Thousands more Londoners will face average council tax bills of over £2,000 for the first time next year, analysis by the Standard has revealed. Most benchmark Band D London homes will see almost £80 added to their annual levy from April 2026 if boroughs increase payments by an expected 5%. It means Hackney, Hillingdon and Lambeth residents face paying more than £2,000 for thmore

Slovenian Domen Prevc and Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi are the favourites for the 74th Four Hills Tournament, which begins tomorrow with the qualifiers in Oberstdorf. The Poles' greatest hope is 18-year-old debutant Kacper Tomasiak. Kamil Stoch, three-time winner, will compete in the event for the 20th and last time.more

The British monarch Charles III is likely to pay an official visit to the US in April 2026, ‘The Times’ reported yesterday, citing a source close to the matter. The king’s son, Prince William, is also expected to visit the United States next year, but at a different time.more

One in eight London homes are in zones with a high or medium-risk of surface water flooding, according to new data. This is twice the rate compared to the national average, and a far higher rate than any other region.more

Iga Świątek defeated Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina 6–3, 6–3 in the World Tennis Continental Cup exhibition tournament in Shenzhen, China.more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that during tomorrow's meeting in Florida with US President Donald Trump, he will convince him of his willingness to compromise on the peace plan, which is to secure American military and intelligence support, according to the Telegraph newspaper.more

If you’re looking for some places to visit over the Christmas break, there’s a forest in Sussex that is the inspiration behind Winnie the Pooh. Located in East Sussex, Ashdown Forest is a large expanse of heathland and woodland spanning over 6,500 acres and dating back 3,000 years. more

Christmas is typically a boozy period, but British people are drinking less alcohol than at any time on record, a new study has shown. UK adults consumed on average 10.2 alcoholic drinks a week last year, which is the lowest figure since 1990 when data collection began, according to research from company IWSR.more

The King's Christmas message has invoked the wartime spirit, calling on communities to pull together in an increasingly divided world and urging people to get "to know our neighbours". His traditional speech, recorded in Westminster Abbey, also remembered this year's 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day.more

The Italian Antitrust Authority has fined Ryanair over €255 million for "abusing its dominant position" in the market. The airline called the fine "bizarre and unfounded" and announced it would appeal.more

A man is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for continuous singing of Christmas songs. Dave Purchase, who runs a toasted sandwich cafe in Gloucester, is attempting to sing for 42 consecutive hours at the city's docks. He has chosen 38 songs, which he will have to repeat 18 times each, starting from midnight on 10 December through to the evening of 12 December.more

Hansi Flick's Barcelona became the fifth-highest scoring team in the club's history, scoring 169 goals in 60 matches (average 2.81). They won the league title, the Spanish Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres were the top scorers, scoring 27 goals each.more

This year's Gift of the Year in Sweden is a toy for adults, which can be an advanced construction set, a coloring book or a collectible figurine, announced the Swedish Trade Analysis Institute (HUI).more

After a long day of eating and drinking on Christmas Day, there's nothing better than venturing out and getting some fresh air on Boxing Day. Whether it be a quick walk around your local area or a hike through some of the best natural sites that London has to offer. To make sure you know what the best options are for your Boxing Day walk in London, we've broken them down for you.more

A new generation of drones capable of carrying weights up to 100 kg could be used to escape prisoners from prisons, Tom Wheatley, president of the British Association of Prison Governors, told The Times. He believes such an event could happen "at any time."more

Despite the growing popularity of sending holiday greetings online, Britons still send postcards to loved ones. The Postal Museum in London reports that Britons send around 900 million Christmas cards each year. The first one was sent in 1843.more

New York City sparkled with a record number of Christmas lights, new attractions, and spectacular premieres of festive installations. Almost the entire city transformed into a winter wonderland, delighting residents and numerous tourists.more

Britain is committed to upholding the right to free speech, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday in response to a decision by the United States to impose visa bans on anti-disinformation campaigners.more

American tennis legend Venus Williams tied the knot with Italian actor and model Andrea Preti in an intimate ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. The six-day wedding celebrations were attended by close family and friends. Venus and Preti first met at a Milan fashion show in 2024, got engaged in July, and celebrated their union with heartfelt festivities. more

A single Powerball ticket holder in Arkansas has landed a staggering $1.82 billion (£1.43bn) jackpot, making it the second-largest win in the history of the US lottery.more

The ghost of Christmas past is meant to exist only within the pages of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'. Yet a Tube station in West London is reportedly haunted each Christmas by a similar apparition.more

Reports to Lloyds of driving test-related scams have surged by nearly 250% over the past year, the banking giant has said. Lloyds has revealed the purchase scams most reported to it in 2025, as well as the fastest-growing frauds being reported by customers.more

The overall leader of the Ski Jumping World Cup, Slovenian Domen Prevc, who twice finished on the podium in Engelberg, Switzerland, is number one on the payroll and the only one with over €130,000. The best Pole in the World Cup financial circle is Kacper Tomasiak.more

Keir Starmer’s government has been told a closer EU trade deal is a “strategic necessity” for companies in Britain as growing numbers of exporters find it tougher to do business under the UK’s post-Brexit agreement. more

"A Christmas Carol's" message about the need for human kindness has resonated with readers for over 180 years, noted Michael Barrett of the Charles Dickens Museum in London. He acknowledged that the issue of child poverty, which prompted the writer to write the novel, "is still relevant today."more