Author: UK News

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 BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs: “It’s a bitch, but I’m in it, so I play by the rules.“I play by my own rules, but…

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, gloves, and their hoods up. They then forced their way through a door using feet and a tool. Three minutes later, they re-emerged, their bags…

The United Kingdom became the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, as of Sunday. 

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 issues, takes on a critical role at a time when religious freedoms face unprecedented challenges worldwide. A Crucial Appointment for Religious Freedom The new position…

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 election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, told reporters on Sunday that a…

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, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=1280 1280w”/> Revellers in New York (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)“The NYC SantaCon is a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year…

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 my position … if public authorities in England are getting 100% compensation then public authorities in Wales should have 100 percent. Welsh public bodies ‘could…

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 betrayal of the referendum vote, while others argue Reeves won’t go nearly far enough. Continue reading… Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like…

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

  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 went back to the hotel but there was no sign of the pair and when I eventually found them – at the residents’ bar –…

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 property late on Monday evening.“I just literally had jeans and a sweater, which I’ve been wearing for four days and sleeping at different people’s houses,”…

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 hours on a trolley with her terrified parents James and Carol pleading for antibiotics that could have saved her life.A report into the circumstances surrounding…

Body found after police search for man thought to be missing in North Wales Cheshire and North Wales police forces had made appeals after concerns about the 54-year-old https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/body-found-after-police-search-30585953

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 hairstyle and a blue beanie hat paired with a black leather jacket and scarf.Timothee Chalamet attends the premiere of A Complete Unknown (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan…

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 cannot believe I am thinking and writing these words absolutely freely, without any form of self censure or censorship. For even in my Dublin safe…

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 the market, revolutionise planning, revolutionise methods of production” to make reaching their homebuilding target achievable.“They’re challenging targets, I think we have to recognise that this…

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 ruling party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote. In this photo provided by the South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at…

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. Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed H6 had been in a position to generate relationships…

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.

Another chilly and rather grey day across much of the UK. Outbreaks of light rain and drizzle possible, with a band of more persistent rain arriving across northwest Scotland later. Hill fog will lead to murky conditions in places. Tonight: Staying cloudy across much of England and Wales, with further rain and drizzle in places. Rain moving south across Scotland and Northern Ireland followed by scattered blustery showers.

Summary of Western Mail Newspaper Western Mail front page this morning – summarised’Our democratic rights as parliamentarians in Wales can’t be considered to be inferior when compared to legislators in other devolved legislatures’Plaid Cymru called for Wales to be given parity with Scotland on devolved powers. Rhun ap Iorwerth warned Wales remains the “poor relation” among devolved nations in policy areas ranging from rail, justice and tax to welfare benefits and the Crown Estate.He said: “Our democratic rights as parliamentarians in Wales can’t be considered to be inferior when compared to legislators in other devolved legislatures. But that is the…

Summary of The National Newspaper The National front page this morning – summarisedThe National says Starmer under fire as cap set to rise again despite pledge people would pay less. LABOUR have been accused of “betraying” voters as it was revealed energy bills are predicted to rise again from next April.Households could be in for yet another rise in costs as market “turbulence” and price cap reforms feed through to bills.The latest forecast from Cornwall Insight suggests the energy price cap could rise to £1762 per year for a typical dual fuel consumer – a 1% increase from the cap of…

Friday’s front pages lead with various domestic and international stories. There is ongoing coverage of the latest across the Middle East as G7 nations prepare to hold a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss the fast-moving developments. For Syrians, many have taken to the streets in celebration, marking the end of the Assad regime. 

Amid ongoing war in the Middle East and Europe, as well as the return of Donald Trump to world politics, several front pages lead with stories regarding NATO. European members of the alliance are holding talks about increasing the spending target to 3% of GDP. There is also a warning from the new head of NATO, Mark Rutte, that European members need to spend more on defence. 

A little closer to home, Prince Andrew has found himself on the front pages again, this time regarding a close confidant to the Duke who has reportedly been banished from Britain over claims he is a Chinese spy.

Summary of the Independent Newspaper The Independent front page this morning – summarisedThe front page of The Independent this morning speaks to the man who sparked the Syrian revolution. Angry with life under Bashar al-Assad, 16-year-old Muawiyah Syasneh and his friends spray-painted four words onto a wall in their school playground.Four words of defiance that saw the teenagers jailed and tortured for weeks, triggering Syria’s first protests in early 2011.Four words that ignited a revolution that spiralled into one of the bloodiest civil wars of modern times. Latest News updated every hour

Summary of the Metro Newspaper Metro front page this morning – summarised The Metro’s front page leads on a truly bizarre story as the prime minister and leader of the opposition appear to get into a spat regarding sandwiches. The paper’s headline notes as the pair continue their ridiculous jibes, the country’s problems are mounting up. Ed Miliband has hit back at Kemi Badenoch for her anti-sandwich stance, ten years after he was notoriously photographed struggling to eat one. In a recent interview, the leader of the opposition hit out at the idea of sandwiches, saying she doesn’t consider them…