British Isles
British businesses stop shipping to Northern Ireland
Small British businesses are halting shipments to Northern Ireland and the EU due to new EU customs rules and product safety regulations. These regulations require complex compliance steps, including detailed paperwork, batch numbering,…
Rayner insists pledge to build 1.5m homes 'can happen'
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has affirmed the Government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes over five years, a scale unseen since World War 2. This requires constructing 370,000 homes annually, a significant…
‘Tidal wave’ of flu hits NHS as hospital cases soar
The NHS is grappling with a 'tidal wave' of flu cases, with hospital admissions rising by 70% in a week, contributing to severe pressure on emergency services. In one week, hospitals in England…
Energy bills shake-up announced
Ofgem has announced plans to offer 'no standing charge' energy tariffs and provide debt relief for struggling households. The standing charge, a fixed daily fee averaging 92p, has risen significantly in recent years…
Bishop calls for healthier living with smartphones
Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, has urged smartphone-free schools to promote healthier lifestyles for young people. Speaking in the House of Lords, he highlighted efforts by his diocese, which oversees 285 church schools,…
A ‘Black Friday’ as assisted suicide bill is passed
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its second reading in Parliament, with 330 votes in favour and 275 against. Described as a 'Black Friday’, this decision represents a grave shift…
Starmer pledges 13,000 more police with vows on NHS and schools
Keir Starmer has announced a bold 'Plan for Change’, prioritising increased neighbourhood safety, improved NHS services, education reforms, and economic growth. Central to this vision is the pledge to recruit 13,000 additional police…
Business confidence sinks after tax-raising budget
UK business confidence has fallen to its lowest level since the early days of the Covid pandemic, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD). November’s economic confidence index dropped to -65, the lowest…
World entering a new nuclear age, head of armed forces warns
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of Defence Staff, has warned of a new, more complex nuclear age. He highlighted the growing threats posed by nuclear proliferation and the erosion of global agreements controlling…
UK buys 5m doses of bird flu vaccine
The Government has secured over five million doses of a bird flu vaccine to prepare for potential human transmission of the H5N1 virus, despite no current evidence of such spread. The vaccine is…
