News – World and UK

A 39-year-old man was shot dead by armed police on Christmas Eve. West Mercia Police said officers were called by West Midlands Ambulance Service to an address in Redditch, Worcestershire, at around 2pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the safety of a man with a knife. The force said attempts were made over “several hours” to deal with the incident but the man was shot at around 7.40pm. […]

Britons are enjoying a “remarkably mild” Christmas Eve as shoppers dash to buy last-minute gifts and travellers head home for the festive season. Although conditions on Tuesday are expected to be “grey and gloomy”, it will be the warmest day of the week, with highs of up to 15C in north east Wales, according to the Met Office. This is slightly lower than the warmest Christmas Eve on record – […]

More than 10,000 people in the armed forces are “not medically deployable”, figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have shown. In a written parliamentary question, Defence minister Al Carns revealed that across the various branches of the armed forces, 99,560 are medically fully deployable, with 14,350 limited deployability and 13,522 medically not deployable. The Royal Navy has 2,922 members medically not deployable , the army 6,879 and the Royal Air Force […]

Sir Keir Starmer said he would be looking towards a “better, brighter future for every person” in a Christmas message following a turbulent year for the UK. The Prime Minister said the season was a time to remember the importance of “being there for one another”, including in “the more difficult times”. He also expressed hope for “peace, particularly in the Middle East as the birthplace of the Christmas story” […]

A consultation has been launched into the phase-out of petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Automotive and charging experts will be invited to share their views, as the Government claim the consultation will “restore clarity” for vehicle manufacturers and the charging industry. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander launched the consultation to ask for views from industry on how to deliver Labour’s manifesto commitment to restore the 2030 phase-out date for new […]

The Scottish Government has been accused of having responsibility for a “disgracefully high” number of deaths following growing waits for treatment in hospital accident and emergency departments. Both Labour and the Conservatives hit out at the SNP administration, claiming that thousands of patients had died after spending hours in A&E, with Labour suggesting “negligence” from the SNP meant ministers were “gambling with Scots’ lives”. Citing research from the Royal College […]

The number of young people spending Christmas Day alone has doubled, according to new research that compares festive attitudes and behaviours in 2024 and 1969. According to a study by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, one in nine people say they will be spending Christmas Day alone this year. That number has increased from one in 20 who said the same 55 years ago. While the share of […]

A second Donald Trump presidency is expected to be consequential in many ways, and its impact on the tech sector will be a key area after he enters office in January. An immediate issue for the new president will be the future of one of the biggest social media platforms on the planet, TikTok, which is facing a ban or being sold in the US, which could reshape its business […]

Ben Stokes will undergo surgery on a torn hamstring and be out of action for at least three months. The England captain was injured during the recent third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, a series which England won 2-1. “Ben Stokes has been ruled out of all cricket for at least three months after further assessments confirmed he has torn his left hamstring,” said an England and Wales Cricket […]