Scots to be allowed to meet indoors as Welsh pubs and cafes to open outdoors

Scottish first minister announces changes from Friday with changes coming in on Monday in WalesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScots will be able to meet each other indoors and stay overnight from Friday for the first time in more than three months, as Nicola Sturgeon confirmed as the Welsh first minister also announced some...

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UK's Windrush scandal seeing it lose influence across African continent

By contrast China is seen as a partner across much of Africa, offering itself as a growth modelBritain’s treatment of the Windrush generation and attitude to its colonial past means it is struggling to retain the same influence across the African continent as China, a cross-party group of peers has said.In a new report, sharply critical of a lack of...

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NHS expands drone transport of samples from Scottish islands

Winter testing of drone flights to mainland raises hope of fast medical deliveries A test project using powerful drones to fly urgent medical samples from isolated Scottish islands is being expanded this winter after successful recent trials.The tests will involve flying blood and fluid samples from Hebridean islands such as Coll and Tiree to hospital...

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Pubs and restaurants in England trade at half their pre-virus levels

Trade in line with expectations, with restaurants less likely than pubs to open their doors Pub and restaurant chains traded at half their pre-pandemic levels after reopening across England last weekend, as consumers proved to be wary of visiting their local or eating out.Among those pubs that did open, sales on 4 July and 5 July were 45% below pre-Covid...

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No-deal Brexit will raise cost of UK household staples, say retailers

Meat, cheese and oranges among items that will cost more if no trade deal reachedThe cost of household staples, ranging from meat and cheese to school uniforms and drinking glasses, will substantially increase if there is no Brexit trade deal, British retailers have warned.With just six months to go before the UK leaves the EU entirely by exiting the...

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Foreign Office urges holidaymakers to avoid cruise ships

New travel advice means many upcoming cruises could be cancelled or postponedCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUK holidaymakers are being urged by the government to avoid travelling on cruise ships.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued a statement on Thursday advising people not to embark on sailings due to the coronavirus...

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Met police officer charged with belonging to far-right terror group

Benjamin Hannam, a serving probationary officer, faces five charges including membership of National Action A serving probationary Metropolitan police officer has been charged with being a member of far-right terrorist group National Action.Benjamin Hannam, 21, of north London, has been charged with five offences following an investigation by the Met’s...

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Labour MP Dawn Butler closes office after receiving racist threats

London MP also says constituency premises expensive and hard to keep Covid-19 safeA Labour MP has been forced to close her constituency office after escalating racist threats towards her and her staff since she spoke out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Dawn Butler, a former youth minister and the first black woman to speak at the dispatch...

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Counter-terrorism police arrest four men over 'potential attack'

Arrests in London and Leicestershire followed joint investigation by police and MI5Armed counter-terrorism police made a series of arrests on Thursday, over what they described a a potential attack linked to extremist Islamist ideology.Four men were arrested, three in east London. The fourth man was arrested by unarmed officers in Leicestershire. Continue...

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NHS patients in England face longest waits on record for surgery and cancer care

Fears conditions will have worsened as patients unable to access care during pandemicFar fewer people are having surgery or cancer treatment because Covid-19 has disrupted NHS services so dramatically, and those who do are facing the longest waits on record.NHS figures reveal huge falls in the number of patients who have been going into hospital for...

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