UK wage growth still high despite unemployment rise

UK wage growth remained strong even as the UK unemployment rate rose to its highest for almost a year. The jobless rate increased to 4.3% between January and March, the highest since May to July last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.more

People claiming universal credit and working fewer than 18 hours a week will be expected to look for more work, after a change to the welfare system that starts on Monday. Before now, claimants only had to work 15 hours.more

Three British-based men appeared in court in London on Monday and were previously charged under the National Security Act, including a charge of assisting Hong Kong's intelligence services.more

The government has watered down planned police powers to deal with "nuisance" rough sleepers after opposition from Tory MPs. Under changes to the Criminal Justice Bill, forces in England and Wales will no longer be able to move people on because of "smells".more

In a speech in London, ahead of an election expected later this year, he says "more will change in the next five years than in the last 30".more

Three men have been charged under the National Security Act with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service and foreign interference. All three will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court later. The Metropolitan Police said the Hong Kong investigation was not related to a separate case involving Russia.more

Russia’s new Defense Minister, Andrey Belousov, “another of Putin’s puppets,” British Defense Minister Grant Shapps said on X on May 12, commenting on the government reshuffle in Moscow. more

A UK girl born deaf can now hear unaided, after a groundbreaking gene-therapy treatment. Opal Sandy was treated shortly before her first birthday - and six months on, can hear sounds as soft as a whisper and is starting to talk, saying words such as "Mama", "Dada" and "uh-oh".more

Hundreds of thousands of homeowners have taken out mortgages in the last three years that they will still be paying off into retirement, estimates suggest. A surge in mortgage terms beyond state pension age has been seen, particularly in new home loans made to the under-30s.more

Russia is recruiting far-right extremists to carry out attacks on the territory of Great Britain and other NATO countries, The Sunday Telegraph reported yesterday.more

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that it will "take time" for people to "really feel better" as figures revealed the UK had emerged from recession. The economy grew by 0.6% between January and March after shrinking in the second half of last year.more

The UK has no plans to copy the US and stop some arms sales to Israel if it launches a major ground operation in Rafah, according to David Cameron. The foreign secretary told the BBC he does not support Israel's plans for a ground offensive in Rafah but ending arms sales would "make Hamas stronger".more

Lidl has increased basic wages for its workers, bringing them into line with its discount rival Aldi. The supermarket will lift pay per hour to £12.40 for those outside greater London and £13.65 for employees within the M25 motorway.more

A brand new restaurant is going to take the title as London's highest when it opens and it will beat the current holder by some 20 floors. Gordon Ramsay is to expand his restaurant empire with five new openings in London, all in one building and including the capital’s highest restaurant.more

The future Labor government will create a new special unit to fight illegal immigration, which will have powers similar to those of anti-terrorist units, but will not continue the deportation program to Rwanda, its leader Keir Starmer announced yesterday.more

Dylan Earl is charged under new spy laws of orchestrating an arson plot on Ukraine linked business in London.more

Yesterday, two over-eighty-year-old climate activists from the Just Stop Oil group attacked with a hammer and damaged a display case in the British Library in London, which contains one of the four preserved copies of the Magna Carta of 1215. The document itself was not damaged.more

Scottish independence is possible within five years - assured the country's new first minister (Prime Minister) John Swinney. However, he did not explain what his strategy in this matter was. The majority of people in Scotland are currently opposed to secession.more

Gross domestic product grew by a better-than-expected 0.6% between January and March. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says it proves the economy has "turned a corner" - but opposition parties insist there is little cause for celebration.more

Households in England will be able to put recyclables in one bin under simpler collection rules, the government has announced.more

Friday is set to be the hottest day of 2024 so far, according to the Met Office, with temperatures of 25C set to be felt in London. That temperature could be bettered further over the weekend when highs of 26C are set to be felt in the south of England. more

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday called on vice-chancellors of the country's leading universities to take "personal responsibility" for the safety of Jewish students in the face of "growing anti-Semitism on our campuses."more

The First Minister (Prime Minister) of Scotland, John Swinney, has abolished the position of Minister for Independence in his government. While the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) maintains that its goal is independence, this is another indication that it currently has no strategy.more

The West must be tougher and more assertive in defending its interests, because doing too little too late only emboldens the aggressor, warned British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who called on all NATO countries to spend at least 2.5 percent on defense. GDP.more

Mass immigration to Great Britain has not resulted in an increase in the country's wealth or significant fiscal benefits, but it is causing increasing pressure on housing and public benefits - says the Center for Policy Studies (CPS) affiliated with the Conservative Party in a report published yesterday.more

Britain's opposition Labour Party has increased its poll lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives to stand 30 points ahead, according to a YouGov poll for the Times newspaper. The poll, coming ahead of an election later this year, put Labour on 48% and the ruling Conservatives on 18%, the worst reading for Sunak since he became prime minister 18 months ago, according to the Times.more

Group being questioned after warrants were executed in Bolton, Great Lever, Abram and Hindley, says Greater Manchester police.more

The Russian military attache who will be expelled from Great Britain in connection with alleged espionage activities is Colonel Maksim Yelovik, Sky News reported.more

Some prisoners will be freed up to 70 days early, after a scheme aimed at tackling overcrowding in jails in England and Wales was extended. The scheme was introduced last October, at the time allowing for release up to 18 days early, with this increased to up to 60 days in March.more

British Prince Harry, who was on a short visit to the country, did not meet his father, King Charles III. This was made impossible by the parallel events in which they took part yesterday afternoon.more

Getting rid of 'best before' dates on food packaging would save the world billions a year by curbing food waste and stopping food poisoning outbreaks. That’s the suggestion of researchers who have invented an alternative.more

New restaurants, public toilets, shopping centres and offices in England will be required to have separate male and female toilets under proposed legislation, the government has said.more

AstraZeneca has begun the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine due to a “surplus of available updated vaccines” that target new variants of the virus. The announcement follows the pharmaceutical company in March voluntarily withdrawing its European Union marketing authorisation, which is the approval to market a medicine in member states.more

An MoD payroll system was hacked by the Chinese state, Sky News understands - which China has denied and called "completely fabricated".more

The new Scottish National party leader John Swinney will become Scotland’s seventh first minister after winning the backing of MSPs. As is traditional, opposition leaders stood against Swinney in the vote, which he won just eight days after Humza Yousaf dramatically announced his departure, with the backing of 64 SNP MSPs, while the seven Scottish Greens abstained.more