Author: Dave Carter

John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has rejected calls from certain Labour MPs to increase Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in his upcoming Budget. Despite some senior Labour figures previously advocating for a rise in CGT, Healey has made it clear that no such increase will be implemented. CGT is a tax applied to the profit… Continue reading Chancellor rejects calls to raise Capital Gains Tax in Budget

Numerous front pages on Tuesday focus on the ongoing upheaval in France, where violent clashes stemming from student protests are leading to widespread disturbances. The Metro newspaper headlines this turmoil as “The French correction,” featuring an image of a line of Paris riot police, accompanied by the phrase “Formez vos batallions.” President Emmanuel Macron is… Continue reading Newspaper headlines: 'The French correction' and 'Labour cuts £2bn from Army'

On 13 June 2023, three individuals—students Barnaby and Grace along with caretaker Ian Coates—were fatally stabbed by Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020. Following the incident, Calocane was convicted of manslaughter under the grounds of diminished responsibility and has been detained in a high-security hospital. Barnaby’s mother, Emma Webber, expressed her… Continue reading Criminals in hospital set to lose benefits under new rules

Joe Warren, the community safety station manager for LFRS, highlighted a rise in incidents involving lithium-ion batteries both in the local area and across the country. He emphasized that these batteries are commonly found in many electronic devices. However, they can pose dangers if they become damaged, defective, or are charged improperly. He explained that… Continue reading Charging lithium-ion battery believed to have caused house fire

A recent inquiry conducted by Stormont has revealed that human trafficking represents a severe and hidden crisis, largely taking place openly through online platforms. This investigation focused specifically on websites widely used in Northern Ireland that advertise commercial sexual services, raising alarm over the exploitation of trafficked and vulnerable women. The All-Party Group (APG) on… Continue reading Pimping websites: Human trafficking 'hidden in plain sight' online

Megan Harmes first experimented with ketamine at the age of 14. Now, ten years later, she is receiving rehabilitation to recover after suffering severe bladder damage caused by the drug, which has forced her to wear incontinence pads. The drugs charity Kaleidoscope has reported a significant surge in referrals for ketamine detox and rehabilitation in… Continue reading How do we support ketamine users when their needs are so different?

New data reveals that hundreds of properties in Edinburgh are functioning as short-term holiday lets (STLs) despite being denied planning permission. According to housing campaigners, out of 1,754 entire homes in Edinburgh licensed for short-term letting, around 800 have had their planning applications refused. Despite this refusal, these properties continue to be advertised on platforms… Continue reading Hundreds of holiday lets operating without planning permission in Edinburgh

New regulations introduced by Andy Burnham aim to give drivers greater protection against excessively high private parking fines and offer more leniency when using private parking facilities. These reforms follow growing complaints from motorists who felt that penalties imposed by private companies were disproportionately severe and unfairly targeted. One notable incident highlights the problem: a… Continue reading Burnham vows end to 'rip-off parking charges' under new rules

A 33-year-old man has been taken into custody following reports of an assault involving three Jewish women in north-east London, one of whom was pushing a baby in a pram. The incident took place near Clapton Common in Hackney around 13:40 BST on Monday, where the suspect was apprehended by members of Shomrim, a Jewish… Continue reading Man held after three Jewish women report assaults in Hackney

A fatal traffic accident occurred on Monday morning in Newry involving four vehicles, resulting in the death of a man in his twenties. The collision took place at the intersection of Armagh Road and Church Road, disrupting traffic flow in the area. Emergency services responded promptly to the scene following the incident. The crash involved… Continue reading Man in his 20s dies in four-vehicle crash in Newry