Author: News Desk

The exact location of most of these small chips remains a mystery Search for 30 missing fragments from ancient Stone of Destiny after Westminster Abbey heist A search is underway for more than 30 fragments of the ancient Stone of Destiny after they separated from the ancient artefact following its famous theft from Westminster Abbey and secret repair. The exact location of most of these small chips remains a mystery as they have been passed down through families or are in private collections. Professor Sally Foster has been painstakingly collating the history of as many of the pieces as possible,…

Rising temperatures could see more pests introduced on increasingly tropical plants Snakes and spiders slipping into country in flowers and plants Spiders, insects, fungi and agricultural pests are being imported into the UK and northern Europe in cut flowers and other ornamental plants. Snakes and lizards are also slipping unnoticed into northern Europe in vast shipments of flowers and potted plants, researchers have warned. Continental European snakes, geckos and Italian wall lizards are among the animals making their way to the region in potted olive trees destined for gardens and green space, according to the study published on Friday in…

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch spoke about the risk of reduced attention due to the automation of Tube trains London Underground passenger who fell on Tube tracks was run over by four trains after going unnoticed A passenger who fell onto the London Underground tracks and went unnoticed was repeatedly run over by four Tube trains, a report has revealed. The incident occurred on Boxing Day in 2023 at Stratford station, with the passenger fatally injured after they were unable to reach a position of safety. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said that the incident had unfolded after the individual…

The crash with Staffordshire Police’s unmarked Skoda Octavia happened in early December Elderly woman dies on Christmas Day following crash with unmarked police car  A police force has referred itself to a watchdog after a pensioner died following a crash with an unmarked police car in Stoke-on-Trent. A red Nissan Micra was in a collision with the unmarked Skoda Octavia, driven by Staffordshire Police, shortly after 3.50pm on Thursday 5 December. The police car was using its blue lights at the time. The driver of the Nissan, who was a woman in her eighties, was taken to hospital following the…

Labour said it will ‘re-consult’ on the Conservative plans, but the government is looking to find the same savings High Court rules disability benefit reforms plan as unlawful – but Labour remains committed to cuts  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation into plans to cut billions in disability benefits has been ruled unlawful by the High Court for being “unfair and misleading”. The planned changes, focused on an overhaul of the work capability assessment (WCA), would have seen nearly half a million claimants worse off by as much as £416.19 a month. Although drawn up by the previous…

Watchdog investigating allegations against Jason Hogg over ‘inadequate’ probe around sensitive police information retention Thames Valley Police chief constable suspended over gross misconduct claims  The chief constable of Thames Valley Police has been suspended from duty amid an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct. Police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, said Jason Hogg’s suspension would take effect immediately. The police watchdog, the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), is investigating the allegations. It’s claimed Mr Hogg failed to adequately investigate allegations relating to the improper retention of sensitive police information, Mr Barber said. He said the matters…

Home secretary announces a number of local grooming gang inquiries and a ‘rapid national review’ to consider causes of crime Labour bows to pressure to announce new grooming gang inquiries  Yvette Cooper has announced a “rapid national audit” into the scale and nature of grooming gangs across the country amid growing calls from MPs for a new inquiry. The home secretary also pledged five new local inquiries backed by government funding in a statement to the Commons on Thursday. The “no holds barred” rapid review, which will report within three months, will be led by crossbench peer Louise Casey and…

Keir Starmer has made his first trip to Kyiv as UK prime minister to offer long-term support to Ukraine which could see British troops brought in as peacekeepers Starmer considers UK troops in Ukraine in peacekeeper role as he meets Zelensky in Kyiv Sir Keir Starmer is considering plans to send British troops into Ukraine to act as peacekeepers in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The development came during the prime minister’s first trip to Ukraine since he took power six months ago, which included a meeting with president Volodymyr Zelensky. The trip saw the prime minister seizing…

Dozens of bodies have been rescued from a disused South African gold mine at Stilfontein where hundreds of illegal miners had been trapped for months.  Senegalese employees working for the French army fear losing their jobs after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye says the French army must leave. And as the African Nations Championship tournament is postponed we look into why the Confederation of African Football deemed the host countries ‘not ready’. End of miners rescue operation in South Africa: dozens of bodies found, 246 survivors

  Spain’s real estate market is experiencing a major boom. In the first nine months of the year, property prices rose by an average of 9%, according to the House Price Index from the INE statistics agency. Average prices have doubled over the past decade, marking a much-welcome recovery following the banking and real estate collapse during the 2008/9 financial crisis. That downturn was fueled by years of overbuilding and property speculation, ultimately forcing Spain to seek a €100 billion ($103 billion) bailout from the European Union to stabilize its banking sector. The current surge in home prices and rents has reignited concerns over…