BBC news

2023 - 1 - 29

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Memories of the BBC's innovative Open Door series (The Guardian)

Letters: While producers gave participants control, there were some lines that couldn't be crossed, says David Griffiths, while Tony Laryea emphasises the ...

Open Door was an admirable initiative, but in this case at least, there were still lines that could not be crossed. [Black teachers, trans women, cleaners and cons: how the BBC’s Open Door allowed ‘real people’ to let rip, 24 January](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jan/24/black-teachers-trans-women-cleaners-cons-the-bbcs-open-door)) reported that the producers gave participants “complete editorial control”. [All Against the Bomb](https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b695c947d), created by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and broadcast in 1976, originally included a 51-second segment of interviews with Polaris submarine crew, taken from a BBC Midweek film broadcast in 1974.

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Ukraine war: Funeral held for battleground body collector (BBC News)

Denys Sosnenko was was killed by an anti-tank mine while helping to recover the remains of soldiers.

"We realise that we don't have time to mourn, because the war goes on and so many lads are dying. "He accomplished so much in such a short life, but now we must continue our work to bring more people home." "Because of your work so many soldiers, who died in places no one would ever have looked, have been reunited with their families."

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Nigeria cost-of-living crisis sparks exodus of doctors (BBC News)

A cost-of-living crisis in Nigeria is forcing thousands of young professionals to flee abroad.

All of the main candidates have promised to improve the country's economy if elected, but there is scepticism as to whether they can deliver. It says 80% of the notes currently in circulation are outside banks. "I feel like Nigeria is at the point where, if we can change now, it's not too late. The impact of this can be seen in the country's markets. She owns a catering business and comes to the market every day. [the Jollof Index](https://www.sbmintel.com/2022/10/the-sbm-jollof-index-brace-for-impact/)," he explains, referring to the tomato-based rice dish, popular across West Africa. It's led some to call the exodus a "brain drain". My intention was to start my residency there, become a consultant and practice in my country. "My story is the story of most Nigerian doctors," he tells me over the phone. What do you cut out of the budget?" Most of those who can afford to leave the country legally are well educated. Africa's largest economy, Nigeria, is in the process of introducing new banknotes for the first time in more than 20 years.

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Thousands of NHS staff with long Covid risk losing their pay (BBC News)

Unions are accusing the government of failing to support health staff who worked during the coronavirus pandemic. The government says the Covid-19 public ...

They now face the prospect of having to retire early or even being sacked. A government spokesperson says: "The Covid-19 inquiry has been set up to examine the government's response to the pandemic and we will respond openly and transparently to the inquiry. At the start of the pandemic, the government brought in special Covid sick pay for staff directly employed by NHS Trusts. The trust's chief executive, Liz Davenport, adds: "The health and wellbeing of our staff is our priority, and we are extremely grateful to all our colleagues in the NHS and care services who worked tirelessly during the pandemic to care for our patients." She adds: "We are falling behind our peers in our recognition of this as a real disease that needs proper recognition and compensation." The NHS in England and Wales do not publish overall numbers for showing how many staff are off sick with long Covid. If these rates are reflected across the UK, it could mean that between 5,000 and 10,000 staff absent because of long Covid. Catherine Burns meets NHS workers who are living with long Covid and struggling to return to work. Rachel is still on full pay but a change in sickness rules means her salary is due to be cut in half at the end of February. Thousands of NHS staff across the UK are facing pay cuts because of a change in Covid sickness policy. Changes to special sick pay rules introduced during the pandemic mean that some NHS staff unable to work due to long Covid may soon no longer receive full pay. Unions are accusing the government of failing to support health staff who worked during the coronavirus pandemic.

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