News – World and UK

The US Supreme Court on Friday seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning on January 19 unless the popular social media platform is sold by its China-based parent company. Hearing arguments in a momentous clash of free speech and national security concerns, the justices seemed persuaded by arguments that the national security threat posed by the company’s connections to China override concerns […]

Actor Warwick Davis has said he feels “very fortunate” to have a career he loves as he dedicated his Bafta Fellowship award to the cast, crew and audiences who have supported him. The Harry Potter star, 54, will be given Bafta’s highest honour at its annual film awards next month for his “trailblazing work” as an actor as well as for his advocacy work which includes a talent agency and […]

UK gas stores have fallen to “concerningly low” levels amid freezing cold temperatures, the owner of British Gas has said. Centrica said the UK now has less than a week’s worth of demand for gas in store. On Thursday, stocks at UK gas storage sites were 26% lower than the same period last year, leaving them about half full, the energy giant said. Gas inventory levels have come under pressure […]

The opening of the UK’s first safer drugs consumption room will be a “significant step forward” in efforts to tackle Scotland’s drug problem, John Swinney has said. The First Minister was speaking as he toured the Thistle Centre in Glasgow’s east end, which is due to open on Monday. The centre will allow addicts to take drugs under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment, with medical help available if […]

Recruitment freezes in NHS scanning and cancer departments are risking patient care, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has warned. The College said evidence shows NHS trusts are trying to save cash by not filling posts – undermining efforts to cut waiting times for patients and pick up early cancer cases. Others have been placed under freezes by national NHS bodies, preventing them from hiring new trainees, consultants, or other […]

More than two million train tickets will be discounted during a promotion starting next week, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Cheaper Advance and Off-Peak tickets will be available to buy in the rail sale between January 14 and 20. They will be sold for travel across Britain between January 17 and the end of March. Examples of price reductions on typical Advance fares – which are the cheapest […]

Temperatures will continue to fall over the coming days, with the mercury potentially reaching minus 20C Weather warnings for ice are in place across the majority of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as large parts of the east of England.  The lowest overnight temperature was minus 12.4C in Inverness-shire and the Met Office has forecast that lower valleys in Scotland could now reach between minus 12C and minus 16C […]

The death toll has risen to 10 from the Los Angeles-area fires, according to the county coroner’s office. The fast-moving Kenneth Fire started in the late afternoon in the San Fernando Valley near the West Hills neighbourhood and close to Ventura County. Only hours earlier officials expressed encouragement after firefighters aided by calmer winds and help from crews from outside the state saw the first signs of successfully beating back […]

The first safe drug consumption room in the UK will “offer hope” to hundreds of people, community leaders have said. The Thistle will open in the east end of Glasgow on Monday at an existing NHS enhanced drug treatment service. Scotland has the highest rate of drugs deaths in Europe, with fatalities rising by 12% in a year to 1,172 drug-related deaths in 2023, of which 246 were in Glasgow. […]