Author: UK News

Tiger Woods and his teen son Charlie ended day one of the PNC Championship in a three-way tie for first with a score of 13 under 59.Teams Langer and Singh, who both also carded 59, are locked in at equal scores with Team Woods, with the legendary golfing family managing five straight birdies down the stretch in Orlando, Florida.The PNC event is Tiger’s first competition since surgery on his back in September; his sixth in 10 years.Charlie Woods, right, gets a fist bump from his father, Tiger Woods during the first round of the PNC Championship (Phelan M Ebenhack/AP) (Phelan M.…

In a small office at Cashel Town Shopping Centre, Geno Kavanagh is suiting up in a hurry. He pulls on his big black boots, combs his beard in a small mirror, and finishes off his ensemble with a pair of white gloves.When his transformation is complete, he is somehow different: his voice becomes deeper and warmer, his shoulders draw back. When Geno dons his suit, he feels suddenly somehow larger than himself. That’s hardly surprising, because he’s playing a role that lives in the imaginations of millions of children around the world: these are big boots to fill. Each year, for…

When she was six, Sara complained that her mother hit her, but that her father and stepmother, who were convicted of her murder, didn’t. Sara Sharif told a social worker she felt safe living with her father and stepmother because “they don’t hit me”, four years before she died from their brutal campaign of torture. The school girl’s haunting words are buried in hundreds of pages of private family court papers that were disclosed after an application by media organisations, including WTX News. Asked what made her happy, Sara replied: “Movie night and when people play with me … When…

UK to ban bee-killing pesticides but highly toxic type could still be allowed Ministers set out plans for outlawing neonicotinoids but considering application by farmers to use Cruiser SB. The EU banned all emergency authorisations of neonicotinoid pesticides, while since 2021 the UK government Bee-killing pesticides are to be banned by the UK government, as ministers set out plans to outlaw the use of neonicotinoids. However, the highly toxic neonicotinoid Cruiser SB could be allowed for use next year, as ministers are considering applications from the National Farmers’ Union and British Sugar. This powerful pesticide poisons bees by destroying their…

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning putting the Christmas getaway under threat by 80mph winds. Many regions of the country will be impacted this weekend with warnings of heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph that are likely to cause travel disruption. Christmas getaway under threat by 80mph winds The Met Office has said travellers can expect disruption during the busiest weekend of the year. Christmas getaway under threat by 80 mph winds as Met Office warns of travel disruption. Millions of journeys are expected to be made across the country by car, in what the RAC…

The US Senate has rushed through the final passage of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid.Facing a government shutdown deadline, the restructured bill dropped President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.House Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season.Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talks to reporters after the House approved the funding bill (Jose Luis Magana/AP) (Jose Luis Magana/AP) But the day’s outcome was uncertain after Mr Trump doubled down on his…

The US Senate passes government funding bill to avoid shutdown. The Senate has rushed through the final passage of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid. US Senate passes government funding bill to avoid shutdown Facing a government shutdown deadline, the restructured bill dropped President-elect Donald Trump’s demands for a debt limit increase into the new year. House Speaker Mike Johnson had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson talks to reporters But the day’s outcome was…

Two decades after a catastrophic tsunami destroyed her village, Tria Asnani still cries when she recalls how she lost her mother while trying to escape the giant waves.Now a school teacher, she was only 17 at the time. Her father, a fisherman, never returned home from sea. She does not know how she survived.“I cannot swim. I could only rely on dhikr (Islamic prayer),” she said.On December 26 2004, a powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami which killed around 230,000 people across a dozen countries, reaching as far as East Africa.Visitors…

An elderly couple have transformed part of their home into a mini museum as they open their pride and joy — Ireland’s largest private porcelain doll collection — to the public. Mary and Billy O’Keeffe, who live in Schull, never imagined their now 3,525-strong display would multiply to the extent that it has. Starting a doll collection had never been part of their plans until a quirk of fate changed everything. Ireland’s largest private porcelain doll collection It all began almost 13 years ago when Mary decided her husband was in dire need of a distraction, a culture shock to…

All supermarket Christmas and New Year 2024 opening times for Tesco, Asda, Aldi and six others Some are opening earlier, others are staying shut on Boxing Day https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/supermarket-christmas-new-year-2024-30634420

British composer Harry Gregson-Williams has said there was “plenty of pressure” following in the footsteps of Hans Zimmer to create the Gladiator II soundtrack, but his former boss was “bursting with pride” on hearing the new music.Gregson-Williams said Oscar-winning composer Zimmer, who wrote the score for the original film, was “one of the first calls” he made after Sir Ridley Scott offered him the Gladiator sequel 18 months ago.“I was really thrilled to be asked by Ridley, but it was not something I ever expected to do – a sequel to a Hans Zimmer score – him being my old…

Developer Michael O’Flynn has called for a radical rethink of how housing is delivered if a new government is to have any hope of addressing the housing deficit.Writing today in the ‘Irish Examiner’, the chairman and CEO of the O’Flynn Group, says certain proposed legislative changes would act as an impediment rather than a stimulus to housing delivery. He says this includes the Land (Zoning Value Sharing) Bill where the State would secure 25% of the uplift in value of land, following its zoning for residential use.The new Bill is “a prime example of policymakers lacking understanding of the impact…

Michael Babalola posed with stacks of cash and watches which helped officers prove he was selling drugs (Picture: Cambridgeshire Police) A drug dealer was caught after he was spotted posing for pictures wearing three Rolex watches. Michael Babalola, from Lewisham, south london, posed with stacks of cash and watches which helped officers prove he was selling drugs. The 24-year-old was arrested in May last year after police raided his brother Olusegen’s home in Peterborough. Officers found more than £7,000 worth of heroin and crack cocaine hidden in a tissue box. They also found weighing scales and mobile phones, including the…

A car has ploughed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, killing at least two people and injuring at least 60 others in what authorities called a deliberate attack.The driver was arrested at the scene shortly after the car barrelled into the market at around 7pm on Friday when it was teeming with holiday shoppers looking forward to the weekend.Verified bystander footage distributed by the German news agency dpa showed the suspect surrender. He stood in the middle of the road and put his hands up before lying down and waiting for armed officers to…

Two decades after a catastrophic tsunami destroyed her village, Tria Asnani still cries when she recalls how she lost her mother while trying to escape the giant waves.Now a school teacher, she was only 17 at the time. Her father, a fisherman, never returned home from sea. She does not know how she survived.“I cannot swim. I could only rely on dhikr (Islamic prayer),” she said.On December 26 2004, a powerful 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami which killed around 230,000 people across a dozen countries, reaching as far as East Africa.…

Almost all of Friday’s front pages lead with French rape victim Gisèle Pelicot after her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for drugging and raping her – and inviting 50 other men to rape her whilst she was unconscious, over ten years.

All the men were convicted on at least one charge.

Gisèle Pelicot’s case has garnered global attention, notably because she waived the right to anonymity and, along with the fact her ex-husband filmed the attacks over the decade, there was so much evidence to present publicly – something not common with rape cases.

Following the sentencing, Pelicot stood outside the court and told the public she did not regret going public with the case and told sex abuse survivors that they “share the same fight”.

Away from Pelicot, there is coverage of the UK economy as the papers react after the Bank of England’s downgrading of the economy’s growth outlook.

Lord Mandelson is expected to be named as the UK’s next ambassador to the US, whilst online many news sites report on a looming US government shutdown.

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Met Office issues wind warnings of up to 85mph across parts of UK as Christmas holidays begin The UK is set to see rain and disruptive winds of up to 85mph this weekend as the Met Office issues weather warnings for Christmas holiday drivers. Yellow wind warnings have been released for the weekend, with one covering Scotland, much of Northern Ireland, north Wales and north-west England between 7am and midnight on Saturday. Another warning is in place between midnight and 9pm on Sunday, covering Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and all of western England. Met Office issues wind warnings of up…

Political heavyweight Lord Peter Mandelson to be named next ambassador to US. The Labour grandee is expected to be the next UK ambassador to the US. Lord Mandelson, who served in the cabinets of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is poised to be the UK’s next top diplomat in Washington, in a political appointment as President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. The tenure of Dame Karen Pierce, the current office holder, is expected to come to an end in early 2025 and Lord Mandelson had been widely tipped as the person next in line for the job. A source said that…

Emotional TV tribute to music icon one year on from her death Music stars will pay tribute to a remarkable mentor who taught generations of singers in a special TV programme on the first anniversary of her death. Leah Owen’s distinctive voice captivated audiences for decades, but she was also a hugely successful conductor, tutor, adjudicator and composer. Her legacy will be celebrated during Noson Lawen – Cofio Leah Owen which will be broadcast on S4C at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 4, exactly a year after she passed away at the age of 70. She grew up in Rhosmeirch on Anglesey,…

A raft of new peers are set to be announced, with numbers expected to be boosted on Labour’s benches in the House of Lords.Partygate investigator and Sir Keir’s ex-chief of staff Sue Gray is reportedly among the Labour figures set to be elevated to the Lords this week.The Sun newspaper reported that Ms Gray could be among 30 new Labour peers appointed.She came to prominence in 2022 with the report into Downing Street parties, and then became Sir Keir’s chief of staff in opposition before following him into Number 10.She quit the role in October after a series of internal…

The Wisconsin 15-year-old who shot and killed a teacher and a fellow pupil was in her first term at the school but seemed to be settling in, a school official said.Abundant Life Christian School (ACLS) student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison, and teacher Erin West, 42, of DeForest, were killed on Monday.Two other pupils who were shot remained in hospital on Thursday in a critical condition.Families of the victims remembered them as people of faith who had deep connections within the Christian school.Barbara Wiers, the school’s director for elementary and communications, said the attack lasted eight minutes and the…

HS2 boss defends spending £100m on ‘bat shed’ that Starmer described as ‘absurd’ – UK politics live Mark Wild also admitted that HS2 had been rushed and ‘construction started way too early’ In her response to the statement from Karin Smyth, Caroline Johnson, the shadow health minister, suggested the extra money for hospices would not fully compensate the extra costs the sector is facing because of the national insurance increase and the rise in the living wage. She said: On October 30 the chancellor decided to break her election promise by increasing employers’ national insurance contributions and reducing the threshold…