Author: News Desk

BBC outlines new rules for presenters after Gary Lineker row The BBC has outlined new rules for its flagship presenters following a row over Gary Lineker’s social media posts.  The BBC report says that high-profile BBC presenters should be allowed to express their views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning. It comes after a review into BBC social media guidelines was published by former ITN boss John Hardie. The flagship programmes include Match of the Day, which Lineker presents, plus The Apprentice with Alan Sugar. There will be “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality,…

Average five-year mortgage drops below 6% Newly released figures show the average rate on a five-year fixed mortgage has fallen below 6% for the first time since early July. The typical rate has dropped to 5.99%, according to the financial information service Moneyfacts. Lenders have been given some confidence to cut rates after the end of a run of 14 consecutive interest rate increases by the Bank of England. The average two-year deal has a rate of 6.5%. Around three-quarters of mortgage customers hold fixed-rate deals. Banking trade body UK Finance says there are about 800,000 of these deals ending…

Labour drops plan to strip public schools of charitable status Labour’s plans to end the charitable status for private schools has been dropped by the party, but they say they will still remove other tax breaks if they were to win the next general election. The charitable status exempts some private schools in England and Wales from taxes.  Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously said that charitable status for private schools could not be justified. The party now says it can remove “unfair tax breaks” without changing the rules on charitable status. There are about 2,500 private schools in…

Boy, 17, held over girl stabbed to death on bus in Croydon A 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death on a bus on her way to school on Wednesday. She has been described as “jovial” and “comedic” and was a “much-loved” girl with a “bright future.” A 17-year-old boy is being questioned by cops in relation to the stabbing death. A witness said the girl was stabbed in the neck with a foot-long knife. The boy was arrested around an hour later, he was roughly five miles away. The boy is believed to be known to the victim. Flowers and…

Blackouts less likely this winter says National Grid The National Grid has said there is a much lower risk of electricity blackouts this winter, compared to last, thanks to increased generation and the ability to manage demand.  A recent report said this year the UK was “in a different position” and chances of blackouts were almost back to where they were before the energy crisis. A scheme to pay people for cutting electricity use at peak times will still be used to help manage demand. Craig Dyke, head of national control at National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO), which is…

Germany cracks down on neo-Nazi sect Artgemeinschaft for targeting children Far-right sect Artgemeinschaft has been banned in Germany for spreading Nazi ideology to children and young people. The group have been called “deeply racist and antisemitic” and the country’s interior minister said the group was trying “to raise new enemies of the constitution”. Artgemeinschaft used Nazi-era literature and cultural events to spread its ideology. Police have raided dozens of homes and offices across the country which have been linked to the group. “This is another hard blow against right-wing extremism and against the intellectual arsonists who continue to spread Nazi…

Second Republican debate: Trump skips second debate, as others argue over economy The second 2024 presidential TV debate saw 7 Republican candidates battle it out over the economy, immigration and China. Donald Trump -who’s ahead in the Republican polls – skipped the debate, for the second time. He was branded as “missing in action” by his closest rival Ron DeSantis – though it is worth noting, that DeSantis is still far behind and Donald Trump remains the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Trump skipped the event and instead spoke to voters in Michigan. The former US president is facing…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Paper Talk: ‘Hero’ 15-year-old girl stabbed to death saving friend Several of the newspapers cover the stabbing death of a 15-year-old girl who was stabbed on a bus on her way to her private school in Croydon, south London on Wednesday morning. Many of the papers are reporting the girl died trying to help her friend. Girl stabbed on bus in Crydon The Sun says the attack took place around 8:30 am near the Whitgift shopping centre and that two people made efforts to save her but she died 50 minutes later. It says…

Telegraph Sport – Pep’s pain: City quad bid is over already The Telegraph’s back page leads on Manchester City’s Carabao Cup exit and reads: ‘City quad bid is over already’. Having won the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season, there’ll be no League Cup success for City again this term after falling at the first hurdle – in a competition they won for a fourth successive year in 2021. Catch up on all the back pages here

Star Sport – Isak of the net The back page of the Daily Star leads on Newcastle winning 1-0 over Manchester City. The paper notes only Isak’s goal separated the teams – and the player delivered a solid performance in last night’s Carabao Cup.  The back page also reports that Premier League clubs are on alert after the appalling video from Italian club Napoli of footballer Victor Osimhen. It’s believed he could be looking to transfer to the Premier League. Catch up on all the back pages here