Number of mortgaged first-time buyers ‘up by nearly a fifth’ in 2025 The number of people who got on the property ladder with a mortgage across the UK last year is estimated by a building society to be up by nearly a fifth compared with 2024. Yorkshire Building Society estimated that 390,324 first-time buyer mortgage
Tax hike for online minicab firms hailed a ‘landmark step’ for black cabbies Online minicab firms will pay more tax in a move hailed as a “landmark step” for black cab drivers. The companies were barred from “illegitimately using a niche scheme to avoid tax” on Friday, the Treasury said. The Tour Operators Margin Scheme
Chickenpox vaccine to be rolled out on NHS for first time A vaccine which protects against chickenpox is to be rolled out across the NHS for the first time. Youngsters across the UK will now be offered the vaccine along with the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Health experts welcomed the
Snow and ice expected to bring travel disruption ahead of amber weather warning Snow and ice is forecast across the UK on Friday with warnings of likely travel disruption. Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are already in place for parts of the UK, ahead of amber snow warnings for northern Scotland which begin
Anthony Joshua released from hospital in Nigeria after car crash Boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital in Nigeria after the crash in which two of his friends died, authorities have said. Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele died after the vehicle they were travelling in along with Joshua struck a stationary truck on a major
Mayor of London says capital’s New Year celebrations ‘greatest in the world’ Sir Sadiq Khan has hailed London’s New Year celebrations as the “greatest in the world” after 100,000 people lined the banks of the River Thames to welcome 2026 with the capital’s largest fireworks display. The spectacular display – set to a soundtrack which
Snowfall expected across much of UK with new warnings issued Snowfall is expected across much of the UK in a chilly start to the new year, forecasters have said. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice across large parts of England and Wales between midnight and noon on January 2.
One pub a day shut for good in 2025 as cost pressures bite One pub shut its doors for good each day in 2025 as cost pressures continued to weigh on the sector, according to new figures. Analysis of official government statistics revealed that 366 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses over the
Passengers warned of more delays as Eurostar services resume Eurostar passengers have been warned that continued delays and cancellations are possible, despite the resumption of services after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel. Thousands of passengers faced hours of delays after the train operator cancelled all its London to Europe services on Tuesday when
Household energy bills to rise as snow and gales forecast Many households’ energy bills are to rise on Thursday, just as a swathe of cold health alerts have been issued for large areas of the UK. The 0.2% increase to Ofgem’s energy price cap will equate to a rise of about 28p a month for