Yahoo NewsBBC chairman Richard Sharp confident he was 'appointed on merit' after Boris Johnson loan row
Richard Sharp has said there was "no conflict of interest" over his role in helping Boris Johnson secure a loan before being appointed BBC chairman.
Richard Sharp has said there was "no conflict of interest" over his role in helping Boris Johnson secure a loan before being appointed BBC chairman.
Starmer said Sunak ‘raised more questions than answers’ when he announced Zahawi had been sacked as Tory party chairman
Rugby league will not amend its stance on tackle height despite controversial recent changes adopted by rugby union
‘At this early stage there are no indication of foul play,’ sheriff’s office says
Mo Farah will return to the London Marathon this year one final time with Eilish McColgan set to make her debut over the distance. Farah was forced to pull out just days before with injury while McColgan delayed her planned debut in October 2022 after struggling to take on fuel on the transition from track to road running. “I was really disappointed to miss last year’s London Marathon because of injury,” he said.
The future of journalism is about to undergo a seismic shift, as artificial intelligence (AI) takes center stage. As technology continues to advance at a breakneck pace, the way we gather, process, and disseminate news is undergoing a profound transformation.
As Britain endures a cost-of-living crisis, public libraries and other community hubs are providing "warm spaces" for vulnerable members of society to stay safe and access free food this winter.In Ipswich, a town in eastern England, local resident Marina Flynn has been a regular visitor to Chantry Library over the past year. "It's a great warm space to come to, obviously with the cost of heating these days," Flynn told AFP as the outdoor temperature registered about five degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit)."It's been as cold in my house as outside" this winter, added 54-year-old Flynn, who is unemployed and relies on the library's foodbank that provides donated staples and sanitary products for free."The foodbank I use quite a lot with the cost-of-living crisis, not being able to afford food," said Flynn, who competes to be heard against a babble from babies and toddlers heading home with carers following a musical activity organised by the library.UK public libraries are government-funded via local councils but have suffered from large budget cuts in recent years, causing many to fundraise and rely on volunteers to help bridge gaps. - 'Areas of deprivation' -With inflation soaring worldwide last year on surging energy costs, a charity seeking to improve UK library services produced national guidance for organisations wanting to set up "warm spaces" ahead of the current winter.Local councils are using the guidance -- an idea of money-saving expert and television personality Martin Lewis -- to help set up warm spaces in other community venues such as churches and village halls."The services have been well used," said Nick Poole, chief executive of the library charity CILIP."It's mainly been focused on areas where you've got multiple deprivation or older and vulnerable communities," he told AFP.The government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is subsidising electricity and gas bills this winter but households and businesses are still left paying far more than a year ago.Poole would rather that extended support services did not exist in Britain's thousands of libraries."But if they're going to, we want them to be safe and welcoming and inclusive."In one corner of Chantry Library stands a small cafe, which provides free hot drinks and soup on Sundays."We have customers come in that are sad and we help them out as much as we possibly can," said Mark Dyer, the eatery's 48-year-old owner.- 'Come for company' -Poole said it feels like "a natural extension of the function of" libraries to be safe and warm spaces."People don't want to admit they're in trouble. People have used the (cost-of-living) services but don't like talking about it very much," he added. Visitors whose needs cannot be met by the library are signposted to other support groups. "I live on my own so I tend to come up here for company," said Flynn, who attends a weekly men's talking group.Later in the day, a group of women gather round a table to knit, while donated clothes hang next to the library's entrance on "kindness racks". "We have had a clothes rack since before the cost-of-living" crisis, said Vicki Mann, manager of Chantry Library."But that has grown given the fact that we don't just offer children's clothes now... and we can't keep it replenished enough."According to Poole, libraries "are always there to meet local needs."But at the same time, we can't do everything for everyone with no money... It's very hard for the libraries to exist themselves. They cost money to heat and light."bcp/rfj/cw/dhc
A NEW air quality monitoring station is now up and running in a busy Leominster street.
Worcester couple want ban on DNP after death of daughter who overdosed on toxic diet pills
The piece features late rock guitarist Beck speaking about deforestation and animal agriculture.
The government has rejected warnings from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Britain's economy will reverse this year, saying "the IMS predicted lots of things and they turned out not be true". Roads Minister Richard Holden added "we want to see reality rather than predictions".
‘I see these little pockets of people’s lives when I walk through and it’s so beautiful,’ singer told the audience
Republicans accuse her of antisemitism, but Democrats see something far more sinister at hand, Eric Garcia reports
WHO Says COVID-19, Pandemic Has Reached , a 'Transition Point".On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that while COVID-19 remains a public health emergency, the pandemic has reached a "transition point.".On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that while COVID-19 remains a public health emergency, the pandemic has reached a "transition point.".ABC reports that the WHO said that its International Regulations Emergency Committee had met on January 27 to analyze data on the current state of the pandemic. .According to a statement, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "acknowledges the Committee's views that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point.".According to a statement, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, "acknowledges the Committee's views that the COVID-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point.".The statement continues to say that the WHO , "appreciates the advice of the Committee to navigate this transition carefully and mitigate the potential negative consequences.".ABC spoke with Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital, to weigh in on the WHO's announcement.What we have to remember is the pandemic won't end on a given day. , Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital, via ABC.The metrics around cases, hospitalizations and deaths are painting a more optimistic picture and we're seeing more countries getting out of this acute phase, Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital, via ABC.However, Brownstein also cautioned that the threat of COVID remains very real, with deaths from COVID still twice as high as those from the flu. .While speaking at the WHO meeting, Tedros encouraged more countries to increase testing and use antivirals early on those who test positive for COVID.While speaking at the WHO meeting, Tedros encouraged more countries to increase testing and use antivirals early on those who test positive for COVID
Prime minister tries to come out fighting over Nadhim Zahawi and a collapsing NHS
Terrorists should be sent to the electric chair, Israel's hardline national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Monday following a weekend in which a dozen Israelis were shot in Jerusalem.
Nineteen-year-old sorority sister was hit by a car and died on 15 January after alleged rape by group of men she met at Reggie’s Bar in Baton Rouge
EastEnders has aired tragic scenes where Lola told daughter Lexi she is dying of cancer.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned that people are getting "a bit snowflaky" about bullying allegations levelled at government ministers.
With pressure mounting from US and European allies to strike a deal with arch-rival Serbia, Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti vowed on Wednesday to resist any attempt at "blackmail" in the face of a looming deadline from the West to reach an agreement. According to Kurti, Kosovo is now facing a March deadline to come to some sort of agreement with Serbia, despite a mountain of hurdles and basic disagreements poisoning even the semblance of relations between the adversaries.
Falmouth Town manager Andrew Westgarth was pleased to add another three points despite a below-par performance on Saturday.