Just one in five trains running as bus drivers join rail workers in strikes

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( January 04, 2023 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Just one in five trains running as bus drivers join rail workers in January walkout]( Around half of Britain’s railway lines are closed with just one-fifth of services running, as the new head of TUC sought an urgent meeting with prime minister Rishi Sunak in a bid to break the deadlock. Rail strikes today will disrupt services on parts of the District and Bakerloo lines, as well as on the London Overground and Elizabeth line. A limited District line service will run between 7.30am and 6pm between Wimbledon and Parsons Green, as well as Richmond and Turnham Green. Abellio bus services will be severely hit in west and south London as bus drivers begin their two-day walk out. The DVSA driving examiners also begin their strike in London today. London Underground, London Overground and Elizabeth line will continue to offer Turn Up and Go assistance. Meanwhile, in a letter to Mr Sunak, Paul Nowak called for a change in government direction and said public services were in crisis after years of “underfunding and understaffing.”   2 / [Geordie Greig is appointed as Editor in Chief of The Independent]( The Independent has an average monthly global audience of 76.5m unique users 3 / [Food price inflation hits record high of 13.3% during ‘challenging Christmas’]( ‘Unlikely there will be any improvement in the near term’, says expert 4 / [Drill bits and scalpels among record number of surgical tools left inside patients]( One woman ‘lost hope’ after part of a surgical blade was left inside her following an operation to remove her ovaries 5 / [Fury as Rishi Sunak claims NHS ‘has funding it needs’ to tackle crisis]( PM accused of insult to ‘all those suffering in hospital corridors or in the back of ambulances’     The Big Question What is XBB Covid? The new Omicron variant that has led to surge in cases New [Covid]( variants are sparking fresh health concerns as [Omicron]( relatives XBB and XBB.1.5 have seen a surge in [cases]( in countries worldwide. It comes as UK-based health experts have suggested that[up to 9,000 people are dying from Covid a day]( in [China](, where [infections]( have dramatically risen following the country’s end to strict isolation rules. The surge has prompted the UK and US governments to require all passengers arriving in the respective countries from China from 5 January to return a [negative Covid result before travelling](. So what are the XBB subvariants and where have they been seen? Here is all you need to know: XBB is a subvariant of the Omicron BA.2 variant, and XBB.1.5 is a subvariant of XBB. [For the full story click here >](   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our [welcome offer when you join today](. Watch/ [‘Intolerable’ NHS pressures show little sign of relenting, government warned](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 70% – A senior doctor at one of [Shanghai](’s top hospitals has claimed that 70 per cent of the city’s population has been infected with Covid as [China]( continues to battle a massive surge in cases.   QUOTE OF THE DAY “Letting our children out into the world without those skills, is letting our children down.” – [Rishi Sunak]( will unveil plans to make it compulsory to study some form of [maths]( until the age of 18, in a drive to ensure the UK rivals the best education systems in the world.     Other stories you might like   [Rishi Sunak to make maths compulsory for pupils until age 18](   [Ski resorts in Europe forced to close amid record-breaking heat and no snow](   [Third Russian found dead in India in mysterious circumstances within two weeks](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Steve Ballinger - [How we mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush could unite Britain in 2023](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report] The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Sign up]( [Inside Politics] Inside Politics Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Matt Mathers [Sign up](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.