Latest news with #CovidImpact
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Dorset sees 25% rise in Neets across county
The number of Dorset 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (Neets) has increased by 25% in a year. The proportion of young people in school years 12 and 13 classified as Neets has also risen from 3% to over 4%. There are now 330 in total across the Dorset Council area, a council committee was told on Wednesday. Councillors heard the rise may be linked to the long-term impact of Covid, which disrupted education for many who were in Year 7 at the support school leavers, the council plans to run a GCSE results helpline offering advice on future options. Simon Fraiz-Brown, the authority's head of commissioning for family health, said many Neets needed extra support in core subjects and emotional wellbeing remained a major barrier. He said specialist training was being provided to staff working with them. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Café where Jacinda Ardern took Stephen Colbert in New Zealand collapses - as calls grow for ex-prime minister to return for Covid inquiry
The café where Dame Jacinda Ardern took The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, when he visited her while she was serving as prime minister, has closed its doors. The Auckland business, KIND, cited economic headwinds that had failed to improve in the years following Covid lockdowns. Its closure coincides with pressure on 44-year-old Ardern, who has moved to the United States, to return to her home country and provide evidence at an inquiry into her government's Covid response. The café owners issued a statement about it's closure to social media on Monday. 'We are closing the doors for good tonight... Economic conditions, spiraling costs, excessive rent are all factors in our decision to close. We have been going backwards for too long, hoping things will change but they haven't, they aren't,' it read. 'KIND was founded as a social enterprise to make the neighbourhood of Morningside a greener and healthier place to live. We have been part of this awesome neighborhood for seven years and still love it. Thank you to all our neighbours and customers who have supported us through the good times, the covid times and the hard times. We wish we could have kept going, but it was not to be. In a world where you can be many things, be kind.' Ardern took Colbert to the café when he visited in October 2019 after she had invited the Lord of the Rings fan to visit when she appeared as a guest on The Late Show a year earlier. A Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response in New Zealand has held public hearings this week. A first stage of the inquiry was held in 2023 and this second stage will look at vaccines and lockdown decisions made by the government in 2021 and 2022. Ardern has lived in Boston since late 2023 and there have been calls for her to return to give evidence at the inquiry, which she has indicated through a spokesperson she is prepared to consider. The mother-of-one, who is the joint-youngest women to give birth while a sitting world leader, was a popular prime minister for most of her time in office but her approval rating plummeted before she resigned in January 2023. Since leaving office, she has made few incursions back into public life, but has expanded on her time in office in her memoir, A Different Kind of Power, released in June by Penguin Random House subsidiary Crown. She re-entered the political fray in May with a rallying call for internationalism, rebuking the inward outlook of the US under President Donald Trump. She spoke at Yale College's Class Day, the undergraduate arm of the prestigious Ivy League university ands opted against 'the usual pep talk that perhaps you might expect' in an address witnessed by thousands. 'The world,' she said, 'Over the course of a few short months, moved from tumultuous to an all-out dumpster fire.' 'There's the war in the Middle East and Europe, with both leaving questions over our sense of humanity. 'The daily reminder of climate change that bangs on our door but falls on deaf ears at the highest echelons of power. 'Challenges to rules around trade, increases in migration flows, and a decreasing regard for civil rights and human rights, including the right to be who you are.' Ardern said the world stood at an 'inflection point in global politics', fuelled by post-pandemic economic challenges, when politicians needed to care for the most vulnerable. 'Some of the greatest leaders here in the United States have recognised that amongst all of the challenges politicians face, they must meet the most basic needs of their citizens, first and foremost,' she said. 'FDR (former president Franklin D Roosevelt) said in 1944 while still governing a country at war, ''true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made''.' Ardern supported unsuccessful Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, appearing at party events. In a thinly veiled attack on Trump's America First economic doctrine, she said isolationism was an 'illusion'. 'You cannot remain untouched by the impacts of infectious disease. A trade stand-off can never just hurt your competitors,' she said. 'A warming planet does not produce extreme weather that respects borders, and far-flung wars may not take the lives of your citizens but it will take away their sense of security and humanity. 'We are connected. We always have been,' she said.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Beloved restaurant chain shuts ALL its locations in UK and ceases trading after two ‘unforgettable' decades
A POPULAR restaurant chain has shuttered ALL of its UK locations as it ceases trading after 20 years. Hungry customers were disappointed to learn one of their favourite dinner spots would be disappearing from the high street forever. 3 3 Ping Pong was hailed for its range of more than 40 dim sum options and affordable prices. It was founded all the way back in 2005, by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, and 13 venues quickly popped up within four years. Ping Pong's success continued to soar, and at it's height boasted 12 restaurants in London. The company announced their sad closure in a message on Instagram. "It's a wrap. After 20 unforgettable years, all Ping Pong locations are now permanently closed," they said. "We're incredibly proud of what we built, an independent hospitality brand full of creativity, flavour and soul. 'To everyone who joined us over the years, for dim sum dates, happy hours, bottomless brunches, and just-because catch-ups – thank you… It's been sum-thing truly special.' The move comes after the restaurant came under fire last year for changing its service charge to a 15 per cent discretionary 'brand charge'. Ping Pong also took a significant hit during the Covid pandemic, with trading losses of £1.4million in the year to March 2020. Within two years, their locations had halved in number, and the firm went to administrators in a desperate bid to save the brand. Famous fast-food chain dubbed 'Britain's rudest restaurant' to close final UK branch and teases future plans Begbies Traynor reported in 2022 the pandemic had caused 'significant disruption' to the business. This comes after an Italian restaurant chain faced the same fate and closed down all of its sites after nearly six years. Officina 00 was a popular pasta joint with three locations across Covent Garden, Fitzrovia and Old Street. It charged around £15 for posh pasta dishes such as curly pappardelle and killer bucatini. Owner Elia Sebregondi took to Instagram last week to share news that the business was no more. He said: "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Officina 00 restaurants have now permanently closed. "I have done everything in my power to overcome the many challenges faced in the last few months, but despite all efforts I have been forced to close down." The news left diners heartbroken with many describing it as a "big loss". Chains have been struggling recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses have also been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic. As a result, a number of chains have been forced to close down or reduce their estate. And, the branch of a famous fast food chain is set to shut its doors after being "forced into liquidation" with £400k debt. The unique restaurant went viral back in 2022 with its performative staff being purposely rude to guests. Karen's diner on White Lion Street in London's Islington will close at the end of June after trading for two years. It's the restaurant's last remaining venue in the UK and is regularly described as one of the most memorable and bizarre dining experiences in the capital. With their deliberately rude waiters, Karen's has racked up millions of views on TikTok with clips of them insulting customers. Their website describes it as an "absurdly fun experience" where you are "greeted and waited upon by rude waiters and forced to play a variety of stupid games". How to save money eating out THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how: Discount codes - Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order. Tastecard - This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Loyalty schemes - Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando's where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter. Voucher schemes - Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through then you'll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You'll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday. Student discounts - If you're in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It's always worth asking before you place your order.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Vanishing kids: unexpected crisis hits key Sydney suburbs
Spiralling housing costs and the rampant construction of high-rise buildings dominated by one-bedroom units has turned parts of Sydney into children's deserts where kids are increasingly rare. Analysis of PropTrack and ABS data showed multiple suburbs where less than a tenth of residents were aged under 20, with kids under nine accounting for as little as 2 per cent of locals, in some instances. There were also multiple areas where the children population was close to half what it was at the start of the 2000s despite an increase in the population overall. This was a much faster decline than the drop in overall Aussie fertility rates over the period. Experts said a housing affordability crisis – especially during Covid – was behind the diminishing numbers of kids in some areas, with parents increasingly moving their families to cheaper suburbs. 'A key reason our birthrate is declining is because of poor housing affordability,' said demographer Mark McCrindle. 'That's especially pronounced in the more expensive parts of Sydney. 'An ageing population has been a long-term trend but it really got accelerated during Covid because of the tremendous home price rises pushing a lot more younger people out of many areas. Families are also having less kids.' He added that this was changing the fabric of Sydney. 'We will reach a point where the median age of residents in some areas will be very high and these areas will lack diversity of age.' Sydney as a whole was already ageing faster than the rest of the country and a continued exodus of families with young kids would exacerbate coming challenges, Mr McCrindle said. 'It means supporting an ageing population in Sydney will become an even bigger burden on the next generations,' Mr McCrindle said. ABS data showed most of the suburbs underdoing a juvenile drought had property prices hundreds of thousands of dollars above the city average, while rents were among the highest in the country. They included Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay, where less than 5 per cent of residents were under 20. The proportion in nearby Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst was close to 6 per cent. Low numbers of children and teens – making up less than 10 per cent of residents – were also observed in Waterloo, Wolli Creek, Surry Hills, Redfern and Kirribilli. But there were also emerging children deserts in areas that had historically been dominated by families. North Shore suburb St Leonards had a particularly notable shift. About 27 per cent of the St Leonards population were under the age of 15 in 2001, but by 2021 they made up just 11 per cent. There was a similar trend in inner west suburb Newtown: 20.5 per cent of residents were under 15 in 2001 but by the 2021 census this age group accounted for only 9.1 per cent of locals. Rising prices in once family dominated regions like the outer inner west, north shore and northern beaches had often coincided with increased high-rise construction. This led to the rapid transformation of local housing as detached houses were knocked down to make way for small units. Heavily developed Homebush was a case in point: those aged below 15 accounted for a fifth of residents in 2001 but following rapid unit construction this figure declined to 15 per cent. It was a similar story in Burwood, Rhodes, Zetland and Mascot. Ray White Northern Beaches agent Eddy Piddington said couples had always moved to further flung suburbs once they had children but the trend had accelerated in recent years. 'There's been a definite change at the higher end of the market,' Mr Piddington said. 'We have high-end buyers you only used to see in eastern Harbour suburbs before. They will call and say 'I want to spend $12m. What do you have?' That didn't happen before. 'It's become a lot harder for families to upgrade from a unit to a house in the same area, but it does depend on the family. Some value location above the property so they will stay, but for those who want a larger house they can afford, they usually have to move.' Fairlight resident Tom Norris is selling the Sydney Rd unit he and his partner bought prior to having their two kids. They're hoping to upsize to a larger house and said they will have to look further out. 'There are a lot of families in this area. You see kids all around the houses … but I know a lot of people who are in the same position. They're moving because they need more space and they can't afford a house unless they go further away.' The Sydney areas where kids were most abundant tended to be low-rise suburbs – often new estates in outer areas. The supply of freestanding houses in these areas was usually growing and home prices were lower than average. Suburbs where those aged below 20 made up more than 30 per cent of residents were Ropes Crossing, The Ponds, The Gables, Oran Park, Jordan Springs and Marsden Park. Most of these outer suburbs had houses about $300,000-$400,000 cheaper than the Greater Sydney median price and had a high supply of recently built housing. Mr Norris said he would miss aspects of the Fairlight lifestyle. 'We love the unit,' he said. 'We bought it just at the start of Covid and it really stood out. It's more like a townhouse or semi but it's time to move on.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Government made losses of £5m running Fort Regent since 2020
The Government of Jersey made a loss of £5m running Fort Regent over the past five years, a Freedom of Information request has officials said the losses in running the 19th Century fort and leisure centre on Mont de la Ville in St Helier occurred between 2020 and 2025 and were compounded by the Covid was a period of closures at the fort during the pandemic during which staff were kept on full are currently plans to close the centre for a £110m redevelopment. 'Discounted memberships' Staff costs during the pandemic came to £1.2m per year while income dropped due to discounted memberships and said the site reopened in 2022 with income rising to more than £ costs also fell to £702,503 because the opening hours 2023 income dropped to £379,058 because gym and fitness services moved to Springfield but the centre still cost the government almost £900,000 in running 2025 the centre is expected to cost more than £600,000.
