thank you very much, simon calder at paddington i much, simon calder at paddington station.carry on with some more news for you in just a moment. goodbye to our viewers on bbc world. it was a cold and wintry scene across scotla nd scotland on boxing day. it is turning while the white —— mail there because we have strengthening winds and wet weather. we are seeing more snow in the colder air we have got in scotland. there is more cloud and rain looming in the atlantic for tomorrow, this is the cloud that has been bringing the wet weather in today. through the afternoon, more snow on the hills to the north of the central belt, turning back to rain in the south and drying off later in the day. some sunshine after the morning rain in northern ireland. cloud and rain coming into england and wales. wales and the settlers could see heavy rain, together with strengthening winds, east anglia and the south east staying dry until after dark. temperatures getting to 10 celsius. a little bit colder in northern scotland where there is a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. it becomes dry here

simon calder, as always, _ heading across the atlantic.the atlantic. simon calder, as always, thank you - heading across the atlantic. simon calder, as always, thank you very l calder, as always, thank you very much indeed. king charles iii is due to deliver his first christmas message on sunday. the british monarch is expected to pay tribute to the late queen, but he will also reflect on his views about the importance of faith. 0ur religion editor aleem maqbool has more. another moment of history, as, in st george's chapel at windsor castle, king charles records his first ever christmas message, a chance to reflect on the year, but also talk about faith. given its importance to him, we're likely to hear about interfaith relations. one of the first gatherings the new king convened, even before the queen's funeral, was of 30 faith leaders. he told them he viewed britain as what he called a community of communities. at the start of the year, he commissioned portraits of holocaust survivors including rachael levi, whose mother and three sibli

simon calder. correspondent. simon calder. simon, don't get drunk. go that is going to allow me to freely get drunk over christmas. any way. you want to really look? it's a fantastic time to be a traveller and millions people are . many of us do enjoy a drink are. many of us do enjoy a drink as we're travelling of course down respectfully and never on scotrail where it is still banned anyway . it's a going to banned anyway. it's a going to be a really successful christmas for millions of travellers. however, i need to absolutely upfront and say that i've been covering travel disruption at christmas since biblical times and i've never seen quite such a difficult combination of circum stances. i guess starting the railways where we have even on a day like today where there is no strikes anyway where in the railway we have massive complications . at least 40 complications. at least 40 express is on avanti west coast, connecting london euston with the west midlands north west england, north wales and southern scotland have been cancelled today due to cre

simon calder, there.' football team — the lionnesses — are among those celebrated in the uk's new year's honours list. over 1,000 people have been recognised for their service. including the broadcaster and diamond. — anne diamond. she has been made an 0be for her campaign to prevent cot death following the death of her son. the timing was unexpected? totally unexpected- — the timing was unexpected? totally unexpected. when _ the timing was unexpected? totally unexpected. when the _ the timing was unexpected? totally unexpected. when the e-mail- the timing was unexpected? totally. unexpected. when the e-mail arrived unexpected. when the e—mail arrived from the cabinet office i thought it was a scam so i rang them separately and said, i have got this e—mail, what is it all about, and a lovely lady at the end said it is definitely you, and it is happening, and you are going to accept, and i said, you are blinking right i am! i could not be more thrilled and although i adore the queen, it is thrilling to be

simon calder, travel correspondent at the independent, explained., it was this day in 2019 when the world health organisation, the china office, was first told about a strain of pneumonia that had caused concern for 33 people in the city of wuhan and it seemed to be tied around a seafood market which was then closed but we know the way that covid then spread around the world. there are echoes of that time in what is happening now. the uk has come out and said on thursday, they said there were not going to be any changes but on friday they said they are going to introduce these tests. it will be a lateral flow test, before you are allowed on the fight, that is easy for the government to organise because you just tell the airlines you have got to do this. and the airlines have got the capacity because they did it already? exactly. checking covid certificates is something that they have become accustomed to. you mentioned checking on arrival and that will happen to one fifth of the arriving passengers. there are not large numbers coming into london hea

travel simon calder says the situation won't improve any time soon. i'm afraid if on the rails possibly , even in the skies then you could face serious problems . could face serious problems. i've never seen the train as in such disarray . there is not such disarray. there is not going to be any can you believe until . the 9th of january? until. the 9th of january? meanwhile, health are warning of knock on effect following this week's nhs strike . the week's nhs strike. the government is reportedly looking fast track a pay rise next year to avert fresh action . to avert fresh action. scotland's shadow health minister , dr. sandesh geoghegan, minister, dr. sandesh geoghegan, says money isn't the only issue. patient safety also needs to be addressed . imagine if you guys addressed. imagine if you guys were to work or your viewers were to work or your viewers were going to work and not knowing if that day somebody was going to die because of something that you couldn't , something that you couldn't, because there was a lack of support, because there ther

the runways have now reopened but disruption is expected simon calder, travel correspondent of the independent events. hello, simon. what has the airport said about all of this? inert; hello, simon. what has the airport said about all of this? very simply, the airort said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed _ said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both _ said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both its - said about all of this? very simply, the airport closed both its runways| the airport closed both its runways shortly before 9am and this was due to heavy snowfall, of course. the airport stresses that safety is absolutely paramount, they will not operate while there is any risk to people, and therefore, all landings and take—offs ceased. the very first landing i see came in at 11:45am, that was the delayed easyjet flight from belfast, but the passengers from belfast, but the passengers from that flight are actually doing pretty well because thousands of others are currently a long way from where they intended to be. we saw diversions as far away

let's speak now to simon calder. he's travel correspondent at the independent. policy, so what are the implications of this and what is being done in other countries? spain made a similar announcement.— countries? spain made a similar announcement. , , �* announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day — announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day in _ announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day in 2019 _ announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day in 2019 when _ announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day in 2019 when the - announcement. yes, they did. and it was this day in 2019 when the world | was this day in 2019 when the world health organisation, the china office, was first told about a strain of pneumonia that had caused concern for 33 people in the city of wuhan and it seems to be tied around a seafood market which was then closed but we know the way that covid then spread around the world. there are echoes of that time in what is happening now. the uk has come out and said after on thursday, they said they were not going to be any

so the person i call when i want to know if i can go on holiday is simon calder from the independent.y want everybody to have a lovely holiday but i'm afraid, having four weeks, i thought, the train strikes will be settled and the pcs dispute will probably go away also and it will be fine, but i have to say it looks like everything is going ahead and i am very sorry to say that on the trains, millions will have theirjourney plans torn up. in the skies it remains to be seen. when i was looking at the newspapers on thursday morning after this news broke on wednesday night about border force, i was thinking it might not be that bad because lots of people will be leaving the country and you don't see a border force person when you leave. but i then thought, hang on, it is all a big conveyor belt and that is not how it works? that is how to look at it. the busiest days, for heathrow in terms of arrivals, the first day of the strike, the 23rd of december. friday. one of the busiest days of the winter anyway. so, you have all of the arrivals which start before 5am and by seven or eight you h

earlier, simon calder, travel correspondent for the independent, told me the impact of the industrial as we have been hearing, it's absolutely devastating for people who depend on the railways. from london waterloo, the busiest station in the uk, you can go anywhere you want to this afternoon, as long as it is woking, and let'sjust check, yep, the last train is going in eight minutes, and that is your lot, until tuesday. these are unprecedented times, this combination of the strike by the rmt, which starts at 6pm tonight, an overtime ban which in any case has been depleting services, anybody who commutes in and out of london waterloo has found that for the last week or so they have been having very, very few services, the whole station stays closed until seven in the morning and then the last trains go at 10pm. over at chiltern railways you have a situation where, unbelievably, the entire midlands network north of banbury is just of banbury is just off, it is not running at all, until 9th january. and indeed network rail hasjust tweeted in the past hour, we advise against all but esse

simon calder, travel correspondent of the independent, has been following events.s due to heavy snowfall. of course, the airport stresses that safety is absolutely paramount, they will not operate while there is any risk to people, and therefore, all landings and take—offs ceased. the very first landing i saw came in at11:1t5am, that was the delayed easyjet flight from belfast, but the passengers from that flight are actually doing pretty well because thousands of others are currently a long way from where they intended to be. we saw diversions as far away as paris charles de gaulle airport, that was singapore airlines coming in from houston to manchester. that's going to be a challenge getting back from there. the singapore airlines flight from singapore itself landed at heathrow where it was alongside the virgin atlantic flight from orlando to manchester which went to heathrow, as did ethiopian airlines from geneva. quite a lot of congestion there, as well as at birmingham, which is where ryanair has been diverting some flights. some have also gone into east midl

independents correspondent simon calder . us correspondent simon calder.. correspondent simon calder. us public support is waning. in correspondent simon calder. us public support is waning . in rmt public support is waning. in rmt union on christmas eve . say, union on christmas eve. say, where's the ministers? we want to talk to them? i think there is a sense talking to individual railway and women, those in the front doing fantastic work there . they have lost hundreds sometimes thousands of pounds. theideais sometimes thousands of pounds. the idea is this is an essential industry. travel is the travelling public is sort of saying , no, you're not. pope saying, no, you're not. pope francis has asked for prayers for. his predecessor, former pope benedict, for. his predecessor, former pope benedict , saying for. his predecessor, former pope benedict, saying he's very sick. the vatican says pope benedict had sudden worsening of his health in recent hours, but his health in recent hours, but his condition is under control and he's receiving constant medical

simon calder will be here to answer your questions.previous match, and we even haven't had a chance to take out contents insurance. thames water says loss adjusters have been on site making contact with those affected. it's apologised for the damage caused and says water supplies have now been restored to most properties. police have set up a web page for people to upload pictures and videos of a crush outside the brixton academy last week, which killed a woman. it's hoped it'll give important clues as to how during a show by afropop artist ashakay the crush happened. 33—year—old mother of two rebecca ikumelo, from newham, died from her injuries. two other women in their 20s are in hospital. hannukha — thejewish festival of light — began last night and will last eight days with menorahs or candelabras being lit each day in homes and public spaces across london. it's a time of celebration but in the words of a rabbi in ealing the occasion is about more than just lighting candles it is about creating light into the outside world. let's t

that's travel the independent travel from the independent simon are what's gb simon calder.radio. and after the break. england meet the reigning world cup. france tonight in, a tantalising world cup quarter final that will feature key battles across the pitch . but battles across the pitch. but what are england's chances against the card holders of the trophy ? now it's time for trophy? now it's time for a check on those news headlines . check on those news headlines. tom kelvin, thank you. it's 332. i'm tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom, at least one person has been killed following an explosion in st helier in jersey. the blast happened a block of flats in the early hours of the morning. a search and rescue effort is underway with saying around a dozen people still missing. chief officer robin smith told a news conference the fire service had been to the area the previous night after residents reported the smell of gas. he warned the number casualties could still climb . we have a three storey climb. we have a three storey building that that has completely collapsed . des

let's bring in simon calder, the intrepid travel correspondent at the independent, what is usually , dependent, what is usually, of course, the uk's busiest station , london, victoria and we've got the situation. simon that commuters are normally used to sort of engineering works over the christmas period. but the whole point about today is that even those airport services such as a gatwick express, victoria, not running . i'm forgive me, not running. i'm forgive me, there's a sound problem here , there's a sound problem here, but i think i understand what you said. let me just put you in the picture here. i'm at victoria station , which has been victoria station, which has been running 24 hours a day, right through christmas, as it always does. through christmas, as it always does . tens of thousands of does. tens of thousands of people getting through here. it's very, very busy, but everything's running pretty smoothly. and to give you some idea, train buses idea, it's about train buses every half hour from here to leicester to leeds to manchester. so pretty good service as well . t

simon calder, our effective.e strike he's ever seen and he's covered a lot of strikes because the armed forces guys have been so good at the airports. robert i like to put somebody else's on the gb news view is talk about a lot and thatis view is talk about a lot and that is using more of our armed forces in the channel. we have a situation which is a huge issue of illegal immigration with illegal boats. and people say sendin illegal boats. and people say send in the navy, send in the army. but is that possible ? and army. but is that possible? and do the of forces, men and women even want to do that ? yes in the even want to do that? yes in the short term, it's possible . no, short term, it's possible. no, they don't like they really don't like doing it. right. because. well the navy knows the law of the sea and the law of passage on the sea and the humanitarian aspect of that. and they wonder whether it is their prime role . the navy is quite prime role. the navy is quite small and it's quite stretched and i th

while travel correspondent for the independent simon calder told gb news the unions are losing power. well we got this audio message coming from the rmt union on christmas eve saying where's the ministers .7 we saying where's the ministers? we want to talk to them. i think there is a sense talking to individual railway men and women, those in the frontline doing fantastic work , they're doing fantastic work, they're exhausted. they have lost hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds and well, hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds and well , the whole idea pounds and well, the whole idea of the unions is this is an essential industry. travel is the travelling public is sort of saying , no, you're not. pope saying, no, you're not. pope francis has asked for prayers for his predecessor, former pope benedict, saying he's very sick. the 95 year old former head of the catholic church became the first pope in 600 years to resign when he stepped down in 2013. he's been living in the vatican since then . pope vatican since then. pope francis, seen on the left here, made the surprise announceme

the independent's travel correspondent simon calder says the argument is over more than money. they're particularly concerned about is the extraordinarily complex network work of rules which date back some of them to victorian era. they don't want those over turned unless they're going to get an extra percentage for modernisation . and that's really modernisation. and that's really the sticking point . and a yellow the sticking point. and a yellow weather warning remains in place for snow and ice in the north and east of scotland. the met office says freezing conditions could last until 10 am. tomorrow morning. traffic scotland says motorists should plan ahead with ongoing travel disruption likely due to patchy ice , mainly on higher routes. ice, mainly on higher routes. we're on tv, online and on dab plus radio. you're watching the people's channel gb news. back now to nigel . now to nigel. farage good evening. i hope you had a very christmas. now, of course, at 3:00 in the afternoon, a tradition that goes back to 1932. we always have the speech. it's been the queen's speech f

the independent's travel correspondent simon calder says the argument is over more than money. they're particularly concerned about is the extraordinarily complex network work of rules which date back some of them to victorian era. they don't want those over turned unless they're going to get an extra percentage for modernisation . and that's really modernisation. and that's really the sticking point . and a yellow the sticking point. and a yellow weather warning remains in place for snow and ice in the north and east of scotland. the met office says freezing conditions could last until 10 am. tomorrow morning. traffic scotland says motorists should plan ahead with ongoing travel disruption likely due to patchy ice , mainly on higher routes. ice, mainly on higher routes. we're on tv, online and on dab plus radio. you're watching the people's channel gb news. back now to nigel . now to nigel. farage good evening. i hope you had a very christmas. now, of course, at 3:00 in the afternoon, a tradition that goes back to 1932. we always have the speech. it's been the queen's speech f

simon calder, the rest of it.or talking through. those enormous issues affecting time of year. affecting at this time of year. we appreciate in we really appreciate coming in to through those. well, next to go through those. well, next today , households across britain today, households across britain could face surprise energy bill hikes from the 1st of january. this is the average monthly charge expected rise due to a change in maximum rates that suppliers can charge per unit cost energy. and although majority of energy customers will be changes will be minimal . some could face paying more than . some could face paying more tha n £100 extra a year , with the than £100 extra a year, with the biggest rises seen by london merseyside north wales . well, merseyside north wales. well, what on earth is going on here to discuss this further? i'm joined by malcolm grimston from the centre for energy policy and tech at imperial college london . malcolm, what is first of all, a unit price , the unit price a unit price, th

we're joined now by the independent�*s travel correspondent simon calder. he's outside heathrow. n the roads from tony, what it looking like from the air? �* ., ., from tony, what it looking like from the air? �* . . ., , the air? i'm afraid there are tens of thousands _ the air? i'm afraid there are tens of thousands of _ the air? i'm afraid there are tens of thousands of people _ the air? i'm afraid there are tens of thousands of people waking i the air? i'm afraid there are tens| of thousands of people waking up this morning hundreds or maybe thousands of miles from where they wanted to be. the disruption actually began on saturday morning at manchester airport, which was closed for three or four hours, dozens of flights cancelled or diverted. by yesterday morning, sunday, the problems were at gatwick airport early on. there were issues with de—icing the aircraft so a lot of flights were cancelled or heavily delayed. then the snow came in, gatwick was closed with planes diverted all over the place, not just to airports, right across the uk, but also to places such as cologne in

with me now is the travel expert simon calder.er. good morning.- now is the travel expert simon calder. good morning. who is going to be most impacted _ calder. good morning. who is going to be most impacted by _ calder. good morning. who is going to be most impacted by this? - calder. good morning. who is going to be most impacted by this? i - calder. good morning. who is going| to be most impacted by this? i think we will find out in about half an hour. at the moment, there is an emirates flight coming in from dubai with 500 people, touching down in ten minutes, just behind it a flight from qatar. british airways. that will be shortly followed by flights from orlando, the dominican republic. a delayed flight from barbados and that is when you will get many hundreds, thousands trying to get through passport control. but, actually, the key area, i think, will be the early bunch of arrivals at heathrow when you have more than 50 flights scheduled to come in before 7am with 10,000 passengers on board. actually, things have got easie

travel expert simon calder said the strikes are destroying the railways. 21 million people like me whoon't have a car or access to a car who have to travel by rail and be told come back middle january isn't good enough. back middle january isn't good enough . the rail unions, enough. the rail unions, i think, have misjudged. the government is completely misjudged. in the past year and the taxpayer are caught up in this middle of this kind of ideological row now. and it's absolutely it's doing is destroying the rail railways , destroying the rail railways, the uk health security agency will stop publishing covid data early next. the chief data scientist . it's no longer scientist. it's no longer necessary as the country is now living the disease, but that covid will still be monitored. data had been published weekly dunng data had been published weekly during the peak of the pandemic and every two weeks since april this year . and every two weeks since april this year. and shoppers are expected to spend less in the sales as the cost of living to rise. new research by barclaycard payment

travel expert simon calder says situation won't improve time soon. i'm afraid if you're on rails, possibly even in skies, then you could face serious problems. never seen the trains in such disarray . there is not in such disarray. there is not going to be any improvement. can you believe until the 9th of january ? national highways in january? national highways in london and southeast england also striking walking until christmas day. the public and commercial services unions acknowledged action will likely inconvenience travellers but it's blaming the government for making a billowing inflation pay offer further planned for next week and in the new year. unless a deal can reached the charles is being urged to introduce a pump pricing to crack down on profiteering retailers. in an open letter , jeremy hunt open letter, jeremy hunt employees warn of fallen wholesale petrol and diesel pnces wholesale petrol and diesel prices isn't being passed to motorists. it comes the rac announced the average of a litre of petrol is currently around 150 $0.03. that

travel editor at the indian and simon calder told us. now the tsa has reached a settlement. it may well lead to the rmt offer being . to the rmt offer being. interestingly, andrew , the chief interestingly, andrew, the chief executive of network rail has been saying that the outliers in this dispute . now the rmt union, this dispute. now the rmt union, the main rail that it is a good offer relative to what everything else is happening in the in the country and that people should accept it's not going to get any better. but meanwhile, of course, the dispute with the 14 train operators goes on and anybody who's planning to catch a train later this evening. well, do checking the advance meanwhile ground baggage handlers at heathrow airport have suspend ordered planned strike action after an improved pay offer . after an improved pay offer. more than 400 staff members had been set to begin a 72 hour walk out tomorrow . the unite union out tomorrow. the unite union says it will now pilot its members and other planned industrial action remains in place pending . the outcome . the

but joining me now, west london, is our favourite travel expert, simon calder, travel correspondent ,respondent, the independent.ie hello very independent.ie site. hello very nice to talk to you, arlene. but i'm actually at gatwick airport this afternoon . i've been here this afternoon. i've been here for the last 8 hours and i'm at internation arrivals here and it feels little bit like the opening scene , you believe, of opening scene, you believe, of love , actually. it's a really love, actually. it's a really exciting time , lots of hugs, exciting time, lots of hugs, lots of smiles , very, very lots of smiles, very, very little disruption . so let me little disruption. so let me just through what's happening here at gatwick . we were really here at gatwick. we were really fearful that when the kind of long wave arrived about 6 hours ago that there could be series problems. there were none . i've problems. there were none. i've been talking to lots of people arriving here. they say it's fine. either they use the e—gates and got through in no time at all or the personnel from the nav

while travel expert simon calder said the strikes are destroying the uk's railways . 1 million peopleike me who don't have a car or access to a car, who have to travel by rail and to be told come back middle of january , good enough. the of january, good enough. the rail unions i think, have completely misjudged the government is completely misjudged. it the passenger and the taxpayer are caught up in this middle of this kind of ideological row . and it's ideological row. and it's absolutely all it's doing is destroying the rail, railways. police say a shooting at a pub in liverpool on christmas eve in which one woman was killed was not a targeted attack. the is continuing for the gunman who killed the 26 year old woman in wallasey on merseyside . she was wallasey on merseyside. she was celebrating christmas friends and family when she was shot and killed. the woman was taken to hospital where she later died. four men were also taken to hospital with gunshot injuries . hospital with gunshot injuries. the uk security agency will stop covid 19 data early next month . covid 19 data early

broadcaster simon calder says he's never anything like it.n at christmas for longer than i can remember. but frankly , never remember. but frankly, never quite seen it as and stressful as this. the rac saying there will be 20 million carjourneys will be 20 million car journeys between now and christmas. nearly half of those on the 23rd and the 24th. for many, it's a case of jammed today. jammed tomorrow , and it's pricey to tomorrow, and it's pricey to petrol is around 150 $0.03 a litre with diesel at 176 significantly higher last year. the rac we're being heartlessly overcharged. better to the train instead. you'll lucky if you're on the or the railways, the advice is travel as early as you possibly can . things will be possibly can. things will be getting very on friday on the roads as well as christmas eve. and frankly, if don't get where you need to be by friday night, the trains when it could be late. some lines have no trains at all on. christmas eve and on others will be shutting down very indeed. that's because of another strike by rm

simon calder every favourite travel told me patrick, travel guru. n't worry, you'll be able to get back from aberdeen. well, i wasn't on phones. a quid wasn't simon on phones. a quid and i spent 12 and a half hours on an overnight train. but i let it flights have since it go. flights have since resume, further cancellation resume, but further cancellation and now. and delays are possible now. yellow weather warning is in place much of with place for much of the uk, with disruption continue as we disruption set to continue as we head the evening hour. head into the evening rush hour. lots of now will be sitting lots of it now will be sitting at your thinking, oh gosh, at your desks thinking, oh gosh, will home work will i make it home from work now? the travel from now? so how's the travel from trondheim ? worse there. is trondheim done? worse there. is that more to come? let's find from office meteorologist from met office meteorologist and is alex and weather forecaster is alex deakin. i like sun key very much. okay, so people will be thinking much

travel experts simon calder says the situation won't improve any time soon.fraid if you're on the rails, possibly even in the skies, then you could face serious problems . i've never seen the trains in such disarray . there is not such disarray. there is not going to be any improvement, can you believe, until the 9th of january ? highways, workers in january? highways, workers in london and southeast england are also on strike until christmas day . the also on strike until christmas day. the public and commercial services unions acknowledge the action will likely inconvenience travellers, but it's blaming the government for making a below inflation pay offer . further inflation pay offer. further action is planned for next week and in the new year. unless a deal can be reached . and some deal can be reached. and some news just in. the home office says it's deported 42 albanian migrants back home, which it said had no right to be in the uk. the government has come under increasing pressure to prevent migrants attempting to cross the english channel from france

independents travel correspondent simon calder says the rail unions believe that as a magic monetarythey are particularly concerned about is the extraordinary complex network of rules which date back some of them to victorian era . some of them to victorian era. they don't want those overturned unless they're going to get an extra percentage for modernisation and that's really the sticking point . the the sticking point. the levelling up secretary says opposition to new housing developments could be reduced by focusing on better design . focusing on better design. michael gove says too many planning applications are indifferent or insipid and the potential of some public spaces is not being utilised. he is supporting calls from the policy exchange think tank for a new national school of urban design and architecture . teaches unions and architecture. teaches unions have condemned the scottish government's decision to delay the rollout of free school meals to all primary school pupils . it to all primary school pupils. it says the food programme is vital to tackle child poverty during

, correspondent simon calder, who's live from heathrow.sed, open for business yet 7 it closed, open for business yet ? i'm right. heathrow is running , but with a reduced number of flights. so the problem here that well, as you know heathrow has very little slack in the system. they've reduced the so—called flow rate , which means so—called flow rate, which means about 70 british airways flights in and out during the day have been cancelled in advance. also cancelled on airlines such as air lingus and iberia of spain in all short haul domestic european flights. however if you look at the other southeastern airports, things looking pretty grim. got weak, which closed for part of the time yesterday i had diverted in as far afield as amsterdam , newcastle that has amsterdam, newcastle that has had a whole load of cancellations this morning, mainly on easyjet, but also on british airways and wizz air luton airport. it dozen cancellations, i've course. so far in an hour on both easyjet wizz air stansted my goodness they closed many, many were c

we can speak to the travel expert, simon calder . very good morning to you. t you? heathrow yesterday. euston this morning. i don't know how you managed to do it. morning. i don't know how you managed to do it . what's it like managed to do it. what's it like where you are ? well, things are where you are? well, things are actually going to be starting up in, well, the first train at 7 to 8 this morning. there's a train to glasgow central at 830 tonight. this morning. so trains will be running on the main lines mostly to and from london dunng lines mostly to and from london during the day. vast numbers of parts of the uk, which are off limits . almost all of wales from limits. almost all of wales from the valleys into cardiff and then into newport and onwards to england . nothing running north england. nothing running north of calton beith in fife in scotland and. there won't be until next sunday. cornwall cut off completely and some significant cities. so swansea , significant cities. so swansea, aberdeen, inverness dundee, stoke . lincoln all these places st

travel editor at the independent simon calder us now the tsa has a settlement that may well lead theed . the rmt also being accepted. interestingly andrew haynes, the chief executive of network rail , has been saying that outliers in this dispute are now the are empty union. the main rail union. there is a good offer relative to what everything else is happening in the in the and that people should accept it's not going to get any better. but meanwhile, of course, the dispute with the 14 train operators goes on and anybody who's planning to catch a train later on this evening. well, do checking advance . well, staying checking advance. well, staying with strikes grounded baggage handlers at heathrow have announced strikes over will be going ahead causing yet more disruption for passengers the festive period. than 400 staff members at the west london airport will begin a 72 hour walkout from tomorrow morning at sea after staff rejected latest pay sea after staff rejected latest pay off from their employer, menzies . having called for a 13% menzies. having called for a 13% pay menzies.

let�*s speak to the travel journalist and writer simon calder who�*s at gatwick airport. if i talk to any of. the passengers, and there's tens of the passengers, and there�*s tens of thousands of them passing through gatwick airport this morning, flying off to warmer parts of the world, they would say the worst part of the journey is the airport security check. and, yes, as you say, you�*ve got to have all your liquids all ready, less than 100 millilitres in a clear plastic resealable blag. 0f a clear plastic resealable blag. of course, you�*ve got to get your laptop out, put that in a separate tray. —— resealable bag. it is a tremendous pfaff and the last thing you want. understandably, people haven�*t flown for a while and might forget what the rules are and that slows things down. i buy the middle of 202a it is hoped big airports, that would be here at gatwick, as well as heathrow, stansted, well as heathrow, sta nsted, manchester, well as heathrow, stansted, manchester, luton, edinburgh, glasgow, birmingham, bristol, and belfast international at the very least will hav

as simon calder, that independent travel editor. right. okay.ike to another, the royal college nurses has rejected calls from nhs bosses to protect cancer surgery during industrial action, which begins tomorrow . action, which begins tomorrow. now, this really, i think of all of strikes and there are of course loads of them the most emotive one will be because it means that the health of, the nation, the health of your nan, the of mum, your or the health of mum, your dad or yourself and patients. yourself as well. and patients. well, union has that it will well, the union has that it will only staff emergency cancer services such as chemotherapy or immediately saving operations. but realistically that's a bit of a grey area, isn't it, when it comes to cancer surgery. but operations are moving or other cancer related surgeries will not be covered. just want to say before i go to my guest to hit you with a couple of stats here, really, because the chief nurses of england, scotland and northern ireland have to the nurses, union bosses the nurses, u

travel correspondent for the independent simon calder told gb news. saying where's the ministers? we want to talk to them? i think there is a sense talking to individual railway men, women, those in the front line, doing fantastic work there, exhort . still, they have there, exhort. still, they have lost hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds. the idea this is an essential industry . this is an essential industry. trouble is the travelling public is sort of saying no you're not. pope francis has asked for prayers for his predecessor, former pope benedict, prayers for his predecessor, former pope benedict , saying former pope benedict, saying he's very sick . the vatican says he's very sick. the vatican says pope benedict a sudden worsening of his health in recent hours, but that his condition was under control and that he's receiving constant medical . the 95 year constant medical. the 95 year old former head of the catholic church became the first pope in 600 years to resign when he stepped down in 2013. pope francis, seen here on the left, made the

than the independent's travel everybody's favourite travel guru the thinking woman's crumpet is simon calderabsolute shock get in there, haven't you? well, no, i just spent more of my life than i cared to touch paddington station close to gb news towers. i'm talking to passengers who are cheesed off to the nth degree . so let's start on the degree. so let's start on the gatwick thing, actually, because i've the important because yesterday i was at victoria coach station . yeah i now i do coach station. yeah i now i do enjoy myself at christmas all you do and things were working really if anybody wants an really well. if anybody wants an example of how to run a good transport operation just go to victor coach station, great staff running normally. yeah crowded , loads of people but crowded, loads of people but everyone gets where they need be. unlike the so the one place you couldn't get a bus to was the airports because . so many the airports because. so many people wanted to go that because no trains this is the only place that this happens other countries. but why why is because we weren't

travel editor at the simon calder told us now the tsa has reached settlement. it may well lead to the rmt also being accepted . interestingly haynes, accepted. interestingly haynes, the chief executive chief of network rail , the chief executive chief of network rail, has been the chief executive chief of network rail , has been saying network rail, has been saying that outliers in this dispute are now the are empty union the main rail . are now the are empty union the main rail. there is a good offer relative to what everything is happening in the in the and that people should accept it's not going to get any better. but meanwhile, of course, the dispute with the 14 train operators goes on and anybody who's planning to catch a train later on evening. well do checking advance . meanwhile, checking advance. meanwhile, ground baggage handlers heathrow airport have announced a strike over christmas will be going ahead , causing yet more ahead, causing yet more disruption for passenger as dunng disruption for passenger as during the festive period. more than 400 st

well, travel correspondent for the independent, simon calder is here with us .etty bad morning if you're trying to fly across the atlantic. simon just been typing away , doing live research for away, doing live research for us. what's something that you want to travel to america? yeah, i'm really, really sorry, everybody. but there are big, big problems out there . i've big problems out there. i've counted 35 flights from various trans—atlantic destination , trans—atlantic destination, mostly the us, but also canada, mexico and some caribbean islands . at least six flights islands. at least six flights have been cancelled outright . have been cancelled outright. there's another five which are showing just indefinitely delayed. very long delays typically four or five, 6 hours on other flights. there's apparently is due to a technical issue overnight, but what kind of technical issue and where? i have no idea. obviously, i've been asking british airways and i don't want to speculate on what it might be. however, i can absolutely tell you what the effect is. that's

so we join travel correspondent for the independent simon calder , the independent simon calder, whoe british market. yes. and indeed. and the biggest ship that we have seen built for the british market. the avia is . 185,000 metric the avia is. 185,000 metric tonnes she has 16 passenger decks, 2610 cabins or staterooms . as i'm sure they prefer me to call them. and that means more than 5000 passenger just when she is completely full . and as she is completely full. and as you say, this extreme , the you say, this extreme, the expensive and beautiful ship which is due to arrive , i which is due to arrive, i understand she's just sort of sailing the channel at the moment due to arrive in southampton at 1230 today. is supposed to reinvigorate the cruise industry, which yes, was most definitely hit by covid, probably more than any other industry. i remember having a lovely day trip actually from from dorset, from beautiful town of poole . the cruise ships of poole. the cruise ships themselves became a tourist attraction because they were all parked or mort, forgive me, anchored out in t

travel expert simon calder told gb news.ing to worry about train operators. the government everybody else is saying don't try and travel, please stay away, stay away. ignore there are i've surveyed all of this there's more trains running during strikes than they have during any of the previous national strikes which have been on since june . okay. so as on since june. okay. so as always, you're wanted to go on one of the main intercity lines . you live in one of the big cities. then there's going to be trains between about eight in the morning and six in the evening . the prime minister evening. the prime minister french president, are both getting jibes in early as england and, france prepare to play england and, france prepare to play each other in world cup quarter finals. emmanuel macron tweeted that he was looking forward to the game and all she would would he wish the blues like if the team makes it through to the semis. the prime minister responded, hopefully i won't have to . asked if the won't have to. asked if the

your travel expert simon calder.you say, the uk was going to bring them in at the start of this month — that was what the then prime minister borisjohnson announced years ago. that didn�*t happen because of covid, and now mid 2024, that is just what major airports in the uk and some travellers in western ireland who might be watching this are thinking, "hang on, that rule doesn�*t exist here, it doesn�*t exist in some other airports around the world, as well." thanks to simon for that. ice pancakes have been spotted at a river in glasgow after days of subzero temperatures. they are a rare sight in the uk, normally seen in the baltic sea and the us, canada, and our antarctica. when foam on the surface of water freezes, they bump into each other, forming circles. that�*s it from me, find me on social media. this is bbc news. hello. the bitterly cold snap we�*ve seen over the past couple of weeks is set to continue at least for a few more days. still a lot of lying snow out there, and icy stretches for many of us. and s

we're joined now by the independent�*s travel correspondent simon calder, who is outside heathrow airportdea of what will happen. on the 23rd, for instance, the first day of— the 23rd, for instance, the first day of the _ the 23rd, for instance, the first day of the strike, 125,000 people are expected to land here at heathrow. now of course, if you are coming _ heathrow. now of course, if you are coming into— heathrow. now of course, if you are coming into the uk, many of us will be able _ coming into the uk, many of us will be able to— coming into the uk, many of us will be able to use the e guide. that doesn't — be able to use the e guide. that doesn�*t work for young families. it doesn't _ doesn�*t work for young families. it doesn�*t work for young families. it doesn�*t work for young families. it doesn�*t work for people coming from countries _ doesn�*t work for people coming from countries where they need to be checked — countries where they need to be checked. we will have military and some _ checked. we will have military and some civil — checked. we will have military and some ci

problems for king's cross and paddington as well where engineering works ran over our very own simon calder and no trains having arrived or departed by am despite that action ending at six network rail acknowledging there was disruption there because the late of engineering works and passengers still being told to prepare for significant disruption and because of the various indications that great western railway will be affected particularly and also the crosscountry services of tsa. another union having a walkout by its white collar staff affecting of some to the midlands wales northern through the scottish cities. as far as aberdeen . oh dear. anyway talk aberdeen. oh dear. anyway talk about other tragic lows for the windsor family, the royal family indeed this morning we've been looking back at the royal year but instead of dwelling on the passing of the queen. we've also been remembering the highs of the platinum jubilee. now remember back in june, the nafion remember back in june, the nation together to nation came together to celebrate the 70 year reign of . celebrate the 70 year reig

travel expert simon calder says the strikes are destroying the rail network. 1 million people like meho don't have a car or access to a car, who have to travel by rail and to be told come back middle of january . good to be told come back middle of january. good enough. the rail, i think, have completely misjudged . the government is misjudged. the government is completely misjudged. it the passenger and, the taxpayer are caught up in this of this kind of ideological row . and it's of ideological row. and it's absolutely is doing is destroying the rail railways . destroying the rail railways. the uk health security agency will stop publishing covid 19 data early next month . the chief data early next month. the chief data early next month. the chief data scientist says no longer necessary as country is now living with the disease . data living with the disease. data had been published weekly during the peak of the pandemic and every two weeks since april this year , officials say covid will year, officials say covid will still be monitored and shoppers are expected to spend less in th

well, earlier on gb news travel expert simon calder updating us on the situation .situation. i'm really, really sorry , but there are big, big sorry, but there are big, big problems out there. i've counted 35 flights from various trans—atlantic destinations , the trans—atlantic destinations, the us, but also mexico , some us, but also mexico, some canbbean us, but also mexico, some caribbean islands . at least six caribbean islands. at least six flights have been cancelled outright . there's another five outright. there's another five which are showing just indefinitely delayed. very long delays typically , four or five, delays typically, four or five, 6 hours on other flights. it's due to a technical issue overnight, but what kind of technical issue and where? i have no idea. obviously, i've been asking british airways and i don't want to on what it might be. well don't do anything unless british airways is contacted you. i mean , can go on contacted you. i mean, can go on do exactly what i'm doing is. going a .com and have going to be a .com and have a look and se

a short time ago we heard from the travel writer simon calder — who�*s at gatwick airport.a threat? no, they don�*t. "what about his laptop? that looks absolutely normal. "nothing wrong with the battery". they can also allow the people who are working the security checkpoints, looking at the screens, to have a proper 3d view of what�*s inside your bag. now, of course, as always, some people will see their bags pulled aside, but it won�*t be the current slow old business where quite understandably, lots of people perhaps confused about the rules don�*t comply fully. and it all gets very tedious, very slow. it costs money, it costs time, and it adds stress. however, talking of stress, just because the uk is going to be doing this by 2024 doesn�*t mean that every airport will be. it�*s going at different speeds. shannon, in the west of ireland, for the last year, you haven�*t had to take your laptops and liquids out. and the problem will be, if, in a year and a half, we�*re able to go through without worrying about our liquids, at our destination when we�*re coming back, the o

simon calder, that travel expert. travel travel editor at the independent joining me there. . i always as though simon. i always feel as though it's much an adult in the it's very much an adult in the room and whatever. i mean, you always mean patrick christys on gb more to come in gb news. lots more to come in the houn gb news. lots more to come in the hour. i've got it all. the next hour. i've got it all. let's as well. revisiting our let's do as well. revisiting our big exclusive comes, of big exclusive when comes, of course, issues with dip course, to the issues with dip theory among theory potentially among asylum seeker i've been seeker population. i've been asking you throughout the show, i you this. do i will keep asking you this. do you that home office you think that the home office is loose with public in is fast and loose with public in this country emerged? can i start rise the area amongst start rise in the area amongst people crossing the channel and then we all know being sent out to a hotel you sitting . well, welcome back, everybody. it's come 4:00. you are