Month: December 2021

Ireland will reintroduce some Covid-19 restrictions for the Christmas period, following “very stark” advice from health officials, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said. A range of restrictions will be in place from December 7 to January 9, including the shuttering of nightclubs and new limits on household gatherings. It comes amid concern about increased socialising at Christmas and the threat posed by the new Omicron variant of coronavirus. In a national […]

A fresh appeal for information has been made on the third anniversary of the murder of Jim Donegan. The 43-year-old was shot dead outside a school in west Belfast as he waited to collect his teenage son on December 4 2018. He was sitting in his red Porsche Panamera in Glen Road when he was attacked. A murder inquiry to find the lone gunman police believe carried out the killing […]

Thousands of people are facing a second weekend without power as further cold weather is predicted to hit the UK. Homes across parts of Scotland and the North East and North West of England are still off supply a week after Storm Arwen hit on Friday November 26, with the army having been drafted in to assist. As of early Friday evening, just over 9,000 homes were without power, according […]

That's according to the fuel poverty charity National Energy Action An increase to the energy price cap in April could see the cost of heating the average home doubling since last April, a charity has warned. Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) warned that average domestic dual fuel energy bills, which have already soared by more than £230 per customer compared with last winter, could increase by a further […]

It finished ahead of WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube The official NHS App used to show a person’s vaccination status and Covid Pass has been revealed as this year’s most downloaded free app by UK iPhone users. The NHS App finished ahead of WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube in Apple’s end of year App Store Awards. Microsoft Teams – which came to prominence during the pandemic as millions shifted to […]

That's according to the Royal College of Nursing The threat of industrial action by nurses over pay has increased, amid a warning that they feel “ undervalued”. Members of the Royal College of Nursing said in a ballot that they would be prepared to back action. Another ballot would have to be held before any action is taken. The RCN said that in England, 23% of eligible members took part […]

The 60-second film has been released by the charity Crisis Celebrities including Ellie Goulding, Chris Martin and Dame Emma Thompson have lent their voices to a short film highlighting the impact of homelessness at Christmas. The 60-second film from the charity Crisis changes the lyrics of The Twelve Days of Christmas to describe the experience of people forced to leave their homes during the festive period. It follows six characters’ […]

The trial starts in the New Year Kellogg’s is trialling fully recyclable packaging for its boxes of Corn Flakes, with the replacement of the plastic liner for paper. The food giant has said it would prefer plastic liners to be accepted in kerbside recycling but the trial of the paper alternative in a small number of Tesco stores from January “ensures we have an alternative”. While the outer card packaging […]

The project is in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor and broadcaster Stephen Fry will narrate Sleeping Beauty in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). Marty Ross’s adaptation of the beloved fairy tale will be reimagined as an audible drama with 1917 star Adam Hugill and Rochenda Sandall from Line Of Duty also joining the cast. The musical performance of Sleeping Beauty, released exclusively on […]