National News

The government has today (March 30) announced £381m of funding for new ‘local’ electric car chargers. Revealed as part of a wider ‘transport decarbonisation’ package, the government has set up the £381m ‘local electric vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) fund. An additional £15m has also been put aside for residential on-street chargers. The government says that the two schemes will ‘support the installation of tens and thousands of new chargers across the country’. Each region is allocated

Orlando Bloom has praised the strength of the Ukrainian people as he met the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and encouraged him to “go win” the war. The British actor, 46, who is a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, travelled to Kyiv in his first visit back to Ukraine since 2016. In the meeting, Bloom told Mr Zelensky it is “remarkable to see how you are holding this country” and said it was

It's being pitched as a plan to guarantee the UK's energy security Carbon capture technology and boosts for offshore wind will form a central plank of a plan to “power up Britain”, as the Government unveils the first step of its response to Joe Biden’s multibillion-dollar investment in green technology. Pitched as a plan to guarantee the UK’s energy security, while also avoiding the “distortive” impact of the US Inflation Reduction Act,

The victims were shot in two 'linked' incidents in separate villages six miles apart Three people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder after two men were shot dead in two “linked” incidents in separate villages around six miles apart. Cambridgeshire Police said officers were first called to reports of gunshots at a property in Meridian Close, Bluntisham at just after 9pm on Wednesday. Officers arrived to find

The Vatican has said Pope Francis will be hospitalised for several days for treatment of a pulmonary infection after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pontiff, 86, does not have Covid-19, but requires several days of therapy. He said on Wednesday that Francis had been suffering some breathing trouble in recent days and went to the Gemelli University hospital for tests. “The tests showed

The King has pledged to “strengthen the connections” between the UK and Germany as he paid tribute to the “enduring value” of the two nations’ relationship. In the first state banquet speech of his reign, Charles stressed that he was “utterly convinced” the bond between Britain and one of the EU’s leading nations “will grow ever stronger”. Speaking in German, he drew laughs from guests at the white-tie event when

A Labour government would freeze council tax bills this year, Sir Keir Starmer will say as he launches his party’s campaign for the May local elections. Speaking in Swindon, Wiltshire, the Labour leader will say the move would be funded with a “proper” windfall tax on the profits of the oil and gas giants. With the party hoping to pick up seats in the May 4 polls in England, Sir

Anthony Joshua has laughed off Jermaine Franklin’s threat of a knockout on Saturday and insisted this is the “worst time” to face him. The former heavyweight champion will make his long-awaited return to the ring this weekend at the O2 Arena but for the first time since 2015 no world title is on the line. Joshua is looking to bounce back following consecutive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk and he faced

Ministers have unveiled plans to house asylum seekers in disused military bases to accommodate their “essential living needs and nothing more” despite legal threats from local Conservatives. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, also announced on Wednesday he is “continuing to explore the possibility” of using ferries and barges to reduce the “eye watering” reliance on hotels. Despite opposition from within the Cabinet, he confirmed that up to 3,700 people will