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National News

NHS workers to consider pay offer after unions back proposals

Unions members will soon vote on the proposal which could bring an end to months of industrial action Months of strikes by healthcare workers could be brought to an end if NHS workers in England agree to back a pay offer recommended by unions. The offer – backed by the Royal College of Nursing, the GMB and Unison – includes a one-off lump sum for 2022-23 that rises in value up the NHS pay bands as well as a permanentRead More

today 15

National News

Arsenal out of Europa League after penalty shootout loss to Sporting Lisbon

Sporting advanced to the quarter finals after a 5-3 victory on penalties at the Emirates Gabriel Martinelli missed from the spot as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League after a penalty shootout loss to Sporting. A 2-2 draw in Lisbon a week ago left this last-16 tie finely poised and it would go all the way at the Emirates Stadium, Sporting advancing 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time. The visitors were perfect from 12 yards butRead More

today 18

National News

Big screens planned for people nationwide to watch coronation

They'll be erected in more than 30 towns and cities for the big day on 6th May Royal fans will be able to watch the King’s coronation on big screens across the country. More than 30 screens will be erected in cities and towns around the UK ahead of Charles being crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey during a ceremony televised around the world. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The coronation will be a magical moment that brings people together to celebrate theRead More

today 28

National News

China criticises UK after TikTok banned on Government phones

The ban was announced on Thursday by cabinet minister Oliver Dowden and came into effect immediately A decision to ban TikTok from Government phones after a security review has been criticised by China. The ban, announced on Thursday by Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden, will still allow ministers and officials to use the Chinese-owned app on their personal phones. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had been under pressure from senior MPs to follow the US and the European Union in barring the video-sharingRead More

today 18

National News

FTSE100 recovers some lost ground but remains depressed amid global jitters

It rose by just over 65 points on the day Shares in the FTSE 100 managed to regain some of their lost ground on Thursday after a yo-yo session which saw the index fluctuate as much as 130 points between its high and low point. The bounce-back helped the index jump to 7,410 by the end of the day, a rise of 65.58 points or 0.9% after Swiss authorities agreed an emergency £45 billion loan with Credit Suisse overnight. ButRead More

today 29

National News

Will Jacks has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League

It's after suffering thigh injury on England duty England all-rounder Will Jacks has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League with a thigh injury. The 24-year-old was set to feature in the franchise tournament for the first time after Royal Challengers Bangalore secured his services for £325,000 in December. However, Jacks sustained a thigh injury while away with England on a limited-overs tour of Bangladesh and is ruled out for the foreseeable future. Jacks will now return to domesticRead More

today 25

National News

Households urged to reapply as one in five energy vouchers go unredeemed

The vouchers are part of the Energy Bill Support Scheme People were urged to reapply for energy support vouchers on Thursday as it emerged that one in five households did not redeem their £67 December vouchers before they expired. PayPoint sent out hundreds of thousands of vouchers at the start of December as part of a Government-backed scheme to help people with their rising energy bills. But it revealed on Thursday that only 83% of households redeemed these vouchers beforeRead More

today 31

National News

NHS strikes suspended after new pay offer

Unions have suspended further strikes by ambulance and other NHS staff and will recommend acceptance of a new pay offer to NHS workers. The breakthrough follows days of talks with the Government over the long-running dispute over pay which has led to a series of walkouts by nurses, ambulance crews, paramedics, hospital porters and other health workers in recent months. Ambulance members of Unison and Unite were due to strike next Monday and physiotherapists were going to walkout later thisRead More

today 16

National News

Tony Blair defends controversial on the runs scheme

Former prime minister Tony Blair has defended his controversial on-the-runs (OTR) scheme for republicans during the peace process. Mr Blair said the scheme was part of his government’s efforts to prevent further terror-related deaths. “That was what we were trying to resolve,” he said. “It was a very difficult situation but we did the best we could with it.” The OTR scheme was set up by Mr Blair’s Labour government in 2000 in response to Sinn Fein lobbying for republicansRead More

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