National News

A lack of fuel in the Gaza Strip shut down all internet and phone networks on Thursday, the main Palestinian telecom provider said, effectively cutting off the besieged territory from the outside world. In a signal that Israel’s ground invasion could soon expand to the south, Palestinians in parts of southern Gaza said they received evacuation notices on Thursday. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are crowded into the south,

A powerful group of MPs have said they have “no confidence” the Government will deliver on its promises for its flagship new hospital programme (NHP). The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has insisted that it is “on track” to deliver the manifesto commitment to build 40 new hospitals in England by 2030. But the Public Accounts Committee said that the programme has been marked by “slower progress and

Mikel Arteta has been charged by the Football Association over comments he made after Arsenal’s defeat by Newcastle earlier this month. The Gunners boss branded the VAR decision not to rule out Anthony Gordon’s goal in his side’s 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park “an absolute disgrace”. An FA statement read: “Mikel Arteta has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following comments that he made in media

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