News – World and UK

Some council tax collection practices “couldn’t have been designed better” to accelerate people’s distress and are like a caricature of loan sharks, consumer champion Martin Lewis has said. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, a charity founded by Mr Lewis, said processes are driving unacceptable harms that disproportionately affect people with mental health problems. Mr Lewis said: “Council tax collection practices are so aggressive they’d make the banks blush. […]

Kate has confirmed she has completed her chemotherapy, and her focus now is to do what she can to 'stay cancer-free' The Princess of Wales has appeared in a deeply personal video with her family to confirm she will return to public duties following the completion of her chemotherapy course. Kate’s heartfelt message about her cancer journey is spoken over images showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, […]

The chairwoman of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has begun to hear evidence relating to the impact of the pandemic on patients and the NHS. Baroness Heather Hallett told the inquiry on Monday morning that she understood people’s concerns over how much evidence would be heard but argued the hearing needed to stick to its timescale. It comes after the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK campaign group said only two of […]

The number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes in Syria has risen to 14 with more than 40 wounded, Syrian state media said. Israeli strikes hit several areas in central Syria late on Sunday, damaging a highway in Hama province and sparking fires, Syrian state news agency SANA said. The initial death count reported by the Masyaf National Hospital in western Hama province was four. SANA, citing hospital head […]

Sir Keir Starmer has promised action to tackle the online sale of deadly weapons as he hosted a summit with knife crime campaigners including Luther star Idris Elba and victims’ families. The Prime Minister promised to “double down” on commitments made before the general election on tackling knife violence. Elba told the summit “talk is good, but action is important” and said he hoped the work done by a coalition […]

Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher has said he is “thrilled and honoured” as a “grumpy middle-aged man, who hates having his picture taken” to have his image added to the National Portrait Gallery. The picture of Gallagher, taken by photographer Zoe Law, will go on display for the first time on November 29, as part of the London gallery’s Legends exhibition, which will feature 100 portraits taken by Law of people […]

The Metropolitan Police “didn’t get everything right” and could have made arrests sooner when policing recent large-sale protests, the force’s assistant commissioner has said. Matt Twist, who is responsible for protest and public order policing across London, also said the force used an “infinite number of tiers of policing” in response to criticisms of the Met adopting a ‘two-tier’ stance. It comes as a new major report revealed the scale […]

Analysis of Covid-related contracts worth some £15.5 billion has identified corruption concerns, campaigners have claimed. The research by Transparency International UK suggests there are questions to answer about the nature of 135 contracts made during the pandemic. The group points to at least 28 contracts, worth £4.1 billion, which went to organisations with close connections at Westminster, particularly with the Conservatives who were in government during the pandemic. It also […]

Training Ukrainian soldiers “constrains” the UK’s ability to train its own troops, the spending watchdog has said. A National Audit Office (NAO) investigation of British military support for Ukraine found a quarter of the Army’s training estate was being for Operation Interflex, the UK’s basic infantry training programme for Ukrainian recruits. The use of facilities for Operation Interflex has meant British Army units saw bids for time in training areas […]