Israeli air strikes on Yemen airport ‘were metres from WHO chief’ December 27, 2024 A new round of alleged Israeli air strikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital and multiple ports while the World Health Organisation’s director-general said the bombardment occurred nearby as he prepared to board a flight. “The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few metres from where we were — [...]
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-covid levels’ December 27, 2024 The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.6 per cent from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 8pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s [...]
Badenoch accuses Farage of ‘fakery’ over Reform membership figures December 27, 2024 Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Nigel Farage of “fakery” over Reform UK membership numbers, after his party claimed they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”, but Mr Farage said he would “gladly invite” a firm to “audit our membership numbers” as long [...]
Starmer condemns Russia’s Christmas Day strikes on Ukraine power grid December 25, 2024 Russia’s “bloody and brutal war machine” has shown no respite “even at Christmas”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, as he condemned strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid. Moscow has launched a massive missile barrage on Christmas Day, with the aim of crippling energy infrastructure sites across Ukraine. More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles and [...]
Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after car hits pedestrians in London’s West End December 25, 2024 A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End in the early hours of Christmas Day. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 00.45am following reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury [...]
Ex-Abercrombie CEO’s dementia ‘may leave him incompetent to face sex charges’ December 25, 2024 Defence lawyers say the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch may have dementia, and a competency hearing is necessary to determine if he can face sex charges. Lawyers for Michael Jeffries said in court papers unsealed on Monday in federal court in Central Islip on Long Island that a neuropsychologist who examined Jeffries in October [...]
Farage willing to work with Lord Mandelson to secure Trump trade deal December 25, 2024 Nigel Farage has said he would be willing to help incoming ambassador to the US Lord Mandelson negotiate with the Trump administration. Labour peer Lord Mandelson has indicated he believes the Reform UK leader, a friend of Mr Trump, could serve as a link between the British Government and the Republican president-elect. But Downing Street [...]
Lucy Powell says she understands public’s frustration with Labour in office December 22, 2024 The state of the economy is “disappointing” and people’s frustrations with Labour’s performance in office are understandable, a Cabinet minister has acknowledged. Commons Leader Lucy Powell insisted the Government was turning the situation around but accepted she wanted to see economic improvements faster. She defended the “difficult decisions” taken by the Government, saying “we didn’t [...]
Starmer to visit Gulf states as he strives to deepen trade ties December 7, 2024 Keir Starmer will strive to strengthen trade ties with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in his first trip to the Persian Gulf as prime minister. The PM will meet UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, after flying to the Gulf on Sunday [...]
Currys could reveal Black Friday boost or Budget hit in interim results December 7, 2024 Electronics retailer Currys will reveal how much impact the recent Budget is likely to have on its sales next week. Investors will hope the chain has carried on a recent financial recovery into the autumn when it announces its interim results on 12 December. The company is expected to post a profit of £137m for [...]