News

The horrendous Beirut explosion has killed (as I write this) at least 154 people with the figure sure to rise further. It also destroyed what little confidence there was in Lebanon’s government, which could worryingly trigger a return to the mayhem seen a few decades ago.

Calls have been made for the first Covid-19 rehabilitation programme of its kind in Wales to be rolled out across the country. 

The UK Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme opened this week. The idea is to give much needed support to cafes, pubs and restaurants which have been badly affected by the Covid-19 crisis, and to get people back to our high streets.

Small shopkeepers are being urged to put their names forward for a national award.

Now in its fifth year, the Best Small Shops competition celebrates the successes of small shops and the central role they play in their local community.

My inbox has been full of claims that last week was the “last chance to save the NHS” before it was “sold off” or “privatised” in a trade deal. In reality, Parliament passed a bill to rollover the existing trade deals which we already have with non-EU countries and which operated for many years.

The roads remain quiet, but this has not stopped a Welsh Government commission from looking at the idea of “congestion charging” on the M4.

In last week’s column I mentioned the disastrous news that Airbus will be cutting 1,700 UK jobs, many in north Wales. During a ministerial meeting with management, I was told this is due to a huge fall in demand for new aircraft; a situation which is expected to last several years.

UK Government ministers understand there are pros and cons with any decisions we take over lockdown. Strict measures might slow the spread of coronavirus but will cost more jobs and businesses. Easing restrictions runs the risk of spreading the virus more but reduces the threat of job losses.

UK Government ministers understand there are pros and cons with any decisions we take over lockdown. Strict measures might slow the spread of coronavirus but will cost more jobs and businesses. Easing restrictions runs the risk of spreading the virus more but reduces the threat of job losses.

Armed Forces Day which took place on Saturday, is usually celebrated with services and marches across Monmouthshire. This year the celebrations were of a virtual nature but were none the less heartfelt for that.