Author: David Pike

Birmingham plagued by rats ‘the size of cats’ as bin strike and HS2 blamed Rats the size of cats are plaguing parts of Birmingham, residents say, with the city’s ongoing strike by bin collectors and nearby construction work for HS2 among issues being blamed for the infestation. Residents of Drews Lane, Washwood Heath, an area already known as a rat hotspot, have found rodents chewing through car cables and nesting in bonnets and wheelie bins.…

How a fraudster helped fund Farage’s US trip to meet Musk Nigel Farage’s trip to Florida to meet tech billionaire Elon Musk was partly funded by convicted fraudster George Cottrell, records show. The former Ukip volunteer paid for the Reform UK leader’s £15,000 fight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Palm Beach, Florida, last year where he was pictured posing next to Mr Musk and Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy. Mr Cottrell, who spent eight months…

Voices: Should the UK and Europe step away from US influence? – and Nato? — Join The WTX News Debate Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Europe to reduce its reliance on NATO and the US amid rising security concerns and Donald Trump’s cosiness with Putin. Merz argues that Europe should build its own defence, with potential backing from nuclear powers like the UK and France. But critics warn that no European alternative can…

A new report shows used EVs now cheaper than diesel alternatives as market sees price stabilistaion Second-hand electric car prices are now more affordable than their equivalent diesel or hybrid alternatives, as the overall market sees price stabilisation after years of volatility, a new report shows. The report, by DoneDeal Motors, shows demand for second-hand electric cars is up, with prices also increasing by 1% during January — the first positive monthly growth since the…

Rachel Reeves says Europe must boost defence spending like UK Rachel Reeves has said Europe must boost defence spending, following the UK’s lead after Keir Starmer pledges to boost spending to 3 per cent. In a move to underscore the reasoning behind the controversial budget shift, the chancellor wrote in The Telegraph it was the duty of the government to respond to Russian aggression by increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the next to years, before going…

Kennedy’s Southport account to MPs was centred on the events of 31 July. Serena Kennedy told MPs she had stressed that the UK’s streets were “on fire” with violent disorder in the wake of three young girls being fatally stabbed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town on 29 July. Axel Rudakubana, 18, was last month jailed for a minimum of 52 years for murdering Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and…

NHS Chief forced to step down as Health Secretary Streeting plays innocent, but isinde sources have suggested that she was given no choice but to resign or be fired. The NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard has stepped down from her role, following weeks of criticism from MPs (mainly Labour) and suggestions that she lacked the drive to reform the ailing health service. Which translates as she resisted to make more staff cuts and use…

Boris Johnson abruptly ends Good Morning Britain interview in Ukraine Boris Johnson abruptly ended a live interview in Kyiv on Good Morning Britain on Monday. Speaking from the Ukrainian capital three years after Russia’s invasion, the former PM said he believed a minerals agreement between the US and Ukraine was close to being signed – before then abruptly ending the interview. Pressed on how he thought world leaders should communicate with Mr Trump, Mr Johnson said: “You…

The home secretary will on Monday warn Kremlin-linked elites pose a ‘real and present danger to our way of life’ and outline plans to ban them from the UK UK bans Kremlin-linked elites in bid to pile pressure on Putin Britain will ramp up the pressure on Vladimir Putin by banning Russian elites with links to his regime from the country. The home secretary will on Monday warn Kremlin-linked elites pose a “real and present…

Surge in the number of homes in Britain valued at £1 million-plus Britain has seen a surge in million-pound homes, with their numbers increasing by approximately a third in the last five years. That’s according to estimates from property firm Savills. Around 702,580 properties across the country are now valued at £1 million or more, representing a net gain of 3,127 such homes in 2024 compared to 2023. This means one in every 42 homes in Britain…

German voters are choosing their new government in an election dominated by worries about US interference that will force the far-right in the Bundestag. As well as fears that, years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States. Polls from the far right media show that discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in…

Thousands attend the funeral of Hezbollah leader months after his death Tens of thousands of people gathered in Beirut early on Sunday to attend the funeral of Hezbollah’s former leader, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital.Hassan Nasrallah was killed when Israel’s air force dropped more than 80 bombs on the militant group’s main operations room. His death was a major blow for…

The US President Trump’s impact on US-EU trade relations become a reality. Trump and Stamer poised for a standoff as Trump has dealt a hammer blow to the EU. But the British press have had enough of President Trump’s torrent of lies. Trump accuses UK of doing nothing to end Ukraine war Earlier today the US submitted a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly which pitts it against a competing resolution proposed by the…

Ireland ranks highest of 14 EU countries for education but lowest for logistics capacity Ireland ranks highest of 14 EU countries for quality education but lags behind in affordable energy, clean water, climate action, innovation, infrastructure, and gender equality, a report on UN Sustainable Development Goals reveals. Social Justice Ireland published the Sustainable Progress Index 2025 on Thursday. The index ranks 14 comparable EU countries on three dimensions: economy, society and environment. The overall Sustainable…

The former PM said Trump’s claims were designed to ‘shock Europeans into action’ Boris Johnson attacks Trump over claims Ukraine started war with Putin Boris Johnson has hit out at Donald Trump’s claims that Ukraine started the war with Russia, as the president came under fire for branding Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. The former prime minister said the US president’s statements on Ukraine – which were the latest in a series of controversial interventions by…

A legendary Camden comic shop has been saved weeks after it was forced to close. Mega City Comics shut up shop at the end of January when owner Martin Kravetz retired without a suitable replacement found. The retailer will now reopen with cult entertainment chain Forbidden Planet taking the reigns. Mega City Comics, in Inverness Street in Camden, became one of the oldest comic book stores in the UK after opening in 1981 when Kravetz was…

Tory anger at judge who said criticising our ruling was unacceptable The Mail says leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch has hit back at a top judge as a row broke out over the right to criticise the judiciary. The Mail reacts to Meghan Markle’s latest business venture in the way you’d expect the paper to react: hoping it fails.

Zelensky could fall as price of peace The Telegraph reports the talks between the US and Russia over ending the war in Ukraine include Ukraine holding an election before a peace treaty is signed. Ukraine has reacted with fear that Russia could interfere and help install a pro-Russian figure in Ukraine – who would agree to Russia’s demands to end the war. The PM and leader of the opposition are in a row with the…

Southport mum: We were so happy, we had everything The Mirror’s front page leads on an exclusive interview with the mother of one of the Southport attack victims. Alice,9, was murdered last year alongside two other little girls in a knife attack. Now her mum has opened up about her memories of her daughter and what life is like now. Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowen is splashed on the front page as she receives…

Putin: I won’t allow Starmer’s plan for troops in Ukraine The Independent reports the Russian president has shot down plans from the prime minister to send British troops into Ukraine in a peacekeeping role. The front page reports the US and Russia have begun negotiating the end of the war, but have left Ukraine and the rest of Europe – including the UK – out of the discussions. The paper features an image of the…

US and Russia to seek economic opportunities after Ukraine war The front page of The Guardian suggests recent statements have raised alarm for Ukraine and Europe over fears Donald Trump will agree to Russia’s terms for ending the war in Ukraine, which could see Ukraine lose territory and be blocked from joining NATO. The paper highlights the US and Russia are seeking economic opportunities together following the end of the war. Elsewhere, obesity is being…

The papers are dominated by the ongoing talks between Russia and the US over ending the war in Ukraine.

Away from the war, there’s a variety of domestic stories ranging from the ongoing farmers’ protests to an exclusive interview with one of the parents of the Southport victims.

Showbiz gossip leads the tabloids with reactions to Meghan Markle’s latest business venture.

The back pages sum up Celtic’s late loss to Bayern Munich (on agg) as heartbreaking as well as looking ahead at tonight’s match between Real Madrid and Manchester City (4-3 agg).

The stamp duty changes could add an extra £1.1 billion annually in the tax to government coffers Mapped: The areas of England and Northern Ireland where stamp duty rises will hit hardest  The proportion of first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland who will need to pay stamp duty will double from April, according to analysis by a property website. Currently, 21 per cent of first-time buyers pay the tax, but Zoopla estimates this will…

A ban on kitchen knives with a pointed end was being considered Research points at the one change needed to knives to curb crime Could rounded kitchen knives help curb knife crime? New research suggests they might. A study from De Montfort University found that round-edged blades failed to penetrate common clothing materials like cotton and denim, even after 1,200 repeated stabbing attempts. In contrast, traditionally sharp knives easily cut through the fabrics. This research…

Janice Nix has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Andrea Bernard A 66-year-old woman has been charged with the death of a five-year-old girl in 1978. Janice Nix has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Andrea Bernard. The young girl, who was known to Nix, was taken to a specialist burns unit after she was allegedly assaulted at an address in Ashley Road, Thornton Heath on June 6, 1978. She died…