Unfair Dismissal faces Two-Year Block

The Conservative Party have announced that the block on claims for unfair dismissal by employees is to be doubled. Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chancellor George Osborne announced on Monday that companies would now be able to sack employees without fear of unfair dismissal claims for the first two years of employment instead one. The changes have further angered unions, who accused the Government of continuing to ebb away at worker's rights. During his Keynote speech in Manchester on Monday, Chancellor Osborne also announced that for the first time a fee would be introduced for taking a case to a tribunal that litigants only get back if they win, saying: "We are ending the one-way bet against small businesses." Mr Osborne said during the speech he knew "it's important to respect employment rights". However, in statement announcing the changes to accessing unfair dismissal claims, the Government said its ongoing review of employment law had already led to the removal of the Default Retirement Age, the proposed abolition of the Agricultural Minimum Wage, a repeal the planned extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year olds and a refusal to bring forward the dual discrimination provision in the Equality Act.

Immunity Scientists Win Nobel Prize

Three scientists who unravelled secrets of how the body's immune system works have won the 2011 Nobel Prize for medicine. According to the prize-awarding institute on Monday, the prize went to US scientist Bruce Beutler, Luxembourg-born Jules Hoffmann, based in France, and Canadian-born Ralph Steinman, based in the United States. "This year's Nobel Laureates have revolutionised our understanding of the immune system by discovering key principles for its activation," the institute said. Beutler and Hoffmann shared one half of the prize of 10 million Swedish crowns (£940,000) and Steinman won the other half.

Chemical Explosion Leads To 'Major Blaze'

A chemical explosion at an industrial estate in Surrey has led to what's been described as a "major blaze". Some 150 workers have been evacuated from the scene, and although no one has been reported injured, four people are believed to be missing. Firefighters and the ambulance service were called to Hobbs Industrial Estate in Newchapel, near Lingfield, Surrey, just before 11.30am today after reports of an explosion, Surrey Police said.

(DW/BMcC)