News feed
Anger as Angela Rayner refuses to rule out abolishing council tax exemption for singles
Angela Rayner refused yesterday to rule out eliminating the council tax exemption for single persons. The single-person discount automatically decreases payments by 25% for taxpayers who live alone, regardless of their financial situation. It saves a person living alone in a band D property approximately £500 per year on their council tax bill. However, councils are reportedly pleading with the government to withdraw the rebate and remove the 5% annual restriction on council tax increases.
US and global users claim outage on X (previously Twitter)
On Thursday, X (previously Twitter) appeared to experience an outage, with users worldwide reporting troubles. Issues began at about 3.45 pm Eastern Time, affecting people in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe attempting to use Elon Musk's social media site. Tens of thousands of people reported problems on the website Downdetector, which is likely an underestimate of the actual number of users affected.
Telegram’s CEO is barred from leaving France due to a criminal investigation
According to Paris prosecutors, Pavel Durov, the CEO and founder of Telegram, has been placed under formal investigation in France as part of an inquiry into organized crime on the messaging service. Mr Durov, 39, has been placed under judicial supervision rather than remanded in detention and must pay a €5 million (£4.2 million; $5.6 million) deposit. The Russian-born billionaire, also a French national, must appear at a French police station twice a week and is prohibited from leaving French territory.
Al-Ahli could wreck Chelsea’s striker plans on deadline day?
Turn off all clocks and telephones. Stop the hacks from barking with their transfer drone. Depending on your level of interest, it's either here or nearly over. The big SLAM of the European window takes place tonight at 11 p.m. BST, sports fans. Chelsea's calm period was expected to end with the signing of Napoli's Victor Osimhen. However, Al-Ahli appears to have swooped in with their pesky Saudi riches, offering up to £135 million for the Nigeria striker throughout a four-year contract. So, all eyes are on Brentford's Ivan Toney as he makes the eight-mile journey to Stamford Bridge. Thomas Frank confirmed this week that Ivan will not play against Southampton on Saturday. Ivan is training well and has an excellent attitude." Yes, it must be done. Chelsea fans will be made up.
Norway princess and US shaman marry after years of ‘turmoil’
Norwegian Princess Märtha Louise and her American partner, self-styled shaman Durek Verrett, have begun their wedding festivities. Hundreds arrived in Alesund, western Norway, on Thursday for a "meet and greet" at a historic hotel. On Friday, they traveled by boat to the picturesque village of Geiranger, located on the shores of a Unesco World Heritage Site fjord. The wedding program shows guests will enjoy a "light lunch on the boat while witnessing the majestic mountains and waterfalls."
Israeli military says Hamas commander slain in West Bank
It comes after many days of Israeli military attacks in the West Bank, which Palestinians regard as an escalation of the conflict in Gaza. Israeli border police claim to have assassinated a senior Hamas commander in the West Bank. The military claims Wassem Hazem was slain in a car containing weapons, ammunition, and substantial sums of cash.
Tory MP’s smoking ban tweet labelled ‘repugnant’
Conservative MP Esther McVey has been branded "repugnant" for adopting a Holocaust poem to attack the government's proposals for stricter outdoor smoking regulations. The Tatton MP published a piece of Martin Niemoller's 1946 poem "First They Came" on social media with the caption: "Pertinent words about Starmer's smoking ban." The Board of Deputies of British Jews urged the former cabinet minister to apologize for the "breathtakingly thoughtless comparison."
Bupa announces £17-a-month membership as GP service satisfaction hits record low
Bupa offers a 'Netflix-style' private GP subscription service for £17 per month as satisfaction with family doctors reaches an all-time low. The private medical insurer developed the concept after a poll revealed that 32% of consumers prefer paid-for access to a GP or dentist over a television subscription service.
Macron justifies handing Telegram CEO Pavel Durov citizenship
French President Emmanuel Macron has defended his decision to award fast-track citizenship to indicted Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. During a news conference during his visit to Serbia, Macron stated that awarding nationality to high-profile persons who learn French and contribute to the country is "good for our country." Macron's approach aims to grant French nationality to individuals, including artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, who invest in learning the language and creating wealth and innovation.
10,000 Homes on former military bases were never built
A government plan to repurpose idle military land for new dwellings was secretly abandoned two years ago, and no houses were built. The idea was to build up to 10,000 new dwellings, but it was halted when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) removed most of the selected sites from the program. Earlier this year, the MoD identified additional surplus "brownfield" land that might be utilized to build nearly 35,000 new dwellings.
‘Sex work’ advocacy in California harms children
In recent decades, so-called "sex workers' rights" advocates fighting to decriminalize pimping and buying sex have joined forces with trans rights activists to advocate for the rights of same-sex attracted persons. This was a logical (and highly beneficial) decision on their behalf. Being associated with a proud, well-regarded social justice movement undoubtedly aids their efforts to spread the notion that "sex work is work" and "prostitution is liberating." Their acceptance into what became known as the "LGBTQ+" movement has, however, been highly detrimental to society's most vulnerable people, particularly children.
Workers trapped for days in a Thai tunnel were found dead
Thai police have confirmed that three foreign workers who were trapped under a collapsed train tunnel died despite rescue efforts lasting over five days. As of Thursday, the guys, one from Myanmar and two from China were assumed to be alive. They were trapped after a section of the tunnel they were digging collapsed on Saturday in Pak Chong district, approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Bangkok.
