News – World and UK

Counting has resumed in the Irish General Election as focus intensifies on the potential make-up of the next coalition government. All of the three main parties – Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein – were bullish about their prospects as the first results started to come through on Saturday. However, early indications from count centres across the country suggest the return of an administration involving Fianna Fail and Fine […]

The Princess of Wales will deliver a heartful Christmas message about the importance of love – “the greatest gift we can receive” – to those attending her annual carol service. Kate has written a letter for the 1,600 Westminster Abbey carol goers, including members of the royal family, telling them “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times”. Her message, featured with the order of […]

MasterChef host Gregg Wallace was accused of making lewd comments and asking for the personal phone numbers of female production staff in a letter a producer and director claimed to have sent to the BBC in 2022. The letter, posted to Instagram by Dawn Elrick on her Sh*t Men In TV Have Said To Me account, collected a number of anonymous accounts from people who alleged they “have experienced sexism […]

A man who is running 2,684 miles (4,320km) across Australia hopes to break a new British record by completing the challenge in 60 days. Jack Pitcher, 28, from Bracknell, Berkshire, has faced extreme conditions while covering the distance from Perth to Sydney. The ultra-marathon runner was hoping to complete the challenge alongside fellow runner Joshua Smith, but after a recent injury the 21-year-old from Reading must complete the remaining 1,620km […]

Mental health waiting time targets have been breached more than 168,000 times since they were introduced a decade ago, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has said. Figures obtained by the party through freedom of information requests show the 18-week waiting time target for two types of treatment was missed 168,128 times since it was introduced in 2014. Performance against the target is meant to be at 90%, although this […]

Sir Keir Starmer will set out a “plan for change” with milestones set in key policy areas to achieve the targets laid out in Labour’s manifesto, Downing Street has said. The Prime Minister will this week kick off what he has called the “next phase” of Government, as he announces the markers for his “missions” that Number 10 say will allow the public to hold Sir Keir and his team […]

Temperatures are expected to plunge on Monday after the UK enjoys a mild weekend, the Met Office has said. Sunday will see highs of 16C before temperatures drop to as cold as minus 7C on Monday night, spokeswoman Becky Mitchell said. Despite the mild weather on Sunday, it will be quite “wet and windy” in parts of the UK, including Wales and north-west England. “The rest of the weekend is […]

There is a heavy police presence in central London as a pro-Palestine march and counter-protest are held in the midst of Christmas shopping and Winter Wonderland festivities. Bemused Christmas shoppers took photos as the streets around Piccadilly Circus in central London were flooded with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Counter-protesters from Stop the Hate gathered on Coventry Street near Piccadilly Circus, on the route of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march, to urge […]

Further accusations have been made against TV presenter Gregg Wallace in the wake of him stepping away from hosting hit BBC show MasterChef while a review into complaints is carried out. On Thursday, the cooking programme’s production company Banijay UK said the BBC received complaints from individuals in relation to “historical allegations of misconduct” while working with Wallace. He is “committed to fully co-operating throughout the process”, the company also […]