The polls open at 7am today for the biggest set of elections outside a general election in almost 50 years. Voters will cast their ballots despite the many COVID-19 restrictions still in place, with 48 million people given the chance to have their say. In Scotland and Wales, the electorate will decide on their national representatives in Holyrood and the Senedd respectively. In Wales, young people aged 16 and over will get the chance to vote for the first time. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player A closer look at Thursday's elections Elsewhere there are a total of 143 different councils running elections today, while in Hartlepool voters are deciding who should represent them in Westminster. There are also 13 mayoral elections, including for the London mayor, and 39 police and crime commissioner elections across England and Wales after these votes were postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic. Advertisement … [Read more...] about Vote 2021: Polling day for biggest set of elections outside a general election in nearly 50 years
Boris sends Royal Navy to defend Jersey after France’s ‘act of war’ threat to blockade island and cut off power
BORIS Johnson has deployed the Royal Navy to protect Jersey from the threat of a French blockade. The dramatic move came after French fishermen - backed by Macron’s ministers - vowed to shut off the island unless they could fish more British waters, a threat branded an "act of war". The furious spat erupted after the island - which is under Britain's protection - slapped French trawlers with post-Brexit fishing licences requirements. About 100 French fishing vessels are due to sail to Jersey's port on Thursday as part of a protest against the new rules, the head of fisheries for the Normandy region, Dimitri Rogoff has said. In the face of increasingly bellicose French threats, two patrol vessels will sent to monitor the situation and protect the islands 100,000 citizens who depend wholly on imports for food, medicine and even electricity. Following crisis talks with the island's leadership, Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister underlined his unwavering support for … [Read more...] about Boris sends Royal Navy to defend Jersey after France’s ‘act of war’ threat to blockade island and cut off power
Aimee Osbourne is seen for the first time since her sister Kelly revealed they are no longer on speaking terms
Aimee Osbourne was seen for the first time since her sister Kelly revealed they don't talk anymore during an episode of Dax Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert on Monday. One day after the 36-year-old English television personality spoke of her estranged relationship with her older sibling, Aimee kept a low profile as she ran errands around Los Angeles . The rarely-seen eldest child of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, 37, wore a wide-brimmed hat, a matching white sweatshirt and loose-fitting black trousers. Rarely-seen sister: Aimee Osbourne was seen for the first time since her sister Kelly revealed they don't talk anymore during an episode of Shepard's podcast Armchair Expert on Monday She paired her laid-back look with sneakers, white socks and very minimal makeup. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Kelly Osbourne reveals she no longer speaks to her sister... Sharon Osbourne looks cozy in baggy gray sweats as she helps... Share this … [Read more...] about Aimee Osbourne is seen for the first time since her sister Kelly revealed they are no longer on speaking terms
MPs and peers urge government to reconsider cuts to overseas aid for water projects
A cross-party group of more than 60 MPs and peers has asked the government urgently to reconsider plans to cut UK overseas aid for lifesaving water projects to the poorest nations. In a letter to foreign office minister Wendy Morton, they said such a move is "particularly disappointing" in the middle of a pandemic where handwashing is a frontline of defence against coronavirus. The 29 MPs and 37 peers wrote that Britain has a proud record of "standing up for the most vulnerable and stepping in to help those in need". Their letter, sent on Wednesday and seen by Sky News, said: "If we decimate our support for life's most basic essentials, we abdicate our responsibility and do neither. "The British people support aid for water and sanitation because it saves lives and stops the spread of disease. We urgently ask that you reconsider these proposals which will impact most those who have the least." Advertisement The plea came after it emerged last week … [Read more...] about MPs and peers urge government to reconsider cuts to overseas aid for water projects
Boycott threatened over Shell’s sponsorship of Science Museum carbon capture exhibition
Climate activists say they'll call for people to boycott a new exhibition at London's Science Museum if the oil company Shell isn't dropped as a major sponsor. The UK Student Climate Network has already sent an open letter to the museum in protest but says it's had no response. It's two weeks until the exhibition on carbon capture technology is due to open. A contributor who has now partly withdrawn her involvement says she was disappointed and embarrassed to learn about the sponsorship after already agreeing to take part. Dr Emma Sayer, reader in Ecosystem Ecology at the University of Lancaster, contributed to a display on capturing carbon in woodlands. Advertisement She said: "My contribution to the exhibition is about soil carbon storage. I was really excited. The Science Museum is a great place and it was fantastic to be involved. "But this sponsorship issue has created a big conundrum for me because on the one hand, I want to support the … [Read more...] about Boycott threatened over Shell’s sponsorship of Science Museum carbon capture exhibition