Strike hit hard crossword

MILLIONS of households could be hit by broadband disruption this summer as almost 40,000 BT staff voted to strike last night. Over 30,000 Openreach engineers and 9,000 BT call centre workers will vote as early as next week over whether they should strike this summer. It would be the first national strike in 35 years. Employees who have stayed working at home face the biggest disruption. It comes amid fears of a summer of discontent. Train strikes crippled the UK earlier this month and union leaders have warned industrial action will spread across the public sector. The CWU is also balloting 115,000 postal workers at Royal Mail about strike action. The telecoms giant has been in a three-month dispute with the CWU over pay, as it accuses BT of introducing a low flat-rate pay rise despite soaring inflation . BT offered 58,000 frontline workers a £1,500 pay rise in April. The hike is equal to a 5% on average and 8% rise for the lowest paid. A BT spokesperson … [Read more...] about Millions of BT customers could be hit by disruption this summer as staff vote to strike

Earthquake hazard and risk: Explanation of what it means Sign up HERE for science breakthroughs in health, business and more that matter 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 The first quake hit southern Iran , which had a magnitude of 6.1, in the early hours of Saturday morning.  Two later quakes, one with a magnitude of up to 6.3 followed, state media reported. A total of four separate earthquakes were recorded near the southern port city of Bandar-e Lengeh. Related articles Putin's horror deadline to Bulgaria UK signs 'landmark' deal with New Zealand Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, the head of emergency management in Hormozgan province on Iran’s Gulf coast, told state TV earlier: “Rescue work has been … [Read more...] about Iran earthquake: Five dead as horror 6.3 magnitude quake strikes – 49 others injured

Love Island star Paige Turley has admitted she finds it difficult to be taken seriously with her singing career after her appearance on the ITV reality show, despite previously auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent. Paige was crowned winner of the January 2020 edition of Love Island, along with her boyfriend Finley Tapp. Since her appearance on the show, which also featured Siânnise Fudge , Luke Mabbott and Nas Majeed , the 24-year-old Scottish singer has said it’s been difficult breaking into the music industry. Paige opened up on how challenging it is trying to create a name for herself in music, after so many people know her from her image on Love Island. Speaking on BBC’s One More Tune , she said: ‘I definitely do find it a challenge. ‘I think a lot of people thought that coming from the show would be this huge advantage because I’ve got a platform and people that follow me. ‘But if anything it’s more difficult I’ve found. It’s a bit of a … [Read more...] about Love Island winner Paige Turley admits ‘it’s hard to be taken seriously as a singer’ after ITV reality show

1. Russian forces claim control of Lysychansk Russia claimed control Sunday over the last Ukrainian stronghold in an eastern province that is key to achieving a major goal of its grinding war. Ukraine's General Staff of the military reported that its forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk in Luhansk province, but the president said the fight for the city was ongoing. If confirmed, Russia's complete seizure of Luhansk would provide its forces a stronger base from which to press their advance in neighboring Donetsk province and bring them one step closer to achieving one of President Vladimir Putin’s major goals: capturing the entire Donbas. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin that Russia’s troops, with members of a local separatist militia, “have established full control over the city of Lysychansk” and now hold all of Luhansk, according to a ministry statement published Sunday. As is typical with such descriptions, the Russian statement characterized … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: Five important developments to know for Sunday

Security checks on aviation staff will be fast tracked in an attempt to cut delays at Britain's airports. The Department for Transport said it was speeding up the vetting process for new staff to help tackle the travel chaos that has plagued travellers for months. Holidaymakers faced more disruption on Saturday, with thousands of passengers at Heathrow hit by delays caused by a computer failure that left planes unable to refuel and "horrendous" scenes at the baggage reclaim area. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that by speeding up the vetting of new aviation security staff, the Government was "doing its bit to help deliver for passengers". Counter terrorism checks on staff, which previously took up to 20 days, are now being done in half the time, he said. New staff are also carrying out other training while their security checks are ongoing. Airlines are expected to announce a series of cancellations to summer flights next week aimed at minimising disruption in the … [Read more...] about Vetting of airport staff fast-tracked to ease travel chaos

In 1997, Newsweek reported extensively on the untimely death of Princess Diana and its aftermath. In this piece, Jerry Adler and Donna Foote report on how the tragedy will affect Diana's children, Prince William and Prince Harry. We are republishing the piece on the occasion of Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. She had tried, she often said, to give her two sons as normal a life as possible. So when Prince William said he'd like to meet one of the world's most beautiful women, Diana did what any mother of a teenage boy would do—phoned Cindy Crawford, whom she barely knew, and invited her to tea. Arriving at Kensington Palace, the supermodel found herself alone in a room with William, where they chatted for a few minutes until Diana joined them, and, noticing her son blushing, confided to Crawford: "He's just like me; when he runs out of things to say, he just blushes." In a few years, when he adds to his titles that of World's Most Eligible Bachelor, William (now 15) … [Read more...] about Prince Harry, growing up without Princess Diana

Uniformed police officers should not march in this year’s Pride in London parade, organisers have said. The move comes after LGBTQ+ campaigners called for them to be barred due to Scotland Yard ’s ‘homophobic’ handling of the investigation into the serial killer Stephen Port. Human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell has said the investigation, which the independent police watchdog is investigating, showed ‘institutional homophobia is alive and kicking in the Metropolitan police’. Speaking to The Guardian , he said the case, as well as other recent revelations of homophobia, racism and misogyny within the force, meant Pride in London needed to take a stand on police officers’ participation in the event. ‘While there are many good officers, and they are welcome to march in civilian clothes, Pride needs to challenge the police as an institution, otherwise they will never reform,’ Peter said. I n a statement to the newspaper , Pride in London said: ‘We work … [Read more...] about Uniformed police told they’re ‘not welcome’ at London Pride

Published 2 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Uniformed police officers have been asked not to join the annual London Pride march on Saturday. Organisers said it reflected the "very real concerns" of the LGBTQ+ community. It follows accusations by campaigners of "very serious evidence of police homophobia" within the Met Police, especially over its handling of four murders of gay men by Stephen Port. The Met said it recognised some incidents had "damaged trust and confidence in policing". Thousands of people are expected to line the route of Saturday's Pride parade in central London, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in 1972. 'Extreme homophobia' Pride in London said it worked "hard to strike a balance between the very real, legitimate concerns" of its community as well as being "welcoming", and that the presence of … [Read more...] about Uniformed police told not to march at London Pride by organisers

Fernando Alonso might think F1 in its current guise is predictable – and it’s hard not to agree at times – but with the top four drivers covered by just 0.232s, and one of them electing to start on the softest tyre compound, Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix holds great promise. Sebastian Vettel ’s pole position was Ferrari ’s first here since Michael Schumacher back in 2001, and gave fans of the legendary team something to cheer on the circuit named in honour of Gilles Villeneuve, one of the Scuderia’s most-loved drivers of all time. Vettel struggled on Friday, damaging his car’s steering when he brushed a wall in first practice, and then failing to find its sweet spot in the second. But he reported a better feel immediately in final practice on Saturday morning, and made the most of that to set the fastest time in the first qualifying session, and then dominate the third with a new unofficial track record of 1m 10.764s. “I was very happy with the last qualifying … [Read more...] about Sebastian Vettel takes pole 40 years after Gilles Villeneuve triggered Ferrari’s Canadian love affair

Netflix The final two episodes of the Duffer brothers show and cult hit is on Netflix now *Graeme Tuckett is a Stuff film and TV reviewer OPINION: A month ago, I wrote a piece about Running Up That Hill - and why Kate Bush's 36-year-old track was number one again - and especially how perfect its use in season 4 of Stranger Things had been. I finished that column with this sentence: "Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things is as good a meeting of soundtrack, action and theme as you could hope for. Also, I still have a few episodes to go. So there's still a chance that Siouxsie and the Banshee's Spellbound could get the same treatment. Or maybe we'll have to wait for season 5." And, as the credits rolled on the final episode of season 4 on Friday night, guess what track came thundering out of my TV speakers? Souxsie and The Banshees’s Spellbound. Not that I'm pretending that it would take a genius to pick that Siouxsie's 1981 hit would be a contender for … [Read more...] about Stranger Things: Four-week wait for season finale worth it