Author: UK News

Scrapping Ofwat could be considered by new water sector commission Scrapping watchdog Ofwat could be considered by a new independent commission on the water sector as ministers aim to attract investment into the industry. Ministers have launched the largest review of the sector since it was privatised, with the commission set to be chaired by former deputy Bank of England Governor Sir Jon Cunliffe. It comes after environment minister Steve Reed unveiled the Water (Special Measures) Bill which ramps up watchdogs’ powers to issue fines, conduct oversight and recoup costs. Reed said the “water system urgently needs fixing”, with the probe intended to…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Wednesday’s front pages continue their coverage of the acquittal of Martyn Blake, the Met police officer who shot Chris Kaba in 2022.
Since the end of the court proceedings, the newspapers are able to report on Chris Kaba’s extensive criminal history – including reports that he shot a man just days before his death. Kaba was reportedly part of a notorious London gang, and the police officer now has a bounty put on his head.
Other domestic stories make up the rest of the leading news today with ongoing speculation over the upcoming budget and water companies planning to hike bills. Scrutiny of domestic politics and stories on the NHS also find space on the front splashes.

US top diplomat Blinken issues warning to Israel over Gaza aid US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Israeli leaders to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in northern Gaza, warning of potential legal consequences if action isn’t taken. Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as part of a regional tour aimed at reviving diplomacy. Despite criticism that the US hasn’t done enough to stop civilian casualties in Gaza, Washington denies failing to act. Blinken also addressed concerns over Israel’s military tactics, urging clarity on reports…

UK and Germany to sign landmark defence treaty The UK and Germany are set to sign a “landmark defence agreement” to boost security, investment, and jobs. As part of the deal, German defence company Rheinmetall will open a factory in the UK to manufacture artillery gun barrels, supporting over 400 jobs. The two countries will also collaborate on developing a new long-range missile and advanced drones. In addition, German maritime surveillance aircraft will occasionally patrol the North Atlantic from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. The UK already has a defence pact with France but this is the first with Germany. The…

Scouts to learn cybersecurity skills as part of Digital Citizen Badge Four new badge activities have been launched for the Scouts, backed by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to help young people learn how to stay safe online. The activities will form part of the Digital Citizen Badge and have been designed to teach children aged eight to 14 how to protect their devices and keep their data safe. The new activities have been launched during Cyber Security Awareness Month, and encourage young people good cybersecurity habits. Specifically, the four activities for the Scouts are focused on strong passwords,…

Father ‘feared daughter was abducted after she vanished outside Harrods’ For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe father of a nine-year-old girl allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by an American pilot after she lost her parents outside Harrods in London feared she had been abducted, a court heard.Isleworth Crown Court heard that American pilot Robert Prussak, 57, approached the girl outside the department store, who became separated from her family during a trip to London from France, on 22 April last year.Prussak stopped to…

Trump campaign files complaint over ‘foreign interference’ by ‘far-left’ Labour Party in US election Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has accused Sir Keir Starmer’s “far-left” Labour Party of interfering in the US election. The Trump-Vance campaign filed a complaint with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) accusing Labour of illegal foreign campaign donations. In a statement, the campaign’s co-manager Susie Wiles campaign claimed: “The far-left Labour Party has inspired Kamala’s dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric. “In recent weeks, they have recruited and sent party members to campaign for Kamala in critical battleground states, attempting to influence our election.” The complaint referenced…

Starmer faces ‘King John’ jibe from law chief over credit for rioters’ swift sentences Keir Starmer appeared to be likened to one of England’s most notorious monarchs today by the head of England’s judiciary. In a pointed intervention, Baroness Carr – the first lady chief justice – denounced claims that the government deserved credit for the way those involved in the riots were jailed within days over summer. It was an example of how the “constitutional boundaries” between political and legal matters had been wrongly “blurred”, said Baroness Carr, who also called for courts to be “properly funded” as she…

Charles heads to Samoa as indigenious protester shouting ‘king of thieves’ arrested in Sydney – Royal family news An Indigenous protestor was arrested for attempting to confront King Charles on the final day of his Australian tour, calling him “king of thieves”. The monarch, 75, and his supporters were targeted by Wayne “Coco” Wharton, who encouraged the crowds gathered at the Sydney Opera House to leave with the King. Mr Wharton said: “Go home with the King. He is a king of thieves and a king of liars. You have no receipt, you have no agreement on the occupation of…

Budget boost for Reeves as IMF growth forecast rises after inflation battle ‘largely won’ – live Rachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget since coming into power on 30 October, leading one of the most anticipated fiscal events in over two decades. Ahead of her announcement, the chancellor has welcomed an upgrade to the UK’s economic forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The financial agency even said the country’s battle against inflation has “largely been won.” The country’s GDP is now predicted to grow by 1.1 per cent in 2024 – a major uplift from the 0.7 per cent…

Singapore founder’s son says he is now a political refugee in UK Lee Hsien Yang, the estranged brother of former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, said Tuesday that he’s now a “political refugee” after the UK government granted him asylum from what he described as persecution at home. The Lee brothers are the sons of Lee Kuan Yew, modern Singapore’s founding father. They have been engaged in a public spat since 2017 over the late patriarch’s family home, and Lee Hsien Yang has accused the Singapore government of persecuting him, his wife and son. In a Facebook post Tuesday,…

Trump files extraordinary complaint claiming election meddling by UK Labour party First King George III. Now Sir Keir Starmer.Citing the American revolution while misspelling “Britian”, Donald Trump’s campaign has filed an extraordinary complaint against the UK’s Labour party for what it claims is “interference” in the US presidential election. Continue reading… https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/22/trump-complaint-uk-labour-party

The UN has been urged to intervene in UK journalist arrested The Canary| The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has written to four special rapporteurs at the UN urging them to make use of the full range of instruments at their disposal to urge the UK government into respecting freedom of expression and conscience in its territory. The letter follows a series of raids and arrests of prominent pro-Palestine activists in the UK including journalist Asa Winstanley whose home was raided by police last week. Ten counterterrorism police officers raided Winstanley’s home. He was neither arrested nor charged with any offence, but…

Beautician ‘almost died’ after botched gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey left her with severe internal bleeding A beautician has described the horrifying consequences of her gastric sleeve surgery after a procedure in Turkey left her with severe internal bleeding that almost killed her. Lucy Mawson, 32, has suffered “life-altering” complications from procedure she underwent in September 2022, which has forced her to live on weight-gain shakes and subjected her to dizzy spells every single day. The mother-of-one feared for her life after the surgery, as she described lying in a room full of patients “screaming for help” as her immense…

Pink cocaine: What is drug cocktail linked to Liam Payne’s death? A modern drug cocktail linked to the death of popstar Liam Payne is prompting concern from health officials as it spreads around Europe. The former One Direction star had reportedly taken the mixture of drugs known as ‘pink cocaine’ before his death. A partial autopsy turned up all the drugs that comprise the cocktail, an anonymous Argentinian source familiar with the toxicology report told the Associated Press. Crack cocaine and benzodiazepine were also said to be present in Mr Payne’s system at the time of his death. The 31-year-old…

Public sector pay rises hand Rachel Reeves a £6.7bn headache ahead of Budget High borrowing costs and public sector pay rises have given chancellor Rachel Reeves a £6.7bn headache ahead of next week’s Budget. Borrowing in the first six months of the year stood at £79.6bn, £1.2bn higher than a year earlier and almost £7bn higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog – which monitors the state’s finances – had estimated. The surprise rise in borrowing came despite the cut to Britain’s expenditure on winter fuel allowances, which will now be means-tested and will be paid next month. Jessica…

Budget 2024: When is budget day and what is Rachel Reeves looking to cut? Rachel Reeves will announce Labour’s first Budget since coming into power on 30 October, leading one of the most anticipated fiscal events in over two decades. Ahead of her announcement, government borrowing rose to £16.6 billion last month marking the third highest September borrowing since records began, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This has brought borrowing in the year to date to £79.6 billion – £6.7 billion more than forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The ONS says public sector pay rises…