By Eniola Amadu Top political leaders from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are meeting on Friday for a session of the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC), an institution designed to foster cooperation between Dublin and Stormont under the Good Friday Agreement. Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly are attending alongside Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris. The council meeting comes just…

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the injections will be available in NHS sexual health clinics in the coming months.

A new chapter in British railway design began on Thursday as the first Great British Railways station clock was unveiled at London Bridge. The striking 1.8-metre digital timepiece, hanging above the main concourse, marks the first new standard railway clock design in more than 50 years. The black-and-red face draws inspiration from the iconic British Rail double-arrow logo. Rail minister, Peter Hendy said the design “represents a bridge between the…

Drivers of heavy vehicles would face higher costs. Cars weighing more than 2,400kg (such as SUVs) would pay a surcharge, and vehicles above 3,500kg would not qualify for permits.

The head of MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has warned that Chinese state operatives pose a daily national security threat to the UK, amid a deepening row over the collapse of a high-profile China spying case. Speaking in London on Wednesday, McCallum said MI5 had recently disrupted Chinese activities of national security concern, describing the situation as “frustrating when prosecutions fall through.” His comments came after witness statements from Deputy National…

By Eniola Amadu Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled that more tax hikes could be on the horizon as she works to stabilise the UK’s public finances ahead of next month’s budget. Speaking to broadcasters in Washington, DC, before the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting, Reeves said she was considering “further measures on tax” and spending, emphasising that she would “continue to prioritise economic and fiscal stability.” The remarks come…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed that Downing Street will publish a key witness statement at the centre of the controversy over dropped spying charges against two British men accused of working for China. Addressing MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer said the statement from Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins would be released after a brief review to ensure all information could be made public. The Crown Prosecution Service…

By Eniola Amadu Britain has unveiled a sweeping package of new sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine, targeting the country’s two largest oil firms and its so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. The latest round of measures — totalling 90 new sanctions — also extends to a major Indian refinery and four Chinese oil terminals accused of helping move Russian crude onto global markets.…

By Eniola Amadu Five men who were sexually and physically abused by a paedophile priest while attending a school in Newry, County Down, are to receive more than £1.2 million in compensation, along with a written apology from the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland. The High Court settlements mark the conclusion of a long legal battle brought by the victims against the Diocese of Dromore and the board…

Robert Bush, 47, pleaded guilty to 35 counts of fraud by false representation and one charge of fraudulently operating his Hull-based business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

By Eniola Amadu Royal Mail has been fined £21 million by Ofcom after almost a quarter of first-class post failed to arrive on time during the 2024/25 financial year. The penalty, one of the largest ever issued by the communications watchdog, follows an investigation that found Royal Mail missed its delivery targets for both first and second-class post. Ofcom’s director of enforcement, Ian Strawhorne, said: “Millions of important letters are…

A group of Labour MPs has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to abolish council tax and replace it with a fairer system, as she prepares to deliver her second and potentially most challenging budget next month. In a letter sent to Reeves last month, 13 Labour MPs  predominantly representing constituencies in northern England, urged the chancellor to be bold in tackling what they described as a deeply regressive and outdated…