Many flights at Heathrow and Gatwick cancelled or delayed on Saturday as murky conditions persist
Disruption caused by thick fog is expected to continue until Sunday at some of the UK’s busiest airports.
Flights at Stansted airport were affected by the weather conditions on Saturday, while live departure boards showed delays at Heathrow, Luton and Manchester airports.
Continue reading...Police say man in 40s died at scene in Dunstable after incident at about 4pm on Friday
A man in his 80s has been arrested after a pedestrian died following a road collision in Bedfordshire, police said.
Officers were called just before 4pm on Friday to reports of a collision between a blue Saab car and a pedestrian in West Street, Dunstable.
Continue reading...Green energy entrepreneur voices concerns over project’s funding and ‘spiralling costs’ of UK’s other nuclear plants
The government’s new value for money tsar has been challenged to examine the costs of a nuclear power station to be given final approval next year, as ministers attempt to shore up private investment for the project.
New nuclear plants are a key part of the government’s plan to have clean power by 2030. The Sizewell C reactor, billed as generating enough energy to power 6m homes, is expected to be given the final go ahead in June’s review of public spending. Its projected costs are in excess of £20bn.
Continue reading...Biographer says government departments give contradictory refusals to requests and accuses them of ‘cover up’
Researchers have called for greater transparency from the Foreign Office over the files it holds on the Duke of York. Officials responding to freedom of information requests have given a variety of reasons why the files cannot be released.
Andrew Lownie, an author who is researching a biography of Prince Andrew, was told that the files could not be made public until 2065, and implied there was a general rule that papers relating to members of the royal family must remain closed until 105 years after their birth.
Continue reading...Unpredictable change will sweep through America, while old problems, from war to inflation, are likely to afflict other countries
The global economy is entering the new year with rising geopolitical tensions looming over its prospects, as the world’s leading central banks attempt to cut interest rates after the worst inflation shock in decades.
Donald Trump’s second term in the White House is expected to dominate the economic agenda. Global trade tensions are on the horizon as the president-elect threatens to impose sweeping tariffs on US imports.
Continue reading...Hussain Bisad, who has had health problems, says government should do more for people with physical or mental illness
When Hussain Bisad first settled in north London as an asylum seeker after fleeing from war in Somalia 23 years ago, he did so in the hope of a new and more settled life. Little did he know that shortly after arriving he would be at the centre of the media spotlight, not for his story of escaping conflict but for something altogether different: his height.
Bisad had been in the UK for five months when Guinness World Records measured his height as 2.3 metres (7ft 6.5in), making him then the world’s tallest living man.
Continue reading...Unsealed documents show British PM’s idea in 2002 did not go down well with Northern Ireland politician
The 2002 World Cup had been a gruelling rollercoaster for the Republic of Ireland. Nine days before the team’s first match in the tournament, hosted by Japan and South Korea, its captain and talisman Roy Keane was on his way home before a ball had been kicked, after publicly berating his manager, Mick McCarthy.
Two draws and a victory against Saudi Arabia had taken Ireland through the group stages, but after a dramatic penalty shootout against Spain, they were knocked out of the competition.
Continue reading...Newly released documents show Irish officials sought return of cannon sold by ‘gang of British treasure hunters’
Rare cannon allegedly smuggled out of Irish waters by a gang of British treasure hunters and acquired for a knockdown price by a Tower of London official were at the centre of a decades-long dispute between British and Irish officials, according to newly released records.
Irish officials made extensive efforts to convince UK authorities to return the bronze cannon after claiming they were “illegally smuggled” from a Waterford shipwreck and sold to the Tower of London.
Anthony Gilheaney, 30, charged with attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car
A man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving into four pedestrians in the West End of London on Christmas Day.
Anthony Gilheaney, 30, was also charged with causing serious injury by driving while disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Continue reading...Anthony Gilheaney, 30, charged with attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car
A man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving into four pedestrians in the West End of London on Christmas Day.
Anthony Gilheaney, 30, was also charged with causing serious injury by driving while disqualified, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
Continue reading...Nick Starmer, 60, who had cancer, ‘met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour’, says PM
Keir Starmer has paid tribute to his brother Nick, who had cancer and died on Boxing Day aged 60.
Starmer said in a statement: “My brother Nick was a wonderful man. He met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour. We will miss him very much.
Continue reading...Nick Starmer, 60, who had cancer, ‘met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour’, says PM
Keir Starmer has paid tribute to his brother Nick, who had cancer and died on Boxing Day aged 60.
Starmer said in a statement: “My brother Nick was a wonderful man. He met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour. We will miss him very much.
Continue reading...Report for final three months of year shows pressure driven by rising costs and weak consumer confidence
The number of UK retailers on the brink of collapse soared by a quarter in the final three months of the year, driven by a combination of rising business costs and weak consumer confidence, according to a report.
The proportion of retail businesses classed as being in “critical” financial distress jumped 25% to 2,124 in the fourth quarter compared with the third, the insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor said.
Continue reading...Deal under which Family Action takes over Relate’s counselling services will save up to 185 jobs, say administrators
Britain’s biggest relationship counselling charity looks likely to be rescued from insolvency under plans for it to be taken over.
Last month, Relate was put into administration after a collapse in its funding from NHS, school and local authority contracts.
Continue reading...Deal under which Family Action takes over Relate’s counselling services will save up to 185 jobs, say administrators
Britain’s biggest relationship counselling charity looks likely to be rescued from insolvency under plans for it to be taken over.
Last month, Relate was put into administration after a collapse in its funding from NHS, school and local authority contracts.
Continue reading...Gemfields makes decision over ruby mining after groups ‘took advantage’ of situation to try to invade its site
The London-listed mining company Gemfields said it had temporarily halted its ruby mining operation in Mozambique after groups “took advantage” of political unrest to set fire and attempt to invade its site, resulting in two deaths.
Gemfields, one of the world’s largest miners of coloured gemstones, said more than 200 people associated with illegal ruby mining attempted to invade the residential village built by the company next to its Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) operation in northern Mozambique on Christmas Eve.
Continue reading...Producer says ‘courage has gone out of broadcasting’ and audiences want to see grittier issues
The creator of some of Britain’s best-loved soaps has said the “courage has gone out of broadcasting” and suggested that television bosses should not be afraid to flout Ofcom rules.
Phil Redmond – the brains behind Hollyoaks, Grange Hill and Brookside – said there was “too much risk aversion” in television, with producers afraid to upset regulators even if it meant pleasing audiences.
Continue reading...Reform party leader promoting gold for Direct Bullion alongside his jobs as MP and presenter for GB News
Nigel Farage has been working as a paid brand ambassador for a gold bullion firm in a third job alongside his roles as an MP and a GB News presenter.
The MP for Clacton and Reform party leader promoted gold on behalf of Direct Bullion on a podcast sponsored by the company in November, hosted by a fellow brand ambassador and influencer Rob Moore.
Continue reading...Reform party leader promoting gold for Direct Bullion alongside his jobs as MP and presenter for GB News
Nigel Farage has been working as a paid brand ambassador for a gold bullion firm in a third job alongside his roles as an MP and a GB News presenter.
The MP for Clacton and Reform party leader promoted gold on behalf of Direct Bullion on a podcast sponsored by the company in November, hosted by a fellow brand ambassador and influencer Rob Moore.
Continue reading...He may be in league of his own on social media, but can he convince the big money he leads a viable national party?
On brand as ever, Nigel Farage got the news that Reform appears to have surpassed the Tories in membership numbers while attending a traditional Boxing Day hunt.
He was filmed for TikTok and Instagram wearing tweeds and a flat-cap, getting the news on his phone. He said: “We’ve done it. We’re through. How about that? We’re now the official opposition.” Sticking out his tongue and smiling straight into the camera, he added: “It’s going to be a long day.”
Continue reading...