The strikes risk causing significant disruption to major events including the Glastonbury music festival.


London: Britain's railway workers have begun the network's biggest strike action in more than three decades, as a cost-of-living crisis caused by surging inflation risks wider industrial action.
Last-ditch talks to avert the strike broke down on Monday, meaning more than 50,000 members of rail union RMT will walk out for three days this week.
RMT general-secretary Mick Lynch described as "unacceptable" offers of below-inflation pay rises by both overground train operators and London Underground that runs the Tube in the capital.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the government was doing everything it could to minimise the expected "mass disruption".
But he told parliament on Monday: "It's estimated that around 20 percent of planned services will operate, focused on key workers, main population centres and critical freight routes."
Disruption throughout week
The strikes –– also on Thursday and Saturday –– risk causing significant disruption to major events including the Glastonbury music festival.
Schools are warning that thousands of teenagers taking national exams will also be affected.
The strikes are the biggest dispute on Britain's railway network since 1989, according to the RMT.
Rail operators, however, warn of disruption throughout the week, with lines not affected by strike action still having to reduce services.
RMT members on the London Underground are additionally staging a 24-hour Tube train stoppage Tuesday.
The union argues the strikes are necessary as wages have failed to keep pace with UK inflation, which has hit a 40-year high and is on course to keep rising.
Source: AFP

Lahore zoo raises ticket prices to Rs300
- 2 hours ago

7.7 magnitude earthquake devastates Myanmar, over 2,700 dead
- an hour ago

Six dead, nine injured in Gujranwala house fire
- 11 minutes ago

Yes, your allergies are getting worse
- 6 hours ago
Unknown attackers fire at CM's assistant residence in Peshawar
- an hour ago

President Zardari recovering well, no Dubai transfer: Sharjeel Memon
- 2 hours ago

Sweltering heat expected to persist in Karachi
- 2 hours ago

Nearly two dozen states challenge Trump administration’s health cuts
- 2 hours ago

Mufti Qavi sends Eid message to Rakhi Sawant, proposes marriage
- an hour ago
Actor Val Kilmer, star of 'Batman Forever', dies at 65, NYT reports
- 3 hours ago
TTP makes extortion demands from DI Khan sugar mills
- 2 hours ago
New Zealand dominate Pakistan in second ODI
- 2 hours ago