UK News
Chancellor John Healey is presenting the government’s first Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, promising measures to ease pressure on household finances and support economic growth.
The government is expected to introduce a scheme offering equity loans worth 20% of the price of eligible new-build homes, aiming to help more people get onto the property ladder.
New measures announced ahead of the Budget include extending parental pay to more than 150,000 additional parents a year and reforming Carer’s Allowance rules.
Britain will conduct its largest domestic defence exercise in decades next year, testing how ministers and public services would respond to potential hybrid attacks, including cyberattacks and sabotage.
Recent storms have caused disruption across Scotland, with power cuts affecting thousands of customers. Electricity companies have been working to restore supplies.
Two men have been charged under the National Security Act following an investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Police believe the case may involve assistance to Iranian intelligence.
The Chancellor is expected to announce targeted help for poorer households facing high energy bills, as rising costs and borrowing pressures constrain the government’s spending plans.
Brief World News
Israel Election Produces No Clear Winner. Exit polls suggest a close contest between Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot. Coalition negotiations could determine who forms the next government.
Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a draft agreement aimed at ending the war involving the United States and Israel. Tehran is expected to respond by the end of the week.
A powerful cyclone has struck India’s eastern coast, killed at least three people and forced thousands to evacuate. Authorities are dealing with damaged infrastructure and severe weather conditions.
Oil prices climbed by more than one per cent following reports of an attack on a major Saudi refinery, raising fresh concerns about global energy supplies.
An Egyptian court has ordered the closure of independent news outlet Mada Masr. The decision has prompted concerns among press-freedom advocates about restrictions on independent journalism.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Iran to grant inspectors access amid continuing international concerns over its nuclear programme.
The US military says a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific killed five people. The operation comes amid continuing US efforts targeting suspected drug-smuggling networks.
Russia is hosting African leaders at a summit in Moscow as it seeks to strengthen political and economic relationships with countries it considers important partners.
France’s Senate has passed a bill aimed at making protesters pay for damage caused during unrest. The proposal has reignited debate over public order and the right to demonstrate.
King Charles is expected to discuss the legacy of slavery with Commonwealth leaders during his Caribbean tour, as former colonies renew calls for Britain to address the consequences of colonial rule.
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