Author: News Desk

More than 140 flood warnings remain in place across England, Wales and Scotland as the after-effects of Storm Bert are felt. More rain is expected to fall today.

Politics leads the way in the media today – in print and online – as the prime minister makes pledges to get more people back into work with reforms to overhaul job centres and more mental health funding. Some of Britain’s biggest cultural and sporting institutions such as the Premier League and the Royal Shakespeare Company will hire teenagers to teach them skills in a drive to get young people into work or education.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended her budget yesterday as businesses continued to complain. The chancellor dismissed business warnings that tax rises in the budget will make it harder to hire more people. Reeves has promised that there will be no more rises during this government’s term.

Dry for many today with sunny spells. However, scattered showers will push across Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as some coastlines of England and Wales. Turning cloudier in the southwest later. Tonight: A band of rain will move into the southwest this evening, pushing across Wales and southern England overnight with brisk winds. Drier in the north with a patchy frost.

What’s the front page of Western Mail? The front page of the Western Mail leads with an image of the aftermath of Storm Bert. The paper says a landslide caused by heavy rainfall, described as a “coal tip wash-out,” has left significant damage. There is growing anger over inadequate weather warnings as the cleanup begins.The paper’s lead story reports visitors to Wales may soon face a tourist tax of £1.25 per night, aimed at supporting local tourism and infrastructure. The proposal includes all types of accommodation, such as hotels and campsites.A policy related to planting trees on farmland has been reversed,…

What’s on the front page of The Irish Times? The front page of The Irish News leads with a union flag controversy. The paper says delays in removing union flags in Castlederg, County Tyrone, are because of a “lack of machinery.” This comes amid tensions and threats of boycotting businesses over the emblems.A bust of Mary Ann McCracken, a prominent historic figure, has been stolen from a plinth in North Belfast. The theft has sparked disappointment and calls for its return.Elsewhere, a County Down farmer has been sentenced for allowing a cannabis factory to operate on his land, leading to significant…

Castlederg boycott threat: Loyalists to remove Union flags ‘by the weekend’ as delay blamed on lack of machinery A Castlederg bandmaster says union flags erected in the town two months ago could be taken down by this weekend as the delay was blamed on a lack of available machinery. Tensions have been raised in the Co Tyrone town after a threatening sign urging the boycott of businesses was erected due to the “unacceptable” flying of the flags in the town centre. The PSNI is treating the erection of the sign as a hate incident, while some local businesses have hit…

Record number of Russian drones during the night share-arrowDelaunsaveSparaexpand-leftfull screen Cleanup in a Ukrainian house that was hit by a Russian drone on Monday. Photo: Kateryna Klochko/AP/TTRussia is said to have fired a record number of drones against Ukraine overnight: 188, according to data from the country’s air force.During the day, Ukraine and NATO hold a meeting about a high-profile Russian attack with a new hypersonic robot.Buildings and important infrastructure in several regions have been damaged in the drone strikes, which included Iranian Shahed drones, according to the statement quoted by AFP.In the capital, Kyiv, flight alarms are said to…

What’s on the front page of The National? The main story leading The National this morning Scottish Labour is accused of “hypocrisy on stilts” for planning to push for a vote on reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment, despite previously opposing SNP efforts to protect it.Elsewhere, the front page reports on the prime minister dismissing a petition calling for a new general election.  There is optimism about the economic boost from a new obstacle course launched at the Kelpies, as per a Scottish Canals executive.A Scottish firm has called for the UK Government to provide clearer guidance regarding new EU regulations, labelling the…

This census, postponed several times due to conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic, represents a significant milestone for Iraq. [Getty]Iraq has announced preliminary results from its long-awaited national census, revealing that the country’s population has surpassed 45 million. The announcement, made by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani during a televised briefing on Monday, marks the first nationwide census since 1987 to include the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. “The population of Iraq has reached more than 45,407,895 people, including foreigners and refugees,” al-Sudani stated. He further noted that urban residents account for 70.3 percent of the population, with the remaining 29.7 percent living…