Author: Darren Smith

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show the UK population has risen to a new high of 69.5 million, but annual growth has slowed to its weakest rate in nearly three decades, as falling net migration and a drop in birth rates reshape the country’s demographic outlook. The UK’s population has climbed to a new record of 69.5 million, according to the Office for National Statistics, though the pace of growth has slowed markedly as net migration continues to fall from the record levels seen in 2023. The ONS estimated that 69,483,939 people were living in the UK…

The Microsoft co-founder has called for stronger government regulation of artificial intelligence, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that the technology is now powerful enough to be used by malicious actors to cause catastrophic loss of life, as new evidence emerges of AI systems being misused in attempts related to biological research. Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence has reached a level of capability where it could be exploited to cause mass casualties on a global scale, calling for stronger government oversight of the technology’s development. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, the Microsoft co-founder told moderator Kirsten…

Derelict shopping centres, empty cinemas and abandoned buildings across England are to be transformed into cafes, workspaces and community hubs under a £210 million package announced by the government on 25 September, as ministers pledge to hand more power over local regeneration to communities themselves. Derelict buildings on England’s high streets are set to be brought back into use as cafes, shared workspaces and community hubs, under a £210 million funding package unveiled by the government on 25 September. The money, drawn from funding already earmarked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for high street support…

Jackie Matellian, sole remaining owner of the Last Ditch Bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, has faced fierce online backlash, including accusations of “eugenics” and “ableism,” after announcing that face masks would become optional on Saturday nights, a decision she has attributed to the venue’s worsening financial position. The Last Ditch Bar, a small venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts, that caters primarily to lesbian patrons, has become the subject of a viral controversy after announcing it would make Saturday nights “mask optional.” The decision, announced by owner Jackie Matellian, prompted accusations from some commenters that the bar was abandoning immunocompromised and disabled customers,…

An independent panel has ruled against Manchester City on all but one of their 115 Premier League financial rule-break charges, with sources suggesting the club could now face severe punishment including a significant points deduction or expulsion from the top flight. Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, following an independent panel hearing that concluded in December 2024. The Premier League had accused the club of widespread financial breaches, alleging that the wrongdoing took place over a 14-year period during an era of sustained success on the pitch.…

Alyssa Plaza lost her job at Somerton High School after allowing a bullied cheerleader to use a bathroom attached to her office to avoid the boys’ locker room, only for a parent’s complaint that it connected to the girls’ facilities to trigger her dismissal. A physical education teacher in Arizona has been fired after letting a bullied student use a bathroom connected to her office, following a complaint from a parent that the room also linked to the girls’ locker room. Alyssa Plaza, who taught at Somerton High School, lost her position in April 2025 after allowing Alejandro Perez-Parra, the…

CCTV captured the terrifying moment a six-strong gang armed with swords and machetes ambushed 21-year-old Dale Martin on a Derby street, dragging him from his car and stabbing him to death in what prosecutors called a “brutal, sustained, and planned attack.” Six men have been convicted following the murder of 21-year-old Dale Martin, who was ambushed and fatally stabbed on Stenson Road in Derby on 15 June 2025. Chilling CCTV footage showed a gang of six men, armed with swords, machetes and Rambo-style knives, blocking Martin’s Renault Megane with electric bikes before dragging him from the vehicle and launching a…

Three gunmen opened fire on guests at a house party in the township of KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, leaving at least 11 people dead, including a woman believed to be pregnant, with police saying some victims were known to authorities. At least 11 people have been killed after three armed men opened fire on a house party in KwaMakhutha, a township roughly 19 miles (30km) south of Durban on South Africa’s east coast. Police said the attack took place on Tuesday night at a gathering attended by 13 men and a woman believed to be pregnant. Ten victims, including the…

A viral doorbell camera clip showing a Royal Mail worker leaning towards a St George’s Cross before delivering a parcel has divided opinion online, with the footage itself failing to clearly establish whether he spat at the flag or was simply brushing away debris. A doorbell camera recording apparently showing a Royal Mail delivery worker gesturing towards an England flag has spread rapidly across social media, though the footage does not conclusively show what took place. The clip, filmed at a residential property between 21 and 22 September 2026, shows the worker approaching a gate displaying a St George’s Cross…

The Duke of Sussex is reportedly exploring several ways to honour his late mother ahead of the 2027 anniversary, including a possible documentary, and has approached family and friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, including her brother Earl Spencer, as speculation grows over his involvement. Prince Harry is understood to be considering making a documentary about his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to mark 30 years since her death in August 2027. According to a report in The Telegraph, the Duke of Sussex has approached several of Diana’s friends and relatives, including her brother Earl Spencer, about the possibility…