Author: UK News

Syrian HTS leader says rebel factions that overthrew Assad will be ‘disbanded’ HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa says fighters will all be ‘subject to the law’ as he sought to emphasise need for unity in post-war Syria Syria’s rebel factions will be “disbanded”, the head of the group that led the ousting of Bashar al-Assad has pledged, as he seeks to reassure minorities at home and abroad that the country’s interim leaders will protect all Syrians, as well as state institutions. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, said all rebel…

Ireland is not anti-Israel, it just supports international law, human rights and peace.

  The steps that are being taken by the Department for the Economy to design a new renewable electricity support scheme for Northern Ireland have been welcomed by all in the industry. This scheme will encourage investment in renewables and it is hoped that it will be the key driver in achieving the 80% by 2030 renewable electricity consumption target set out in the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. But the electricity licence exemptions regime must also now be updated to reflect the modern technologies used in the electricity industry if we are to ensure that investment in renewables…

Trafficking of children is increasing in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a global report, which also shows at least one person has been trafficked into Ireland for illegal removal of their organs.In the three years between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023, 140 victims of human trafficking have been detected in Ireland, including at least 10 children. The breakdown reveals there are 77 people brought into Ireland for sexual exploitation and 50 for forced labour.The statistics are contained in the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.“Child…

Three-year rescue plan for seal with 'plastic collar' ends in tragedy in Llandudno The seal was found with serious injuries to its neck https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/three-year-rescue-plan-seal-30598461

Margaret Hodge to lead review of regional inequality in the arts Anti-corruption champion to examine Arts Council England projects and lack of facilities in some areas of country Margaret Hodge will oversee a review into regional inequality in the arts after the culture secretary described some areas of Britain as “cultural deserts”. Sky News first reported a week ago that Hodge, who was last week named as the government’s anti-corruption champion, would take control of the review into Arts Council England, which was originally announced by the Conservative government and was to be chaired by Mary Archer but was shelved…

Commuting is a pain, particularly in London – but the main problem with travelling on the Tube is all the people. Don’t blame the buildings. The next time someone shoves past you on the way up the escalator, take your head out of your phone for a few seconds and admire the view, because you might just be in one of the city’s most beautiful spaces. The Tube network is a huge source of frustration on a daily basis, but it is also a marvel of both engineering and architecture. And while not every station is a work of art,…

US authorities say the person they believe carried out a school shooting in the state of Wisconsin was a 15-year-old female pupil.Wisconsin Police confirmed her identity as 15-year-old student Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha.The latest US school gun attack to rock the US also left a teacher and another teenager dead, as well as the 15-year-old.She was a pupil at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, where the latest gun attack took place. Emergency vehicles parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison (Scott Bauer/AP)Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said that it was a second-grade student…

Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother will be sentenced later for killing the 10-year-old after years of horrific abuse. Last week, Urfan Sharif, 42, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were found guilty of her murder following a trial at the Old Bailey. Her uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, who lived with them, was convicted of causing or allowing her death after a jury deliberated for nine hours and 46 minutes. The three defendants will return to the Old Bailey on Tuesday when Mr Justice Cavanagh’s sentencing is expected to be broadcast from the court. Beinash Batool speaking alongside Sara Sharif’s father, Urfan…

A lawyer defending rapper Jay-Z in his fight against rape allegations has outlined a range of evidence to prove accusations levied against the hitmaker are “provably, demonstrably false”. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, told NBC News last week that Jay-Z, also known as Shawn Corey Carter, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs both sexually assaulted her when she was 13 at an after party for the 2000 MTV Music Awards. She has since acknowledged certain inconsistencies in her claims made against the two men. In a press conference at Jay-Z company Roc Nation’s New York headquarters, lawyer Alex…

Kelly Cates set to join Match of the Day presenting team from next season Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates is set to join the BBC’s Match of the Day line-up when Gary Lineker leaves. The 49-year-old is set to be part of a three-person presenting team alongside Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season, with former England striker Lineker stepping down. The news was first reported by Mail Sport on Sunday, and the PA news agency understands that although final contracts are not yet signed, Cates is poised to move on. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/gary-lineker-mark-chapman-gabby-logan-sky-sports-england-b2665003.html

Archbishop of York says he acted as soon as legally possible in sexual abuse case The archbishop of York has said he acted as soon as legally possible against a priest repeatedly accused of sexual misconduct and abuse after facing calls to resign over his handling of the case. Stephen Cottrell is due to take over temporary leadership of the church in three weeks when the resignation of the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, over his failures to deal properly with abuse takes effect. In a personal statement on Monday, Cottrell said he had no legal grounds to take action…

Alleged Chinese spy who befriended Prince Andrew is ‘tip of iceberg’, Tory MP says An alleged Chinese spy who forged a close relationship with Prince Andrew is just “the tip of the iceberg” of Beijing’s attempts to infiltrate the UK, a leading China-sceptic MP has said. Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, who is seeking an urgent Commons question on Monday to quiz ministers about the issue, said Keir Starmer’s efforts to create better links with Beijing had involved the UK “showing a massive amount of weakness to China”. If Smith’s question is granted by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle,…

Tories only spent a quarter of money allocated to levelling up Exclusive: FoI requests reveal £2.5bn was spent out of £10.6bn fund for three main local regeneration schemesThe Conservatives spent only a quarter of the money they allocated to levelling up, according to freedom of information requests that underline how Michael Gove’s flagship regional spending scheme failed to live up to expectations.The previous government allocated £10.6bn to the three main schemes under the levelling up programme, which provided funding for regeneration projects as diverse as leisure centres and local transport networks. Continue reading… Tories only spent a quarter of money…

MPs are amongst those calling for the alleged Chinese spy – with close links to Prince Andrew – to be publicly named for security reasons. MPs are threatening to name the man as allegations raise “calls for caution.” Shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are amongst those calling for the alleged spy to be named.

It’s plunged the royals – and Andrew – into deeper crisis and amid another year of royal scandal, the firm is hoping Andrew steps out of the public eye this Christmas.

District councils could be abolished and more elected mayors introduced across England under new plans for a major redesign of local government. Ministers are set to publish a paper on Monday outlining plans for mergers in areas where there are currently two tiers of local authority – smaller district and larger county councils – in a bid to streamline services.

The government has approved the sale of the Royal Mail’s parent company to a Czech billionaire. The £3.6bn takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group has been given the go-ahead after agreeing “legally binding” undertakings.

Good News from the UK: World-first urine test ‘detects lung cancer’ Scientists have created a first-of-its-kind urine test which they say catches lung cancer early, potentially improving outcomes for the millions of people who will go on to develop the disease. Created by the University of Cambridge, England, the test identifies ‘zombie’ cell proteins in urine. These proteins can be markers of tissue changes that occur long before lung cancer becomes visible through scans or physical symptoms. Researchers developed an injectable sensor that interacts with the ‘zombie’ cell proteins and releases an easily detectable compound into urine, signalling their presence.…

Rain, some heavy will affect the north and west of Scotland, although Shetland should see bright spells and showers. Elsewhere, mostly dry with skies brightening to give some sunny spells. Mild for most, though brisk winds, especially in the north.Tonight: Rain will continue to affect northern and western Scotland, and perhaps Northern Ireland for a time. Mostly dry elsewhere with clear spells, though becoming largely cloudy. Mild and breezy.

Summary of Western Mail Newspaper Western Mail front page this morning – summarised Boss of debt-riddled firm stops paying top employee then sacks him by WhatsApp: A company that claimed to be pioneering new, affordable small aircraft stopped paying a top employee’s wages and then sacked him in a WhatsApp message without any notice. We can reveal that Aerodyne Aerospace has been ordered by a judge to pay its former chief operating officer more than £22,000 — the latest in a series of rulings against the owner’s companies. Today’s rugby news as Taulupe Faletau has everyone saying same thing and…

Summary of The National Newspaper The National front page this morning – summarisedLabour MP’s tweet sparks internal spat with Edinburgh councillor: A LABOUR councillor and Labour MP have got into a public spat over the future leadership of Edinburgh City Council. Labour’s minority administration in the capital is on the ropes after council leader Cammy Day was suspended from the party following accusations of him sending sexual messages to Ukrainian refugees.Sturgeon knows ‘nothing more’ about police investigation 18 months after arrest: Nicola Sturgeon said she knows “nothing more” about the police investigation into SNP finances than she did when arrested…

Summary of The Irish News Newspaper The Irish News front page this morning – summarisedTwo men arrested on suspicion of ‘brutal and senseless’ murder of ‘devoted’ Co Down mother-of-two: Two men were being questioned by police today on suspicion of murder following the “brutal and senseless” death of a woman in Co Down. Karen Cummings, a 40-year-old deputy sister at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry, died at house in the Laurel Heights area of Banbridge on Saturday evening. The mother-of-two is understood to be the seventh woman killed in Northern Ireland this year.Coroner to be asked to hold ‘Lost Boys’…

Monday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic and international stories. Several papers report on Prince Andrew and the alleged Chinese spy who befriended him. The papers report that MPs – and the public – want the alleged spy to be named. 

The papers further call on the Duke to stay away from royal events this Christmas and to keep out of the public’s sight, as anger mounts over the latest scandal involving the royal. 

Domestic politics also makes up the news stories. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch continues her criticism of Labour’s farming tax plans, health secretary Wes Streeting backs a campaign calling for a ban on ‘cowboy surgeries’ and the Tories fear elderly people will be ‘left in the cold’ this winter. 

In sports news, space is left on the front pages to report on the new Match of the Day hosts. The back pages lead with Manchester United’s 2-1 win over City in yesterday’s Premier League match.

Summary of The Guardian Newspaper The Guardian page this morning – summarisedMPs consider naming Chinese ‘spy’ linked to Prince Andrew: MPs fear the government is moving too fast to re-establish UK-China relations as some consider naming the alleged spy who used his relationship with Prince Andrew to get access to the heart of the British establishmentIsrael to close Dublin embassy after Ireland supports ICJ genocide petition: Israel has announced it will close its embassy in Ireland, citing Dublin’s decision last week to support a petition at the International Court of justice accusing Israel of genocide.Economists and policy experts warn Reeves…

Summary of the Independent Newspaper The Independent front page this morning – summarisedPressure grows on government as MPs demand answers on Prince Andrew ‘Chinese spy’: Ministers are under increasing pressure to act after an alleged Chinese spy became a close confidant of the Duke of York and reportedly met two former prime ministers, as MPs threatened to name him if the courts do not.Syrian defector who smuggled torture images out of country warns of hundreds of thousands of deaths: The Syrian military defector codenamed Caesar, who smuggled out more than 53,000 haunting images showing tortured, emaciated corpses of Syrian detainees…

Summary of the Metro Newspaper Metro front page this morning – summarisedDoctors fear for patients’ lives after hospitals accept corridor care: Emergency doctors have criticised NHS guidance on how patients should be treated in hospital corridors. They fear that new guidance normalises a dangerous situation and that caring for patients in corridors should be a last resort. Latest News updated every hour

Royal Mail takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky ‘approved’ The takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group from current owner International Distribution Services will be announced on Monday, the BBC reported The sale of Royal Mail’s parent company to a Czech billionaire has been approved by the Government, according to a BBC report. The takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group from current owner International Distribution Services will be announced on Monday, the BBC reported. Mr Kretinsky is believed to have made several concessions to gain approval, including allowing workers to get a 10% share of any dividends paid out to him.…