine, which lies in the old industrial town of Wittelsheim, Alsace, once held an old potash mine. Now, the mine shafts are closed, storing poisonous waste from elsewhere. Above the mine shafts is one of Europe’s largest aquifers. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Almost 500 Police Scotland officers and staff currently on long

The figures released under Freedom of Information come at a time of increasing violence towards officers.

Events

2 d. ago Primark orders staff back into the office for four days a week to improve productivity

Primark has ordered employees in its product teams to be in the office for four days a week, as it becomes the latest major company to crack down on working from home.

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong teachers allegedly told to avoid US Independence Day events

Messages advise staff to also warn students off celebrations to avoid violating national security lawTeachers in Hong Kong have been warned to keep themselves and students away from any US Independence Day celebrations as they may breach national security laws, educators have alleged.A text message purportedly sent by the principal of a Hong Kong school to staff said the education bureau’s regional education office had reminded them “to be careful about Independence Day activities organised by the US consulate in Hong Kong, and not to participate to avoid violating the national security law and Hong Kong laws”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago HSBC considers ordering all staff back to office 3 days a week

Bank seeking to impose unified approach on sprawling global workforce

Politics

8 d. ago ‘People didn’t like women in space’: how Sally Ride made history and paid the price

Ride was the first US woman in space – but a National Geographic documentary looks at how she was forced to hide her queerness to succeedA week before Sally – a documentary about the first American woman to fly into space – landed at the Sundance film festival in January, Nasa employees received emails informing them how Donald Trump’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rollbacks would take effect.Contracts and offices associated with DEI programs were to be terminated. Staff were given Orwellian instruction to inform the government of any attempt to disguise inclusion efforts in “coded or imprecise language”. In the weeks to follow, Nasa would take back its promise to send the first woman and person of color to the moon’s surface. Meanwhile, employees are reported to be hiding their rainbow flags and any other expressions of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, allegedly because they were instructed to do so though Nasa denies those claims. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US prepares to order departure of all nonessential staff from Baghdad embassy, officials say

The State Department is preparing to order the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad due to the potential for regional unrest

Politics

1 week ago Foreign Office staff told to consider resigning if they disagree on Gaza

Around 300 staff at the Government department have sent a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy raising concerns about Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Politics

1 week ago Hundreds of Foreign Office staff told to consider resigning if they disagree with UK's stance on Gaza

Foreign Office staff have been told their ‘ultimate recourse is to resign’ after raising concerns about Israel’s bombardment of Gaza

Politics

2 w. ago Banks Want Staff Back at the Office. There Aren’t Enough Desks

Banks Want Staff Back at the Office. There Aren’t Enough Desks  Bloomberg.com

Politics

2 w. ago HSBC, JPMorgan Struggle With Desk Shortages For London Office Staff

HSBC, JPMorgan Struggle With Desk Shortages For London Office Staff  Bloomberg.com

Politics

2 w. ago Whitehall staff are flouting the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex 'by telling transgender women it's okay to use the female toilets'

A message sent to officials by the LGBT + network in the Department of Transport said staff can decide themselves if they can use 'any appropriate single sex toilets and other facilities'.

Events

2 w. ago Red Cross confirms office closures in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff

The International Committee of the Red Cross has announced the closure of its offices in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff, four months after the ruling junta ordered the organization to leave the country

Politics

3 w. ago Oregon zoo owner arrested after raid finds drugs, guns and $1.6m

Police also find widespread animal mistreatment, relocating 310 of the 450 animals and euthanizing threeOregon police have arrested a safari park owner on drug charges following a police raid at the facility earlier this month that found drugs and widespread animal mistreatment.The Coos county sheriff’s office said that Brian Tenney, the owner of West Coast Game Park Safari, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of methamphetamine possession, manufacturing and attempted distribution. He was later released as the district attorney’s office awaited more information, a staff member at the Coos county jail said when reached by the Associated Press. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Repeated failings at migrant hotel where asylum seeker killed himself exposed

Special report: Staff at hotel were ‘not appropriately trained’ and Home Office officials didn’t know who was providing crucial services

Events

4 w. ago Prison officer had finger amputated after inmate bite as assaults spiral

An awful report by union Community details horrific assaults on prison staff, including an officer having his finger bitten with force and later having to have it amputated

Events

4 w. ago Major UK high street tech giant to sack 80 staff in latest jobs blood bath

The electricals giant has entered a consultation period with staff impacted across all head office functions in a way to trim costs across the business

Events