The UK jobs market is showing signs of stalling as the number of people out of work rose, according to new figures. The unemployment rate increased to 4.2% between December and February, which is the highest level for six months.more

Smart meters and other energy appliances such as heat pumps will be equipped with a surge pricing function under plans being put forward by ministers. The proposals under consultation by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) would require a string of devices to be “smart” by default, allowing them to take advantage of so-called time of use tariffs.more

Primary school offer day is upon us, with parents of three and four-year-olds eagerly waiting to find out of their children got into their first choice school. Across the UK, around 92.5 per cent of families received an offer from their first choice in 2023, and 98.3 per cent received an offer from one of their top three choices, according to government data.more

EasyJet has cancelled all flights from the UK to Israel for more than six months in the wake of the Iranian attack over the weekend. The airline said routes to Tel Aviv would be closed until 27 October and any customers booked onto flights before then would be offered a refund.more

Increasing number of Vietnamese blamed for record numbers of arrivals to UK as Government urges Lords to support Rwanda Bill.more

The Conservative Party is at odds over a proposed smoking ban, with Boris Johnson calling Rishi Sunak’s plan “absolutely nuts”. Former prime minister Mr Johnson hit out at his successor, who has put forward legislation with the aim of ending the pastime with an incremental increase in the age of tobacco use. more

New and more frequent rail services could be on the way for millions of Brits, as independent operators roll out plans to launch extra trains around the country.more

The UK has begun talks with four countries - Armenia, Botswana, Costa Rica and Côte d'Ivoire - to strike a deal with them similar to the one with Rwanda to send illegal immigrants there, 'The Times' reported yesterday.more

A third large cliff fall in five months has been reported close to the site of a proposed flat development in Cornwall. The Save Whipsiderry Cliff group said the incident happened at the beach near Newquay at about 08:40 BST on Saturday.more

The government has been accused of "betraying renters" on the fifth anniversary of a "failed" promise to ban no-fault evictions - as figures suggest that over 80,000 households have been put at risk of homelessness since then.more

Major banks including NatWest, Lloyds, and Halifax have announced the closure of more than 100 branches in the last few weeks.more

The number of homeless refugees seeking urgent housing from English councils has increased by 239 per cent in the past two years, analysis shows, prompting charities to slam the “dysfunctional system” that leaves people living on the streets in tents.more

Airline passengers are facing cancellations or disruption to flights to Israel and surrounding countries after Iran's airstrikes at the weekend.more

Hundreds of the Manchester Arena bombing survivors, along with relatives of the victims, have launched legal action against MI5, claiming it failed to take action that could have stopped the attack. More than 250 people have joined the group action against MI5 and have submitted their claim to the investigatory powers tribunal, which hears complaints against the intelligence services.more

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron today assessed that Iran's attack on Israel was serious but failed and urged the Israeli authorities not to escalate the conflict.more

The government is investing more than £55m in expanding facial recognition systems – including vans that will scan crowded high streets – as part of a renewed crackdown on shoplifting.more

They may no longer be referred to as HRH, but Prince Andrew and Meghan Markle can still claim the titles of being the UK’s least favourite royals, a new poll has found.more

Record-breaking rain over the past few months has left fields of crops under water and livestock's health at risk, adding to pressures on food producers.The flooding and extreme weather linked to climate change will undermine UK food production unless farmers get more help, the National Farmers Union said.more

Royal Marines are poised to lead a 'Dunkirk-style' evacuation of thousands of UK nationals from the Middle East after Iran launched a huge drone and missile attack against Israel last night. Commandos have already conducted reconnaissance along the Lebanese coastline ahead of a potential maritime rescue mission.more

A priest of the Archdiocese of Częstochowa serving in Great Britain, who - according to media reports - posed in a calendar for gays, has been removed from ministry and from holding all offices and from pastoral work - the Częstochowa curia reported.more

The first oral treatment for preventing both chronic and episodic migraines could soon be available on the NHS. Health experts said up to 170,000 people in England could benefit from taking atogepant to prevent severe head pain, which can be debilitating.more

Ukraine could lose the war with Russia this year, former head of the UK's Joint Forces Command Gen Richard Barrons warns in an interview with the BBC. The portal does not rule out that Moscow's strategic goal this year may be to quash the fighting spirit and discourage the West from helping Kiev.more

US space agency NASA has been asked to help in the next search for the Loch Ness Monster, which will begin on 30 May, Sky News reported yesterday. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the first organised expedition to unravel the mystery.more

Nuclear deterrence is fundamental to the UK's security and a future Labour government will increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP as soon as the fiscal situation allows, Keir Starmer, leader of Labour's clear lead in the polls, declared yesterday.more

The world's first commercial-scale factory turning human waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has been announced. Biofuel company Firefly plans to develop the plant in Harwich, Essex, and hopes to deliver fuel by 2028.more