Calls to ban disposable barbecues in England and Wales over wildfire risk
Farmers and landowners are calling for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues in England and Wales, as they warn of the risk of igniting wildfires. The call, which has also…
Government contracts to require job creation instead of green targets under new rules
Ministers will scrap the requirement for companies to prove their green and progressive values before they are awarded government contracts, and instead ask firms to prove they will help young…
MI6 is top European foreign intelligence service, peer review finds
MI6 has been ranked as the most powerful foreign intelligence service in Europe ahead of France and the Netherlands, according to a peer review. The British intelligence agency scored 251…
Charity Commission to investigate donations to illegal Israeli settlements
An official investigation has been launched into charities in England and Wales donating funds to illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. The Charity Commission will aim to establish the amount of…
Calls to ban ‘toxic’ pet flea treatments that harm UK wildlife and environment
Over-the-counter flea treatment for cats and dogs should be banned as millions of hazardous chemicals are unnecessarily applied to UK pets each year, a parliamentary report has concluded. Cats and…
Palantir paid just £2m corporation tax in UK in 2024 despite lucrative public sector contracts
The software group Palantir paid just £2m in corporation tax in the UK in 2024, despite holding public sector contracts worth hundreds of millions, thanks to tax breaks that are…
Women must not feel pressure to have ‘ideal birth’, says Yvette Cooper
Women should not feel pressurised into experiencing an “ideal birth”, the new health secretary, Yvette Cooper, has said, promising a root-and-branch reform of standards after several damning maternity scandals. Cooper,…
Teacher who modified pupils’ coursework and ‘didn’t really teach’ banned from the classroom
The panel was found that her professional conduct was not accetpable A teacher who amended pupils’ coursework and awarded their grades “dishonestly” has been banned from the classroom. Tandy L’Enfant…
Scottish exam pass rates rise as students find out results
Pass rates for Scottish exams have increased as students across the country received their results. More than 148,000 learners have been finding out the results of their Nationals, Highers, Advanced…
Boy, 14, dies after going into River Thames
The teen was pronounced dead at the scene on London’s Isle of Dogs A 14-year-old boy has died after entering the River Thames on Monday, the Metropolitan Police said. The…