Thomas Cook Airlines taking off. Image: @TCAirlinesUK

Thomas Cook is to begin flying around 1,000 UK holiday makers out of the West African nation of The Gambia.

The decision has been made in response to the current political unrest following last month’s presidential election in which the defiant leader Yahya Jammeh has refused to step down.

It has also been announced by Thomas Cook airlines that flights to Gambia have been cancelled up until at least the 31st of January.

UPDATE: We’ve now cancelled all our flights to The Gambia up until 31 Jan. If your holiday is affected, please call 01733 224 536. https://t.co/SVsJ8d5ZAH

— Thomas Cook Airlines (@TCAirlinesUK) January 18, 2017

In a statement, they said:

We are dispatching a special assistance team with our first flight from the UK to provide additional support at Banjul airport for our customers.

Our colleagues on the ground in the Gambia will proactively contact all customers on holiday with us as soon as possible to prepare for return to the UK.

The UK Foreign Office (FCO) have strongly advised against all but essential travel to Gambia in what has now been declared as a 90 day state of emergency.

Birmingham dad charged with murder of children in house fire.

Saros and Leanor Endris. Image: West Midlands Police.

Mohammed Endris appeared before Walsall magistrates court on Wednesday in a hospital gown, accused of murdering his two young children in October 2016.

Six year old Leanor Endris and her brother Saros, who was eight, died in a blaze at their home in Hamstead, Birmingham.

Mohammed was found with serious injuries in a car fire the same day and was arrested in November on suspicion on murder.

He is due to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday.

Boris Johnson’s world war two reference described as ‘deeply unhelpful.’   

The European parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator has condemned comments made by Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson whilst on a visit to India.

Mr Johnson likened the French President Francois Hollande’s attitude to that of a World War two prison guard dishing out ‘punishment beatings’.

Monsieur Hollande had mentioned that the UK should not expect better trading relations with Europe after Brexit.

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The comment has been made when the Prime Minister, Theresa May, is leading the strategy in determining a future trade deal with Brussels.

Her Downing Street spokesperson dismissed the comment as ‘hyped up’.

Labour said Mr Johnson’s comments were as ‘wild and inappropriate’.

Boris Johnson condemned over ‘abhorrent’ Brexit comment about French President Francois Hollande https://t.co/1pR5eBjjdW pic.twitter.com/hsHia2ShXP

— Press Association (@PA) January 18, 2017

Introduction of ‘research schools’ to encourage social mobility.

Education Secretary, Justine Greening has outlined plans for a wave of ‘research schools’ in what has been described as ‘opportunity areas’ in Britain to focus on improving social mobility.

The twelve areas include Doncaster, Stoke and Ipswich.

They will share an estimated £72 million to improve the quality of education and engage in an exchange of ‘evidence based ideas.’

.@JustineGreening announces new Opportunity Areas as she sets out role of education in tackling #SocialMobility  https://t.co/7GHj9Ms8xK pic.twitter.com/tx4ee6A33L

— DfE (@educationgovuk) January 18, 2017