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Vigil held for earthquake victims

Syrian residents living in Sheffield held a vigil outside the Town Hall on Sunday to remember those who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey ast week. They also called on the international community to urge the Turkish and Syrian governments to allow aid delivery to the affected areas. The death toll has risen to more than 36,000 since the earthquake on 6 February, with the numbers contnuing to rise. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

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Sheffield families mourn earthquake victims

Mohamed Kousa, a Syrian resident of Sheffield, is among those who lost family members in the devastating earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria on Monday. Amar Ghanam, Imam at Fatima Community Centre in Burngreave told Sheffield Live! that many local residents have lost relatives and friends. The centre is providing counselling for those affected and is seeking donations to help victims of the earthquake. More than 22,000 people have been confirmed dead with numbers expected to rise as rescue and relief efforts continue. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Clean air zone opponents stage protest march

Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), due to come into force on 27 February, was the focus of a protest march and rally at the weekend, with campaigners opposed to the introduction of clean air charges. More than 100 people took part in a march from the Town Hall to Sheffield train station to protest what they describe as a plan to make money out of local residents. Speaking to Sheffield Live! Green Party councillor Douglas Johnson said the CAZ will only apply to the most polluting vehicles such as taxis, buses, coaches, vans, LGVs and HGVs, and not to private vehicles and motorcycles. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Sheffield Council launch diversity network

As part of Race Equality Week, Sheffield Council hosted a diversity networking event at the Town Hall, designed to implement one of the recommendations of the recent Race Equality Commission report. The Celebrating Diversity Networking Event aimed to provide an opportunity to talk about race in a supportive environment and to find out what local organisations are doing to tackle racism. Race Equality Week is an annual UK-wide campaign which brings together thousands of organisations and individuals in common purpose to address barriers to race equality in the workplace. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to council leader Terry Fox and to Maleiki Haybe, councillor for Broomhall and Sharrow Vale.

Nurses strike continues as negotiations stall

Nurses and ambulance workers have been on strike again this week over pay and staffing levels, in what has been called the biggest strike action in the history of the NHS in England. The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) say they have no other choice but to continue strike action as no serious pay offer has been made by government. Health secretary, Steve Barclay described the decision by union leaders to go ahead with the strikes as regrettable. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to staff nurse Briony Turner, on the picket line at Northern General Hospital.

University lecturers’ strike continues

Following last week’s widespread strikes by public sector workers, further industrial action is expected this week by unversity lecturers over pay and working conditions. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Bob Jefferey, lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and member of the Unversity and College Union (UCU).

Teachers’ strike closes dozens of schools

Hundreds of teachers in Sheffield walked out of their classrooms to take strike action on Wednesday calling for a pay rise linked to inflation. Dozens of schools in South Yorkshire were either partially or fully closed as result of the walk out. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Toby Malinson, branch secretary for the National Education Union in Sheffield, on a picket line at Longley Park Sixth Form College.

Workers and supporters join day of strike action

Over a thousand people joined a strike solidarity demonstration on Wednesday, marching from Devonshire Green through the city centre to Barkers Pool where it conclude with a rally and speeches. Across England and Wales hundreds of thousands of workers joined a day of strike action over pay and conditions, including train and bus drivers, university staff, teachers and civil servants. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Bill Adams, regional secretary for the TUC in Yorkshire and Humber.