3 h. ago Major inheritance tax change talks as Sky News host grills minister on plan

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly exploring changes to inheritance tax - such as tightening the rules around gifting - as she battles to plug a hole in the public finances

Politics

64 h. ago Netanyahu defends Gaza City plan as UN warns of ‘calamity’ and starvation

Israeli PM says taking over city is ‘best way’ to end war, despite condemnation from within Israel and around worldMiddle East crisis – live updatesBenjamin Netanyahu has defended his plan to take control of Gaza City in the face of widespread international outrage, even as senior UN officials warned that the move risked unleashing “another calamity” on a territory already experiencing “starvation, pure and simple”.In a rare press conference with foreign journalists in Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister said the plan, signed off last week by the security cabinet to criticism both at home and abroad, was “the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.” Continue reading...

Events

68 h. ago Watch: Netanyahu claims government’s plan to take over Gaza City is ‘best way’ to end war

Watch the moment Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares that his government’s plan to take control of Gaza City is the “best way” to end the war — a move that has prompted the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting.

Politics

2 d. ago Netanyahu’s Gaza war plan will fail, warns Israel’s finance minister

Far-right ultranationalist Bezalel Smotrich says he has ‘lost faith’ that PM can achieve ‘decisive victory’

Events

3 d. ago Demonstrators seeking release of Gaza hostages to march in London as Middle East tensions grip UK

Police in London are bracing for more demonstrations on Sunday as the war in Gaza continues to inflame tensions across the U.K. Demonstrators plan to march to the prime minister’s residence, demanding the release of hostages in Gaza

Events

4 d. ago Radioactive water from UK nuclear bomb base leaked into sea, files show

Exclusive: Polluted water was released into loch near Glasgow because Royal Navy failed to maintain 1,500 water pipes, says watchdogRadioactive water from the base that holds the UK’s nuclear bombs was allowed to leak into the sea after old pipes repeatedly burst, official files have revealed.The radioactive material was released into Loch Long, a sea loch near Glasgow in western Scotland, because the Royal Navy failed to properly maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes on the base, a regulator found. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Netanyahu announces plan to take over Gaza City in further escalation

Proposal that needs to be approved by full cabinet would mean sending Israeli ground troops into remaining territoryMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said, marking another escalation in the 22-month offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and pushed the territory into famine.Ahead of the security cabinet meeting, which began Thursday and ran through the night, Netanyahu had said Israel planned to retake control over the entire territory and eventually hand it off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Gaza latest: UK to evacuate 100 children for urgent medical care as Netanyahu pushes for ‘full occupation’

Israeli prime minister signals plan to expand military offensive in Gaza

Events

8 d. ago Octopus Energy, British Gas, EDF, EON and Ovo bills can be slashed by £100 with one move

Energy bills have been rising in recent years and the trend is expected to continue. However, homeowners could save £100 on their annual bill with this easy fix

Economics

9 d. ago Water regulator Ofwat to pour £75million of taxpayers' cash into telling households how to save water... while billions of litres wasted daily due to leaky pipes

The watchdog, which ministers have vowed to scrap, is set to launch the multi-million-pound advertising and information campaign to reduce water usage by homes and businesses.

Economics

3 w. ago New ‘powerful’ water regulator to replace ‘failed’ Ofwat in drive to ‘reset’ sector

Environment secretary backs Cunliffe review’s plan to end sewage scandals and financial mismanagement and ‘change the whole system’ in England and Wales• Business live – updatesA new, “powerful” water regulator should replace Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency to “reset” a sector tarnished by scandals over sewage spills and financial mismanagement, a major review has recommended.The government is expected to adopt the recommendation for England and Wales made in the review it commissioned from Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, which was released on Monday. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Overhaul water regulators into one single body, landmark review recommends

The much-anticipated final report of the Independent Water Commission was published on Monday morning.

Politics

3 w. ago Government launches water ombudsman to boost consumer protection

Steve Reed promised ‘the biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation’

Politics

3 w. ago Ofwat ‘to be abolished and replaced with new water regulator’

The environment secretary previously said abolishing the regulator is an option

Politics

3 w. ago Ministers plan to axe toothless water regulator Ofwat as serious sewage leaks rise 60% in a year while bills for homeowners soar

The Environment Agency revealed there were 2,801 sewage leaks, up from 2,174 in 2023, with just three firms behind 81 per cent of the most serious - Thames, Southern and Yorkshire.

Politics

3 w. ago Heat pump handout? It'll take 25 years to get your money back

Ed Miliband could offer homeowners with heat pumps £200 off their bills - meaning it would take around 25 years to pay off the upfront cost.

Politics

3 w. ago Water shortages and soaring bills as MPs issue 'monumental' warning

MPs on the public accounts committee said the system of regulating water companies needs 'a complete overhaul' to rebuild trust and ensure its poor performance improves

Events

3 w. ago System of regulating water firms needs complete overhaul, MPs warn

The Public Accounts Committee said the Government must act with urgency to strengthen oversight of the sector.

Events

4 w. ago French PM may scrap two public holidays to reduce country’s crippling debt

François Bayrou says Easter Monday and VE Day could become normal workdays as critics call plan ‘a direct attack on France’France’s prime minister, François Bayrou, has proposed scrapping two public holidays as part of radical measures aimed at reducing the country’s ballooning deficit, boosting its economy and preventing it being “crushed” by debt.Outlining the 2026 budget on Tuesday, Bayrou suggested Easter Monday and 8 May, when France commemorates Victory Day, marking the end of the second world war, although he said he was open to other options. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Thames Water fatcat boss earns £1million but admits not 'everything is tickety

The huge salary for Chris Weston comes despite the utility company reporting a rise in sewage leaks and pollution, as well as staggering debts of £1.7 billion

Economics