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Rachel Reeves expected to scrap £300m in tax breaks for Motability scheme
Plan to remove relief from scheme that helps provide cars for disabled people likely to concern some Labour MPs
Rachel Reeves is expected to press ahead with scrapping about £300m in tax breaks for the Motability scheme that helps provide cars for disabled people, in a move likely to spark concerns among some Labour MPs.
The Treasury was reported to have been considering axing tax breaks up to £1bn but savings will not be as high as that figure, with concerns among ministers that some policy options could have led to Motability’s collapse.
Continue reading...Even the U.K. Prime Minister Can’t Resist ‘6-7’ – The New York Times
- Even the U.K. Prime Minister Can’t Resist ‘6-7’ The New York Times
- Starmer says sorry for leading pupils in 6-7 dance BBC
- World Leader Apologizes for Leading Kids in Cringe Six-Seven Dance The Daily Beast
- ‘I didn’t start it’: Starmer apologises for ‘six seven’ uproar during school visit The Guardian
- How eight-year-olds ensnared Keir Starmer in a web of ‘6-7’ mischief The Times
Mark Kelly: call for troops to disobey illegal orders is ‘non-controversial’
Senator hits back at Trump administration after Pentagon launches investigation for possible breaches of military law
US senator Mark Kelly said it was “non-controversial” for him and other Democrats to implore military personnel to disobey “illegal orders” from the Trump administration – hitting back at accusations of “serious allegations of misconduct” leveled against him by the Pentagon.
“I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial – and that was that members of the military should follow the law,” the Arizona Democrat senator, a former US Navy officer and astronaut who flew on four separate space shuttle missions between 2001 and 2011, told MS Now on Monday night.
Continue reading...Syrians displaced by war are returning to find homes occupied by foreign fighters – NPR
Reeves’s plan to cut cash Isa limit could raise mortgage rates, say finance bosses
Building societies fear consumers will be put off from saving if chancellor’s budget announces a 40% reduction
Rachel Reeves’s plan to slash the annual cash Isa limit by 40% could lead to higher mortgage rates and deter consumers from saving, finance bosses have said.
The chancellor is expected to cut the maximum amount people can put into tax-efficient cash individual savings accounts from £20,000 a year to £12,000 in Wednesday’s budget.
Continue reading...CPS to train staff on ‘spectrum of abuse’ in violence against women and girls
Five-year strategy aims to improve casework after analysis finds domestic abuse in more than third of rape cases
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will train its staff to recognise the “wide spectrum of abuse” in cases of violence against women, after new data found that domestic abuse was present in more than a third of rape cases, and in more than eight out of 10 cases of stalking and image-based abuse.
Launching its five-year Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, the body said its main aims were to increase casework quality and increase trust in the CPS.
Continue reading...Hitler is back: Namibian politician with unusual name set for re-election; claims no Nazi connection – The Times of India
- Hitler is back: Namibian politician with unusual name set for re-election; claims no Nazi connection The Times of India
- Politician named Adolf Hitler set to win election in southern African country New York Post
- Adolf Hitler Uunona, Local Politician, Poised for Reelection in Namibia Haaretz
- Adolf Hitler runs for re-election: Namibian politician burdened with Nazi tyrant's name hopes for fifth term in office Daily Mail
- Namibia's "Adolf Hitler" on the Ballot in 2025. But Not the One You Think | Firstpost Africa Firstpost
UK to extend sugar tax to cover bottled milkshakes and pre-packaged lattes
Levy will also apply to more fizzy drinks as health secretary says government ‘will not look away as children get unhealthier’
Sweet-toothed consumers face paying more for bottled milkshakes and some fizzy drinks after the government confirmed plans for a tougher sugar tax.
Designed to tackle obesity, the levy currently applies to drinks with a sugar content of 5g per 100ml. However, after a public consultation this is being cut to 4.5g per 100ml, meaning it could cover hundreds more products.
Continue reading...‘Queen of the Zoo’: Gramma, tortoise who lived through two world wars, dies aged 141
Gramma came to San Diego Zoo from Bronx Zoo in 1928 or 1931 and lived through 20 US presidents
After more than a century of munching on her favorite foods of romaine lettuce and cactus fruit, beloved Galapagos tortoise Gramma, the oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo, has died.
Gramma was born in her native habitat and was estimated to be about 141 years old, zoo officials said. She died on 20 November.
Continue reading...Woman found alive in coffin after being brought in for cremation – Syracuse.com
- Woman found alive in coffin after being brought in for cremation Syracuse.com
- Thai woman found alive in coffin after being brought in for cremation AP News
- Woman Wakes Up in Coffin After Brother Tried to Donate Her Organs and Have Her Cremated People.com
- Woman Found Alive in Coffin After Knocking Heard at Crematorium Yahoo
- Staff Shocked When They Hear Knock From Inside Coffin Ahead of Cremation Newsweek
Nollywood actor Odira Nwobu dies in South Africa aged 43
News of his death has shocked many at home in Nigeria, prompting an outpouring of grief.
Four new arrests made following Louvre jewellery heist
Two men and two women from Paris are the latest to be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.
Seven killed in Kyiv as Russia hits Ukraine’s energy sector with missiles and drones
Wide-ranging assault included drones that crossed into Romanian and Moldovan territory
Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, killing seven and injuring 21 in Kyiv as a fresh round of US-brokered peace negotiations began in Abu Dhabi.
A total of 22 missiles, including four hypersonic Kinzhals, and 464 drones, were fired by Russia in attacks that principally targeted Kyiv and the surrounding area, according to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Continue reading...A NATO ally staring down Russia is doubling down on HIMARS after Ukraine showed what they can do – Business Insider
- A NATO ally staring down Russia is doubling down on HIMARS after Ukraine showed what they can do Business Insider
- Estonia proceeding with second HIMARS buy, eyeing ‘28-29 delivery Breaking Defense
- Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS Deal With Estonia: Strategic Defense Enhancements Meyka
- Estonia to Proceed With Second HIMARS Order Amid Delivery Delays The Defense Post
- 6 HIMARS Not Enough Estonia Doubles Down Despite Long Waits, Also Buys Korean Alternative Defense Express
US-backed GHF ‘aid mission’ in Gaza ends – a timeline of violence
GHF is halting operations after more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed in and around its distribution sites.
Nato scrambles jets as Russian drones make deepest incursion into Romania
Fighter jets track two uncrewed aircraft in first daytime breach of Romanian airspace since full-scale Ukraine war
Nato jets were scrambled to track two Russian drones that crossed into Romania on Tuesday in the deepest and first daytime incursion into the country’s airspace since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
German Typhoon and Romanian F-16 fighter jets took off in pairs to follow the uncrewed aircraft. The first flew back into Ukrainian airspace, but the second was later found downed in Puieşti, about 70 miles from Ukraine.
Continue reading...Ukrainian security source says Russia reacted to an attack by firing missiles into its own buildings – Business Insider
- Ukrainian security source says Russia reacted to an attack by firing missiles into its own buildings Business Insider
- Ukraine's military says it hit Russian oil refinery and terminal Reuters
- Ukraine Attacks Russia’s Black Sea Oil Infrastructure Again Bloomberg.com
- Unique Russian A-60 Laser Testbed Jet Destroyed In Ukrainian Attack The War Zone
- 3 Killed in Rostov Region as Russia and Ukraine Exchange Overnight Air Attacks The Moscow Times
India, Pakistan to play T20 World Cup 2026 group match on February 15
Bitter rivals India and Pakistan will face off in Group A at next year's 20-team competition.
UN calls for probe into Israel’s strikes on Lebanon
At least 13 civilians, including 11 children, were killed in the Israeli strike on Ein El-Hilweh camp.