Retailers say money being spent in ‘calm atmosphere’ as lockdown restrictions ease
Some of Ireland’s leading retail outlets are quietly satisfied with how the weeks of trading have gone since the phased exit from the lockdown started. While footfall is down and queues are still forming, money is being spent in a “calm atmosphere”, they say. He said the numbers were not at last year’s level “particularly in light of capacity restrictions” but added that was not “a cause for concern”. “Our priority has been to allow retailers and customers to ease back in. He said gift card sales had proved to be particularly strong since the centre reopened, with a new gift card kiosk for self-service transactions attracting high volumes of customers.
Source:The Irish Times
July 03, 2020 23:59 UTC
Pregnant Lea Michele returns to social media for first time since issuing apology
Lea Michele has returned to Instagram for the first time since apologising to her former co-stars. She came forward with her story after Lea took to Twitter to show her support for George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. (Image: Getty Images)Appearing to move on, Lea took to her Instagram stories tonight to share a trio of pictures. The third and final image shows the heavily pregnant star wondering down a path through the woods. (Image: leamichele/Instagram) (Image: leamichele/Instagram)This is the first time Lea has posted on Instagram in a month.
Source:Daily Mirror
July 03, 2020 21:51 UTC
Girl, 5, has skin so fragile mum can't hug her as slightest touch can cause burns
Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid EmailA five-year-old girl has such fragile skin her mum can't even cuddle her with even the slightest touch giving her third degree burns. Even the slightest touch can cause little Portia Fletcher third degree burns. Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa severe generalised (RDEB), is a rare disorder that causes her skin to blister and rip easily. (Image: Mercury Press & Media)"She’s an absolute fighter - she does not let this condition bother her at all." There is currently no cure for Portia’s condition but Kirsty and her family are desperate to help spread awareness to others and raise funds for RDEB research charity, DEBRA.
Source:Daily Mirror
July 03, 2020 21:16 UTC
England lifts quarantine restrictions for 59 countries but measures branded 'a mess'
A list of 73 countries and territories where English tourists can visit without self-isolating on their return has been published by the Department for Transport. But Labour branded the measures a “mess” and said the Government’s failure to negotiate air bridges was “an indictment of their failure to tackle the crisis at home”. “First we had the quarantine that they were slow to implement, then they said they’d do air bridges. Now we see a plan to let residents of 60 or more countries into England without any reciprocal arrangements. “The fact they have been unable to negotiate air bridges is an indictment of their failure to tackle the crisis at home.”Read MorePA Media
Source:Irish Independent
July 03, 2020 21:00 UTC
Weather warning issued for parts of the country for this weekend
Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for parts of the west and north of the country for Saturday night, with very windy weather expected in these areas. Met Éireann said that the areas included in the warning can expect very windy weather during the period in question, with south to southwest winds, veering westerly, forecast to reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h. The UK Met Office has also issued a wind warning for counties Antrim and Derry for this weekend. This status yellow warning is in effect from midnight on Sunday until 4pm that day. Saturday will begin mostly cloudy and misty, with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle during the day.
Source:The Irish Times
July 03, 2020 20:37 UTC
Cop who placed Elijah McClain in a deadly chokehold is fired
AdvertisementOne of the Colorado policemen involved in the death of Elijah McClain last August has been fired after receiving photos of three officers mocking and re-enacting the man's killing that were later shown to McClain's family. The Aurora Police Department on Friday announced Jason Rosenblatt was fired, along with officers Erica Marrero and Kyle Dittrich for their involvement in the October 2019 incident. The police arrived and, after struggling to handcuff McClain, officers brought him to the ground and used a carotid hold, which restricts blood to the brain to render someone unconscious. Rosenblatt, center, was fired on Friday but the other two remain in the forceMike Coffman, mayor of Aurora, said the pictures were deeply troubling. Rosenblatt was not fired for his role in the killing, but rather for receiving the image.
Source:Daily Mail
July 03, 2020 20:33 UTC
Summer breaks thrown into chaos (again) as government unveils list of quarantine-free countries
The government's official website does not specify whether the countries on the list will reciprocate the quarantine-free arrangements. 'Now we see a plan to let residents of 60 or more countries into England without any reciprocal arrangements. Those who have been through countries still on the quarantine list in the past 14 days will still have to self-isolate for two weeks. The list of countries that will be exempt from quarantine measures includes overseas territories such as the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. A Scottish quarantine would effectively suspend free movement between the two largest nations of the United Kingdom.
Source:Daily Mail
July 03, 2020 20:29 UTC
'Frustration' at British switch in Brexit stance - Coveney
Negotiations with Britain in relation to securing a Brexit deal are “in a difficult place” Simon Coveney has said. But he warned that the British have deliberately and openly “moved away” from legal commitments made by them less than six months ago. There was an expectation that we would see more from the British side but that didn’t happen. The British are seeking to do sectoral deals in areas where they have an interest,” he added. The biggest problem is that the UK is not adhering to the approach agreed only six months ago in the political declaration,” Mr Coveney added.
Source:Irish Examiner
July 03, 2020 20:15 UTC
Revealed: Cabinet minister's drink-driving ban
New Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen was banned from driving after being caught drink-driving. The revelation of Mr Cowen’s three-month disqualification from driving follows the controversy over Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s ministerial selections. Mr Cowen was stopped at a Garda checkpoint four years ago, half-way between Dublin and his home in Offaly. The Fianna Fáil TD was on his way home from the All-Ireland football final. The incident occurred on the night of September 18, 2016, just hours after All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Mayo was played that day.
Source:Irish Independent
July 03, 2020 19:41 UTC
Haim debut at number one with third album
American pop-rock trio Haim have gone straight to number one with their third album, Women In Music Pt III. It is their second number one album, after their 2013 debut Days Are Gone also topped the charts, with their 2017 follow-up Something To Tell You peaking at number two. Expand Close The Haim sisters (Ian West/PA) PA / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp The Haim sisters (Ian West/PA)They told OfficialCharts.com: “The UK has always supported us and we are forever grateful. Texan funk trio Khruangbin debut at number seven with their third album Mordechai, their first UK top 10. On the singles chart, Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo claim number one with their viral hit Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat).
Source:Irish Independent
July 03, 2020 19:18 UTC
Sex in your home with person from another household illegal from midnight in Leicester
The laws, released in a document named The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Leicester) Regulations 2020, says indoor meetings of two or more people from different households are now out the question. The Leicester rules state: "No person who lives in the protected area may, without reasonable excuse, stay overnight at any place other than the place where they are living or where their linked household is living." (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)It continues: "No person who lives outside the protected area may, without reasonable excuse, stay overnight at any place within the protected area other than the place where their linked household is living." Earlier today Boris Johnson unveiled a "five-step" plan for imposing morecoronavirus "local lockdowns" like the one seen in Leicester. Instead, entire cities could go into lockdown like Leicester, which this week was told to re-shut all its non-essential shops with just a few hours' notice.
Source:Daily Mirror
July 03, 2020 19:09 UTC
Boris's Union Jack warplane scrambled to help fighters warn off Russian jets
Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid EmailBoris Johnson's newly Union Jack daubed warplane was scrambled today along with a team of UK fighter jets to warn off another Russian air-force formation. And today it went on its first major operation as a Quick Response Action scramble from RAF Lossiemouth screamed towards Russian warplanes heading towards UK airspace. It was there to help with refuelling if the Typhoon air aces were ordered to stay in the air for a long period but returned to base. (Image: PA)The attempted Russian approach was by a team of Moscow's long-range “Blackjack” bombers, which are used as spy planes, to test UK responses to air incursion. This external paint scheme will better reflect its VIP missions and contribution to 'Global Britain', the MoD said
Source:Daily Mirror
July 03, 2020 19:01 UTC
Free TV licences campaigners step up fight ahead of showdown in Parliament
Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid EmailCampaigners tonight intensified their fight to save free TV licences for the over-75s. Some 3.7 million over-75s who are not eligible for Pension Credit are due to lose free licences in less than four weeks. “After all, it was their party that promised to keep free TV licences for over-75s and provide older people with the security and dignity they deserve. It says keeping licences free for all over-75s would cost £745million by 2021-22. Boris Johnson has previously urged the BBC to “cough up” and save free licences.
Source:Daily Mirror
July 03, 2020 19:01 UTC
Independent cinemas ‘will close as a result of coronavirus’
Cinemas are allowed to reopen from Saturday with social distancing restrictions in place (Stefan Rousseau/PA)Some independent cinemas will be lost as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the owner of one venue has warned. Expand Close (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp (Stefan Rousseau/PA)The cinema has had to rely on loans, extended overdrafts and grants to get through the lockdown so far. While Mr Walker-Hebborn does not anticipate having to shut his own business, he said that across other independent cinemas “you are going to see closures, unfortunately”. Bookings for Genesis Cinema on Saturday have been “pretty solid”, he added. Odeon will reopen 10 of its cinemas on Saturday before opening a further 88 by the end of the month.
Source:Irish Independent
July 03, 2020 18:33 UTC