New checks for train passengers who buy tickets with railcard discounts Train passengers who buy tickets with railcard discounts will be required to pass additional checks as part of a Government crackdown on fare dodging. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the introduction of “simple validation” will save about £20 million a year in lost
Black music ‘makes up 80% of UK recorded music revenue over past three decades’ Black music has made up 80% of the UK’s recorded music revenue over the past three decades, new figures show. The report, by industry body UK Music, examined the cultural and commercial impact black music – defined as music that has
Cost of fixing all potholes on ‘national disgrace’ roads estimated at £18.6bn The estimated cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has risen to a record £18.6 billion, according to a new report, which branded the situation “a national disgrace”. Research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) found only
Meningitis outbreak: Tribute paid to student who died as hundreds seek treatment Three schools have confirmed cases of meningitis after an outbreak killed two students and others were admitted to hospital One of those who died was a year 13 student called Juliette, who was described by her headteacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in
Nursery worker jailed for raping and abusing young children A nursery worker who raped and abused young children in his care has been jailed for 24 years. Nathan Bennett, 30, preyed on the two and three-year-olds at the Partou King Street nursery in Bristol. He was found guilty by a jury last month of eight
Starmer says UK working with allies on ‘viable plan’ to open Strait of Hormuz Sir Keir Starmer says he is working with allies on a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister has resisted Donald Trump’s demands to send Royal Navy warships to help secure the vital shipping route for oil and
School pupil among two dead in meningitis outbreak A school pupil is the second person to have died following an outbreak of meningitis in Kent The student was in Year 13 at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham and is understood to have died on Saturday. The other person who died attended the University of Kent.
Donald Trump urges UK to send warships to help secure Strait of Hormuz The UK must send ships to help the US secure a key oil shipping route out of the Middle East, Donald Trump has said. The US president appealed to the UK and other nations including France, China and Japan to send warships
Chancellor to intervene to ease soaring energy bills Rachel Reeves drawing up plans to help with spiralling costs as Iran war continues Targeted support could be offered to households struggling with soaring energy bills as a result of the Middle East crisis, Rachel Reeves has indicated. The Chancellor said she would give support “to those
Andrew and Lord Mandelson pictured in bathrobes with Jeffrey Epstein Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson have been pictured in bathrobes alongside paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The undated photograph has been unearthed as part of the US department of justice’s Epstein-related document dump earlier this year. In the image, first reported by ITV News, Andrew,