Month: November 2022

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has pledged to speed up the asylum system with the nationwide rollout of a pilot scheme to streamline the application process. The eight-week trial in Leeds doubled the average number of claims processed and reduced the time asylum seekers wait for a first interview by 40%, according to the Home Office. Ms Braverman said the scheme will be extended to deal with 100,000 people awaiting a […]

A yellow weather warning of heavy rain causing potential flooding to homes is in place for large parts of south-east England, with rain predicted for much of the coming week. The Met Office has warned that persistent, heavy rain could lead to flooding of homes and businesses and affect public transport in an area stretching from Chichester, West Sussex, to Canterbury, Kent. Forecasters said rain was set to become heavier […]

Two of the UK’s biggest high-street brands will reveal how the soaring cost of living is impacting customers in the run-up to Christmas as they update investors next week. Marks & Spencer and Primark’s parent firm Associated British Foods have both seen their shares slip this year as rising costs and pressure on households eat into their financial performance. High street stalwart M&S has so far highlighted resilient demand from […]

The Princess of Wales enjoyed a “really exciting” game as she joined fans to watch England win their Rugby League World Cup quarter-final. Kate attended the crunch game against Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium on Saturday, her first match since succeeding the Duke of Sussex as patron of the Rugby Football League (RFL). Wearing a red coat over a long-sleeved burgundy top and pleated skirt, the princess was […]

Joe Wicks has kicked off his BBC Children In Need campaign, which encourages people to take part in their local parkrun event by joining walkers in Maidenhead. The Walk With Joe initiative, led by the fitness expert known as The Body Coach, hopes to inspire communities across the UK to get out walking the routes with family and friends to boost their physical and mental wellbeing. The campaign will span across the […]

Thousands of people have joined a demonstration calling for a general election amid the worsening cost-of-living crisis. A coalition of trade unions and community organisations are taking part in the “Britain is Broken” protest in central London, which was organised by the People’s Assembly. Demonstrators marched in the rain from Embankment to Trafalgar Square, where a rally is being held with speakers including Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, […]

But passengers are being warned there'll still be disruption to services tomorrow A series of planned strikes by railway workers in a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions has been suspended. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) had been due to stage 24-hour walkouts on Saturday and next Monday and Wednesday. The RMT said it has secured “unconditional” talks on Network Rail (NR) and the promise […]

A die-hard Star Wars fan who struggles to make friends got a huge surprise when he received a personalised message from his hero Ewan McGregor. Nine-year-old Callum Martin, from Lossiemouth in Moray, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism at the age of five. Callum and his father Kenny joined Lorraine Kelly on the STV Children’s Appeal tele-fundraiser, which will air at 9pm on Friday, to discuss […]

Owen Farrell will captain England for the first time in a year when Argentina visit Twickenham in Sunday’s autumn opener. Farrell has completed the return to play protocols for concussion in time to form a midfield that includes fly-half Marcus Smith and outside centre Manu Tuilagi, the first time the trio have been picked together. The Saracens playmaker has seen off Tom Curry and Ellis Genge for the leadership duties […]