34 minutes ago UK politics live: Badenoch refuses to commit to reversing rise in employers’ national insurance in speech at CBI

Tory leader says she will not ‘comment on every bit of micro-policy’Q: Are you feeling the pressure? There is a petition signed by 2 million people calling for another election.Starmer says he is not surprised that people who did not support Labour in the first place want the election to be re-run. But that is not how the system worked.I’m not surprised, quite frankly, that as we’re doing the tough stuff, there are plenty of people who say, ‘Well, I’m impacted.’I think anybody who’s turned around an organisation or a business will tell you, and they’re right, if you’re really going to turn something around, you have to do the hard yards upfront. Don’t look at a tough decision and then leave it for a year or two.So we’re doing the tough stuff. But in the budget, which is probably the tou...

Politics

35 minutes ago Storm Bert: environment secretary says flood defences in ‘worst condition on record’ after Tory government – live updates

Steve Reed has criticised previous administration and promised £2.4bn to improve facilitiesHave you been affected by flooding in the UK? Get in touchNorthamptonshire Police have warned people in the area “while the flooding remains ongoing, please avoid all unnecessary travel and do not drive through floodwater of any depth – it is not worth the risk.”In Yate in the west of England, BBC Bristol reports that about 100 properties were flooded overnight, and residents had to be evacuated. Continue reading...

Events

36 minutes ago Watchdog warns Angela Rayner's plan to give millions of Brits rights to WFH and strike more easily could slash wages

The Regulatory Policy Committee today lashed out at the rationale used by the Department of Business and Trade to justify the changes made in the Employment Rights Bill.

Events

37 minutes ago Subtle warning signs that YOUR barber is filthy...after surge in ringworm linked to unsanitary haircuts

Cases of the contagious skin fungus that can cause disfigurement have jumped significantly in just a handful of months, some barbers have claimed.

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37 minutes ago Bird flu detected in raw milk sold in California as fears rise of virus spreading

No illnesses traced to batch as health officials warn consumers to avoid purchaseBird flu has been detected in a sample of raw milk sold in California raising fears about the continued spread of the virus, state officials reported.The virus was found in “one batch of cream top, whole raw milk” from Raw Farm, a dairy farm based out of Fresno, California, with a “best by” date of 27 November, said the California department of public health in a press release. Continue reading...

Science

38 minutes ago RAC warns over scam offering free stuff which will actually steal your personal details

The motoring services company has highlighted the tell-tale signs to look out for after scammers used the RAC name to try to con people out of their private data

Events

44 minutes ago Petition calling for fresh general election has 'no chance' of influencing timing of next vote even if it was signed by tens of millions of people, British constitutional experts say

EXCLUSIVE: The 'Call a General Election' petition on the Parliament website was posted by pub owner Michael Westwood and complains that Sir Keir has 'gone back on promises'.

Politics

48 minutes ago 'I was Arsenal's most expensive signing – it was shocking to some and I paid the price'

The pressure of becoming Arsenal's all-time record signing weighed heavily on one infamous flop who believes he "paid the price" after failing to meet expectations

Events

57 minutes ago Mo matcha mo problem? How to get your green tea fix in a global matcha shortage

A surge in demand for the Japanese powdered green tea has led to concerns about a shortage. But there are alternativesGet our weekend culture and lifestyle email It’s “bold, green and attractive”, has boomed in popularity in Australia and on social media, and there are reports of a global shortage. But are we actually running low on matcha – and what are some alternatives to get your green tea hit?Megumi Kanaike, manager of Sydney tea shop Simply Native, says suppliers of the Japanese ground green tea powder have placed limits on orders. She attributes the reported shortage to an “unexpected worldwide boom” in the popularity of a tea that is only harvested once a year in Japan.Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday ...

Politics

59 minutes ago Dumfries and Galloway residents warned they have just days left to apply for garden waste collection

The council’s garden waste recycling scheme will kick off in March 2025, with permits costing £40 a bin.

Events