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Zack Polanski fights for survival at Greens conference – with Labour MPs looking to burst his bubble at Holborn by-election next week
Zack Polanski, Green Party leader, faces a critical test as he delivers his second conference speech amidst a severe slump in the party’s support and an expected defeat in next week’s Holborn and St Pancras by-election. The 43-year-old initially saw a surge in backing following his election just over a year ago, but the Greens’…
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The population changes in your area: Interactive tool reveals births, deaths and immigration levels where you live, as number of people in UK hits 69.5m
The UK’s population reached a record 69.5 million in mid-2025, though growth has slowed dramatically to just 0.33 per cent annually – the lowest rate since 1998 outside the pandemic year. Whilst 71 per cent of local authorities (257 out of 361) experienced population increases, the slowdown reflects a sharp decline in net migration and…
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Balcony solar installations are now legal in America’s most populous state
California has legalised plug-in solar systems for homes, joining nine other US states. The law aims to make small-scale solar more accessible and could help households reduce electricity bills, though it will not take effect until 1 January 2027. Systems will be capped at 1,200 watts, far below typical rooftop installations, and must be certified…
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Former NSW Liberal MP Bruce Baird dies aged 84
Former Liberal politician Bruce Baird has died aged 84, reportedly in Singapore after a fall while travelling home from a European holiday. His death marks the passing of a figure associated with Sydney’s successful bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. Baird entered the NSW Parliament in 1984 as the member for Northcott, serving for…
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France is rocked by more violence linked to far-left student protests as videos show shocking attacks on people trying to protect schools
Student protests over education conditions have escalated into violence in several French cities, with attacks on school staff, members of the public and police. The government has acknowledged that students’ complaints are legitimate while condemning the unrest, which has caused injuries and damage to schools. Officials say at least 65 school staff, including 40 headteachers,…
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Celebrity Traitors – FIVE-STAR Review: Dazzling. Thrilling. Utterly unpredictable… it’s only episode one and Traitors fever has me howling at the moon!
The first episode of The Celebrity Traitors opened with a theatrical mock funeral in a Scottish chapel, setting a Gothic, comic tone that the reviewer says makes the series dazzling and unpredictable. Its star-studded cast and immediate twists underline the show’s growing status as a flagship BBC programme. The 21 contestants include Maya Jama, Richard…
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Met suspends digital forensics software amid US allegations over Russian ownership
The Metropolitan Police has suspended use of Oxygen Forensics software following US allegations that the supposedly American company is secretly owned by Russians and developed in Moscow. US prosecutors have accused the firm’s chief executive Lee Reiber and Russian national Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov of concealing the company’s true ownership, raising serious questions about the integrity…
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‘Extreme’ conker championships that allows nut-tampering and anything-goes bouts is cancelled ‘due to health and safety fears’
An annual extreme conker championship in Peckham has been cancelled for 2026 after health and safety managers deemed it unsafe for the venue. The event, which started as a casual pub gathering nine years ago, had mushroomed into a chaotic spectacle attracting nearly 2,000 spectators by its eighth edition last year, with competitors wrestling, nut-tampering…
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‘Global superstar’ hair stylist accused of Grindr rapes is unmasked as his bid for freedom is revealed and grim new details emerge of how he allegedly drugged victims in his salon
Danny Soulaimane, a 39-year-old Sydney hairdresser, is seeking bail after being charged with allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting two men he met on Grindr. The allegations concern encounters at his salon while it was closed; Soulaimane denies the charges, and the case has not been decided. Police say the men, aged 34 and 37, separately…
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HSBC banker banned after evading £5,900 in train fares through ticket scam
A wealthy HSBC banker has been banned from working in regulated financial services after being convicted of using a “doughnutting” ticket scam to evade £5,900 in train fares over 11 months. Joseph Molloy, aged 53, exploited a ticketing loophole by purchasing tickets for the start and end of his commute from his £2 million home…