Oliver Grant
UK shops hit hard: Recent sales drop brings back memories of lockdown times
British stores face biggest sales decline since covid times with both online and physical shops seeing less customers. New budget changes and economic worries make shop-owners think twice about future plans
Money diary: A week in the life of a London chiropractor with smart spending habits
A thirty-something health professional shares her weekly spending habits while living outside London. After years of financial hardship during studies she now manages to save money with cost-effective choices
Letters reveal growing concerns about UK healthcare, safety and education changes
Recent letters to editor highlight public worries about hospice care quality drop-off and police presence in London streets. Writers also discuss prison jobs university troubles and seasonal traditions
Princess Kate brings together inspiring survivors for touching Christmas concert
Princess of Wales organizes a special Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey featuring remarkable guests who faced tough times in 2024. The event brings together 1600 people to celebrate support and kindness
Former BBC producer breaks silence about popular cooking show host's behavior
Ex-tv producer shares first-hand account of well-known presenters actions on popular cooking shows sets. Multiple witnesses come forward with new details about long-time BBC hosts conduct
Secret underground lab: How Ukraine's drone wizards outsmart Russian forces
Hidden beneath Ukrainian soil tech-savvy engineers work non-stop to upgrade military drones. Their innovative solutions help compensate for troops shortage while keeping soldiers away from direct combat
Syrian rebel chief's journey: From al-Qaeda fighter to regional power player
Former al-Qaeda member **Abu Mohammad al-Jolani** now leads major Syrian opposition group controlling territory with 3 million people His recent push into Aleppo shows growing influence in the region.
Think tank finds flaws in UK government's clean power cost predictions
New analysis questions governments claims about future electricity prices under green energy plan. Centre for Policy Studies suggests different gas price forecasts could make clean power more costly than expected
Syrian rebels take control of Aleppo in lightning-fast offensive
North-western Syria sees dramatic power shift as opposition forces capture Aleppo in rapid advance. Rebel groups managed to secure key areas while meeting minimal resistance from government forces
London transport hack leaves thousands struggling to get money back
London transport systems got hit by hackers this fall causing payment chaos for passengers. Many people paid too much for tickets while discount-card holders couldnt get their usual rates
Trump's risky plan: Special Forces vs Mexican cartels raises expert concerns
Trumpʼs future border-security leader wants to send Special Forces to fight Mexican cartels. Defense specialists point out that cartels modern weapons and tactics might make this plan too dangerous
Public voices: From market closures to energy policies spark heated debate
Readers share their thoughts on hot-button issues like net-zero targets and historic market closures. Letters touch on everything from farming taxes to dinner party etiquette in todays Britain
Russian shoppers turn to theft as butter becomes luxury item
Russians face steep price increases forcing some to steal basic foods from stores. Economic problems linked to military spending cause inflation spike while rouble loses value against major currencies
Major dairy producer's cow feed experiment creates unexpected customer reaction
European dairy giant Arla starts testing methane-reducing feed additives with UK supermarket chains. Customer reaction shows mixed feelings about food technology in dairy production
Pension strategy leaves grandmother working past retirement - here's what happened
A pension investment method called lifestyling caused one womans retirement savings to drop by almost half in just three months. The strategy‚ meant to protect savings turned into a financial nightmare
Smart money moves: Hidden value in this billion-pound hedge fund
A well-known hedge fund trades below its real value‚ creating a rare buying chance. Its track-record shows strong defense during market downturns while beating global markets performance
Prince William shares funny moment about young Louis's new noisy hobby
At recent Tusk Awards Prince William talked about his sons musical interests and met with rock-stars. The event highlighted important work in wildlife protection and featured special musical guests
Security forces clash with protesters in Pakistan as violence erupts near capital
A major protest in Islamabad turned violent when security forces confronted demonstrators supporting jailed ex-PM. Officials and protesters give different accounts about casualties while tension grows in Pakistani capital
London anti-terror raids lead to fierce street protests and multiple arrests
Police detained six people linked to PKK group in north London raids‚ which triggered protests near Kurdish center. Four more protesters got arrested after clashes with law-enforcement officers
Spain demands tourist personal data: Hotels forced to collect private info
Spanish tourism businesses must gather extensive personal data from visitors starting next week. New rules require hotels and rental services to collect 31 different data points about their guests
Legal expert explains hidden problems when buying rural dream house
Moving from city to countryside looks simple but brings unexpected legal challenges. A property-law specialist shares vital tips about drainage water and access rights that future home-buyers need to check
UK police forces spend millions on diversity roles while crime rates rise
British police allocated £15 million for diversity-related positions since 2021‚ creating almost 200 such roles nationwide. Meanwhile crime statistics show concerning trends in some diverse communities
New storm threatens UK with massive rainfall and flood risks
Third storm of the season - Conall heads towards southern England with heavy rain warnings. Weather experts expect half-a-months rain amount in just one morning‚ while previous storms damage still affects UK
UK government explores new path for electric car transition after industry talks
British officials plan to re-examine electric vehicle rules after car-makers highlight production challenges. Business Secretary prepares to launch quick consultation process while keeping main eco-targets intact
UK's top diplomat makes unexpected promise about Netanyahu's ICC warrant
British foreign minister takes firm stance on International Criminal Court cooperation while legal questions arise about Israeli PMʼs potential UK visits. Courts might need to make tough decisions soon
Former police chief: Why officers spend too much time on social media posts
Police forces waste thousands of hours yearly dealing with non-criminal hate reports instead of solving serious crimes. A high-ranking ex-officer suggests major changes to the current system
UK's biggest solar panel scheme faces serious customer backlash and watchdog probe
Free solar panel scheme that helped 70000 UK homes now under official investigation. Customers report being stuck in long-term contracts with unexpected costs and maintenance problems
German grocery chains might get unexpected tax benefits in UK market shake-up
Treasuryʼs new business-rates system could give Aldi and Lidl significant advantages over bigger UK supermarkets. Changes will affect more than 1‚500 large-format stores owned by traditional retailers
UK firms plan massive hiring cuts after new tax changes shock business leaders
Recent CBI survey shows most companies will reduce employment after new budget announcements. Business leaders prepare to confront government officials about rising costs and inevitable job-cuts
Trump's upcoming military plan might affect thousands of service members
Reports suggest major changes coming to US military personnel policy in early-2025. The potential executive order could impact thousands of current service-members and create new recruitment hurdles