Category: UK News

The UK’s only giant pandas have left Edinburgh Zoo and are en route to China. Ten-year loaners Tian Tian and Yang Guang had an extended stay when the pandemic hit but are now embarking on their journey back home. The pair have been in Scotland since 2011 and conservationists were hoping for a successful breeding… Continue reading Edinburgh Zoo giant pandas leave zoo for return to China

Scottish council leaders have warned that local authorities may go bankrupt if funding from the Scottish government is not improved. In a briefing paper ahead of the Scottish budget announcement on 19 December, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) argued that councils would need nearly £14.4bn ($19.2bn) to “stand still”. Cosla’s figures do not include… Continue reading Scottish councils warn of 'bankruptcy' risk without more funding

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of Westminster has suggested that Stormont’s first and deputy first ministers should be renamed “joint first ministers”. They believe that this recommendation can help reform power-sharing and promote political stability in Northern Ireland. The committee published a report outlining a number of changes that it believes are necessary to maintain… Continue reading Stormont leaders 'should be joint first ministers' – Westminster committee

The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) is warning that parts of the UK may experience hazardous road conditions, dubbed “ice rink Monday,” due to the refreezing of snow. The Met Office, on the other hand, has issued yellow weather alerts for ice in much of northern England. The warnings in place for both snow and ice… Continue reading North facing 'ice rink Monday' as freeze hits roads

A learner driver who refused to give up has been hailed for their determination after passing their theory test following 59 attempts. The unnamed driver spent £1,380 and 60 gruelling hours before finally obtaining a pass in the exam carried out at a test centre located in Redditch. The previous top individual test record came… Continue reading Learner driver fails 59 theory tests before pass

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has advised the BBC to be “realistic about what it can expect people to pay” for the TV licence fee during times of high inflation. He also praised the savings that the corporation was looking to make and encouraged it to “cut its cloth appropriately.” The BBC has said that the… Continue reading BBC should be 'realistic' on licence fee – Sunak

As the government continues to seek ways to reduce costs amid the pandemic, the BBC’s licence fee is once again under scrutiny. The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph both report that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has called on the corporation to be more realistic about what people can afford, and that the planned increase to… Continue reading Newspaper headlines: Starmer's 'Thatcher backlash' and PM on BBC licence

A senior vet has warned that the ban on XL bully dogs could lead to a rise in home attacks if the animals are not properly exercised and stimulated. Dave Martin, a welfare adviser to 900 practices in the UK, believes that the government’s ban, which comes into force on 31 December in England and… Continue reading XL bully ban: Fears move could increase dog attacks

In the wake of the death of frontman Shane MacGowan, The Pogues are vying for the number one spot on the UK charts alongside Wham! and Mariah Carey with their gritty festive classic Fairytale of New York. Despite being an ever-present fixture of the holiday season, the track has never before claimed the top spot… Continue reading Pogues, Wham! and Mariah battle to be Christmas number one

A knife and hammer attack on a street in central Paris on Saturday evening has left a German man dead and two others injured, one of whom is a British man. The attack took place near the Eiffel Tower before 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT), and a 26-year-old French man was later arrested with anti-terrorism prosecutors… Continue reading Paris attack near Eiffel Tower leaves one dead and two injured