UK
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The minimum wage for those aged 21 years and over will rise by 6.7% to £12.21 – with pay for those aged 18 to 20 set to go up by 16.3% to £10 an hour. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the increases ahead of Wednesday’s budget, and they will take effect from April 2025. The government…
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Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has praised the changes made today to how firearms officers will face trial over police shootings. In a statement, he said the reforms “strengthen the police accountability system”. “These measures represent positive progress toward a system that is both fairer and faster, supporting the vast majority of officers who…
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Nationalizing water firms would cost up to £100bn and “not resolve the problems” facing customers, the environment secretary has said. Bringing the companies back into public ownership was ruled out by Steve Reed as he set out an independent review into the water industry. Public anger has been mounting recently over rising bills and sewage…
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Public investment in new technologies and the energy transition is “badly needed” to drive growth in the UK and prevent the national debt rising to risky levels, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. Speaking as Rachel Reeves travelled to Washington to attend her first IMF annual meeting as chancellor, the body identified the UK…
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Strengthened plans for a new football watchdog will be introduced to parliament today. The Football Governance Bill will aim to ensure a new regulator is fully independent of government and industry, and will give fans a greater say in the management of their clubs. However, Uefa has warned that removing the need to comply with…
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Over in Samoa at the meeting of Commonwealth leaders, it looks like Sir Keir Starmer is encountering stormy waters. One topic he wanted to keep off the communique that will be published at the end of the CHOGM summit was the concept of reparations for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Sky News political editor Beth Rigby…
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The prime minister of the Bahamas is one of those leading the calls for slavery reparations to be discussed among Commonwealth leaders this week. Philip Davis has been speaking to Politico this morning about the topic. He says there needs to be a “conversation” about it. “We all appreciate this, the horrendous impact that the…
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One prisoner let out today under the government’s early release scheme celebrated by saying “big up Keir Starmer”. But Number 10 did not see the funny side of the situation – with the prime minister’s spokesperson saying Sir Keir “shares the public’s anger” over the matter. Today is the second time the Labour government has…
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A baby delivered after their mother died in a fall from a tower block in Leeds is “receiving critical care” in hospital, police have said. The woman, who was aged in her 30s, fell “from height” at Shakespeare Towers, in Shakespeare Approach, Burmantofts, on Tuesday. West Yorkshire Police said the woman, who died at the…
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Almost two dozen influencers giving financial advice on social media are being interviewed under caution by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA said those being interviewed were doing so voluntarily. Known as “finfluencers” (financial influencers), they are being warned about what advice they give to the often younger and impressionable people who follow them…
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France has banned Israeli firms from participating in an upcoming military naval trade show, two sources have told Reuters. Euronaval, which is organising the annual naval fair between 4 and 7 November, did not respond to requests for comment by the news agency. Paris banned Israeli firms from taking part in a military trade show earlier…
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The US has issued new Hezbollah-related sanctions. The action targeted three people linked to Hezbollah’s finance arm and four Lebanon-based companies registered to conceal ties to the militant group, the Treasury said. It said the companies had “generated millions of dollars in revenue for Hezbollah”. The US also sanctioned three individuals involved in the production…
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London Underground workers, including drivers, are walking out next month in a row over pay. Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said managers had refused to discuss any reduction in the working week or paid meal relief “to bring Underground drivers in line with those on the Elizabeth line and London Overground”. Aslef…
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The US embassy in Lebanon has told American citizens they are “strongly encouraged to depart now”. A statement on its website said that since the end of September, the US government has “added thousands of seats [on flights] in extra capacity to accommodate US citizens and their family members”. “Much of this capacity has gone…
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Sir Keir Starmer is marking his first 100 days in office. When his press spokesperson was asked ahead of the big day if the prime minister thought it had been a successful start, he simply said: “It’s up to the public to decide that.” The verdict is in, and it isn’t good: Sir Keir’s approval poll ratings…
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Hurricane damage ‘quite devastating’ The damage caused by Hurricane Milton is expected to be “quite devastating” when Americans wake up this morning, a federal official has told Sky News. Jennifer Hubbard, from the National Weather Service, said storm surges of more than 6ft had been recorded overnight in the Fort Myers area. However, she warned water…
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