Numbers of hungry and malnourished households in the UK are on the rise because of climate breakdown and inflation, government figures show, with poorer, younger and disabled people hit hardest. Many households worry about food running out, cannot afford balanced meals, experience hunger and have missed meals in the past 30 days, the figures reveal.more

The justice secretary has said even under the government's plans to open 14,000 more prison places, they could still run out of space over the next few years. Shabana Mahmood told the BBC that "building alone is not enough" to deal with the critical lack of space in UK jails.more

Heathrow airport said it is preparing for its busiest Christmas Day. The west London airport expects the number of passengers travelling through its terminals on December 25 to be 21% higher than on the same day last year.more

The father and stepmother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif have been found guilty of her murder after subjecting her to "horrific suffering" for more than two years. Sara was hooded, burned and beaten during a campaign of abuse before her body was found with dozens of injuries at the family's home in Woking, Surrey, last year.more

The Northern Ireland assembly has voted to continue with the special Brexit trading arrangements for another four years. It means Northern Ireland will retain some EU trade laws as a means of maintaining an invisible border on the island of Ireland, despite continued opposition in some unionist quarters.more

Labour should build 12 new towns in England that are not car-dependent or built on flood plains, a former government adviser has said in a report.more

Renting a newly let property is on average £270 per month more expensive than at the end of the coronavirus pandemic, according to figures from Zoopla. Rent began to soar in 2021 because of high demand from tenants after lockdowns were lifted and limited numbers of available properties.more

A white Christmas could be a possibility this year for some in the UK after the Met Office predicted snow between Christmas Eve and January 7. In its long-range forecast for the festive period, meteorologists said sleet and snow was “likely at times”, particularly on higher ground in the north.more

Asylum seekers will be housed in disused care homes and student digs under a Home Office plan to find 800 new accommodation sites and cut a bill that has risen to £8m a day.more

Government departments have recommended a pay rise of 2.8% for millions of public sector workers including teachers, NHS staff and senior civil servants next year. Unions responded by saying the proposed pay increase was too low, with one threatening strike action. more

From 8 January 2025, US citizens travelling to the UK will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). From April, this will also apply to Europeans who are not UK residents.more

More than 200 stalking offenders released from prison will be GPS tagged by March 2026 under a pilot scheme from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. People who have served custodial sentences for stalking offences will be tagged with a tracking device under strict licence conditions, City Hall said, to "protect victims and help prevent reoffending".more

Billionaire Nick Candy has moved to Nigel Farage's group, the right-wing populist Reform UK, from the Conservative Party to become treasurer. He has announced that he will raise enough money for his party to win the next UK election, ‘The Guardian’ reported yesterday.more

Train operators serving the UK are the most expensive in Europe, according to new analysis. Great Western Railway fares are two-and-a-half times higher than the average across European Union (EU) and Swiss operators for routes of similar lengths, the study by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) found.more

When all Londoners want is a commute under an hour, the universe starts creating a train that would get you to NYC in 54 minutes.more

Home Office has postponed transition to digital visas but campaigners fear ongoing technical problems could cause travel chaos, writes 'The Guardian'.more

Hundreds of Transport for London workers are going on strike twice ahead of Christmas amid a dispute over pay. Officers in the Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security Directorate will walk out on Thursday, December 12 until Saturday, December 14.more

London and Berlin have signed an agreement allowing German people smugglers organising the transport of migrants across the Channel to the UK to be penalised. So far, German law has not provided for sanctions for smuggling people into non-EU countries, the BBC reported today.more

The price of Christmas dinner for four has shot up 6.5% this year, far outstripping inflation, according to industry experts. Market researchers Kantar found a festive feast will set you back £32.57, up from approximately £30.58 last year.more

Thousands more people have been priced out of the car insurance market over the past year, according to estimates from Citizens Advice. The charity estimates from research it commissioned that around 2.6 million people across the UK do not drive as they cannot afford the cost of cover.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces greater state commitment to stability in the Middle East, according to a Downing Street release yesterday. Starmer was in the United Arab Emirates, where he met with President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.more

Marriages between first cousins would be banned in the UK under a proposal to be tabled in Parliament. Conservative former minister Richard Holden said such marriages have been linked to a higher rate of birth defects and can also “reinforce negative structures and control women”.more

Most services are operating normally over the festive period apart from on the bank holidays but Transport for London advises passengers to check before they travel. Transport for London has confirmed its Christmas and new year timetables, which will mean some disruption for a week and a half. more

Just two hours from London, Mersea in Essex has been crowned one of the UK's top spots to settle down, with its charming pastel beach huts, untamed coastlines, lush countryside, top-notch eateries, and quaint homes, according to Muddy Stilettos. Dubbed a 'scenic island', Mersea is celebrated for its extensive unspoiled shores and its reputation as the home of the nation's finest oysters.more

The number of job vacancies in November fell at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic, as business confidence slumped to its lowest level in almost two years, according to two new reports.more