Four in 10 people are unaware of what the TV Licence actually covers, potentially meaning some may not need one at all. The cost of a full TV Licence has now increased to £169.50, in line with inflation since April, adding a significant chunk to yearly expenses.more

Senior figures in Tony Blair’s government, including John Prescott and Jack Straw, urged the then prime minister to delay opening the UK labour market to eastern European nationals shortly before they became EU citizens, newly released documents reveal.more

Conservationists have said wildlife could be “disappearing in the dark” after figures showed that three-quarters of England’s most precious habitats, wildlife and natural features have had no recent assessment of their condition.more

The end of the year is always a moment to look back and reflect on the events of the last 12 months, but as we approach the year 2025, now provides an opportunity to reminisce over the first quarter of the 21st Century.more

The number of people turning to A&E departments in England for minor ailments including hiccups, sore throats and coughs is soaring, as senior health leaders warn that NHS primary and community services are “massively overstretched”.more

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that a Tube line will be disrupted in 2025 when it is upgraded for travel. more

Almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs during another challenging year for the UK high street, data suggests. The collapse of big chains such as Homebase and The Body Shop put thousands of jobs at risk and contributed to 169,395 retail jobs disappearing during 2024 – a 42% rise on 2023 levels.more

Five people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction singer Liam Payne in Argentina, the authorities there say. The 31-year-old star died on 16 October after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires.more

After working from home, now comes working on the go. The post-pandemic surge in hybrid working has prompted increasing numbers of professionals to carry out some work while on the move, logging in from airports and railway stations across the UK, according to research.more

In the US, 44% of new year resolutions last two to three months; only 6% last a year. In the UK, 17% of people give up on their resolution within a month.more

Rain, snow and strong winds will hit the UK as 2025 gets under way, with a series of weather warnings covering all parts of the country coming into force over the coming days.more

A majority of UK businesses expect a positive start to 2025, according to two economic confidence surveys which show managers planning for growth after a challenging period for the economymore

A cocktail of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis has left larger ‘chrome and carpet’ venues high and dry as struggling chains look to party bars, writes 'The Guardian'.more

Some of the UK’s largest police forces have reported increases in religious hate crimes in the past 18 months, figures reveal, with the number of incidents rising after the start of the Hamas-Israel conflict in autumn 2023 and again after the Southport attacks in England this summer.more

Employers should have formal policies in place to help workers who are undergoing fertility treatment, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has said, warning that businesses are increasingly losing talented people by failing to support them.more

Officials are examining whether to change the way domestic violence crimes are recorded after a campaign by an MP who says the lack of a specific offence allows abusers to be freed early from jail.more

Researchers have called for greater transparency from the Foreign Office over the files it holds on the Duke of York. Officials responding to freedom of information requests have given a variety of reasons why the files cannot be released.more

London is surrounded by several commuter towns that are popular with people looking for a quieter life or more space, but one stands out as one of the happiest places to live in the UK. Wokingham in Berkshire was voted the fourth happiest place to live in the UK by Rightmove in 2023 and second in the South East.more

Household incomes will stagnate or fall next year but the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will be hoping people feel better off as a result of improvements to public services, a leading thinktank has said. The Resolution Foundation calculated a new measure of “real living standards” that took into account both disposable income and the “in-kind” benefits of public services.more

The tragedy took place this Sunday morning near Blériot-Plage in Sangatte, according to a source close to the emergency services.more

The number of UK retailers on the brink of collapse has risen by a quarter in the final three months of the year, driven by a combination of rising business costs and weak consumer confidence, according to a report.more

Between 2018 and 2023, France's trade surplus with the UK fell by almost 20 per cent. - report the French media. They cite a study published by the Directorate-General of Customs on Friday, which attributes the unfavourable trend for Paris to the UK's exit from the European Union.more

On 1 January 2025, the red and white colours will once again light up the streets of London during the London New Year's Day Parade (LNYDP). The Polish group Poles in LNYDP Association will once again present itself in this prestigious event, whose worldwide audience reaches hundreds of millions.more

Extensive fog in the UK today caused air traffic restrictions, the UK's air traffic management service NATS reported.more

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to his younger brother Nick, who had cancer, after he died on Boxing Day at the age of 60. "My brother Nick was a wonderful man," Starmer said in a statement.more