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Irish mortgage rates reach highest level since at least 2017 after sharp rise
Irish mortgage rates have resumed their upward trend and reached their highest level since at least mid-2017, according to the Central Bank of Ireland. At 3.54 per cent in March, the average interest rate on a new mortgage was up significantly from 2.92 per cent in February. The figures revealContinue Reading
Met face inquiry into arrests of anti-monarchy protesters over Coronation weekend
A n inquiry into the Metropolitan Police’s arrests of anti-monarchy protesters over King Charles’s Coronation weekend is to be launched. The cross-party home affairs committee met this morning and discussed the response to the event after new powers to deal with demonstrators were given to police under the Public OrderContinue Reading
Sir John Major warns against ‘excessive zeal’ to be tough on crime
F ormer prime minister Sir John Major has warned against “excessive zeal” to be tough on crime leading to “unwise policy”, as he said the UK is locking up too many offenders. The ex-Tory leader argued that “pointless” short-term prison sentences are being imposed in cases where non-custodial measures wouldContinue Reading
Archbishop of Canterbury to condemn Illegal Migration Bill in Lords – reports
T he Archbishop of Canterbury will make a rare intervention in the House of Lords on Wednesday to condemn the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill as it faces its first test in the upper chamber, according to reports. Justin Welby is set to argue against the flagship legislation aimed at ensuringContinue Reading
Jury finds Donald Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll and orders him to pay $5m
Donald Trump sexually abused magazine writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her by branding her a liar, jurors decided on Tuesday, dealing the former US president a legal setback as he campaigns to retake office in 2024. The nine-member jury in Manhattan federal court awarded about $5 millionContinue Reading
Rugby league and Lancashire roses feature in Speaker Hoyle’s coat of arms
A rugby league ball, bees and Lancashire roses feature in the new coat of arms for Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The design was revealed as Sir Lindsay unveiled two stained glass windows celebrating the British overseas territories (BOTs) and crown dependencies. The coats of arms from the BOTs –Continue Reading
Andrew Bridgen MP expected to join Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party
A ndrew Bridgen MP is set to join Laurence Fox’s Reclaim Party following his expulsion from the Conservative Party after comparing Covid-19 vaccines to the Holocaust. The MP for North West Leicestershire is expected to be announced as the first representative of Mr Fox’s party in the House of CommonsContinue Reading
Arcturus: what to know about the new COVID variant, omicron XBB.1.16
CROCOTHERY/Shutterstock A new COVID variant XBB.1.16, or “Arcturus”, has now been identified in at least 34 countries including the UK. Arcturus is a subvariant of omicron and was first detected in India in January 2023. As of April 17, the latest date up to which the UK Health Security AgencyContinue Reading
Thirsty tomatoes emit ultrasonic sounds – and other plants may be listening
Tobacco plants produce sounds at a frequency outside the human hearing range. S.Phoophinyo/Shutterstock Plants may appear silent, indifferent organisms to us, but recent research has found they make high-pitched clicking sounds when they are struggling to find water. In principle, neighbouring plants could pick up on and react to theseContinue Reading
Boris Johnson was planning Sunak move from Chancellor job, ex-comms chief claims
R ishi Sunak would have been removed as chancellor if Boris Johnson had not been forced from office, the ex-prime minister’s former director of communications has claimed. Guto Harri, who served as No 10’s director of communications under Mr Johnson, said that Rishi Sunak would likely have been removed fromContinue Reading