Back in 1982, phoning home was made famous by everyone's favourite extra terrestrial in the hit movie E.T. Since then the development of a more global economy combined with advances in technology have meant more and more people leaving home to find work and start a new life in a different country or continent.

It's always difficult in these circumstances to leave friends and family behind and while emailing is a good way of keeping in touch, nothing beats a phone call and hearing someone's voice on the other end of the line. Making cheap calls abroad is an area of the telecoms industry that has grown enormously in recent years, and consumer demand coupled with increased competition have both helped drive down prices and this has really benefited the consumer.

Read full article: 'Stay In Touch Wherever You Are'

There is a growing feeling in the UK that we are on the verge of the introduction of a class action model system which will have a major impact on litigation throughout Europe.

American law firms are braving European shores in ever increasing numbers, bringing with them knowledgeable lawyers who have experience this area, and are poised and hoping to be ideally based to capitalise when the time comes.

Addressing a conference on Collective Redress last year, Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, tried to ease nerves, saying that she did not anticipate the advent of class actions on her watch.

Read full article: 'Have we become the 51st State?'