The Scottish government presented a draft ban on conversion therapy for public consultation yesterday. However, the draft was immediately controversial, with its critics pointing out that it leads to restrictions on freedom of speech, religious freedoms or parental rights over children.more

The case of more than 700 postal workers wrongly accused of stealing money and convicted years ago has returned in the UK in what is believed to be the most serious miscarriage of justice in the country's history. Yesterday, Justice Minister Alex Chalk promised swift redress for the victims.more

More than 1 million people in England died prematurely in the decade after 2011 owing to a combination of poverty, austerity and Covid, according to “shocking” research by one of the UK’s leading public health experts.more

Shoppers and retailers are set for a "challenging" year ahead, according to a leading trade body. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that higher living costs will continue to squeeze household budgets. Its boss pointed out that firms will also face higher business rates as well as potential disruption to shipments via the Red Sea.more

Tube customers are due to see significant changes to services on the Northern line later this year as full closures are planned at multiple stations. These will last for more than a week in April. Afterwards, more closures are scheduled for three weekends in June. Services will not be able to travel north of Golders Green station in North London.more

Almost 250 flood warnings and alerts remain in force in England as Hurricane Henk passed through the country last week. A yellow or orange alert is also in force throughout the country until Friday due to low temperatures.more

The UK could soon see its highest-ever rate of Covid infections thanks to the new variant JN.1, according to experts. Professor Christina Pagel, of University College London, said the rapid spread of the strain means we have yet to reach the peak of infection while Professor Steve Griffin said it could outstrip previous waves of infection.more

A weight restriction is being introduced on a west London bridge this week to stop it from facing a similar fate to Hammersmith Bridge. Kensington and Chelsea Council (RBKC) is bringing in a three-tonne weight restriction on Albert Bridge from Thursday, January 11, with heavy goods vehicles fined for crossing the structure.more

Britain’s largest manufacturers believe the UK is increasing its competitiveness as a global hub for manufacturing, despite high energy costs, worker shortages and political instability holding back progress.more

With the coming into force of the ban on breeding and owning American XL Bully dogs in England and Wales, interest in other potentially aggressive breeds has increased by more than a third, the Liverpool Echo reported.more

Three-quarters of Britons believe their country is in worse shape today than it was in 2010, when the Conservative Party took power, according to a poll by the YouGov center released yesterday. Up to 68 percent of its voters hold this view.more

Ryanair has said that it has seen a drop in the number of tickets it has been able to sell after a number of major online booking websites stripped the budget carrier’s flights from their listings.more

Snow has started hitting parts of the UK, with other areas being warned of potential flooding. South-east England will see a mix of snow, sleet and rain on Monday, BBC Weather says. The Met Office has warned of ice and snow across southern England and Wales from Monday afternoon, which could cause travel disruption. more

Energy companies have been granted approval to resume force-fitting prepayment meters in people's homes nearly a year after it was suspended. EDF, Octopus and Scottish Power can install the meters again after meeting various requirements set by Ofgem, the industry regulator.more

Strikes by London Underground workers which would have wiped out Tube services this week have been suspended, the RMT union has announced. Little or no service had been expected across the capital's entire network from Sunday evening to Friday morning.more

British police are investigating a rape that allegedly occurred during a game in the online metaworld. The victim is a teenager who, although she was not physically injured because the character she played was attacked, was said to have suffered trauma. This is the first investigation of its kind into sexual assault in virtual reality.more

The character of Krystyna Skarbek (Christine Granville) - a Polish agent of the British secret services, called Winston Churchill's favorite spy - was recalled yesterday by the British station BBC on its website.more

The percentage of immigrants receiving asylum in the UK is higher than in most European countries, and has more than doubled since Brexit, reports the Daily Telegraph. Poland is also among the countries with the highest percentage of positively considered applications.more

£300 million UK investment to support domestic production of fuel required to power next-generation nuclear reactors.more

Motorists with older petrol and diesel vehicles that were made more than two decades ago are set to face another rise in car tax fees in the next few months. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates are due to increase across the board from April 1, 2024, with older models also in line for higher fees.more

Britain is experiencing its wettest winter in 130 years, with much of the country submerged in water. In the wake of Hurricane Henk, over 300 flood warnings were issued, over a thousand properties were flooded, and rivers overflowed their banks across the country, The Independent wrote yesterday on its website.more

The average rate on a two-year fixed mortgage has fallen to its lowest level for nearly seven months as lenders compete for custom. Financial information service Moneyfacts said the average rate had fallen from 5.92% to 5.87% in a day.more

A new, faster train service between London and Sheffield could be launched in the second half of next year. Transport company FirstGroup announced its plan to operate two daily return trips from London King’s Cross to the South Yorkshire city via Retford, Worksop and Woodhouse as part of its Hull Trains business.more

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says he is "exploring" ways to bring in free open-access Wi-Fi to London. Currently most pubs, shops and other hospitality venues offer free Wi-Fi in London, but it can often involve signing up and logging in repeatedly. Sadiq Khan's plan is to create a "single, easy-to-use" Wi-Fi network, making it more convenient for everyone.more

The documentary 'Charles III: The Coronation Year' was aired on Boxing Day and shows the royal family’s reaction to the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the family preparing for Charles’s coronation, such as getting the Imperial State crown fitted and attending rehearsals at Westminster Abbey.more