News – World and UK

The Irish government is being urged to enact a bill banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land within the next 12 months. Frances Black, who first introduced the Occupied Territories Bill into the Dail in 2018, said that she does not mind if the ban is under her bill or new legislation. But she said it was important the ban is not “watered down” in any new draft […]

Simon Vickers will serve a minimum term of 15 years A father who stabbed his 14-year-old daughter in the heart while they were “play-fighting” in the kitchen has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years after he was convicted of her murder. Jurors found Simon Vickers, 50, guilty after they heard how he had given three different accounts of what happened in the seconds before he […]

Farmers will stage another tractor protest outside Parliament on Monday as they continue their campaign against changes to inheritance tax rules. The tractor rally, organised by Save British Farming, comes as MPs debate an e-petition with more than 148,000 signatures calling to keep the current inheritance tax exemptions for working farms. Labour has insisted it will not make a U-turn on its plans to introduce a 20% inheritance tax rate […]

US pop star Taylor Swift, US President Donald Trump, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi, actor Paul Rudd and Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway were among the A-list stars watching the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans. Singer Swift was spotted in her suite at the Superdome, wearing a simple white tank top and denim shorts, about an hour before play began. Trump made history on Sunday as the first sitting president to […]

Nearly half of unmarried people who live with their partner and share a pet with them would consider including their animal in a cohabitation agreement in the event they split up, a survey has found. But only about a quarter (26%) of unmarried couples surveyed who live together have a cohabitation agreement in place. Cohabiting couples who do not have such an agreement may face complications if the relationship ends, […]

The Philadelphia Eagles ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ bid to win an unprecedented three straight Super Bowls as they ran out 40-22 winners in New Orleans. The Eagles defence dominated and pressured Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throughout the evening, sacking him a career-high six times and intercepting him twice. Opposite number Jalen Hurts was named the most valuable player after he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, as well […]

Plymouth knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup Plymouth produced a huge FA Cup upset as Premier League leaders Liverpool were knocked out by the bottom club in the Sky Bet Championship. Liverpool boss Arne Slot gambled with a weakened side in Devon and literally paid the penalty as Ryan Hardie’s second-half spot-kick gave Plymouth a famous 1-0 win and sent them into the fifth round of the competition. It […]

No more booze-free wine or gluten-free bread Non-alcoholic wine and gluten-free bread cannot be used during holy communion, the governing body of the Church of England has ruled. Church guidance says the bread must be made using wheat flour and wine must be the fermented juice of the grape in order to be consecrated as part of the service. In papers published ahead of the Church’s General Synod, also known […]

Nine police officers have been injured in two days of violence in Londonderry and Strabane. The incidents included officers being headbutted and being charged at with a knife. In some cases, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers also endured racial and sectarian abuse. *** A property in the Highlands which was once owned by Jimmy Savile has been damaged by a fire. An outbuilding at the Allt-na-Reigh cottage […]