Month: October 2023

Rishi Sunak will arrive in Israel on Thursday, commencing a two-day trip to the wider region as concerns grow over the conflict in the Middle East. The Prime Minister will meet the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Isaac Herzog following US President Joe Biden’s visit on Wednesday in a diplomatic bid to prevent fighting from spiralling into a larger crisis. He will press for the route into Gaza […]

The Foreign Secretary has said the UK will investigate the destruction of a hospital in Gaza City which has left hundreds feared dead. At least 500 people have been killed after a huge blast struck the building while it was overwhelmed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter, Gaza health officials said. The Israeli military denied responsibility, saying the explosion was caused by a rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad, while […]

Rishi Sunak could visit Israel as soon as Thursday, according to reports, amid growing concerns about the crisis in the Middle East. The Prime Minister could reportedly travel to the country as part of a wider trip to the region, including stops in Jordan and Egypt, Sky News reported. It would follow visits from US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Downing Street has said it will not […]

Food banks could hand out a record more than one million emergency parcels this winter, according to projections from the Trussell Trust network. The organisation, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres across the UK, said there is an ever-growing need as it set out its prediction for the months ahead. Between December 2022 and February, a total of 904,000 emergency food parcels were provided, but “unprecedented need” could […]

A campaign has been launched in schools to challenge the concept of “mild” asthma – by telling teachers to dial 999. Asthma + Lung UK Scotland has launched a new campaign aimed at schools to help spot the first signs of an asthma attack. The common condition is often misconceived as “mild”, but the charity wants caregivers to take urgent steps if symptoms do not improve. Around 71,000 youngsters have […]

Families with children are more likely than other households to suffer serious financial hardship and mental health problems as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, research has found. The study also shows that while these families are regularly bearing the brunt of high inflation, it is single parent families that are most frequently struggling to cover basic needs including food, household bills and debt repayments. The report by Action for […]

An artist has made ink from a clone of Newton’s apple tree that was blown down by Storm Eunice in Cambridge last year. The fallen tree was a scion of the original apple tree which was said to have inspired Sir Isaac Newton to formulate his theory of gravity by watching an apple fall from it in the 1660s. The clone was planted at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden in 1954 […]

A holiday company has reported a surge in bookings for autumn breaks after the UK’s “washout” summer. On The Beach said bookings for holidays in October and November are up 26% compared with a year ago. Some 58% of UK adults are considering or definitely going on holiday in that period, a survey commissioned by the travel retailer suggested. Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On The Beach, said: “We […]

Owen Farrell steered England into the semi-finals of the World Cup after Steve Borthwick’s side faced down a Fiji fightback in a dramatic 30-24 victory in Marseille. England appeared to be cruising into the next round when they led 24-10 heading into the final quarter thanks to tries by Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant and Farrell’s pinpoint kicking at Stade Velodrome. But their foundations shook when Peni Ravai went over […]