Author: UK News

British teen sentenced after sex in Dubai could see jail time increased to 20 years A British teenager held in a Dubai prison after having sex with a 17-year-old girl could face 20 years behind bars. Marcus Fakana, from Tottenham, London, was jailed in the United Arab Emirates during a family holiday. The 18-year-old was detained and given a one-year sentence after the secret romance with the young woman, now aged 18, he met during a family vacation, according to Detained in Dubai. Now a lawyer has warned that Marcus’s sentence could be extended up to 20 years as he…

Ulster captain Iain Henderson knows what it takes to get to the pinnacle of rugby. A celebrated Ireland international and British and Irish Lion, Henderson has been performing at the top level for over a decade now and is better placed than anyone to help mould a new generation of Ulster players. But that’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight. The last two weeks have been very painful for Ulster but there are signs of improvement as Saturday’s first half suggests. But despite feeling frustrated after Saturday’s loss, Henderson was delighted to see a big improvement from last week’s loss…

People leaving direct provision are facing straight into homelessness due to an “ad hoc system” that is heaping “maximum stress” on services, local authorities and the international protection applicants themselves.Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said the system appears designed to ensure that the failure of Ireland’s housing system and its asylum system falls “most heavily” on those who have come to Ireland for protection and have had that claim upheld.“[This is] one of the major challenges facing the incoming Government, and one that went entirely unmentioned in the election period, with no party bringing forward ideas for…

A top English academy trust faces safeguarding review over abuse of pupils after an Observer investigation into London school has sparked an inquiry into allegations that teachers harmed mental wellbeing of children at Mossbourne Victoria Park academy in Hackney. This reports suggest academies believe they are immune to normal education standards, especially, because they are ‘out of reach’ from local authorities. Academies are not funded by local authorities and many councils privately voice frustration about their lack of powers to step in when they have concerns. Top English academy trust faces safeguarding review Since the first Observer story three weeks ago about the…

Deportations reach five-year high despite concerns of rights groups Campaigners fear lives could be put at risk as government sets record number of deportationsThe government has announced that it has deported almost 13,500 people since coming to power, something ministers say proves their tough approach towards migrants but which human rights campaigners have warned could put lives at risk.The government says it is on track to deliver the highest number of returns for five years and includes the four biggest return flights ever. Continue reading… Deportations reach five-year high despite concerns of rights groups https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/15/deportations-reach-five-year-high-despite-concerns-of-rights-groups

Train disruption on Sunday with reduced timetable in action According to a post on their official website and social media, the significant disruption is expected due to “crew availability”. As a result, the train operators are working on a reduced timetable, which will affect the following routes: london Paddington to South Wales London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads London Paddington to Devon and Cornwall Local services to Exeter and Bristol are also expected to be impacted Fewer trains will be running, and those that do are expected to be very busy. Some additional delays and cancellations may occur. A spokesperson…

Nearly 13,500 migrants have been removed from Britain since the election, the Government has said, as the Home Secretary promised a “step change” in tackling illegal working.

Martin Lewis' MSE reveals top 2 cashback bank accounts – including one that pays up to £30 a month The top cashback bank accounts currently available in the UK have been revealed by Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/martin-lewis-mse-reveals-top-30588264

US superstar singer and actress Cher says she feels you have to “play by the rules” of beauty standards.The 78-year-old Goddess of Pop, who poke at the Women’s March rally against Donald Trump during his first presidency in 2018 and released the song Woman’s World, has long been seen as an female icon.When asked if she accepted the unrealistic beauty standards that are part of the deal for women in the public eye, Cher told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs: “It’s a bitch, but I’m in it, so I play by the rules.“I play by my own rules, but…

Thieves made off with £200,000 worth of goods after raiding a luxury store in north London. Luxury handbags and watches were among the haul burgled from a shop on Bunns Lane, Mill Hill, in north London, after 10.30pm on Tuesday, December 3. CCTV released today shows one of the pair peeking around a door marked as an emergency exit before both entered the hallway with carrier bags. Both were clad in dark clothes, face masks, gloves, and their hoods up. They then forced their way through a door using feet and a tool. Three minutes later, they re-emerged, their bags…

The United Kingdom became the 12th member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, as of Sunday. 

In a significant move for global religious freedom, the UK Government has appointed David Smith MP as its new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). This appointment, announced in early December 2024, signals the government’s commitment to advancing religious liberty across the globe and responds to increasing concerns over the persecution of religious minorities in many parts of the world. Smith, a Conservative MP with a strong track record on human rights issues, takes on a critical role at a time when religious freedoms face unprecedented challenges worldwide. A Crucial Appointment for Religious Freedom The new position…

South Korea’s opposition leader urged the Constitutional Court to rule swiftly on a bid to remove president Yoon Suk Yeol from office, the day after parliament voted to impeach him over a short-lived attempt to impose martial law.Mr Yoon’s powers will be suspended until the court rules on the case, either removing Mr Yoon from office or restoring his powers.The court has up to 180 days to decide, and if he is dismissed, a national election to choose his successor must be held within 60 days.Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, told reporters on Sunday that a…

Thousands of people dressed as Father Christmas jammed streets, pavements and bars around the world on Saturday for annual SantaCon charity pub crawls.In New York City, where temperatures hovered around freezing, the merriment kicked off at about 10am and was expected to stretch into the evening.Santas and others dressed as Grinches and elves strolled to bars and clubs, flooding the streets with a crimson tide of Christmas cheer. New York SantaCon” srcset=”https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=320 320w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=640 640w, https://content.assets.pressassociation.io/AP/2024/12/14/6cccb6e5a563454fadeb88005d8d41a1.jpg?w=1280 1280w”/> Revellers in New York (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)“The NYC SantaCon is a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year…

Welsh public bodies ‘could be shortchanged on NI hike’ Mark Drakeford told the Senedd’s finance committee the cost of workers within the Office for National Statistics definition of a public sector employee will be covered by the UK treasury. Andrew Jeffreys, director of the Welsh treasury, explained the UK Government plans to use the Barnett formula to decide how much Wales will receive based on the costs in England. But Prof Drakeford said: “That’s not my position … if public authorities in England are getting 100% compensation then public authorities in Wales should have 100 percent. Welsh public bodies ‘could…

Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like relations with the EU to change Rachel Reeves has spoken of a reset in EU relations. Here, experts in everything from music to farming explain what they hope it will meanEarlier this week, the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said she was hoping talks in the new year could lead to an extensive “reset” of post-Brexit relations.The remarks were seized on by leave supporters who fear a betrayal of the referendum vote, while others argue Reeves won’t go nearly far enough. Continue reading… Brexit reset: five business leaders on how they’d like…

Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect, especially with his recent worrying and close relationship to Elon Musk Donald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-ap-apple-tim-cook-ceo-b2664288.html

  There was a family reunion for my wife Fionnuala’s ones last week and I ended up being a designated driver. I didn’t mind at all but after leaving one group of hyper-active relations home, I got a call to say two of her cousins were stuck and needed a lift to Greencastle. “Where the hell is that?” “Not too far. They’ll keep you right,” Fionnuala said. “And don’t be grumpy.” I was grumpy. I went back to the hotel but there was no sign of the pair and when I eventually found them – at the residents’ bar –…

British actress Jane Seymour said she got out of her Malibu home “just in time” with only the clothes on her back as the Californian wildfire came “right up to my house”.The James Bond star praised firefighters who did an “astounding” job saving her home from the blaze – dubbed the Franklin Fire – which ignited on Monday evening.Seymour said her “whole house smells of smoke” after returning on Thursday, having rushed to evacuate the property late on Monday evening.“I just literally had jeans and a sweater, which I’ve been wearing for four days and sleeping at different people’s houses,”…

The heartbroken sisters of Aoife Johnston, who died in University Hospital Limerick after contracting meningitis-related sepsis, feel no one has been held accountable.The Leaving Cert student from Shannon, Co Clare died on December 19, 2022, after presenting at the emergency department of UHL with symptoms of the deadly virus two days earlier.The 16-year-old was referred by her GP and should have been treated with the necessary medication within an hour.Instead, the teenager endured 13 agonising hours on a trolley with her terrified parents James and Carol pleading for antibiotics that could have saved her life.A report into the circumstances surrounding…

Body found after police search for man thought to be missing in North Wales Cheshire and North Wales police forces had made appeals after concerns about the 54-year-old https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/body-found-after-police-search-30585953

Timothee Chalamet stepped out with blonde locks in a nod to Bob Dylan at the New York premiere of A Complete Unknown.The US actor stars as influential folk singer Dylan in the Oscar-tipped film, which follows his early days as a musician in New York City, culminating in his famed performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival.Oscar-nominated Chalamet bore a striking resemblance to the musician at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, sporting a shaggy blonde hairstyle and a blue beanie hat paired with a black leather jacket and scarf.Timothee Chalamet attends the premiere of A Complete Unknown (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan…

Euphoria. That is the closest word to describe how I feel right now, yet it still falls short of capturing the overwhelming tide of emotions coursing through me.I am in disbelief, marvelling at the sheer impossibility of what has happened. How could a regime that brutalised Syrians for over 53 years be toppled in just 10 days? And yet, it happened.Millions of Syrians, whether inside Syria or in the diaspora, feel relatively the same.I myself cannot believe I am thinking and writing these words absolutely freely, without any form of self censure or censorship. For even in my Dublin safe…

The head of the largest housebuilding firm in the United Kingdom has said Labour’s vow to build 1.5 million homes during this parliament is not possible due to a severe skills shortage.Asked if there were enough workers to build the extra homes promised by the Prime Minister and his deputy Angela Rayner, Barratt Redrow chief executive David Thomas told the BBC: “The short answer is no.”He added that Sir Keir’s government would have to “revolutionise the market, revolutionise planning, revolutionise methods of production” to make reaching their homebuilding target achievable.“They’re challenging targets, I think we have to recognise that this…

South Korea’s Parliament is set to vote on an opposition-led impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday.The vote comes two days after Mr Yoon defended his controversial martial law decree and vowed to resist mounting calls for his ouster.It will be the second time for the National Assembly to hold a vote on an impeachment motion over the short-lived December 3 martial law introduction.Last Saturday, Mr Yoon survived an impeachment vote after most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a floor vote. In this photo provided by the South Korean Presidential Office, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at…