News – World and UK

A persistent slowdown in activity among private sector firms could weigh on economic growth over the coming months, with businesses set to cut staff and raise prices, according to a survey. The upcoming increase to national insurance contributions has prompted firms to assess their budgets urgently, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said. Output across the private sector is expected to drop over the next three months, having fallen over […]

The King will travel to Auschwitz to mark the 80th anniversary of its liberation as Sir Keir Starmer spoke of the “collective endeavour” to defeat the “hatred of difference” on Holocaust Memorial Day. Charles will join survivors and other dignitaries invited to a service at the site of the former concentration camp in Poland on Monday, also meeting the country’s President Andrzej Duda during his brief visit. The Prince of […]

Simultaneous vigils of prayer for 12-year-old Birmingham schoolboy Leo Ross have taken place at two churches in the Hall Green and Yardley Wood areas of the city. The two-hour services, held a day after a youth aged 14 was charged with Leo’s murder and six unconnected assaults, saw prayers offered at five-minute intervals for Leo, his family and friends. West Midlands Police confirmed on Saturday that Leo’s alleged killer, who […]

President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would like to see Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations increase the number of Palestinian refugees they are accepting from the Gaza Strip. Mr Trump also floated potentially moving out enough of the population to “just clean out” the war-torn area to create a virtual clean slate. During a 20-minute question-and-answer session with reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Mr Trump said he discussed his vision […]

Gusts of 80mph have been recorded in south-west England amid further wind and rain warnings in the wake of Storm Eowyn. A new weather front has arrived in the South West and will move northwards across England and Wales during Sunday. An 82mph gust was recorded in Predannack, south Cornwall, on Sunday morning. Areas that bore the brunt of Storm Eowyn will “generally fare a little bit better” but there […]

Wynne Evans has apologised for an “inappropriate and unacceptable” remark during the Strictly Come Dancing live tour launch. The Welsh opera singer, 52, who is known for the Go.Compare insurance advertisements, has been touring with the live show after competing on the BBC One programme with Katya Jones last year. Evans missed dancing on the tour in Glasgow on Saturday due to an ankle injury but is hoping to return. […]

Rachel Reeves suggested the full Cabinet must back any potential expansion of Heathrow Airport despite previous opposition from senior Government figures, as she all but confirmed plans to endorse a third runway. The Chancellor refused to be drawn on “speculation” over an upcoming announcement she is expected to make about the project but said decisions would be subject to “full collective ministerial responsibility”. Facing questions from Sunday broadcasters about how […]

More than 100,000 remain without power in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn. Additional engineers have been brought to the region from Great Britain to help NIE Networks with the task of restoring power. Some 52 engineers from England were scheduled to arrive on Saturday, with 30 to be utilised by NIE and 22 to assist ESB Networks in the Irish Republic, and further resources to follow. The storm has […]

Environmental assessments for building homes and infrastructure will be replaced with a new system as the Government seeks to cut red tape and speed up planning application approvals. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Environmental Impact Assessments would be replaced by Environmental Outcome Reports as she turns to “avenues that others have shied away from” to “kick-start” the economy. The Treasury described the current assessments as “voluminous and costly documents” and said […]