Author: News Desk

Israeli forces said late Thursday it had struck two sites that allegedly contained weapons belonging to the Hezbollah group, a Hamas ally, despite a separate ceasefire deal in that country. Israel’s forces “conducted a precise strike in Lebanese territory on two military sites that contained Hezbollah weapons, which were in violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the Israeli army said in a statement on social media platform X. Previously-sporadic fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on 8 October 2023, following Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel. Ceasefire agreement extended until mid-February Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a truce in November 2024, after 13 months of conflict between Israeli…

Rachel Reeves has been dealt a further blow in her bid to fulfil Labour’s primary mission of reigniting economic growth, as a downgraded forecast overshadowed news of an interest rate cut. The Bank of England has halved its projections for growth this year because of the impact of the chancellor’s autumn Budget, and inflation is now expected to rise higher than previously estimated, to 3.7 per cent. The Bank also warned that more people will be out of work, as firms swallow higher taxes and an increase to the minimum wage. Ms Reeves, whose future as chancellor is being questioned…

UK weather: Britain braces for cold snap – but is snow forecast for the UK? Several yellow cold health alerts have been issued across the UK as Britons prepare for a cold snap which could bring snow and sub-zero temperatures. The alerts are in place across the northeast, southwest Yorkshire and the Humber, and the southeast from 9am on Friday until 9am on Tuesday. The warnings, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, mean the colder weather could lead to an increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and there will be a greater risk to their lives. As a cold easterly wind drifts in from Scandinavia, the south of England…

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) chair said Thursday that, based on “preliminary information,” it appears crew members of a Black Hawk helicopter were wearing night-vision goggles before a fatal collision with an American Airlines jet last week near Washington, D.C. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy spoke with reporters on Capitol Hill after briefing members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the crash that killed all 67 people on board the two aircraft. Homendy was asked if the pilots of the Black Hawk were wearing night-vision goggles. “We do believe, given the mission and given what we’ve…

Kosovo goes to the polls Sunday in a parliamentary election expected to be a key test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti after his governing party won in a landslide four years ago. Eligible voters, including those of the diaspora, will cast ballots to elect 120 lawmakers among 26 political groupings and one independent candidate in a vote held from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Serb minority has 10 secured seats while 10 more are for other minorities. This is the first time since independence in 2008 that Kosovo’s parliament has completed a full four-year mandate. It is the ninth…

A third of people believe asexuality can be “cured” by therapy, a new study that examines misconceptions of the sexual orientation suggests. Asexual people experience little or no sexual attraction to others and, according to the 2021 Census, there are around 28,000 people who identify as asexual in England and Wales. New research from Kings College London has examined misconceptions around asexuality and found that many asexual people face ignorance about or intolerance of their orientation. In a snap-shot study of 400 people, a third – 31 per cent – of respondents said they believed that asexuality could be cured…

FSA reveals a Goodfella’s garlic bread product contains milk but ingredient not mentioned on label Urgent recall for popular Birds Eye frozen food over allergy risk  An urgent recall has been issued for a popular Birds Eye branded frozen food over an allergy risk. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced Birds Eye Ltd. is recalling Goodfella’s Stonebaked Thin Garlic Bread because it contains milk, an ingredient that is not mentioned on the label. The FSA said in a statement issued on Wednesday: “The garlic bread has been mispacked with a garlic bread that contains cheese. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or…

As much as 70% of tasks in computer-based jobs could be transformed or replaced by AI, according to a new study. Experts from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said artificial intelligence was likely to have a “seismic impact” on the economy and society. According to its new report on the technology, jobs reliant on computer-based tasks such as project management, marketing and administrative support are the most likely to be reshaped by the emergence of AI. The think tank has called for greater government intervention on the issue, warning that AI policy is currently too focused on accelerating…

Television chef Gino D’Acampo has denied a string of claims he made sexualised comments and gestures to female employees behind the scenes of his popular programmes. ITV News reports dozens of former staff and freelances have detailed alleged experiences they described as “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with him over a period of more than 12 years. One woman claimed that in 2019 she saw the celebrity chef – a regular on ITV show This Morning – appearing to threaten a colleague over an ice cream.

US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on the International Criminal Court Thursday for “illegitimate and baseless” investigations targeting America and its ally Israel, the White House said. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments on the Middle East.