British Isles
HS2 line to be delayed again with no new date given
The UK government has confirmed that the HS2 high-speed rail project will be delayed beyond its 2033 target, with no revised opening date provided. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the project as an…
Predator who drugged and raped 10 women gets life sentence
Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old Chinese engineering student, has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years in the UK for drugging and raping 10 women across London and China, with…
MPs vote to decriminalise abortion for women in England and Wales
In the most significant and concerning change to abortion legislation in England and Wales in nearly 60 years, MPs have voted by a landslide to decriminalise women who end their pregnancies outside the…
Just three years left before 1.5C climate target slips out of reach, scientists warn
A major international study has warned that the world could exceed the critical 1.5°C global warming threshold as early as 2028, if carbon emissions continue at current rates. The study, published in Earth…
Sharing deepfake pornography ‘The next sexual violence epidemic facing schools’
Author and campaigner Laura Bates has warned MPs that deepfake pornography is fast becoming "the next sexual violence epidemic" affecting schools in the UK. Speaking to the Women and Equalities Committee, Bates criticised…
Landmark win for Christian teacher fired over gender views
A long-running legal battle has concluded after the UK Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal concerning Kristie Higgs, a Christian teacher dismissed in 2018 for expressing her views on gender and sexuality…
Reeves presents her spending review
Rachel Reeves’ new spending review represents a pivotal moment for the Labour government, aiming to launch a narrative of 'renewal' after a challenging first year. With £600 billion allocated over four years, the…
Northern Ireland: third night of violence in Ballymena
Ballymena, County Antrim, has experienced three consecutive nights of violent unrest following a protest over an alleged sexual assault. Initially peaceful, the protest escalated into serious disorder after two teenage boys appeared in…
Government’s £14.2bn investment in new nuclear power station
Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £14.2bn investment for the new Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, projected to begin supplying power by the mid-2030s. She hailed it as the dawn of a…
Wildlife Trusts call out inaccuracies in Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The Wildlife Trusts have challenged claims made during a recent Commons debate on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, accusing ministers of misrepresenting the impact of environmental protections on housing development. Housing minister Matthew…
