British Isles
One in eight pupils not in school as Covid worsens
About a million children in England (one in every eight pupils) were off school last Thursday, as Covid-related absences rose. The official figures also show staffing problems worsening, with over a quarter of…
Retailers ask shoppers and staff to keep wearing masks
Sainsburys, John Lewis and Waitrose will continue to ask customers in England to wear masks in their shops even though Plan B rules have now ended. Rail operators also said passengers would still…
Government: Britishvolt risks of slavery
The mining of key metals such as cobalt for car batteries has been linked to appalling working conditions amounting to modern slavery in countries such as DRC where much of the world’s cobalt…
Global: masks in airlines
Airlines reported nearly 6,000 incidents involving unruly passengers last year and 151 in the first two weeks of this year. Most incidents involved passengers refusing to wear masks. The latest incident, on 20…
Pray for our Government
As Boris Johnson battled through question time over parties at Downing Street, at home his baby daughter Romy was battling Covid. Pray for her full recovery and for Boris’s peace of mind. Also…
Channel crossing: the asylum bill
The Nationality and Borders Bill was proposed by Priti Patel to make provisions for asylum-seekers. However the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler, said changes to the bill would make the asylum system less…
Channel crossings: navy patrols
After discussions around the Royal Navy working with the Home Office and UK Border Force, it will soon lead operations to limit migrant channel crossings, enabling the Home Office to focus on reforms…
Covid restrictions lifted
Covid restrictions are easing as scientists believe the surge of Omicron infections ‘has peaked nationally.’ Hospitals in northern England are still struggling with high caseloads, but elsewhere admissions and patients in ICU are…
Public delaying cancer check-ups
Macmillan Cancer Support says that there have been nearly 50,000 fewer cancer diagnoses across the UK since the start of the pandemic. This risks an increase in late-stage diagnoses, reducing survival chances. Past…
Prepare for fourth Covid jab
In a paper published on 18 January, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI) said the Government should develop infrastructure to allow it to mobilise new vaccination campaigns within 48 hours. With the likelihood of…
