The UK's new bereavement leave legislation will extend eligibility to step-parents, half-siblings, foster carers, and those in kinship and adoptive relationships, as well as cases of early pregnancy loss. This measure follows years of campaigning by affected families.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander's meeting with Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm, Global Counsel, was not publicly declared for 18 months despite UK law requiring quarterly reporting. The meeting, which Alexander described as the 'single most enlightening conversation' he had on trade, occurred weeks after his appointment as Trade Minister.
Thousands of Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland customers reported widespread issues accessing mobile and online banking services on Thursday morning, beginning around 11:15 BST. The disruption prevented users from logging in, viewing accounts, and processing transactions, prompting apologies from Halifax.
