News – World and UK

Government efforts in recent years to address violence against women and girls (VAWG) have not improved outcomes for victims, according to the spending watchdog. VAWG is a “significant and growing problem” affecting one in 12 women, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. But it added that the Home Office – the main department in charge of work to tackle it – “is not currently leading an effective cross-government response”. A […]

Manchester United booked their place in the last-16 of the Europa League to end the league phase unbeaten, while Tottenham struck three times in the second half to follow them through with a win over Elfsborg. Rangers completed a clean sweep of British teams to avoid the play-offs after they beat Union Saint-Gilloise and results elsewhere meant the Scottish side pinched eighth spot. Arsenal landed themselves in hot water for […]

Britain will mark five years since Brexit on Friday with little fanfare as the Government pursues closer relations with the bloc. The UK officially left the EU at 11pm – midnight in Brussels – on January 31 2020, after three-and-a-half years of political wrangling that followed the 2016 Brexit referendum. The Conservatives have celebrated the anniversary, with shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel saying it marked five years since her […]

Online shopping fraud cost consumers more than £56 million last year, marking a rise of 20%. Consumers reported 68,000 cases of online shopping fraud in the 2023-24 financial year, with losses totalling more than £56.3 million, according to data from Action Fraud obtained by the Lib Dems through a Freedom of Information request. This is compared to £46.6 million of losses in the previous year to fraudulent online shopping scams […]

Some children as young as four are waiting up to 18 months to access NHS physiotherapy services, according to a survey of professionals in the sector. Respondents spoke of “severe understaffing”, with one physiotherapist claiming some families whose children have suffered “devastating injuries” are forced to travel hundreds of miles for support. Experts said the distress caused to youngsters by these delays could last a lifetime, and warned that long […]

The Archbishop of York has “categorically rejected” allegations that he bullied members of a committee to secure the Rt Rev Dr John Perumbalath’s appointment as Bishop of Liverpool, hours after the latter resigned following sexual assault and harassment allegations against him. Bishop Perumbalath said he decided to retire without any admission of fault or liability, but to avoid the issue being “a distraction”, after Channel 4 news reported earlier this […]

Scores of people staged a sit-down protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday as bids to appeal against the sentences of more than a dozen climate activists continued at the Court of the Appeal. The Strand in central London was closed as campaigners sat outside the court building, with some holding pictures of 16 activists currently seeking to challenge their sentences for their involvement in climate protests. In […]

The Princess of Wales left her mark when she followed tradition and made a handprint for a children’s hospice she described as a “lifeline”. Kate celebrated becoming patron of Ty Hafan children’s hospice in South Wales by visiting the centre where she did not unveil a plaque but contributed to a wall of handprints from youngsters and their families supported by staff. She was announced as the hospice’s new figurehead […]

A BBC review into the conduct of Russell Brand during his time with the broadcaster has found a number of people “felt unable to raise” concerns about the presenter and believed he “would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent”. The review was carried out by Peter Johnston, BBC director of editorial complaints and reviews, and focused on Brand’s behaviour on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 […]