Category: Top Stories

King Charles has expressed his deep sadness at the death of one of the late Queen’s closest friends. Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie, sadly died aged 91. Lady Airlie made royal history in 1973 when, after being appointed lady of the bedchamber, she became the first American to have served as a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen. Lady Airlie and Queen Elizabeth II remained close friends for decades, with the countess supporting the late monarch until her death in September 2022. Her devotion to the late sovereign was acknowledged by King Charles who, leading tributes, thanked Lady Airlie for her ... Read more

Prince Harry “should apologise for his family’s role in the slave trade”, residents of Colombia’s San Basilio de Palenque have said ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit to the town on Saturday.  The trip to the historic town, which holds the title of South America’s first “free town” after being established by escaped slaves, was just one of several activities taking place during Harry’s visit to Colombia with wife Meghan Markle – however, their trip has earned a mixed reception from locals. Shortly before the Prince and Duchess arrived, many locals had said they were “hopeful” that ... Read more

Ukraine used missiles to down key bridges inside Russia today to thwart Vladimir Putin’s war supply lines. Pictures show the result of a HIMARS missile strike over the Seim River in the Kursk region, which Kyiv’s forces partially occupy. It is the latest blow to Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. The bridge in Glushkovsky district was blown apart in a second strike, after the first attempt holed the structure but left it intact. A mass evacuation was being carried out in Glushkov district, home to around 20,000 people. The downed bridge now prevents Putin from transferring personnel and supplying reinforcements to ... Read more

A record-breaking mission to drill 4,160 feet deep under the Atlantic has recovered a piece of the Earth’s crust for the first time. The UK-led international expedition of more than 30 countries travelled to the middle of the ocean over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where tectonic plates join producing volcanic activity. It’s hoped the recovered rocks will help unravel the role the Earth’s crust, known as the mantle, played in the origins of life on on the planet. A psychedelic cross-section of the unique rock sample shows how volcanic activity melting rock and interacting with sea water drives global cycles of ... Read more

Rachel Reeves has been warned there is “absolutely no need” for tax rises in October, after yesterday’s GDP figures showed the economy to be growing at a “gangbusters” pace. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) this morning showed that Gross Domestic Product increased by 0.6% between April and June. ONS statistics chief Liz McKeown led a jubilant response to the news, pointing out that the economy has now grown strong for two quarters in a row, following a sluggish performance in the second half of 2023. The Conservatives have now said that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ “message of ... Read more

Amazon has been selected to participate in a UK trial aimed at expanding the use of drones. The online retail giant is one of six organisations chosen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for trials involving beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights, which will not require operators to keep the devices within their physical view. Amazon plans to launch its Prime Air service in the UK by year’s end, promising delivery of small packages within an hour of order placement. The company already provides drone deliveries in Lockeford, California and College Station, Texas in the US. Other projects ... Read more

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “pathological aversion” to the very concept of an independent sovereign nation will see him shackle Britain to Brussels once again, a leading Brexiteer has warned. Former MEP Ben Habib, now a member of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, was commenting on the Labour Government’s Product Safety and Metrology Bill, which if ratified by Parliament would pave the way for British alignment with EU standards. The legislation has set alarm bells ringing among those who campaigned vociferously to take Britain out of the bloc eight years ago, particularly given Sir Keir’s Europhile tendencies. Mr Habib, who was ... Read more

The Northern Lights will be visible from parts of the UK as skywatchers are told when to keep their eyes peeled. A red alert has been issued for between 9pm and 11pm on Tuesday, as high geomagnetic activity is set to light up the sky. AuroraWatchUK says the activity will be at its peak, meaning parts of the country could be in for a real spectacle. This also means that the aurora borealis could be visible with the naked eye. The experts say there will also be a peak of activity between midday and 6pm. AuroraWatchUK added that “it is ... Read more

The NHS and Equalities watchdog has been accused of age discrimination (Image: Getty) Campaigners have accused the equalities watchdog of not being “fit for purpose” because of its alleged failure to clamp down on discrimination against older people. Silver Voicer, which champions the causes of people over 60, said the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) rejected two cases of potential age discrimination in the NHS. Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: “The EHRC has now rejected both cases out of hand because of “insufficient grounds” without providing any detail of their reasoning. “The EHRC has shown that it ... Read more

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle drawing so much attention with everything they do must be “taxing on their relationship”, a royal expert has said. Writer and Broadcaster Esther Krakue was on Sky News to discuss the Sussexes embarking on a ‘faux royal tour’ to Colombia for a four-day visit following an invite from the Vice President. She said as Harry and Meghan aren’t working royals and therefore not on an official tour, there will be “consequences” if they do something that is completely out of step with what the royal family would do. “He’s still the King’s son. It’s the ... Read more