Author: UK News

UK must do more to lead innovation in bio-tech sector, Lords committee says The UK has already lost its position as a world-leader in certain scientific innovations and technologies, and is in “severe” danger of slipping further behind without urgent action, a House of Lords report has warned. The cross-party Lords Science and Technology Committee said the UK must do more to boost innovation in the area of engineering biology to prevent it from entering a “doom loop” where foreign competitors leapfrog British efforts. The report follows an eight-month inquiry into engineering biology, an emerging area of science which uses…

More than 100 AI trials to boost small-business productivity launched Some 120 projects trialling how AI could help small businesses be more productive have been launched by the Government in its first wave of initiatives to use the technology to boost the economy. The projects include an AI tool that can predict potholes before they appear, another which can anticipate where mould is likely to grow in buildings and another being trialled at a bakery aimed at cutting food waste. Each of the projects will receive a share of £7 million in Government funding to help test the AI technology.…

Proposals aim to protect UK infrastructure from ransomware All public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure could be banned from making ransomware payments under new Government proposals designed to combat the cyber crime. A Home Office consultation is being launched that will consider expanding the existing ban on government departments making such payments, which are often demanded by cybercriminals to unlock or return files they have accessed after breaking into a computer system. The proposals also include a ransomware payment prevention regime, designed to increase the National Crime Agency’s awareness of live attacks and block payments to known criminal groups…

TV host signs off with powerful message as channel shuts down after 10 years TV channel London Live is closing after over 10 years. Bosses made the announcement with a statement addressed to their ‘loyal followers’ today. Posted on X, the message began on a sombre note, admitting that ‘sadly’, the channel will be going off air. ‘The TV channel will no longer be on air from 12am on 20th January and the final news programme will be on 16th January at 6pm,’ the statement confirmed. ‘We want to thank you for following and supporting us over the last 10…

The government is to set out plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently. The AI Opportunities Action Plan being announced on Monday will be backed by leading tech firms, which are said to have committed £14bn towards various projects, creating 13,250 jobs, the government said.

The pound has dropped to its lowest value against the dollar since November 2023 while government borrowing costs have continued to rise. The pound fell to $1.21 on Monday morning as the recent sell-off continued.

A new way of tackling homelessness is showing promise. Will it catch on? Mexico, Canada and now the UK are among those offering direct financial support to homeless people. The results are encouraging Homelessness is a growing problem in the UK with a record number of people living in temporary accommodation. It adds urgency to a new trial that will see homeless people in England and Wales receive direct financial support to help get them back on their feet.  The pilot will recruit 360 people, half of whom will continue to receive their current level of support – so acting…

Dry and cold in the south today with some sunny spells. Cloudier in the north with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Windy in northern areas with gales in northern Scotland. Mild in the north. Tonight: Staying largely cloudy across with north with light outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Dry and cold in the south with some clear spells, allowing for patchy fog and frost.

Kyle Walker’s imminent departure from Manchester City to Italian club Inter Milan leads The Sun newspaper. Little Mix singer Jesy makes the front page after she announced she was pregnant with twins whilst there is also coverage of the nurse stabbed by a patient at a hospital in Manchester. A man has been arrested and the nurse is said to be in a critical condition. Bid to save marriage: La dolce cheater The Sun front page reports on Manchester City and England player Kyle Walker’s request to leave City and go play abroad – namely in Italy. The paper said…

James Cleverly writes for today’s edition of the Express. The former Home Secretary slams Labour and says families and businesses are suffering. Elsewhere, the death of a PC leads the front page after a tragic crash killed the woman described as the “very best of British policing.” Dancing on Ice makes the front splash. Britain under ‘tax assault’ from ‘inept’ Labour Writing for the Daily Express, former Home Secretary James Cleverly accused the government of a “tax attack,” claiming that rising taxes have harmed families, businesses, farmers, and schools. The government cited significant challenges during its initial months in office. Britain…

A horror attack at an A&E in Manchester has seen a nurse stabbed by a 37-year-old man. It’s understood that the attack on the nurse was triggered by a dispute over waiting times. Celebrity stories make up the rest of the Daily Mirror’s front page, including a report that darts star Luke Littler has hired a bodyguard and Little Mix singer Jesy has revealed she is pregnant with twins. Nurse attacked: Stab horror in A&E A nurse at Royal Oldham Hospital suffered life-changing injuries after being attacked by a 37-year-old man. The female member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital…

Most of the front page is dominated by UK news – though a spot is left to cover the LA wildfires. There is coverage of the government’s plans to expand AI use in the UK’s public sector as well as a recent poll that suggests young people are shunning democracy in favour of “strong leaders without elections”. The ongoing cold snap – (and the rising flu cases) also make the front page. From schools to potholes: huge expansion of AI in public sector The government is set to unveil its AI plans today, a story The Guardian has chosen to…

The Independent continues with its coverage of the chancellor and the UK economy. The paper has been a harsh critic of Rachel Reeves since she revealed her October Budget. Elsewhere, the LA wildfires are also covered. Online, The Independent leads with the same two stories – and reports the death toll in the LA fires is rising amid fears of strong winds returning to the affected areas further fanning the flames. Top companies’ confidence in Reeves plunges The Independent’s lead story reports that the chancellor is facing backlash since her “much criticised” trip to China. The paper says Rachel Reeves’s…

Wildfires lead the front page of the Metro – and dominate the website. There are several stories about the ongoing crisis in California, including a backlash against the wealthy for hiring private firefighters, the return of strong winds to the area, the ongoing looter crisis that has swept the affected areas and greedy landlords taking advantage of those in crisis. Los Angeles Wildfires: L.A.WLESS Metro’s lead story reports that there is growing backlash to Los Angeles elites – including Hollywood celebrities – over reports that they are hiring private firefighters to protect their homes and properties. The paper’s front page…

Monday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic and international stories. Several newspapers lead with the prime minister’s AI strategy – set to be revealed today. Keir Starmer will set out plans to use AI across the country to boost growth and deliver public services more efficiently.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan being announced on Monday will be backed by leading tech firms, which are said to have committed £14bn towards various projects, creating 13,250 jobs.

Away from the AI story, many of the papers are made up of a mixture of news. Several papers continue their coverage of the LA wildfires, whilst images of the UK’s frosty weather make some of the newspapers.

The back pages report on Manchester United knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup yesterday – as well as news Man City and England player Kyle Walker wants to leave the Premier League and play abroad.

Body of missing man found after 45-day landfill search  Cumali Turhan was last seen in The Globe pub in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford The body of a missing man has been found by police at a landfill site in Essex. Cumali Turhan, 46, was last seen in The Globe pub in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, in the early hours of November 19 and was feared murdered. Officers discovered Mr Turhan’s body on Saturday after 45 days of scouring the landfill site and his family have been informed. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, of Essex Police, said the investigation has been “extremely challenging”.…

Thomas Taylor: Three teenagers charged with murder after boy, 17, stabbed near bus station Three teenagers charged as detectives make further arrests in connection with Thomas Taylor’s death Three teenagers have been charged with murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed near a bus station in Bedford. Thomas Taylor died after being attacked in Greenhill Street at about 5.50pm on Wednesday, Bedfordshire Police said. He died as a result of his injuries after being taken to hospital. Ahmed Adam, 18, of Mardale Close, Kempston, and two other males aged 16 and 17 who cannot be named for legal reasons were…

British troops should join post-war peacekeeping force in Ukraine, former defence ministers say Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to raise the issue during Keir Starmer’s upcoming trip to Kyiv Two former UK defence secretaries have joined calls for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force in a post-war Ukraine. Boris Johnson, who was prime minister when Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, is among those to have recently suggested that British troops should form part of a European force sent to guard Ukraine’s border under any future ceasefire with Russia. France’s Emmanuel Macron reportedly travelled to…

Reeves returns from China to new crisis in top UK business confidence amid economic woes  A survey by Deloitte of the chief finance officers of major companies has revealed that business confidence is at one of its lowest points since the Covid-19 pandemic Rachel Reeves is flying back from China to London facing a new serious warning as Deloitte reported that business bosses’ confidence is at one of its lowest points since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. After suffering a barrage of criticism for going ahead with her controversial trip to China, the chancellor is being told that her management…

UK to go ‘all-in’ on AI as Starmer throws weight of Whitehall behind technology Sir Keir Starmer will throw the weight of Whitehall fully behind AI in a bid to boost growth. The Prime Minister is set to unveil his Government’s AI Opportunity Action Plan on Monday as he seeks to make Britain a world leader in the sector. He said: “The AI industry needs a Government that is on their side, one that won’t sit back and let opportunities slip through its fingers. “And in a world of fierce competition, we cannot stand by. We must move fast and…

How Farage lost the Brexit Party and why it means Reform is not inevitable Nigel Farage has lost the rights to the Brexit Party name in an apparent admin slip – the party he led to victory in the last ever European elections in the UK, effectively took out Theresa May’s premiership and ensured Britain would leave the EU. He may not care now that he leads its successor party Reform UK but it is a rare symbolic loss for a man whose ascendancy currently appears to be inevitable. The story of how he snatched the Brexit Party name from…

Senior Labour politician questions Elon Musk’s ‘reluctance’ to appear before MPs in parliament  Chair of parliament’s technology committee invited Elon Musk in December to give evidence before MPs A senior Labour MP has questioned Elon Musk’s apparent “reluctance” to appear before MPs in parliament despite the billionaire’s barrage of interventions on UK politics using his social media site X. The House of Commons technology committee invited the world’s richest man in December to give evidence in parliament as part of its inquiry into the role of social media and misinformation in fuelling the summer riots that erupted in the wake…

Former minister ‘asked army chief to resign over national security incident’ General Sir Gwyn Jenkins is considered a frontrunner for the post of next chief of defence staff A former minister suggested that the most senior chiefs in the British military should resign over a “national security” incident that occurred under the Conservative government, it has been reported. General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, who was vice-chief of the defence staff at the time, was reportedly asked by a Tory minister whether or not he or Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the head of the armed forces, would take the fall for the…

Voices: Are you worried about the private sector’s role in the NHS? Join The Independent Debate  Jeremy Corbyn’s criticism of Labour’s NHS plans has reignited debate over the role of private healthcare in the public system. Jeremy Corbyn’s critique of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s healthcare policies has reignited debate about the future of the NHS. In an article for The Independent, the former Labour leader accused Starmer of “betraying” the NHS by expanding the private sector’s role, a move he warns will “hollow out” the public health service. Corbyn claimed this approach undermines the NHS’s founding principle of universal,…

Nurse in critical condition after Stabbing at hospital A&E A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a nurse was seriously injured in a stabbing at Royal Oldham Hospital’s A&E department. The nurse, a woman in her 50s, was left in a critical condition after being stabbed by a member of the public at about 11.30pm on Saturday, Greater Manchester Police said. The attack was carried out with a bladed article or sharp instrument which was not a knife and nurse remains in hospital after suffering life-changing injuries. A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on…

Starmer accused of being ‘asleep at the wheel’ as A&E waits up 400-fold in a decade The Labour government has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” as new data has shown that there were a record 518,000 waits of 12 hours or longer in A&E last year. The figure, produced by the Liberal Democrats, is nearly 400-times higher than 2015’s figure of 1,306. The data shows that the number of 12-hour waits, recorded from the point of admission, has increased by more than 100,000 on 2023’s figure of 415,000 – a 25 per cent jump. Prior to the…