News – World and UK

Broadcaster Spencer Matthews is to attempt seven ironman triathlons in seven continents in a new world record attempt which he describes as his “most dangerous challenge”. The 36-year-old is aiming to complete the events, which consist of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, in just four weeks, finishing with the toughest one in Antarctica. If successful, he will hold the Guinness World Record for completing […]

Rental e-bike operators could be fined as part of measures to tackle “significant safety issues” around poor parking in London. Transport for London (TfL) published a new “enforcement policy” in response to widespread concerns about e-bikes blocking pavements. It said it will take action over dockless e-bikes being left on its red route road network outside designated places, and on its land such as station forecourts and bus garages. This […]

The Duke of Sussex’s legal claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail could face a trial in 2026, a High Court judge has suggested. Harry is among a group of high-profile individuals – including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, and politician Sir Simon Hughes – bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). They have accused the […]

Places with the highest levels of joblessness will get extra NHS support as the Government bids to “get Britain working again”. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce the plans on Tuesday as part of wide-ranging reforms designed to tackle economic inactivity and deliver the Government’s promise to bring more than two million people back into work. She said: “To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working […]

More than a million illicit vapes were seized in England by trading standards in 2023-24, a 59% increase on the previous year. The products failed to meet basic UK safety standards, with most containing excessive nicotine levels, a National Trading Standards (NTS) report said. New data released on Tuesday shows 1.19 million illicit vapes were confiscated in Operation Joseph, a Government-funded project to tackle enforcement and compliance around the sale […]

Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end […]

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has been asked to review “incompetence” at the Met Office that led to a “clear underestimation” of the impact of Storm Bert. Labour MP for Cardiff West, Alex Barros-Curtis, said warnings should have been “amber or red”, as Mr Reed told MPs that more flooding is “likely”. Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were […]

Ed Sheeran has apologised for gatecrashing a live interview with new Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim. Singer-songwriter Sheeran owns a minority stake in hometown club Ipswich and watched the newly promoted side draw 1-1 with the Red Devils at Portman Road on Sunday. After the game, Amorim was being interviewed on Sky Sports when Sheeran walked into shot and began speaking to analyst Jamie Redknapp. Amorim did not appear […]

Communities in England and Wales are starting a “massive clean-up” after torrential rain and widespread flooding from Storm Bert over the weekend. Residents in affected areas have said they do not believe the chaos will by cleared by Christmas, as the Environment Secretary said the UK’s flood defences were in the “worst condition on record”. Hundreds of homes were left under water, roads were turned into rivers and winds of […]