Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

The Guernsey based airline Waves has been granted route licences to fly between Guernsey and Jersey, and Guernsey and Alderney.

It means that Waves can resume its original operations and fly without restriction both on a whole aircraft charter basis and by selling individual seats.

The company launched its taxi service last year, but had to change its business model after a competitor claimed it was operating outside of Guernsey air licensing rules.

Image source, Waves

Waves Chief Executive Nick Magliocchetti said: "The fact that they have granted us the licences is proof that our business is a perfect fit for the inter-island air travel market.

"We have always maintained that we are here to fill a gap in that market and not compete with existing carriers."

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

Image source, States of Alderney

Boxer Billy Le Poullain has received a grant from the States of Alderney to help in his preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2018 on the Gold Coast in April.

He will be the first ever boxer from Alderney or Guernsey to compete at the Commonwealth Games and is leaving shortly for Australia where he will undertake warm weather training before his first fight on the 5 April.

Billy, pictured above with the Chairman of Finance Committee, Tony Barnes, said: “I am extremely pleased and grateful for the funds, which will help me immensely, and to have the support of the States of Alderney is just amazing.”

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

Jersey Water has released its preliminary financial results for 2017.

Profit for the financial year was £3,296,000 - slightly below the £3,334,000 reported in 2016.

The company said it invested £3.3m in the island’s water infrastructure, replacing 1.3 miles (2.1km) of mains, extending the network by 1.1 miles (1.9km) and connected 303 homes to mains water.

Water quality for 2017 remained very good with an overall compliance rate of 99.98%, it added.

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

The government, along with Guernsey's Biodiversity Partnership, is calling on people to help them track down Asian hornets, which are threatening the island's bee population.

The ‘Track Don’t Trample’ campaign asks the public to take pictures of the hornets and record the direction they fly in.

Image source, AFP

This information will be added to a map and used by States of Guernsey Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services in conjunction with the Guernsey Bee Keepers' Association to track down the hornets' nests, which will then be destroyed.

Julia Henney, biodiversity education officer, said: "Asian hornets are a huge threat, not only to our local honey bees but, as they feed on a great variety of insects, to our island's biodiversity as a whole."

If a suspected hornet is sighted, the public should take a photo and email it to asianhornet@gov.gg, including the location and direction the hornet flew in.

BBC Radio Jersey

Image source, Yoti

A London-based company will set up and run a new digital ID system in Jersey.

Yoti was chosen from a shortlist of nine companies that bid for the contract with the States.

From May, the new digital ID will allow young people to use their phones to prove their age in pubs and at events.

It will also be used to help people in Jersey identify themselves when using government services as and when they become available online.

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

One-hundred years ago this month, the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry (RGLI) faced its toughest challenge and its heaviest losses at the Battle of the Lys.

A memorial service organised by the Royal British Legion will be held at the Sunken Gardens at 11:30 on 15 April to mark the courage and sacrifice of those men.

A memorial to all men who served in the RGLI will also be unveiled.

The Deputy Bailiff Richard McMahon said the memorial would be "a welcome recognition of the brave men of the RGLI who fought and died in the World War One and especially at the Battle of the Lys where they were virtually wiped out."

Image source, Guernsey Museum

The Battle of the Lys took place during the German Spring Offensive of March-April 1918. The RGLI fought a fighting withdrawal around the villages of Le Doulieu between 11 and 14 April in which they took huge losses. The first roll-call after the battle revealed just three officers and 55 men still fit to fight. It was the last action of the RGLI, the survivors being given duties behind the lines for the rest of the war.

Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online

Ali Marquis has been appointed as the new chief officer for the St John Ambulance & Rescue Service in Guernsey.

Mrs Marquis, who was formally the deputy chief officer, has been acting-up as chief officer since the retirement of Jon Beausire in August 2017.

Mrs Marquis, who is the first female chief ambulance officer in Guernsey, said: "I am looking forward to serving the community and working with the committed and dedicated women and men of the service as we develop our range of pre-hospital care over the next few years in support of the new health model."

BBC Radio Jersey

The outgoing Constable of St Ouen hopes more candidates will stand in the election to succeed him.

Michael Paddock is surprised there's been just one declaration of interest so far.

Writing in the St Ouen parish magazine, he hopes his departure will encourage others to come forward.

Mr Paddock has served as head of the parish, external for the past seven years.

The parish Deputy Richard Renouf has told the magazine he will be standing for re-election in May.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The first planned cruise ship to visit Guernsey in 2018 has cancelled its voyage due to bad weather.

The Astoria, external was due to arrive into St Peter Port today.

It's one of 101 cruise ship visits expected this year.

The next one to visit Guernsey is the Saga Sapphire, external, arriving on 30 March.

BBC Radio Guernsey

The Seigneur of Sark will be conducting guided tours of his house and garden this summer, as well as hosting theatre performances.

Major Christopher Beaumont inherited the title from his father almost two years ago.

The Seigneurie, external has been totally renovated and an open air theatre is being built in the grounds.

Major Beaumont said: "We've got [theatre group] Oddsocks coming over for the very first time, so they'll be doing Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest, both of them in front of the house, which I'm really looking forward to.

"I've also got my opera festival back again in September after a year's break."

Guernsey Press

Ali Marquis has also become one of only three women to lead an ambulance service in the British Isles., external

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

Jersey's government has appointed a UK company to create a digital ID system that will allow islanders to prove who they are when accessing government services online.

The States has appointed London-based Yoti to provide the new system. The firm beat nine bidders in a process that started in August 2017.

Assistant Minister, Deputy Scott Wickenden, said: “One of the reasons we've chosen Yoti is that its verification system can be used by many other organisations.

"Yoti can verify identity, and therefore age, so this means that a wide range of industries – from financial services to hospitality – can use it to prove the identity of their customers."

A new website has been launched by the States to put links to all of the government's online services in one place., external

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

A new political group in Guernsey is to be called the Islanders Association.

The name was announced last night and comes at the same time as a fundraising campaign to raise £150,000 to establish and market the group.

Image source, Islanders Association

The group said more than £5,000 had already been raised before the name was revealed.

One of the founding members, Deputy Joe Mooney said the fundraising target was a long term goal.

“We intend to move things forward at a fast pace and, with the support of our community, the Islanders Association will be formally up and running in June”, said Deputy Carl Meerveld.

More on this story:

• 'Political association' unveiled by three deputies
• Guernsey 'political association': What are its aims?

Ryan Morrison
BBC News Online

The mother of a baby left at Jersey's General Hospital on Sunday will not be charged for a GP appointment, and can go to any doctor to be checked over, the head of Jersey's Primary Care Body says.

Image source, Jersey Police

She has been urged to come forward for checks on her mental and physical welfare.

Dr Sarah Whiteman said: “We appreciate that for some people coming into a local surgery may be a less daunting experience than attending hospital.

"Any GP surgery would be prepared to see you, and please don’t worry about the cost – there would be no charge.”

The "recently-born" baby boy was left in the waiting area of the emergency department for hospital staff to find, police said.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Disused quarries in Guernsey could be used for disposing construction and demolition materials in the future according to the States Trading Supervisory Board.

The move is one of several options for builders' waste being discussed by the board.

A number of former quarries are to be surveyed to assess whether they might be suitable for the waste.

The Longue Hougue land reclamation site is currently used but is expected to be full in the next few years.

Trading Assets has written to a number of landowners for permission to survey water-filled quarries. This will determine the depth of the quarries and will help establish their suitability, as well as the likely capacity.

Jersey Evening Post

Residents and businesses living or operating close to the hospital will be able to raise any concerns about the future facility through a new group, it has been decided., external

BBC Radio Jersey

Pubs in Jersey will be allowed to remain open and serve drinks until 01:00 for the royal wedding after a vote in the States.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is taking place on 19 May and Jersey politicians have voted to let pubs stay open late.

It is also on the same weekend as the FA Cup final.

The couple will marry at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, at midday - meaning a clash with the FA Cup final is unlikely as recent finals have kicked off at 17:30.

BBC Weather

It's going to be a dry, fine and bright start with cloud increasing and rain arriving during the afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 6 to 9°C (43 to 48°F).

Jersey

Guernsey

Historians believe shipwrights may have helped construct the 19th Century pub in Jersey.

Jersey Evening Post

An ‘Oligarch Levy’ on the offshore wealth of super-rich Russians – which would see a transparent ownership register introduced in Jersey and other British territories – has been called for by the Labour Party., external