Author: Eleanor Price

A looming retirement crisis that will see a quarter of all British train drivers reach retirement age by 2030 has prompted the government to lower the minimum age for the profession from 20 to 18 years old. The workforce shortage becomes more acute in certain regions, with 32 per cent of drivers in Scotland and the North East expected to retire by the end of the decade, rising to 38 per cent in Wales. The legislative change aims to address the shortfall by opening the profession to school leavers from 30 June 2026. Parliament will receive the legislation on 10…

The Princess of Wales has released a deeply personal statement acknowledging the emotional toll of cancer treatment, describing moments of “fear and exhaustion” alongside strength and connection in a message marking World Cancer Day. Catherine, who announced her remission on 14 January 2025 after completing chemotherapy, shared her reflection with footage from The Royal Marsden hospital where she and Prince William recently became patrons. Her statement read: “On World Cancer Day, my thoughts are with everyone who is facing a cancer diagnosis, undergoing treatment or finding their way through recovery. Cancer touches so many lives. Not only patients, but the…

Nicki Minaj has made explosive and unsubstantiated allegations against Beyoncé and Jay-Z during a social media tirade on Grammy Awards night, accusing the couple of child trafficking without providing evidence. The 42-year-old rapper posted multiple messages on X claiming the A-list pair are “sacrificing children as a way of gaining & maintaining power”. She did not share documentation or proof to support the serious accusations. Minaj wrote: “Are y’all understanding that these ppl (people) have been sacrificing children as a way of gaining & maintaining power? If you ever vote Demoncrat (Democrat) again, you’re just as soulless as they are…

Hollywood has lost one of its most beloved comedic talents, with Catherine O’Hara passing away on Friday at the age of 71, sources with direct knowledge have confirmed to TMZ. The Canadian-born actress made her final public appearance at the Emmy Awards ceremony in September, where observers noted she appeared frail on the red carpet. Her death comes approximately four months after that outing, though the cause has not been disclosed. O’Hara’s career spanned decades and encompassed multiple genres, earning her recognition as both a comedic force and dramatic performer. She achieved widespread acclaim for her portrayal of the flamboyant…

A jury has convicted a West End musical star of rape and attempted rape following more than 11 hours of deliberation at Wood Green Crown Court. Ross Davidson, 37, who performed under the stage name Ross Wild, was found guilty on all charges relating to attacks on two women he had met through the dating app Tinder. The Finchley resident had denied the offences throughout the trial. Davidson gained recognition in theatrical circles for his role in the Queen-themed production We Will Rock You and briefly performed with 1980s pop group Spandau Ballet during 2018. The court heard evidence concerning…

Development at Euston station could inject £41 billion into the UK economy over the next three decades as work progresses on bringing the high-speed rail line into central London. A massive 1,624-tonne tunnel boring machine named ‘Madeleine’ began excavating a 4.5-mile passage from Old Oak Common to Euston on Monday, representing a significant step towards completing the railway’s final stretch into the capital. Camden Council estimates suggest the station redevelopment will support 34,000 new jobs alongside a mix of residential and commercial construction, whilst west London is projected to see £10 billion in economic activity over the next decade. The…

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has announced she will step down from the broadcaster in April after more than a quarter of a century, saying she wants to spend more time with her husband. The 63-year-old, who married Steve Randall at the end of 2023, told BBC Breakfast viewers that the couple are “ships that pass in the night” and she is looking forward to travelling together. Kirkwood made the announcement on Monday morning immediately after delivering her forecast, joining presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay on the sofa. Fighting back tears, she said: “So, I’m going to be leaving…

King Charles is facing pressure from both sides of his family over the treatment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — with Prince William and Queen Camilla pushing for a harder line while Princess Anne and Prince Edward argue their brother has already been punished enough. The conflicting demands have created what a source described as significant “family angst,” with multiple arguments now playing out across different branches of the Royal Family. A royal insider told the Daily Mail that Anne had been “vocal” in her objections to both the King and William, with Edward backing her position to some extent. Yet the…

The press never discovered that Prince William and Kate Middleton began their honeymoon at a secluded Welsh farmhouse — a secret that has remained hidden for nearly a decade and a half until now. Royal biographer Robert Jobson reveals in his new book The Windsor Legacy that the couple spent “a blissful few days” at Llwynywermod, King Charles’s private estate near the Brecon Beacons, before flying to the Seychelles. A senior royal source told Jobson the secret escape and its location was never written about by the press, making the privacy even more special for the newlyweds. The 192-acre property,…

Jeff Bezos is taking on Elon Musk in the battle for space-based internet dominance after his rocket company Blue Origin announced plans to launch more than 5,400 satellites. The network, named TeraWave, will target businesses, governments and data centres rather than competing directly with Musk’s Starlink for individual customers. Blue Origin claims the system will be capable of upload and download speeds reaching 6 terabits per second — far exceeding what rival commercial satellite services currently offer. Even with thousands of satellites in orbit, TeraWave would remain significantly smaller than Starlink, which currently dominates the market. SpaceX’s network focuses primarily…