‘We will have to throw our beer down the drain’
Frankie Julian The Woolpack, in Banstead in Surrey, one of Shepherd Neame’s pubs “Anger, soul-destroying, disheartening, disillusioned”: everything about the latest lockdown fills pub and brewery boss Jonathan Neame with dismay. “This is the fourth change of strategy affecting hospitality within the last six weeks, and I don’t think it will be the last,” the […]
Jet2 and Eurostar cut summer flights and trains
AFP Jet2 and Eurostar have announced that they will be cancelling some summer flights and trains in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Eurostar is cutting direct services to three French cities due to lack of demand and difficulties implementing protection measures on long journeys. Separately, pilots union Balpa has said that airline […]
Google threatens to withdraw search engine from Australia
Reuters Google says the new law will lead to it disabling its search tool for Australians Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia over the nation’s attempt to make the tech giant share royalties with news publishers. Australia is introducing a world-first law to make Google, Facebook and potentially other tech companies […]
Syria latest: Syrian rebels say they have taken control of eastern city of Deir al-Zour
‘Now we can breathe,’ say Syrians in Damascuspublished at 06:47 Greenwich Mean Time 06:47 GMT Sally NabilReporting from Damascus Image source, BBC/Sally Nabil As signs of life came back to the Syrian capital Damascus, many locals still struggle to get over “the era of fear” of former President Bashar al-Assad. In downtown Damascus, many shops, […]
England’s future water supplies at ‘serious risk’
SPL Some parts of England will run out of water within the next 20 years unless “urgent action” is taken. That’s the view of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in a report on the state of water supplies. It’s calling on the government to establish a league table for water companies to pressure them into […]
Huawei risk can be managed, say UK cyber-security chiefs
Reuters Huawei has said it is independent and gives nothing to Beijing, aside from taxes Any risk posed by involving the Chinese technology giant Huawei in UK telecoms projects can be managed, cyber-security chiefs have determined. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre’s decision undermines US efforts to persuade its allies to ban the firm from […]
Leeds City Museum visitors react to proposals for a pay-as-you-feel policy
BBC The Leeds City Museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions A council is considering introducing a pay-as-you-feel scheme at the museums and galleries it runs across the city. Leeds City Council said the idea would be part of a wider package of cost-saving measures as it faces rising social care costs and […]
Post-Brexit migrant salary plans ‘would hit Wales harder’
Getty Images A report said Wales’ manufacturing sector would be hit by the plans A proposed post-Brexit salary threshold for migrants would hit Wales harder than the rest of the UK, a leading economist has warned. Prof Jonathan Portes said the possible hit to the manufacturing sector was “of particular concern”. The Home Office said […]
Why phone scams are so difficult to tackle
Getty Images Phone fraud has soared during the pandemic Many of us now refuse to answer telephone calls from an unknown number, for fear that it could be a scam. And we dread receiving a text message, purportedly from our bank or a delivery firm, again due to concerns that it might be from fraudsters. […]
Flu jab warning and food rationing
The Times leads with fears that half a million Scots could miss out on a newly-approved flu vaccine. Senior medical figures have written to the health secretary with concerns people over 65 may not get the most effective treatment this winter. The Herald reports that Police Scotland is preparing for possible public disorder in the […]