News – World and UK

Edinburgh is set to host an international conference as it celebrates 20 years since becoming the world’s first Unesco City of Literature. The Scottish capital gained the permanent designation in recognition of its significance as a “literary capital” on October 13, 2004. The Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, which originally devised the concept of a City of Literature, has since organised hundreds of literature-related events and projects in the city. […]

Theresa May has said “justice is unlikely” for the victims of the Novichok nerve agent attacks, days before an independent inquiry begins into the Russian-state Salisbury poisonings of 2018. The former prime minister told the BBC she hopes friends and family of Wiltshire woman Dawn Sturgess, who was killed after coming into contact with the Russian-engineered nerve agent, “will take some comfort” from the probe into her death, set to […]

The Met Police say claims relate to 40 alleged victims Police say they are investigating 40 new allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed and others since the broadcast of a BBC documentary. The Metropolitan Police say claims relating to 40 alleged victims include sexual assault and rape between 1979 and 2013. These are in addition to 21 allegations the force was aware of prior to the broadcast last month. Commander Stephen […]

The Government is expected to announce details of a multimillion-pound package to help the transition to a greener way of producing steel at the country’s biggest steel plant. Tata Steel is planning to change the way it produces steel at its site in Port Talbot in South Wales, with the loss of up to 2,800 jobs. The company will close the remaining blast furnace at Port Talbot by the end […]

Some apps and websites backed by the alcohol industry – which are designed to help people manage their health – contain “blatant misinformation” and could persuade people to drink more, researchers say. Academics claim there was evidence of “health misinformation and user experience features” in industry-funded tools that were “favourable to commercial interests and could negatively affect the accuracy or perception of health risk information”. The study also identified “dark […]

Hertfordshire Zoo has announced the hatching of two endangered African penguin chicks, named after Oasis frontmen Liam and Noel Gallagher. The zoo added that their lively and energetic personalities have earned them the nickname “the little terrors”. It said: “These cheeky little birds have captured the hearts of zookeepers and visitors alike with their mischievous personalities, reminiscent of the legendary Oasis frontman brothers.” The chicks were born in August and […]

The Emir of Qatar is to pay a state visit to the UK hosted by the King, Buckingham Palace has announced. Charles and the Queen will welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, to London on December 3. They can expect to be feted with a traditional ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade and a […]

Sir Keir Starmer’s embattled former chief of staff Sue Gray will miss a meeting of regional leaders seen as key to her new role as she takes a break before returning to work, it is understood. The Prime Minister will on Friday convene metro mayors and representatives of devolved administrations for the first gathering of his Council of the Nations and Regions in Scotland. He hailed the announcement of around […]

Assisted dying will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons next month, for the first time for almost a decade. MPs will be able to make their opinions known in the Commons on the controversial subject when they debate the bill on choice at the end of life for people with terminal illness on November 29. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill (PMB) is due to […]