Suffolk’s rivers fail to meet national quality targets, report says
BBC Concerns have been expressed about the River Deben after high levels of E.coli was found in the water No rivers in Suffolk currently meet government targets for good water quality, a report found. “We currently have no rivers that meet this criteria,” the trust said. The Environment Agency said “water quality and the ecological […]
NI sees 26% drop in EU workers since Brexit vote
Getty Images Business leaders expressed concerns that firms are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit The number of EU nationals from outside the UK employed in Northern Ireland has fallen by more than a quarter (26%) since the Brexit referendum. The figure fell from 54,000 workers at the end of June 2016 to 40,000 by […]
How Xi’s flagship policy is spoiling his party
Stephen McDonell BBC News, Beijing Watch how China’s zero Covid strategy is exhausting its people. The idea was to have China in stable and tip-top shape when thousands of delegates gather in Beijing to usher in a historic third term in power for Xi Jinping. However, the coronavirus is not playing nicely. In recent weeks, […]
Cornwall and Devon hospitality face ‘volatile market’ for Easter
BBC South-west England may have to compete harder with overseas destinations this year Hospitality businesses in the south-west of England face a “volatile market” heading into Easter as job vacancies reach record levels, industry leaders say. A hotelier from Cornwall said recruiting staff was “dog eat dog”. Many people left the sector in the pandemic, […]
Calls for diplomatic talks to end Gulf crisis
FlightRadar24.com Flight tracking technology by the FlightRadar24 website shows the limited route being taken by Qatar Airways flights on Tuesday morning Qatar is backing plans for talks with its regional rivals as a diplomatic row gathers pace. Several countries have cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism in the Gulf region. Neighbours including […]
How the soaring cost of living is hitting Sri Lankans hard
Anbarasan Ethirajan BBC News, Colombo BBC Ms Dilrukshi now cooks on her outdoor porch, to avoid smoke filling the house “Cooking gas cylinder prices have almost doubled and we cannot afford it anymore,” says Niluka Dilrukshi. The 31 year-old mother-of-four has always cooked with gas to prepare food for her family, but now says firewood […]
How businesses in Bedford are adapting to stay ‘relevant’
Alex Pope & Phil Shepka BBC News, East BBC Bedford town centre before the third lockdown on 17 December when non essential shops were still open Lockdown, the growth of online shopping and a general decline in High Street trade has combined to make it a tough time for retailers. As a new report predicts […]
Drakeford accuses Johnson of failing to protect England
Wales’ first minister said England was a “global outlier” when it came to coronavirus Mark Drakeford has accused Boris Johnson of failing to take the necessary action to protect people in England from Covid. “The one country that stands up as not taking action to protect its population is England,” said the first minister. The […]
Whisky and salmon boost food and drink exports
Scottish Salmon Company Scotland’s food and drink exports have grown by more than 10% in a year, new figures show. Sales hit £1.2bn in the first three months of 2017, up £124m (11%) on the same period in 2016. Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon topped the UK export chart in the first quarter of 2017. […]
Israel PM says Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not free hostages
Israel’s prime minister has warned it will terminate the ceasefire in Gaza and resume intense fighting “if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon”. Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Israeli military to amass troops inside and around Gaza in response to Hamas’s announcement that it was postponing freeing more hostages until […]