International News

The U.K. will detail plans to broaden its energy sources this week as the war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia and a cost-of-living crisis forces countries across Europe to urgently revamp how they generate electricity and heat homes. The main focus will be on nuclear and wind power, two industries that haven’t been short of controversy. Government minister Grant Shapps said on Sunday he expects to see proposals for more nuclear reactors, including smaller capacity ones, and for scaling ...

A 620 homes development that will change the landscape of central Reading forever has been approved. The plan for the old Royal Mail Depot in Caversham Road involves building hundreds of homes and once complete will have one of the tallest towers in Reading. At a council planning meeting last night, the outline of the development was approved. Called Reading Metropolitan, plans for the site were first submitted in 2018, but revisions and negotiations have stalled the decision until now....

The moving words of Ukrainian refugees and a performance by the country's 2016 Eurovision-winning singer provided powerful moments as a star-studded concert in Birmingham raised £12.2m. Pop superstars like Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and Emeli Sande were among the artists at the Concert For Ukraine. Jamala gave an impassioned rendition of her Eurovision-winning track 1944. And the stories of two Ukrainians were put centre stage when they were read by actors Tamsin Greig and Edd...

Leading Australian businesses have announced major new investments totalling £28.5 billion in projects across the United Kingdom, as the Prime Minister hosts a UK-Australia investment roundtable at Downing Street this evening [Wednesday 30th March]. Today’s announcements follow from the Global Investment Summit hosted by the PM in October and the creation of the new Office for Investment. They underline the growing appeal of the UK’s dynamic economy and workforce for foreign...

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out measures aimed at combating soaring energy, food and fuel prices, in his Spring Statement. He cut fuel duty by 5p but resisted calls to scrap April's National Insurance rise of 1.25p in the pound. He warned the UK's post-pandemic recovery had been blown off course by the war in Ukraine. But he held out the promise of an income tax cut in 2024 when he said the economy would be in better shape. Labour said he had made an "historic mistake" by ...

The cost of living continued to soar last month, laying bare the challenge the chancellor faces ahead of his spring spending statement on Wednesday. Prices rose by 6.2% in the 12 months to February - the fastest for 30 years - as fuel, energy and food costs surged. Chancellor Rishi Sunak faces growing calls to offer more support as household budgets are squeezed. Prices are rising faster than wages and the Bank of England thinks it could hit double digits this year. There is speculat...

Millions of vulnerable people will begin receiving invitations for a fourth Covid jab. As of 7am this morning, immunosuppressed people and anyone aged 75 and over in England will be able to book their spring booster. This latest jab will be made available to around five million people, with 600,000 set for the call up this week. NHS teams will also be contacting care homes to arrange jabs after the UK’s top scientists recommended a spring top-up as a precautionary measure. Heal...

People looking for property in the UK could save as much as £1,400 by buying instead of renting, new research has shown. The latest housing research report from Halifax has revealed that annual home ownership costs were £1,378 ($1,807) cheaper than renting last year, with monthly costs for first-time buyers at £115. This is 13% lower than the cost of renting an equivalent home, and the difference could add up to more than £27,600 over a 25-year mortgage. The stud...