News – World and UK

Volodymyr Zelensky presented his “victory plan” to Sir Keir Starmer as pressure mounted on the UK to give Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets in Russia. In three-way talks in Downing Street, the Prime Minister, the Ukrainian president and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte discussed the state of the war. Mr Rutte said there was no legal reason preventing the use of Western-supplied weapons against targets within […]

Police-recorded religious hate crime in England and Wales was up by a quarter over the past year, driven by a rise in offences against Jews and Muslims since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, official figures show. Hate crimes targeted at Jewish people more than doubled while incidents against Muslims were up 13% on the previous 12 months, according to Home Office data. There were a total of 10,484 religious […]

The Government has published its plans for workers’ rights, describing them as the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Employment Rights Bill will raise the minimum floor of employment rights, raise living standards across the country and provide better support for those businesses which are engaged in good practices. In a statement, he said: “This is a comprehensive Bill which, once implemented, will represent the biggest […]

Hurricane Milton batters Florida leaving more than three million without power But the storm spared Tampa a direct hit. It tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall on Wednesday night in Siesta Key near Sarasota, about 70 miles (112 kilometres) south of Tampa. The situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency as St Petersburg recorded over 16 inches (41 centimetres) of rain, prompting […]

The UK economy grew in August after it was flat in the previous two months, according to the latest official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said gross domestic product (GDP) recorded 0.2% growth in August, up from no growth in June or July. It was in line with economist predictions but is nevertheless a boost for Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of this month’s autumn Budget. ONS director of […]

Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Downing Street on Thursday as he tours European nations seeking support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia. The Ukrainian president will meet Sir Keir Starmer and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, with the Prime Minister expected to underline the UK’s commitment to the defence of Ukraine. The visit will be Mr Zelensky’s second trip to Number 10 since Sir Keir came to power after he addressed an extraordinary […]

Former Sheffield United defender George Baldock has died at the age of 31. Greece international Baldock signed for Panathinaikos this summer after a seven-year spell at Bramall Lane. The full-back, who was not named in the Greece squad to face England on Thursday, featured in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Olympiacos. Baldock’s death was confirmed on Wednesday night and a family statement to the PA news agency read: “We can confirm […]

House prices are rising across the UK generally for the first time in two years as the market continues to pick up, surveyors have reported. A balance of 16% of professionals reported prices increasing in September, up from a flat 0% result in August and the first positive reading since October 2022. Demand, sales, and new listings all grew in September, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said. A […]

The UK’s highest ranking Catholic has urged his flock to write to their MPs to oppose proposed changes in assisted dying law. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will formally introduce a private member’s bill on the issue on October 16, with a debate and initial vote possible within weeks. In a letter to be read out in the churches of his diocese, Cardinal Vincent Nichols warned Catholics to “be careful what […]