Author: David Pike

David Pike is an experienced news journalist with over 20 years experience as a UK News editor for WTX News and other news publications.

People leaving direct provision are facing straight into homelessness due to an “ad hoc system” that is heaping “maximum stress” on services, local authorities and the international protection applicants themselves.Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the system appears designed to ensure that the failure of Ireland’s housing system and its asylum system falls “most heavily” on those who have come to Ireland for protection and have had that claim upheld.“[This is] one…

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A top English academy trust faces safeguarding review over abuse of pupils after an Observer investigation into London school has sparked an inquiry into allegations that teachers harmed mental wellbeing of children at Mossbourne Victoria Park academy in Hackney. This reports suggest academies believe they are immune to normal education standards, especially, because they are ‘out of reach’ from local authorities. Academies are not funded by local authorities and many councils privately voice frustration about…

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Deportations reach five-year high despite concerns of rights groups Campaigners fear lives could be put at risk as government sets record number of deportationsThe government has announced that it has deported almost 13,500 people since coming to power, something ministers say proves their tough approach towards migrants but which human rights campaigners have warned could put lives at risk.The government says it is on track to deliver the highest number of returns for five years…

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Train disruption on Sunday with reduced timetable in action According to a post on their official website and social media, the significant disruption is expected due to “crew availability”. As a result, the train operators are working on a reduced timetable, which will affect the following routes: london Paddington to South Wales London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads London Paddington to Devon and Cornwall Local services to Exeter and Bristol are also expected to be…

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US superstar singer and actress Cher says she feels you have to “play by the rules” of beauty standards.The 78-year-old Goddess of Pop, who poke at the Women’s March rally against Donald Trump during his first presidency in 2018 and released the song Woman’s World, has long been seen as an female icon.When asked if she accepted the unrealistic beauty standards that are part of the deal for women in the public eye, Cher told…

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Thieves made off with £200,000 worth of goods after raiding a luxury store in north London. Luxury handbags and watches were among the haul burgled from a shop on Bunns Lane, Mill Hill, in north London, after 10.30pm on Tuesday, December 3. CCTV released today shows one of the pair peeking around a door marked as an emergency exit before both entered the hallway with carrier bags. Both were clad in dark clothes, face masks,…

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In a significant move for global religious freedom, the UK Government has appointed David Smith MP as its new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). This appointment, announced in early December 2024, signals the government’s commitment to advancing religious liberty across the globe and responds to increasing concerns over the persecution of religious minorities in many parts of the world. Smith, a Conservative MP with a strong track record on human rights…

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South Korea’s opposition leader urged the Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on a bid to remove president Yoon Suk Yeol from office, the day after parliament voted to impeach him over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law.Mr Yoon’s powers will be suspended until the court rules on the case, either removing Mr Yoon from office or restoring his powers.The court has up to 180 days to decide, and if he is dismissed, a national…

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Thousands of people dressed as Father Christmas jammed streets, pavements and bars around the world on Saturday for annual SantaCon charity pub crawls.In New York City, where temperatures hovered around freezing, the merriment kicked off at about 10am and was expected to stretch into the evening.Santas and others dressed as Grinches and elves strolled to bars and clubs, flooding the streets with a crimson tide of Christmas cheer. New York SantaCon” srcset=”https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=320 320w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=640 640w,…

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Welsh public bodies ‘could be shortchanged on NI hike’ Mark Drakeford told the Senedd’s finance committee the cost of workers within the Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector employee will be covered by the UK treasury. Andrew Jeffreys, director of the Welsh treasury, explained the UK Government plans to use the Barnett formula to decide how much Wales will receive based on the costs in England. But Prof Drakeford said: “That’s not…

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Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like relations with the EU to change Rachel Reeves has spoken of a reset in EU relations. Here, experts in everything from music to farming explain what they hope it will meanEarlier this week, the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said she was hoping talks in the new year could lead to an extensive “reset” of post-Brexit relations.The remarks were seized on by leave supporters who fear a…

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Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect, especially with his recent worrying and close relationship to Elon Musk Donald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-ap-apple-tim-cook-ceo-b2664288.html

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  There was a family reunion for my wife Fionnuala’s ones last week and I ended up being a designated driver. I didn’t mind at all but after leaving one group of hyper-active relations home, I got a call to say two of her cousins were stuck and needed a lift to Greencastle. “Where the hell is that?” “Not too far. They’ll keep you right,” Fionnuala said. “And don’t be grumpy.” I was grumpy. I…

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British actress Jane Seymour said she got out of her Malibu home “just in time” with only the clothes on her back as the Californian wildfire came “right up to my house”.The James Bond star praised firefighters who did an “astounding” job saving her home from the blaze – dubbed the Franklin Fire – which ignited on Monday evening.Seymour said her “whole house smells of smoke” after returning on Thursday, having rushed to evacuate the…

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The heartbroken sisters of Aoife Johnston, who died in University Hospital Limerick after contracting meningitis-related sepsis, feel no one has been held accountable.The Leaving Cert student from Shannon, Co Clare died on December 19, 2022, after presenting at the emergency department of UHL with symptoms of the deadly virus two days earlier.The 16-year-old was referred by her GP and should have been treated with the necessary medication within an hour.Instead, the teenager endured 13 agonising…

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Timothee Chalamet stepped out with blonde locks in a nod to Bob Dylan at the New York premiere of A Complete Unknown.The US actor stars as influential folk singer Dylan in the Oscar-tipped film, which follows his early days as a musician in New York City, culminating in his famed performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.Oscar-nominated Chalamet bore a striking resemblance to the musician at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, sporting a shaggy blonde…

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Euphoria. That is the closest word to describe how I feel right now, yet it still falls short of capturing the overwhelming tide of emotions coursing through me.I am in disbelief, marvelling at the sheer impossibility of what has happened. How could a regime that brutalised Syrians for over 53 years be toppled in just 10 days? And yet, it happened.Millions of Syrians, whether inside Syria or in the diaspora, feel relatively the same.I myself…

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The head of the largest housebuilding firm in the United Kingdom has said Labour’s vow to build 1.5 million homes during this parliament is not possible due to a severe skills shortage.Asked if there were enough workers to build the extra homes promised by the Prime Minister and his deputy Angela Rayner, Barratt Redrow chief executive David Thomas told the BBC: “The short answer is no.”He added that Sir Keir’s government would have to “revolutionise…

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South Korea’s Parliament is set to vote on an opposition-led impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday.The vote comes two days after Mr Yoon defended his controversial martial law decree and vowed to resist mounting calls for his ouster.It will be the second time for the National Assembly to hold a vote on an impeachment motion over the short-lived December 3 martial law introduction.Last Saturday, Mr Yoon survived an impeachment vote after most…

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Prince Andrew friend loses appeal on UK ban over national security A Chinese businessman described as a “close confidant” of the Duke of York has lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds. The man, known only as H6, brought a case to the special immigration appeals commission (SIAC) after the then-home secretary, Suella Braverman, said he should be excluded from the UK in March 2023.…

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A close friend of Prince Andrew has lost his appeal against a decision banning him from the UK on national security grounds. An MI5 investigation alleged the man – known as H6 – was spying for China.

The UK economy shrank for the second month in a row in October as concerns about the Budget continued to weigh on confidence.

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have discovered their 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents following Friday’s draw in Zurich. England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist leader François Bayrou as France’s next prime minister, in a bid to end months of political turmoil.

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