National News

Visitors have one final opportunity to say goodbye to Britain’s only giant pandas before zoo keepers get them ready to make their way back to China. Yang Guang and Tian Tian have lived at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Access to the panda enclosure will be restricted from 3.30pm on Thursday

The number of mortgages approved for home buyers picked up last month after interest rates were held steady and mortgage increases eased. Bank of England figures showed that 47,400 mortgages were approved for house purchases in October. The Bank’s monthly Money And Credit report revealed the improvement from the eight-month low of 43,300 recorded in September. It also showed that 23,700 remortgaging approvals were recorded in October, recovering from 20,600

Greece’s foreign minister has pushed for Athens to take back the Elgin Marbles as he attended a summit with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron. Giorgos Gerapetritis said Greece’s call for the Parthenon Sculptures to be returned from the British Museum was based on “history” and “justice”. A diplomatic row over the sculptures was triggered when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled Tuesday’s planned meeting with Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with No 10

The UK economy is set for the second-slowest growth of the world’s G7 advanced economies, according to new forecasts. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has reduced its forecast UK growth rate for 2024. Growth across the global economy has been stronger than expected but is beginning to slow as higher interest rates, weaker trade and lower business and consumer confidence take a toll, economists for the globally

Halfords has cautioned over a slowdown in sales growth as demand for big-ticket products weakened in recent months. It came as the motoring and cycling retailer revealed a rise in sales and profits for the past half year in an otherwise positive update to shareholders. However, the company said on Wednesday it has seen “volatile” trading patterns so far this financial year amid uncertainty in the wider economy. “In the

Phil Foden created two and scored another as holders Manchester City came from 2-0 down to preserve their unbeaten Champions League run with a 3-2 win over RB Leipzig. Erling Haaland also broke another record as City produced an emphatic response to Lois Openda’s first-half double at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Substitute Julian Alvarez came off the bench to wrap up the fightback and secure top spot in Group

Hamas released 12 hostages and Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners on Tuesday, the fifth day of a fragile ceasefire that has enabled humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and that mediators hope to extend even as Israel pledges to resume the war. Israel said 10 of its citizens and two Thai nationals freed by Hamas returned to Israel. Soon after, Israel released the Palestinian prisoners. The truce is due to

Public transport commuting levels in Britain’s large cities outside London lag well behind European counterparts, new research shows. A report by think tank Centre for Cities said the number of people travelling to work on buses, trains or trams in Britain’s major urban areas would need to double to catch up with those on the continent. The analysis found that the proportion of residents of Manchester and Birmingham who commute

The majority of English adults back Government plans to phase out smoking, a new poll suggests. Proposed legislation for England will make it an offence for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, to be sold tobacco products. Two thirds (67%) of adults in England back the plans, according to a poll of 3,500 English adults. Some 14% said that they oppose the measure, according to the survey, conducted