Northern ireland bridge

Last night, Arlene Foster made history by becoming the first DUP leader to attend an LGBT+ event, hosted by Pink News in Belfast. As the head of a party who campaigned to “Save Ulster from sodomy” in the 1970s, who opposed the legalisation of homosexuality into the 1980s, and who continue to block same sex marriage today, this was initially welcomed as a genuine act of progress. She was greeted with rapturous applause, with people hanging on to her every word. But, after claiming she values the LGBT+ community in spite of her opposition to same sex marriage, she then made a stunningly tone deaf plea to the long-suffering minority group assembled in front of her. The best LGBT+ honeymoon destinations Show all 16 “All I ask in return is that my and my party’s view are also respected, if not agreed with.” In effect, what she really meant was, “Even though I personally stop you from gaining equal rights, you’ll have to believe me … [Read more...] about Arlene Foster’s tone deaf speech to the LGBT+ community shows the DUP are playing a losing game

Sue Gray, the woman charged with investigating partygate, is expected to deliver her long-awaited report on Wednesday. The civil servant has been freed to publish the findings of her investigation into the Downing Street parties after the Met Police completed its investigation into breaches of Covid restrictions. But who is the woman holding the potentially damaging report, and why was she chosen? Here, we explain all. Last orders for Boris? In the 1980s, Ms Gray briefly paused her Civil Service career to buy a pub in Newry close to the Irish border during The Troubles . If Boris Johnson needed evidence that his inquisitor-in-chief is no pushover, then being landlady of a pub in Northern Ireland's “bandit country” shows she is no soft touch. Ms Gray had the task of investigating a series of alleged lockdown parties held in Downing Street and across government during the Covid pandemic . The report has now been completed, with the initial findings that there … [Read more...] about Sue Gray: The ‘straight-shooting’ investigator behind partygate report

A “mini-epidemic” of hepatitis among young children has prompted health officials to investigate whether there is a link to Covid . The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported on Tuesday that there had been 74 cases of hepatitis among under-10s in the UK and urged parents to be alert to the signs of the illness. All of the youngsters were admitted to hospital where medics picked up the cases. Officials said they were examining 49 cases in England, 13 in Scotland and 12 across both Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which have occurred since January. The UKHSA said that it is investigating a “number” of possible causes behind the spike in cases. One potential line of inquiry is whether adenoviruses, a common family of viruses that usually cause a range of mild illnesses including colds, is to blame. While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication. An update on hepatitis cases in children: — UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) April … [Read more...] about ‘Mini-epidemic’ of hepatitis in children prompts medics to investigate Covid link

Met Office weather: UK forecast for Tuesday morning Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info According to WXCHARTS, Wednesday will see a large band of rain come across the UK. Rainfall is expected to be seen across much of the UK, with Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and much of the midlands and north of England experiencing damper conditions. Related articles Vine sparks Twitter cycling row with lorry overtake video Sloppy Putin invasion effort deploys 'outdated' T-62 tanks The precipitation accumulated is expected to hover around seven millimetres in the north west of England. The figure rises to almost nine millimetres … [Read more...] about UK weather: Brits brace for Wednesday washout with rain and 37mph gusts of wind

Every university in the UK will be asked to introduce a policy to tackle spiking by the end of the year, it has been announced. The government has set up a new working group to stamp out the "heinous" issue which has increased in prevalence in the last year. The group will bring together vice-chancellors, police, campaigners and victims to create plans for practical steps to keep students safe following a spate of attacks. Last year, universities said that the increasing number of cases of spiking by injection during nights out was "incredibly disturbing". Several women, including students, reported fearing they had been targeted by people injecting them with drugs at nightlife venues, with reports in a number of parts of the UK, including Nottingham, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Advertisement Professor Lisa Roberts, University of Exeter Vice Chancellor, has been appointed to lead the working group and coordinate responses across the university … [Read more...] about Spiking: New working group set up to tackle ‘heinous’ attacks on students

England has recorded 14 new cases of monkeypox, taking the UK's total to 71. So far England has reported 70 cases, and one has been confirmed in Scotland, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. No cases have been reported in Wales or Northern Ireland so far. Despite further cases being detected, the risk to the UK population remains low, the UKHSA added. It explained that a "notable proportion" of the cases identified have been among people who identify as gay or bisexual or men who have sex with men. Advertisement However, anyone with "unusual rashes or lesions" should immediately contact NHS 111 or their local sexual health service. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, thanked people for coming forward with symptoms and said the agency is continuing to "promptly identify" cases. More on Monkeypox Monkeypox: 131 cases confirmed in 19 countries, says World Health Organisation Monkeypox: 36 more cases … [Read more...] about Monkeypox: 14 new cases detected in England – UK total now 71

Interior designer and Changing Rooms icon Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, 57, on meeting RuPaul at the pearly gates, his fashion sense, and seeing an end to minimalism. We’ve most recently seen you on Pilgrimage: The Road To The Scottish Isles – why did you want to do it? I’ve always been fascinated by the programme. I was rather hoping it was somewhere a bit more exotic than Northern Ireland and Scotland, because we talked about Buddhist pilgrimages in Indonesia and a Shinto one in Japan, but I got the rainy pilgrimage. But I love the humility of it. A pilgrimage starts from the moment you open your front door – why does it have to be an exotic experience? How did you find all the walking? I loved it. There’s something very meditative about a walking rhythm, which is why pilgrimages are so powerful. You’re suddenly alone with your own footsteps. The mist would close in and you couldn’t see the crew. It’s basically ‘help, I’m an agnostic, get me out of here!’ It’s putting … [Read more...] about Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen was a stylish pilgrim for new TV show: ‘I wasn’t going to do it dressed in Gore-Tex!’

Monkeypox could become entrenched in Europe forever if the current outbreak jumps to pets, health officials have warned as cases in Britain have tripled to 57. All but one of the UK cases are in England, with the UK Health Security Agency announcing on Monday the identification of 36 more infections in England to go with the 20 previously known patients. One person with monkeypox has also been found in Scotland , but there are no known cases in Wales or Northern Ireland. Health officials insist the risk to the population remains low but experts believe there is an urgent need to ensure animals do not contract the virus as they could become permanent reservoirs of disease. No cases have been reported in pets at this point, but in a rapid risk assessment on Monday, the European Centre for Disease Control warned that it was important to “manage exposed pets and prevent the disease from being transmitted to wildlife”. “If human-to-animal transmission occurs, and the virus … [Read more...] about Monkeypox could become endemic if it makes the jump to pets

Fourteen more monkeypox cases have been reported in England, taking the UK’s total to 71. All but one of the infections are in England, with one case identified on Monday in Scotland and no known infections so far in Wales or Northern Ireland. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) insists the risk to the population remains low despite the surging case numbers . A “notable proportion” of the current cases are in gay and bisexual men and this community is being urged to be vigilant to any new rashes or lesions appearing on their body. Where in the UK the cases are remains unknown, as does the breakdown by gender and exactly how many people self-identify as gay or bisexual . If a person notices an unusual blemish on their body, especially on their genitalia, they are being asked to contact NHS 111 immediately or their local sexual health clinic. Health officials are using a smallpox jabcalled Imvanex to protect people who have been close contacts of known … [Read more...] about Monkeypox: 14 new cases discovered in England

Go-Ahead is preparing to place what is thought to be the UK’s biggest single order for hydrogen-powered buses. The transport operator is understood to be finalising a deal to buy up to 40 of the environmentally-friendly vehicles that cost £400,000 each to serve its bus operations across Sussex. A deal will be just the latest green plans from Go-Ahead, which also runs the Govia Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern rail services. Go-Ahead has also launched a fully electric bus fleet in the north east of England, with nine of the vehicles serving Newcastle and Gateshead. Funding for the £2m purchase of the buses was topped up with a grant from the Government’s green transport fund. The company also has more than 50 geo-fenced, extended range, double-deckers buses operating around Brighton. These switch to zero-emission drivetrains when entering the city’s ultra-low emissions zone. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he welcomed bus companies “actively supporting our … [Read more...] about Go-Ahead jumps on board hydrogen bus bandwagon