45 m. ago Health and safety rules holding UK infrastructure back, says writer of government report

Exclusive: John Fingleton says regulators need to change their attitude to risk to end the country’s economic stagnationOverbearing health and safety rules are stopping Britain building new infrastructure, according to the economist whom Keir Starmer has cited as an inspiration for his growth strategy.John Fingleton, who recently wrote a report for government on how to encourage developers to build new nuclear power plants, told the Guardian regulators needed to change their attitude to risk if the country was to end its long economic stagnation. Continue reading...

Politics

62 m. ago Planning to visit the US? Take it from this American citizen – don’t | Eleanor Limprecht

I love many things about the land of my birth but Donald Trump’s America has become an unwelcoming country of deep divisions and waning trustI’m in the US right now, but if I didn’t have family here (and a US passport), I wouldn’t be. My teenagers and I flew over the week of Thanksgiving from Australia, preparing ourselves for long lines and extra questions at customs. It took less than five minutes in the US citizens’ line.With the news this week of the Trump administration planning to implement new invasive requirements for travellers from 42 countries, including Australia, that would require five years of social media history for visas, I would simply not travel here on another passport. There are plenty of places which welcome visitors without trawling their political opinions and family history. Continue reading...

Politics

76 m. ago People on PIP must report certain changes to DWP or monthly payments could stop

PIP claimants may also have to pay a penalty if they give the DWP wrong information.

Politics

76 m. ago Police Scotland's new phone system leaves members of the public waiting for 2 hours

Calls to the non emergency 101 number were initially taking up to 40 minutes before someone responded.

Events

2 h. ago Alan Titchmarsh names five flowers to plant now including one that 'divides' opinion

If you want some colour in your garden right through the coldest months, Alan Titchmarsh has a handful of excellent suggestions for you

Politics

2 h. ago Fin dining! How orca and dolphins team up to hunt salmon... and then EAT together

The two marine mammals were also caught sharing fish scraps after killing their prey, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Politics

3 h. ago Dozens killed in hospital strike in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state

Conflict monitors say the junta has increased airstrikes year-on-year since the start of Myanmar’s civil warDozens have been killed in a military strike on a hospital in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state, according to an aid worker, a rebel group, a witness and local media reports, as the junta wages a withering offensive ahead of elections beginning this month.“The situation is very terrible,” said on-site aid worker Wai Hun Aung. “As for now, we can confirm there are 31 deaths and we think there will be more deaths. Also there are 68 wounded and will be more and more.” Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Driver arrested and 13 people detained after police swarm the M40

A lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after roughly 15 police vehicles swarmed the motorway following reports that a number of people were travelling in the back of a HGV

Events

4 h. ago Chyna Mills' 'bitter feud with fiancé Neil Jones' family has been brewing for years

The feud between Chyna Mills and Neil Jones ' family has been brewing for ages, according to a new report.

Politics

4 h. ago Alleged Charlie Kirk shooter appears in court as Erika Kirk says public 'deserve' access to trial

Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm and obstruction of justice, among other charges, for the fatal September 10 shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

Events

4 h. ago US ‘prepares to board more Venezuela oil tankers’ as White House ‘won’t watch them sail the seas’ & sanctions 6 more

US officials are reportedly preparing to storm and seize more tankers transporting Venezuelan oil to put pressure on dictator Nicolás Maduro. Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated when rifle-wielding US troops rappelled from helicopters to raid an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Stunning footage showed commandos sweeping through the ship as they executed...

Events

4 h. ago 'Trump wants to push Austria into Auxit': Europe up in arms over 'leaked US plan to pull countries away from EU'

The file, reported by Defense One, supposedly claims Trump intends to pull Austria, Italy , Hungary and Poland away from the EU and closer in to Washington's circle of influence.

Politics

5 h. ago Virgin Media outage LIVE as thousands of customers report issues across UK

The media service is out across several parts of the UK leaving thousands of customers frustrated as there is no indication when their homes will be reconnected

Economics

5 h. ago Rise of the digital threesome: British couples are turning to AI to spice up their sex lives, study reveals

Forget couples counselling or a saucy mini-break - when it comes to spicing up their sex lives, British couples are turning to AI. A new report by Lovehoney has detailed the rise of the 'digital threesome'.

Politics

5 h. ago Shoppers turning to alternative payments such as buy now pay later – BRC report

The report suggested that interest rates charged on credit cards could be pushing some consumers towards other payment methods.

Economics

5 h. ago Irish economy at risk from ‘global shocks’, ESRI report warns

The think tank also said the presence of multinational corporations ‘remains a tremendous positive for the Irish economy’.

Events

5 h. ago Shoppers forecast to embark on £24.6billion Christmas spending frenzy

Despite the ongoing cost of living crisis and Budget blues, a report predicts many people will splash out more on Christmas this year

Economics

6 h. ago ALISON BOSHOFF: David and Victoria Beckham 'give up hope' of reconciliation with daughter

Recent reports claim that former footballer David and his fashion designer wife Victoria have 'given up' hope of reconciling with Brooklyn's actress wife.

Politics

6 h. ago Experts issue warning over people forming ‘emotional bonds’ with AI chatbots

Almost half of adults, 25.9 million, report feeling lonely in the UK, but experts stress AI is not the answer

Events

6 h. ago Elon Musk teams with El Salvador to bring Grok chatbot to public schools

President Nayib Bukele entrusting chatbot known for calling itself ‘MechaHitler’ to create ‘AI-powered’ curriculaElon Musk is partnering with the government of El Salvador to bring his artificial intelligence company’s chatbot, Grok, to more than 1 million students across the country, according to a Thursday announcement by xAI. Over the next two years, the plan is to “deploy” the chatbot to more than 5,000 public schools in an “AI-powered education program”.xAI’s Grok is more known for referring to itself as “MechaHitler” and espousing far-right conspiracy theories than it is for public education. Over the past year, the chatbot has spewed various antisemitic content, decried “white genocide” and claimed Donald Trump won the 2020 election. Continue reading...

Politics