Boris Johnson is calling for more teachers, nurses, police officers and other frontline workers to help the UK recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The prime minister will call on those looking for a job or career change this year to consider frontline public sector roles. An advertising campaign will begin on 5 January on TV
Month: January 2021
Pressure is mounting on the government to keep all of England’s schools closed when the new term starts this week amid fears over the spread of COVID-19. But it comes as Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman said children’s education cannot be “furloughed” for months while the country waits for the coronavirus pandemic to subside. Writing in
Staff at schools have a legal right not to return to classrooms due to the spread of COVID, a leading union has said – while another has started legal proceedings against the Department for Education. The National Education Union (NEU) has said all primary schools should remain closed for at least two weeks following the
The smooth start to post-Brexit border operations may be the “calm before the storm”, industry bosses have warned. The first day of January marked the first day of a new trading relationship between the UK and the EU. There had been fears it would create chaotic scenes at ports, with outbound lorries now subject to
Boris Johnson is facing calls to close every school in England after an embarrassing government U-turn which means all primary schools in London will remain shut next week. A union leader claimed what was right for London was right for the rest of the country and called on ministers to “do their duty” and close
The dismantling of Sir Philip Green’s high street empire is about to accelerate after the appointment of agents to oversee the sale of the tycoon’s former flagship Topshop store. Sky News has learnt that administrators to Redcastle (214 Oxford Street) Limited, which owns the central London property next to Oxford Circus station have appointed Eastdil
Wham’s Last Christmas has finally topped the UK charts – 36 years after its release. Written and produced by George Michael, it was kept off the number one slot by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? when it was first released in 1984. But, on the fourth anniversary of the death of the band’s
Coronation Street actor Mark Eden has died at the age of 92. The star was best known for playing villain Alan Bradley in the soap, and was married to co-star Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts. His agent said he had been living with Alzheimer’s for some time and died peacefully in hospital this morning.
The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has risen by 53,285, with 613 more deaths recorded. The figures are down on those announced on New Year’s Eve, when the UK recorded 55,892 new cases – the highest figure on record – and 964 deaths were confirmed. It brings the total number of UK cases
As the Pride of Kent eased its way towards the port in Calais, it was making history. The first ferry to have crossed the English Channel in 2021; the first to carry lorries that were travelling under the umbrella of new rules and regulations. What happened next was exactly as you might have predicted. Image:
An internet plug-in that was responsible for some of the internet’s best-loved viral animations has officially been discontinued. On 1 January software company Adobe stopped supporting and updating its Flash Player. The company has asked users to uninstall the software before it blocks all Flash content from 12 January. First released in 1996, Flash was
The Australian national anthem has been changed to reflect the nation’s “spirit of unity” and its indigenous population, the country’s prime minister has said. The one-word change to Advance Australia Fair, from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free” takes effect on Friday. Speaking on New Year’s Eve, Scott
New Year’s Eve celebrations were muted by coronavirus restrictions in London and New York, while countries including Australia and New Zealand welcomed in 2021 with impressive firework displays. Big Ben ushered in 2021 with its chimes in an eerily subdued London, which would typically be packed with swathes of people waiting to watch a dazzling
Multiple police officers stood by for several minutes without offering any first aid to a dying man after he was shot by another officer, bodycam footage released on Thursday has revealed. The video from officers in Columbus, Ohio, appears to show that 47-year-old Andre Hill, who is black, was still alive on the floor of
British-born rapper MF Doom has died at the age of 49, his wife has confirmed. The hip hop star, real name Daniel Dumile, was known for his elusive public image and for performing in a mask inspired by the Marvel Comics supervillain Doctor Doom. His wife Jasmine announced on Thursday that he had died on
New Year’s Eve in Birmingham, and the impact of Tier 4 COVID restrictions, is all too apparent. Occasional fireworks, and a rainbow of lasers, light up the sky, and optimistic taxi drivers line up on ranks in the city centre. But the bars are closed, the restaurants have their shutters down, and the nightclubs are