Author: News Desk

Just Stop Oil activists deface Charles Darwin’s grave inside Westminster Abbey Two Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested after they defaced Charles Darwin’s grave in Westminster Abbey. Police led the two protesters away after they used chalk spray to write “1.5 is Dead” on the naturalist’s grave at around 10am on Monday. The group said the graffiti was a reference to the news that the planet has experienced the first year in which temperatures have exceeded the target of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial times. Just Stop Oil activists deface Charles Darwin’s grave inside Westminster Abbey https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/just-stop-oil-charles-darwin-grave-westminster-abbey-b2678491.html

Will the Brexit headache ever end? Join our exclusive panel as we discuss five years of Britain outside the EU Nearly five years have passed since the UK left the European Union, yet Brexit remains a central and divisive issue in British politics. But what have we learned from Brexit? And how are its consequences continuing to shape the UK’s future? Join The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul as he hosts an engaging panel discussion that will explore these questions and more, reflecting on the ongoing impact of Brexit and its long-term effects. Will the Brexit headache ever end?…

Who could be in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor? Who could be in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor?  In football manager parlance, the dreaded vote of confidence from the club chairman often shortly precedes an inevitable sacking. So when Keir Starmer said on Monday he has “full confidence” in his beleaguered chancellor Rachel Reeves, tongues started wagging on her future. It was noticeable that the prime minister had to be asked twice before he answered the question, and he avoided saying her job was guaranteed until the next election while on camera. Only three…

The average property value increased by £2,400 last year. But where was it the most? Where in the UK homes are increasing and decreasing in value the most  More homeowners have seen their property increase in value last year, compared with 2023, according to latest calculations. Around half of UK homes increased in value by 1% or more in 2024, Zoopla estimated. Whilst 2024 saw a broad recovery of house prices, around a third of homes recorded price declines of 1% or more last year, equating to just over nine million properties. Just under six million homes last year recorded…

UK must do more to lead innovation in bio-tech sector, Lords committee says The UK has already lost its position as a world-leader in certain scientific innovations and technologies, and is in “severe” danger of slipping further behind without urgent action, a House of Lords report has warned. The cross-party Lords Science and Technology Committee said the UK must do more to boost innovation in the area of engineering biology to prevent it from entering a “doom loop” where foreign competitors leapfrog British efforts. The report follows an eight-month inquiry into engineering biology, an emerging area of science which uses…

The impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol began Tuesday, as the Constitutional Court reviews his failed attempt to enforce martial law. Yoon, who was impeached after attempting to halt a parliamentary vote by military force, has evaded arrest and was absent from the trial’s brief opening session. Impeachment trial of South Korean President Yoon begins

More than 100 AI trials to boost small-business productivity launched Some 120 projects trialling how AI could help small businesses be more productive have been launched by the Government in its first wave of initiatives to use the technology to boost the economy. The projects include an AI tool that can predict potholes before they appear, another which can anticipate where mould is likely to grow in buildings and another being trialled at a bakery aimed at cutting food waste. Each of the projects will receive a share of £7 million in Government funding to help test the AI technology.…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed demands from US President-elect Donald Trump that Germany and other NATO allies increase defense spending to at least 5% of gross domestic product (GDP). “Five percent would be over €200 billion ($204 billion) per year — the federal budget is not even €500 billion,” Scholz said at a campaign event in the western German city of Bielefeld on Monday. “That would only be possible with massive tax increases or massive cuts to many things that are important to us,” he said, insisting that he would not countenance cuts to pensions, local government or transport infrastructure.…

Proposals aim to protect UK infrastructure from ransomware All public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure could be banned from making ransomware payments under new Government proposals designed to combat the cyber crime. A Home Office consultation is being launched that will consider expanding the existing ban on government departments making such payments, which are often demanded by cybercriminals to unlock or return files they have accessed after breaking into a computer system. The proposals also include a ransomware payment prevention regime, designed to increase the National Crime Agency’s awareness of live attacks and block payments to known criminal groups…

South Korea’s military reported that North Korea launched several suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday around 09:30 AM local time. This incident follows Pyongyang’s test of a new hypersonic missile system last week and occurs amid strengthening ties between Japan and South Korea. North Korea fires several suspected short-range ballistic missiles