Author: UK News

Electric car targets under review as backlash grows There is a growing row between the government and the car industry over electric vehicle sales targets which companies say are too high for current consumer demand. The government has said it will launch a consultation on the targets but said it will stick to a deadline to phase-out sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The move comes after Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, said it would close a plant in Luton – putting 1,100 jobs at risk – due in part to the EV target rules. The Society…

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon makes much of the news today bringing an end to a year of fighting. The deal, brokered by France and the US, came into effect at 04:00 local time on Wednesday. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have started returning to their homes in the south, but Israel warns it is not yet safe to return to certain areas.

Britain is set to be battered by another storm – Storm Conall, which will bring heavy rain to south-east England and endanger areas already dealing with flooding from Storm Bert. As of Wednesday morning, there were 99 flood warnings in England, including a severe “danger to life” notice for the River Nene in Northamptonshire, as well as four in Wales.

The upcoming assisted dying bill vote makes the UK news – in print and online – as MPs prepare for Friday’s vote. MPs will get their first chance to debate and vote on Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in principle on Friday. Leadbeater said she expected the vote to be “very close”.

Manchester City’s 3-3 draw finds plenty of space in the UK media. It’s now the sixth game without a win – and more concerningly, City led by 3-0 into the second half.

Locally heavy rain will clear slowly eastwards across central and southern England and Wales, with skies brightening in the west. Gales possible in the southeast. Fog and frost clearing elsewhere to give a day of sunny spells and isolated showers. Tonight: A few showers affecting North Sea coasts of both England and Scotland. Dry elsewhere with clear periods and gentle winds, leading to a widespread frost with some freezing fog patches.

What’s on the front page of The Irish News?  The front page of The Irish News this morning – 27/11/2024 – reports the new maternity hospital in Belfast, initially meant to celebrate the ninth birthday of the first babies born there, remains unopened due to ongoing delays. Spiralling costs, the discovery of bacteria in the water system, and issues with gas pipework have plagued the project. A nearby planned children’s hospital also faces delays, with an expected completion by the end of the decade for £600 million. SDLP MP Colum Eastwood confirms his intention to vote in favour of assisted…

A grave in Co Monaghan has been exhumed by experts searching for Disappeared victim of the Northern Ireland Troubles Joe Lynskey. The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR) said a formal process would be undertaken to establish the identity of all the remains found in the grave in the village of Annyalla. Mr Lynskey, a former monk from Belfast who later joined the IRA, was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972. The IRA only admitted his murder after details of his disappearance were revealed in The Irish News in December 2009. The commission…

What’s on the front page of the Western Mail?The front page of the Western Mail this morning – 27/11/2024 – reports the First Minister of Wales has said that the flood defences saved thousands of homes during Storm Bert. Although around 150 homes were affected, significant investments in defences since 2020, including £300 million in critical projects, have minimised the impact. However, calls for more funding from Westminster have been made, with challenges in securing additional resources for future resilience.The Welsh Health Secretary announces plans to review the 999 ambulance response targets in Wales, aiming to improve the system after…

DWP benefits news December 2024 Across the UK, millions continue to struggle as the rampant inflation of the past few years has left essentials costing more than ever before. Household bills, groceries, mortgages and rents have all hit record highs, as the country navigates the ongoing cost of living crisis. Inflation saw an unwelcome spike to 2.3 per cent in October, marking the steepest rise in two years. Experts had predicted a smaller increase from August’s 1.7 percent, blaming higher energy bills for the rise. Many had hoped that the figure would remain below the Bank of England’s 2 percent…

What’s on the front page of The National? The front page of The National this morning – 27/11/2024 – reports Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, has denied accusations of political manoeuvring after reversing his position on Winter Fuel Payments following poor polling results.Kate Forbes is set to become Scotland’s “investment champion,” promoting economic opportunities and investments in the country.Israel has reached a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah brokered by France and the US after a year of fighting. Elsewhere, the paper runs an exclusive report highlighting the unveiling of “significant” historical finds in Stirling.

What’s on the front page of the Metro? The front page of the Metro this morning 27/11/2024 leads with the teacher from the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in which three little girls were stabbed to death. The 28-year-old was injured in the attack as she attempted to protect the girls. She was speaking at a vigil for women and girls who have lost their lives due to male violence. The top of the paper continues its coverage of its own campaign on male violence towards women. 

What’s on the front page of The Guardian? The front page of The Guardian this morning 27/11/2024 – reports on the ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon after almost a year of fighting. The front page calls it historic. The paper shows an image of smoke above Beirut’s southern suburbs on Tuesday after an Israeli air strike which it calls “some of the heaviest to date on the city.” Elsewhere, comments from car production company Vauxhall also make the front page. The paper reports the owner is planning to close the Luton plant with over 1,000 jobs at risk. A study shows irregular bedtimes…

What’s on the front page of The Independent? The front page of The Independent this morning – 27/11/2024 – leads with the ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by France and the US. The paper says the truce will come into force from 4 am local time after pressure from the US president. The front splash has an image of the heavy Israeli bombing of Beirut yesterday and UN warnings of a humanitarian crisis. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping to get at least 2 million people back to work, the front splash reports. There is also an opinion piece on Donald Trump’s…

The government’s net zero electric car plan features on several front pages this morning after backlash from the car industry. The papers highlight comments from car company Vauxhall which says rules designed to boost EV uptake in the UK have played a role in its decision to close its van factory in Luton.

Other domestic political topics feature on Wednesday’s front pages including Labour’s plans to help people get back to work and free school meals for primary school children.

On the international front, a ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah has started after more than a year at war.

Newport Wafer Fab: £51m invested in Newport’s semiconductor The investment has been supported by £5m of Welsh Government funding and is the latest in a long list of good news for the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster – which continues to attract international interest and recognition. Roy Shoshani, Chief Technology Officer of Vishay said: “We welcome this investment from the Welsh Government, which recognises the strategic advantage of investing in semiconductor technology. We’re excited about being part of driving the economic future of Wales. We look forward to moving ahead with our long-term investment plans for Vishay Newport.” Ms Evans…

Trump’s return raises questions over future of CIA’s Russian recruitment drive Intelligence agency has been trying to entice Russians disaffected by invasion of Ukraine but president-elect is likely to want to make an ally of KremlinFor the past three years, the CIA has run an unusually bold outreach programme. It targeted Russians within the country’s government and security services, attempting to turn them into double agents.Slickly produced recruitment videos portrayed cooperation with the US secret agency as the patriotic choice for officials disaffected with Vladimir Putin’s regime and the war in Ukraine. The videos ended with instructions on how to…

Bad phone signal hinders our ticket sales, says Fringe chief She warned without greater investment and policy changes to improve the affordability of accommodation and make it less burdensome for venues to host shows, acts would continue to be discouraged from taking part in the festival. And she said its most vital elements such as street performances, which the Society manages, would be “at risk”. Wide-ranging interview In a wide-ranging interview with The Herald McCarthy, called for “parity” with how major sporting events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games are treated by decision-makers in the City Chambers and Holyrood. The…

Princess of Wales shares behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christmas carol concert. Buckingham Palace will be undergoing huge upheavals in the coming months as the £369m refurbishment closes some of its grandest rooms. Next month’s visit by the Emir of Qatar will be the last state visit to take place at the famous royal residence for three years, as work continues on its historic renovations. Inside historic £369m Buckingham Palace refurbishment The palace’s grandest rooms will undergo “phased closures” for refurbishment, beginning with the White Drawing Room, the Music Room, the Blue Drawing Room and the State Dining Room. The King and Queen…

Steve McQueen photography exhibition offers fresh take on history of protest in Britain Director showcases images of the suffragettes, Kinder Scout trespasses and anti-fascist protests in London. After retelling the story of the Blitz from a new angle, Steve McQueen’s next project is an alternative photographic history of protest and campaigning in Britain, spanning a century from the suffragettes to the Iraq war protests. Resistance will open at Margate’s Turner Contemporary in February 2025, which the gallery’s director said would show how “photography has really acted as a kind of catalyst for change” in the UK. Continue reading… Steve McQueen…

Egypt tourist boat latest We bring you the Egypt tourist boat latest as rescuers help survivors of boat sunk off Red Sea coast as two Britons feared missing Four bodies have been recovered from the tourist yacht which was hit by a “huge wave” and sank off the Red Sea coast of Egypt on Monday. More survivors rescued as search intensifies for remaining passengers But five more people were found alive today – two Belgian tourists, an Egyptian a Swiss national and a Finnish national – and rescue teams were still searching for seven missing people, the area’s governor said…

A 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants has commenced, with both sides withdrawing from southern Lebanon. The deal, announced on Tuesday night, comes after nearly 14 months of fighting.Brokered by the US and France, the agreement is designed to provide a permanent end to the conflict, US President Joe Biden said following the announcement. But Israeli ministers insisted it would resume strikes on Lebanon if Hezbollah breached the terms of the ceasefire, while the deal does not affect Israel’s continuing war with Hamas in Gaza. In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the deal as “long…

You might have seen the picture of DUP leader Gavin Robinson standing beside graffiti on the wall of the Royal Victoria Hospital supporting Palestine. No, he wasn’t supporting Palestine, though the picture offered an ambiguous interpretation. He was objecting to the graffiti. He claimed it is “upsetting” to members of the local Jewish community “who see it as directly pointing to them”. How does he know? He didn’t say if any members of the local Jewish community had complained to him. The whole matter is so urgent it took him a mere six months to make an issue of it.…

Election Watch podcast: What can politicians really do about climate change? From the corridors of power to your inbox … sign up for your weekly political briefing on what’s got people talking in front of the cameras and behind the scenes at Leinster House. Please click here for our privacy statement. © Examiner Echo Group Limited, Linn Dubh, Assumption Road, Blackpool, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 523712. What can politicians really do about climate change?

The rise of ketamine addiction in the UK – podcast Journalist Elle Hunt and recovered addict Jack Curran talk about the rise of ketamine use in Britain and its sometimes devastating impact Ketamine use in England and Wales has doubled since 2016. The increase, as journalist Elle Hunt explains, is especially notable among young people. And it seems to have taken health services by surprise, with practitioners often unable to provide the right treatment for the particular challenges posed by addiction to ketamine. Continue reading… The rise of ketamine addiction in the UK – podcast https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2024/nov/27/the-rise-of-ketamine-addiction-in-the-uk-podcast

‘Tax the freeloading day-trippers’ say locals who back new tourist levy The new charges will apply to anyone staying in Wales overnight whether in an Airbnb, Vrbo, holiday cottage, B&B or hotel, hostel or campsite. The charges will vary based on the type of accommodation. For those staying in hostels and camping, the fee will be 75p per person per night. For all other types of accommodation, the charge will be £1.25 per person per night and even residents of Wales travelling within the country for leisure or business will be subject to the levy. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/tax-freeloading-day-trippers-say-30456223

Assisted dying adverts have sparked a poster war on the London Underground. The billboards – from the Dignity in Dying campaign group – sparked sparked outrage when they appeared at Westminster Tube station and Euston. Suicide prevention posters from the mental health charity Samaritans were soon taped over them, although these have now been removed. It comes days before MPs debate a bill that would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults with six months or less to live in England and Wales. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater- who introduced the bill – claims it offers ‘three layers of scrutiny –…

Colombia’s president said his country will impose visa requirements on British citizens in response to the UK Government’s decision to impose visa rules on Colombian visitors. The changes, which came into force at 3pm on Tuesday, mean visitors from Colombia will now need a visa to travel to the UK. Colombian nationals will also need a transit visa if they need to pass through the UK to travel on to another country. On Tuesday evening, Colombia’s leader Gustavo Petro said his country will adopt similar rules under “the principle of reciprocity”. Si el Reino Unido ha restablecido la necesidad de…