Government

Several services across the world are affected by a Microsoft outage this morning (Friday, November 13).

Police and councils in Bedfordshire affected by Microsoft outage

Bedford Borough Hall and inset, mayor Tom Wootton

Councillors challenge mayor over devolution plans

Workhorse: the Ryichi wind-up radio is compact but could be a lifesaver

I tested this £29.99 emergency radio for power cuts

Cllr Mark Arnull (right) Leader of West Northamptonshire Council at the England’s Economic Heartland meeting with (from left) Cllr Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Beds Council, Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Cllr Tom Wootton, Leader of Bedford Borough Council.

Devolution plan for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes raises questions

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Explainer What you need in a Government 3-day emergency kit

Borough Hall Bedford

Bedford Borough Council under fire over finances, governance and leadership

Cllr Nicola Gribble has teamed up with EV provider Connected Kerb on a new video

900-plus new EV charge points to encourage Bedford drivers to go greener

How the new Bedford Borough-based Universal Studios UK theme Park might look.

Universal Studios: Government publishes update to construction management plan

A general view of Caxton House, where Britain's Department for Work and Pensions is based. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Five Bedfordshire employers listed among those failing to pay minimum wage

The government has confirmed benefit payments are to be paid early this weekend - ahead of the August bank holiday.

The 11 benefits to be paid early this August bank holiday weekend

The Tourism Minister chaired the first meeting with local leaders to discuss how the benefits of the Universal United Kingdom Resort will be spread across the region.

Talks held to maximise benefits of landmark Universal theme park
A meeting of local leaders has been held to discuss how the Universal United Kingdom Resort will benefit the region.
Olga Norford

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been called to 37 outdoor fires since the Government issued an alert message on August 14

Fire service issues warning after attending 37 blazes since government alert

Mid Beds MP Blake Stephenson and Cllr Sue Clark are campaigning to fix junction 13 of the M1 ahead of the opening of Universal Studios Bedford

"It is vital junction 13 is upgraded before Universal opens"

The state-of-the-art facility will be purpose-built

Ad Feature AG&P Industrial launches new fabrication yard

Bedford Borough Council has teamed up with EV provider Connected Kerb to install 260 sockets across Bedford, Kempston and many villages

Bedford to get more electric car charging points

Steph McGovern will host the celebration in Cornwall

Ad Feature Steph McGovern hosts first Vocational Day

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Government's 11 emergency essentials every home should have

Priory Country Park (pictured) along with Bedford Park, Addison Howard Park and Harrold-Odell Country Park have all retained their Green Flag Awards this year

Four parks in Bedford retain their Green Flag status

Cranfield University is one of 35 founding members of the Defence Universities Alliance

Cranfield University among founding members of Defence Universities Alliance

Gibraltar is entering a new chapter following the landmark UK-EU Treaty

Ad Feature Gibraltar announces residency scheme reforms

Bus windows. Picture: c_shean

Bus fares for young people in Central Bedfordshire increase by 50%

Four in 10 blamed geopolitical factors for rising energy price

Nine in 10 Brits have no idea where their energy bill spend goes

The Sharnbrook Hotel

Asylum seekers moved out of Sharnbrook Hotel for good after three years

The University of Hong Kong secured the 11th spot in the latest QS World University Rankings

Ad Feature Hong Kong universities rank among the world's top 100

The proposed Questpit Data Centre

£9.3bn Data Centre Campus on old quarry a 'development of national significance'

Amira's four cubs, just three weeks old, at Whipsnade Zoo (Picture: ZSL)

Watch: Seven adorable cheetah cubs born at Whipsnade Zoo

File photo of a pothole

Council must prove it's doing more to fix potholes under tough new guidance

Fruit and vegetables

Row over holiday provision in council's free school meals programme
A dispute has emerged over Bedford Borough Council’s approach to supporting families during school holidays following the replacement of the Household Support Fund with the Government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter

Blake Stephenson MP in front of the Universal Studios globe

Universal theme park site MP 'disappointed' to be left out of announcement

It's official, Bedford's resort complex will be named Universal United Kingdom Resort

Universal United Kingdom Resort: Name of Bedford theme park unveiled

Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport commenced operations on 27 May.

Ad Feature Smooth take-off for new terminal at Hong Kong International Airport

From left, Shackleton Primary School and Cauldwell School will receive a share of over £450 million being given to 684 schools across England

Government gives two Bedford schools cash for building repairs

Novuna Consumer Finance is one of the UK's leading providers of retail point of sale finance and personal loans

Ad Feature One in eight households couldn't cover essentials for two months

Jim Weir (Image supplied by councillor)

Councillor challenges local government pension rule for over 75s

Borough Hall, Bedford (Image LDRS)

Renters' Rights Act: council fails to answer questions on impact on homelessness

File photo of a pothole (Picture: Adobe)

Row over road maintenance rating as Government says 'get on with improving'

Join our day of action.

How ‘legal bullying’ is silencing journalists and harming democracy

The money is being made available via Central Beds Council's Crisis and Resilience Fund

Extra cash available to help Central Beds residents facing financial crisis

Bedford College (Picture: Tony Margiocchi)

Bedford College to get major £4m upgrade after Government cash award

It comes as SMEs brace for further economic shocks

Ad Feature UK SMEs may turn their backs on apprenticeships, experts warn

Despite their young age, children are spending more time on phones than ever – raising urgent questions for parents about safety, supervision and screen time

Parents turn to safer phones as kids’ screen time warning lands

Central Bedfordshire Council has launched a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to support households struggling with rising heating oil costs

New fund available to support Central Beds residents with heating oil costs

Milton Keynes sign. Photo: MK Citizen

MK expansion: council leader on whether new towns would cross into Central Beds

File picture of construction workers. Photo by Damian Gillie/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Government narrows down potential 'new town' locations to seven

Cllr Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council

Central Beds Council Leader: Why a 5% Council Tax increase is necessary
Your new Council Tax bill has probably already arrived by now. We know no one welcomes news of an increase - especially when the improvements aren’t always immediately visible.
Cllr Adam Zerny

The fire in Bletchley, with photo courtesy of Josh Gallop, and inset a Central Bedfordshire Council recycling bin

Kerbside dry mixed recycling collections to resume after waste site fire

Blake Stephenson MP at the Houses of Parliament

OPINION: Step-free access at Flitwick Station must be funded immediately

Mohammad Yasin MP for Bedford and Kempston

MP Column: Shaping a safer digital childhood: Have your say in landmark consulta...

Blake at the Forest of Marston Vale

Mid Beds MP campaigns for Marston Vale forest expansion

Mohammad Yasin MP

MP meets with Queen's Park residents facing "eye-watering" service charges

Bedford Borough Hall and inset, mayor Tom Wootton

Replacing mayor would cost taxpayers £350k says council

Richard Fuller, Tory MP for North Beds, thinks under 16s should be banned from using social media

MP calls on social media ban for under 16s

MVM Bedford and Milton Keynes supporters outside Milton Keynes railway station

Bedford-based Electoral Reform supporters hold street stall for card-writing cam...

Borough Hall, Bedford. Image LDRS

Bedford council still tight lipped over impact of improvement plan on staffing

Central Bedfordshire Council has approved new powers to tackle empty units in the area's High Streets

Council 'takes new step' to bring empty High Street shops back into use

Latest from NationalWorld.com

A cyber attack on critical infrastructure could put the safety of the nation at risk (Picture: stock.adobe.com)

Explainer Biggest UK technology outages of 2026

The lights go on in Bond Street

London’s poshest shopping street switches on Christmas lights

Stacey Solomon’s biggest brand partnerships from REHAB to Primark

Microsoft services have been impacted across the globe (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Microsoft outage sparks fresh cyber attack fears

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