Author: News Desk

The latest eviction sparked a massive row.

Warning one in 10 county councils face effective bankruptcy Leaders of local governments have warned that one in 10 county councils in England are facing effective bankruptcy – putting vital services at risk. In September Birmingham City Council was forced to slash spending after declaring itself effectively bankrupt. A survey by the County Councils Network suggests more local authorities fear they could be next. They are calling for emergency funding from the government to stave off financial collapse. The government said it had already made £5.1bn extra available to local authorities for 2022/23 – and was ready to talk to…

House prices in surprise October rise but still down on last year Nationwide data shows house prices had the biggest monthly rise in October for more than a year.  However they were still down on a year ago, Nationwide said. The 0.9% rise in prices was most likely due to there not being enough properties to meet demand, it said. Activity in the housing market is still “extremely weak”, it added, as buyers grapple with higher mortgage rates. “This is not surprising as affordability remains stretched,” said Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist. “Market interest rates, which underpin mortgage pricing, have…

Senior Met officer Julian Bennett sacked for refusing drug test Senior Met Police officer, Cdr Julian Bennett, has been sacked for refusing a drug test for cannabis. Bennet joined the Met in 1976 and drew up the force’s anti-drugs strategy, his actions have been found to have amounted to gross misconduct. A three-person disciplinary panel cleared him of smoking the illicit substance. His former flatmate Sheila Gomes accused him of using it daily before heading to work at New Scotland Yard. She reported Bennett in July 2020 and, in the presence of an assistant commissioner, he was asked to provide…

Storm Ciarán: England and Channel Islands prepare for disruption England is preparing for the arrival of Storm Ciarán, with people protecting their homes and businesses. Roads have been closed and ferries cancelled as the storm heads our way. The Met Office has issued yellow and amber warnings for wind and rain across the UK.  Gusts of up to 80mph could cause travel disruption, damage to buildings and flying debris. There are also flood warnings in place. It comes less than two weeks after Storm Babet wreaked havoc across the UK.

Afghan refugees forced to leave Pakistan say they have nothing Afghan refugees are being forced to leave Pakistan as the country begins a nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals they say are in the country illegally. Thousands of Afghans in Pakistan have made their way back to Afghanistan in the last two months. Many of them have said they have nothing to go back to and are scared of heading back to a Taliban government. In the last two months around 200,000 Afghan nationals have already left Pakistan ahead of the 1 November deadline, according to the Pakistan government. The recent…

‘He loves the club and has been a wonderful player since he joined.’

‘Too many changes in the summer.’

‘From being a beautiful, historic building, it is a derelict shell of itself.’

Egypt There is hope the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt will open today – for the first time since Israel’s siege began.  It’s believed there are around 88 injured Palestinians and around 500 foreign nationals waiting by the border, and it is hoped they will be allowed to cross into Egypt. Ambulances had entered Gaza from Egypt earlier in the morning and are said to be heading back towards the border. Photos have emerged of a temporary field hospital set up in Egypt – near the border. The hospital is intended to treat injured people crossing from Gaza. Elsewhere,…