2021’s lighter political moments: From Michael Gove’s dance moves and Britain’s chief mouser to the hunt for Irn-Bru December 26, 2021 From the rags-to-riches tale of Britain’s chief mouser to a hunt for Irn-Bru at COP26, even in the midst of a global pandemic there have been some lighter moments in politics during this long and challenging year. ‘Church warden overslept’ On May 6, local elections were held across England, Scotland and Wales but some voters [...]
Unexplained sightings in skies above Northern Ireland: Mysterious discs and strange images spotted on CCTV December 26, 2021 Strange images spotted on CCTV and mysterious discs over Slemish Mountain in Co Antrim, unexplained sightings increased in Northern Ireland again last year. Police received eight sightings in Northern Ireland during 2021, an increase from six such reports in 2020 and four in 2019. These included a report of a space ship and flashing lights [...]
2021 Queen’s Christmas Day message: in full December 26, 2021 In her Christmas Day address to the nation, the Queen movingly spoke about her late husband as she empathised with families missing loved ones. But she also gave hope for the future. Here is the Queen’s message, which she penned herself, in full. “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, [...]
‘Glimmer of Christmas hope’ as mild Omicron variant leads to less severely ill Covid patients, says relieved UK health chief December 25, 2021 It seems increasingly the case that the Omicron variant may be less likely to result in serious illness than the Delta strain of coronavirus, thereby offering a “glimmer of Christmas hope”, according to UK Health Security Agency chief Jenny Harries yesterday morning. Dr Harries told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday: “There is a glimmer [...]
Last-minute Christmas shoppers rush to central London as capital readies to slow down for the holidays December 24, 2021 Many Londoners rushed to Oxford Street and other major shopping districts in the capital this afternoon for their last-minute Christmas shopping, as the country readies to shut slow for Christmas Day tomorrow. Despite the army shoppers this afternoon, footfall in central London has dropped more rapidly than elsewhere in the country over the last week [...]
Chris Martin announces the end of Coldplay: Band won’t make any more music together after 2025 December 24, 2021 Coldplay’s frontman has said his band will release their last record in 2025 and plan to “only tour” after that. During a special BBC Radio 2 Christmas show with presenter Jo Whiley, Chris Martin has said that Coldplay will not make any more music as a band after 2025. Martin made the announcement during the [...]
Coronavirus next year: First calls for fourth shot in UK are clear indication Covid vaccines are not going anywhere in 2022 December 24, 2021 A senior UK health official suggested this morning that Brits will need more than two Covid vaccines and a booster shot. A fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will “probably” be needed over the next few years, Scotland’s national clinical director said this morning. Scots have been asked to get a third dose of the [...]
Government may have left it ‘too late’ to protect the NHS against Omicron wave, says nursing chief December 24, 2021 The head of the Royal College of Nursing warned this morning that the government may have left it “too late” to protect the NHS against the Omicron wave unless it heeds the advice of scientific experts on tighter restrictions. Pat Cullen told BBC Breakfast that ministers would find it easier to make decisions on how [...]
A British icon is now Thai: Weston family pockets £4bn after completing sale of Selfridges December 24, 2021 The sale of luxury retail group Selfridges to Thai family-owned retail and hospitality Central Group and European real estate group Signa has been completed by the Weston family. A statement released early this morning by Central Group said the acquisition would “create one of the world’s leading omni-channel luxury department store groups”. The sale was [...]
Ed Sheeran’s prototype Equals guitar fetches £52k in charity raffle in singer’s Suffolk hometown of Framlingham December 24, 2021 A charity raffle to help a school in Ed Sheeran’s hometown is making headlines this morning as the singer’s prototype Equals guitar raised £52,765. The 30-year-old pop star worked with Northern Ireland-based guitar-maker George Lowden to create a signature instrument to mark his “coming of age” album Equals. The Shivers hitmaker donated it to be [...]
