UK News

A trio of Scottish brothers has set a new world record after completing the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean arrived in the Australian city of Cairns on Saturday, August 30 just at 1.52am BST, marking the end of the 139-day, five hour and 52 minute journey crossing the world’s largest ocean. The Edinburgh-born team is the first team ever recorded to row from […]

Tottenham have pulled off the major signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in a welcome boost for new boss Thomas Frank. Spurs have tracked a high-quality attacking addition all summer and after recent failed pursuits of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, the capture of 22-year-old Simons represents a significant coup for the north London club. Versatile attacker Simons has joined Tottenham in a 60million euros (£51.8m) deal, the PA […]

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner should face an ethics inquiry over her tax affairs, the Conservatives have said. The Telegraph newspaper claimed that Ms Rayner, who is also the Housing Secretary, saved £40,000 in stamp duty on a second home she bought in Hove for £800,000. This was because she removed her name from the deed to a family property in Greater Manchester, the newspaper reported. However, Ms Rayner also […]

A council has described the damage to a 19th-century landmark after it was painted with a St George’s Cross by vandals as “upsetting”. Portsmouth Guildhall, a Victorian hall now used as an events venue, is one of a number of buildings and roads in the city which have been painted with the red-and-white symbol, Portsmouth City Council said. A spokesperson for the council said on Friday: “The Guildhall is a […]

A temporary injunction that was set to block asylum seekers from being housed at an Essex hotel has been overturned at the Court of Appeal. Somani Hotels, which owns the Bell Hotel in Epping, and the Home Office challenged a High Court ruling that would have stopped 138 asylum seekers from being housed there beyond September 12. In a ruling last week, Mr Justice Eyre granted Epping Forest District Council […]

A trial date has been set for a 76-year-old man charged with child cruelty offences after children became unwell at a summer camp where sweets were allegedly laced with sedatives. Jon Ruben appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday with charges relating to three boys at a summer camp at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane, Stathern, Leicestershire, but was not asked to enter any pleas. His plea hearing was adjourned […]

Israel on Friday said its military had recovered the bodies of two hostages as it suspended noon pauses to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza City, calling it a “a dangerous combat zone”. The hostages include an Israeli man who was killed in the October 7 attack that sparked the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the bodies of Ilan Weiss of Kibbutz […]

A vaccine for chickenpox will be rolled out on the NHS in England from January, officials have announced. The jab, which currently costs around £150 at private clinics and pharmacies, will form part of a new combined immunisation on the childhood vaccination programme. Ministers hope it will not only protect some youngsters from severe complications from the virus, but also prevent parents taking time off work to look after their […]

The majority of autistic people over the age of 40 in the UK are living without a diagnosis, a study suggests. This could make them “more susceptible to age-related problems” and socially isolated in older age, researchers warned. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition and causes people to interact differently to others. Those with the condition may get anxious in social situations, seem blunt, and struggle to understand what others are […]