UK tourists in India complain of being ‘abandoned’ by government
Getty Images Patna airport was overcrowded during the second day of lockdown imposed by the Indian government Britons in India say they have been left “abandoned” with “no help whatsoever” from the UK government. A petition to repatriate UK citizens has gained more than 25,000 signatures. The Foreign Office said it was working “around the […]
Actors in video games like Phantom Liberty is ‘sign of the times’
Guy Lambert Entertainment Reporter BBC Idris Elba plays Solomon Reed in the new Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty expansion Actor Idris Elba is no stranger to the world of video games, but says he has a new-found appreciation for the art form following his latest role. Elba stars as Solomon Reed in the latest spy-thriller adventure […]
Covid leaves UK councils with £3bn financial black hole
Alamy UK councils face a £3bn black hole in their budgets as they emerge from the pandemic, a BBC investigation into their finances can reveal. Some local authorities were struggling to carry out statutory duties and were at risk of bankruptcy, a local government expert said. And 10 councils have asked to borrow £300m of […]
The view from your region
PA It was the election that was never meant to happen – but with the UK still a member of the EU on 23 May, voters spent Thursday at polling stations, casting their votes in the European Parliamentary elections. Other member states carried out the same task over the weekend, meaning we won’t be seeing […]
Tier 3 status means dining pubs ‘thrown to the wolves’ in Beds and Herts
Katy Lewis BBC News Online Ye Olde Fighting Cocks Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans has survived wars and plagues but the coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges With much of England moving into tier three of coronavirus restrictions, pubs and restaurants in these “very high alert” areas can now only offer a takeaway […]
PM’s school plea, travel industry struggles and teen anxiety
Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus outbreak this Monday morning. We’ll have another update for you at 18:00 BST. 1. Back-to-school message Getty Images 2. Travel’s troubles The UK travel industry has reached a “critical point” and further support is vital to prevent even more redundancies and company closures. That’s […]
Welsh businesses call for support
PA Media Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Autumn Statement in the House of Commons on Thursday morning Business owners are calling on the UK government to increase support to cope with rising prices. Reacting to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement, Swansea Valley businesses said they were trying to absorb costs but it was getting harder. […]
Pope Francis ‘remains critical’ in Rome hospital, says Vatican
Pope Francis’s condition continues to be “critical” after suffering a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” earlier on Saturday, the Vatican has said. The pontiff is “more unwell than yesterday” and had received blood transfusions, the statement said. The Vatican said the 88-year-old was alert and in his armchair, but required a “high flow” of oxygen and […]
The airport that welcomes drone flights
Jane Wakefield Technology reporter “It’s an attempt to push the boundaries on drone deliveries” A crowd has gathered on Juma, an island in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake. The local people are standing behind makeshift nets which cordon off an area where a small group of engineers are consulting laptops and […]
Brexit immigration rules ‘threat to NI’
Julian O’Neill BBC News NI Business Correspondent Getty Images Northern Ireland’s agri-industry could suffer, says the CBI Proposed immigration rules after Brexit “risk causing significant harm” to NI businesses, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. The government is currently consulting on a minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for foreign workers seeking five-year visas. […]