It is alleged that at least 143 people have been killed thus far in bombings just in the city of Kano alone. The radical Islamist organisation, Boko Haram, proudly claimed responsibility for carrying out the attacks. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, told of being both shocked and appalled by ongoing violence in the west African country.

The authorities have already enforced a 24-hour-long curfew in the northern city, with many citizens remaining home while soldiers and police patrol the streets as they set up roadblocks. The Foreign Office was made to update its Nigeria travel advice after the attacks, warning against all but essential travel to Kano.

On its official website, the FCO said that those still in Kano must remain vigilant at all times while exercising caution. The Department for
International Development, DFID, and the British Council have limited their ongoing operations across Kano for however long the curfew will be in place. British nationals have also been urged to comply with the curfews.

Hague said that the nature of the attacks has sickened people across the map and deepest condolences are sent from the UK to the relatives of those both killed or injured.

Prosecutors say that Francesco Schettino was the cause of the crash and fled the Costa Concordia as passengers were still stranded. The recording of a phone call between Captain Schettino and an official from the port after the crash seemingly supports this, despite the former denying the claims.

Thus far, rescuers have managed to recover 11 bodies while still searching for at least 24 missing people in total. The local Italian authority insists that 20 passengers remain missing. They include citizens of Germany, France, and the US – in addition to Italy.

Four crew members – hailing from Italy, Peru, Hungary, and India – are also missing after the incident, which occurred just off the island of Giglio Porto’s coast. In the meantime, new satellite information that was viewed by the media programme highlights how the vessel ended up having a “near miss” closer to the mentioned island last August. This was a result of a diversion that was approved by the owners of the ship, Costa Cruises.

In the mentioned recording, which was released by Corriere della Sera, a leading newspaper, Port Authority of Livorno chief Gregorio de Falco may be heard repeatedly instructing the captain to make his way back to the42wgfvr ship and to help the stranded passengers.

A report by the organisation said that, without extra runway capacity, fliers will face higher fares as well as reduced choice. The government said that it remains committed to developing sustainable policy frameworks for aviation. On the other hand, Hacan ClearSkies’ John Stewart commented that capacity doesn’t need an increase but instead must be used differently.

The report argues that without expansion, British airports might struggle to handle an inevitable growth in demand from emerging markets of China, India, and Latin America while also hampering the UK economy’s recovery. The CAA said that the issue is of national importance and that aviation should be allowed to grow while playing its part in delivering environmental goals as it protects the quality of life of Britain’s local communities.

Andrew Haines, the CAA’s chief executive, said that consumers and Britain’s economy would benefit from an increased capacity as long as environmental sustainability is considered. It was also pointed out that south-eastern England hasn’t seen a single new runway that is capable of handling aircraft such as the Boeing 747 or A380 in over 70 years – one of the main factors in capacity not being increased as of yet.

This afternoon, the president spoke at a press conference that was held at the Kurumba Maldives resort – the first ever in the country that started its operations almost 40 years ago – and said that a request to the Supreme Court asking whether or not spas are legal as part of the Maldives constitution will be dealt with.

President Mohammed Nasheed said that he has ordered authorities in the country to lift the ban with immediate effect as the country awaits a verdict from the Supreme Court. Nasheed said that he is confident that all the state’s institutions will realise the sheer importance of putting national development first and won’t act in any way that would cause damage to a tourism industry that is of extreme importance.

The president reiterated his view that most Maldivians reject the religious extremism that has reared its head in their country recently and would instead like to carry on with the moderate Islam that the Maldives has proudly followed for some 800 years.

Emigration is becoming so widespread across certain parts of Ireland that some Catholic churches have had to start broadcasting their services on the internet so that Irish citizens can watch from as far away at Australia and America.

Tuam Cathedral isn’t just showing live coverage from Sunday masses and services over Christmas, but also weddings and funerals too. Friar Sean Cunningham explained how not just young people are emigrating but also their fathers that have been forced to head to England or much further afield just to gain employment and support their families.

Cunningham hopes that by putting masses online, people can still feel some connection to home. It has been estimated that almost 42,000 Irish people left the Emerald Isle last year – which is worryingly almost one per cent of their country’s population.

This is due to unemployment at 15 per cent and the same amount, if not more, is expected to follow those that have already sought pastures new.
Getting a job has become a battle for the Irish and, when faced with options of staying to fight or fly, most have chosen the latter.

For example, in Williamstown, north Galway, scores of young people have left to Australia. When walking down the village’s main street, it is rare to see any people in their 20s.

In a statement, London Underground, or LU, said that just 42 per cent of Aslef union’s members voted in favour of going on strike, which is why LU will challenge the strike’s validity. Aslef said that the drivers it has on its books would like triple-pay, as well as a day off in lieu, as they are being forced to work on 26 December – which is a bank holiday.

Additionally, the union plans to go on strike again roughly three weeks later on the 16 January and will also take action in February. In 2010, drivers walked out on Boxing Day over the pay they would have received for having to work over the festive period.

This morning, an Aslef spokesman said that the union doesn’t expect a successful challenge from LU and that any court action will do nothing other than increase already ill-feeling. When asked to describe the threat of the strike, LU’s chief operating officer, Howard Collins, branded it disgusting and added that the firm has long-standing agreements with every one of the trade unions it deals with in relation to working arrangements on UK public holidays.

The moves are part of a radical effort that is mainly aimed at preventing groups of eastern European youngsters who target tourists around the world’s most favoured destination for holidaymakers. Brits are among those that have had to grow used to youths coming up to them before asking ‘Do you speak English?’ then demanding money.

The notorious right-wing Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, confirmed that police have been ordered to apprehend ‘aggressive beggars’ or ‘delinquents’ across areas that include the Champs-Elysee and the Louvre museum, in addition to all the famous shopping streets.

Gueant said that the no-go areas will be ‘particularly useful’ for helping to combat ‘Romanian petty crime’. A spokesman representing Paris’ police constabulary said that hundreds of beggars have already been arrested and cautioned at the same time their adult ‘minders’ have been slapped with fines.

Gueant said that the ban, which has received full support from President Nicolas Sarkozy, will ensure that the crime rate plummets in the French capital. The government in Europe’s most populated country has been keen on protecting shoppers that will hand the economy a much-needed boost during a time of economic uncertainty and catastrophe.

The air passenger duty airport departure tax will experience an eight per cent rise as of next April, as confirmed by Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement last week. The Treasury has already released its response after consultation on APD – infamous throughout the aviation industry for being vehemently opposed by airlines.

In spite of requests to reduce, scrap, or make amendments to APD, the
Treasury insists that the system will carry on as it already is. In a united statement, the chiefs of big players such as BA, Ryanair, and Virgin Atlantic said that the government’s APD consultation was a complete sham and squandering of money contributed by hard-working taxpayers.

It was added that the tax has already cost in excess of 25,000 jobs while damaging any prospects that the UK’s economy has of recovery in addition to sending a message out to the world that our country is nothing other than difficult and expensive when it comes down to doing business.

Under the new rates, which will come in from April 2012, all passengers in economy class that are flying less than 2,000 miles from Britain will see the APD they must pay rise a pound from £12 to £13.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson remains keen on seeing Thames Estuary airport come to fruition while architect Lord Foster last week put forward plans for the four-runway airport, which, if constructed, will be able to handle 150 million passengers per year. Already, the Government has ruled out the possibility of a third runway being constructed at Heathrow airport.

Mr Osborne said that the government would be explaining all options open for making sure that Britain’s aviation hub status is maintained, although this excludes the possibility of a third runway being built at Heathrow. Osborne’s comments were a part of his autumn statement, which also saw him announcing that the government has already given the go-head to at least 35 new rail and road schemes supportive of economic development.

Among these projects is the TransPennine Express service that runs between the northern cities of Manchester and Leeds, the construction of roads that link Manchester Airport and Crewe, and the extensive redevelopment of the Port of Liverpool. New stations are to be built across Yorkshire with investments in Newcastle’s Metro also being brought forward.

Mr Osborne commented that all of the government’s plans amount to huge commitments being made to overhauling Britain’s physical transport infrastructure.

A case was presented by the mayor to leaders of the aviation industry for the £50 billion project which has been dubbed ‘Boris Island’. The coalition has axed proposals to expand the existing airports already in London, even though full capacity has almost been reached.

Passenger traffic at airports in London is expected to increase to 400 million by the year 2050; in 2010, it stood at 140 million. Without capacity being increased, airlines might have to start redirecting flights to other locations – something that could spell negative consequences for London’s economy.

The mayor said that with such issues of crowding, the Thames Estuary airport should be a pillar of the Government’s growth plans to get the UK’s economy moving again. Johnson added that there is absolutely no doubt that doing nothing will lead to extended economic stagnation. He went on to say that the government should grasp the nettle and start making serious plans that will keep London and the UK at the top of the global economy’s premier league.

Johnson pointed out that by 2025, 75 million Chinese families will enter the emerging middle classes – a phenomenal market that means British engineers need to be safe in the knowledge that they can simply hop aboard a plane and help China improve its infrastructure.