National News

Train drivers are to stage a series of one-day strikes and a nine-day ban on overtime next month in their long-running dispute over pay. The Aslef union said the new walkouts will “ratchet up the pressure” on train companies and the Government to give train drivers their first pay rise in more than four years. Union members will walk out at EMR and LNER on December 2; at Avanti West

HMV returns to Oxford Street next week following a four-year absence from the historic West End shopping centre. The music retailer said the store, which will open on November 24, will create 70 jobs. The company shut its flagship London store in 2019 after tumbling into administration before a rescue takeover by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records. The site, where HMV opened its first shop in 1921, had been operating

Millions of families will see their energy bills rise again from the beginning of January, a new forecast has warned. Industry regulator Ofgem is expected to announce next Thursday that the energy price cap will be increased to 28.94p per unit of electricity and 7.42p per unit of gas from the start of next year. It means that the typical household’s bill will rise from £1,834 per year to £1,931,

New Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron has visited Ukraine for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s president said the pair discussed the supply of weapons for his forces fighting against the Russian invasion when they met in Kyiv. Mr Zelensky said: “We had a good meeting focused on weapons for the frontline, strengthening air defence, and protecting our people and critical infrastructure. “I am grateful to the UK for its support!” Former prime

Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the 2024 Academy Awards, marking his fourth time presiding over the ceremony. The late-night US talk show host will front the ceremony on March 10 for the second consecutive year after his “triumphant return to the Oscars stage last year” which earned him an Emmy nomination, the show’s producers said on Wednesday. “I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” Kimmel said. It comes after Kimmel hosted back-to-back

Spending by UK consumers on Black Friday is anticipated to fall by almost a quarter as the event’s timing ahead of payday coincides with cost-of-living pressures, an annual league suggests. PwC anticipates UK shoppers will spend £5.6 billion on Black Friday deals this year, down from £7.1 billion last year. Meanwhile, interest in the event has waned from 61% of consumers last year to 44% this year, with 16% of

Emma Hayes felt her Chelsea side had been “robbed” after they were held 2-2 at Real Madrid in their Champions League opener. In a contest with no VAR in operation, Real equalised through a 79th-minute Olga Carmona penalty awarded by referee Frida Klarlund for a Jessie Fleming challenge on Athenea del Castillo – which Hayes had no doubt took place outside the box. The Chelsea manager was also unhappy about

More than 6,000 16 and 17-year-olds were homeless or at risk of homelessness in England in the year to March, according to figures obtained by the Children’s Commissioner. Dame Rachel de Souza said too many children who present to their local authority are “not getting the care they deserve and are entitled to”. She expressed concern that most children in the analysis were not taken into care as they should have been,

he first coin in a new 007 range celebrating James Bond across the decades has been unveiled by the Royal Mint. The collectable and bullion coin range offers Bond enthusiasts an opportunity to grow their collection and invest in precious metals in gold or silver, the Mint said. Each design will feature a scene from a different decade of the superspy. The first coin celebrating 007 in the 1960s depicts