UK2.XYZ NEWS

Pete Hegseth invited the Paul brothers to the Pentagon to pump up American troops and it backfired spectacularly in the replies – 17 scathing takedowns

This is not a serious White House Administration. Anyone following American politics for the last decade could tell you that. Still, Donald Trump and his band of merry gangsters continue to degrade the nation’s highest office with every new press stunt. The latest comes courtesy of former reality TV contestant and current Secretary of Defense, […]

The post Pete Hegseth invited the Paul brothers to the Pentagon to pump up American troops and it backfired spectacularly in the replies – 17 scathing takedowns appeared first on The Poke.

Ed Davey’s attempt to rally the troops at the Lib Dem conference with their calamitous new slogan fell humiliatingly flat on its face

To the Lib Dem conference in Brighton now – what do you mean you didn’t know there was a Lib Dem conference going on? – where Ed Davey was doing his bit to rally the troops. Battling against claims that he is leading his party into irrelevance, it’s fair to say Davey didn’t quite energise […]

The post Ed Davey’s attempt to rally the troops at the Lib Dem conference with their calamitous new slogan fell humiliatingly flat on its face appeared first on The Poke.

‘Tell me the thing that gives you the ick that you’re embarrassed to admit’ – 21 pet peeves

As anyone who has to be around other people can testify, people can be really irritating. There’s the chewing, the loud breathing, the Jimmy Carr laugh – you know how it goes. We’re fully aware that for every little thing that gets on our nerves, there’s someone who finds us so annoying it’s giving them […]

The post ‘Tell me the thing that gives you the ick that you’re embarrassed to admit’ – 21 pet peeves appeared first on The Poke.

Southport killer accused of throwing boiling water mixed with sugar at prison officer

Axel Rudakubana is accused of grievous bodily harm and two other assaults of prison officers while serving a life sentence.

'What a play!' - Chase catch leads NFL plays of the week

Watch the best plays from this weekend's NFL action including Ja'Marr Chase's incredible catch in the Cincinatti Bengals' win over the Houston Texans.

British Museum bans visitors from photographing Bayeux Tapestry

Visitors stopping to take pictures of the 68m medieval embroidery were holding up others, prompting the rule change.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico to file lawsuit against Trump's White House ban

The US media outlets say they are defending "the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes".

A classic Bullseye clip went viral because it features one of the most underwhelming star prizes in TV history

The classic darts based 80s TV quiz show Bullseye, hosted by Jim Bowen, regularly drew audiences of 20 million per episode during its peak. It was renowned for including star prizes such as luxury holidays, cars and the iconic speedboats. But not all star prizes were so, well – starry, as this clip shared by […]

The post A classic Bullseye clip went viral because it features one of the most underwhelming star prizes in TV history appeared first on The Poke.

'Other generations just buried it' - Youths share their mental health concerns

The BBC's Catherine Burns spoke to some young mental health ambassadors who called for an increase in mental health support.

US strikes on alleged drug boats could be crimes against humanity, says UN

A report says the attacks, of which there have been at least 68, were not self-defence.

Triple stabbing in Liverpool city centre as police hunt suspects on the loose

Merseyside Police have launched an investigation after three men were stabbed in Liverpool city centre, with one victim remaining in hospital in a stable condition

Jacob Rees-Mogg said it’s people’s duty to die for their country and of all the A++ replies this one knocked the rest out the park

Former cabinet minister and reality TV star for 15 minutes Jacob Rees-Mogg has been busy doing some public service pronouncements. In particular he’s keen to tell anyone who will listen that it’s their duty to join up to fight for this country and, if necessary, die for it. Because it looks like the view from […]

The post Jacob Rees-Mogg said it’s people’s duty to die for their country and of all the A++ replies this one knocked the rest out the park appeared first on The Poke.

Killer on the loose has 'damaged' public confidence in justice system, says NI minister

Gary Anderson remains at large a week after he absconded while attending his father's funeral in Derry.

People have been sharing the worst mistakes they made at work – 23 total cock-ups that will make you feel like employee of the month

Having to work every day is bad enough, but do you know what’s worse? The hideous anxiety that is induced when we do something wrong, and it is definitely our own fault. Reddit user Slow_Mix5034 is feeling this pain, and posted the following on the AskUK page… ‘What are the worst mistakes you’ve made at […]

The post People have been sharing the worst mistakes they made at work – 23 total cock-ups that will make you feel like employee of the month appeared first on The Poke.

These reactions to the Proclaimers saying people are afraid to speak their minds are on their way to being the takedowns of the week

In case you missed it, the Proclaimers have come out as ‘anti-woke’, with some strong opinions that would make them the ideal gig-mates for Right Said Fred. They could even chat about what it’s like to work with your brother. With a new album out, the twins most famous for their hit “I’m Gonna Be […]

The post These reactions to the Proclaimers saying people are afraid to speak their minds are on their way to being the takedowns of the week appeared first on The Poke.

‘What’s something your parents told you when you were younger that you brushed off as nonsense?’ – 19 ways your folks were 100% correct

The arrogance of youth, eh? We’ve all been there, thinking we know best despite our incredibly limited life experience, and we all realise our folly when we get older. Over on the AskUK subreddit, PaddedValls posted their thoughts on the matter… ‘What’s something your parents tried to tell you when you were younger, that you […]

The post ‘What’s something your parents told you when you were younger that you brushed off as nonsense?’ – 19 ways your folks were 100% correct appeared first on The Poke.

Full list of UK airports crippled by delays in latest air traffic control glitch

Another air traffic control failure is causing issues for passengers flying in and out of the UK today - just two weeks after a major outage left thousands of flyers stranded

Helen Jenner unveiled by Nigel Farage as new leader of Reform in Wales

Farage says it was "untenable" for former leader Dan Thomas to continue after his arrest last week.

Three US news outlets 'to sue' over White House ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have said they have notified Donald Trump's administration that they are filing a lawsuit over being denied White House access.

BBC removes 11 Mitchell and Webb comedy sketches from iPlayer

The corporation said it had included "the ones that still work today and not the ones that don't."

Countryside buses resurging in England after years of decline - check your local figures

A rise in bus miles with council funding might be starting to reverse the reduction in services.

Why Cardiff is set to win race to host Fury-Joshua

Why Cardiff is set to beat competition from London and New York to host the long-awaited fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Lib Dems call for one-to-one midwife care during childbirth

Sir Ed Davey pledged to spend £600m a year on maternity services if the Lib Dems were in government.

Trump’s ‘new’ Greenland deal is the one the US made in 1951, and the facepalms were visible from Nuuk to the White House – 21 favourites

It’s almost nine months since Donald Trump got it into his head that the US needs sovereignty over Greenland for its security, leading him to make this highly alarming announcement. 🚨BREAKING: Trump announces plan to ANNEX Greenland. pic.twitter.com/8DGnU2blOA — Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) January 4, 2026 Being the statesmanlike individual he is, he kept the conversation […]

The post Trump’s ‘new’ Greenland deal is the one the US made in 1951, and the facepalms were visible from Nuuk to the White House – 21 favourites appeared first on The Poke.

Southport killer 'threw boiling water mixed with sugar at prison officer', court heard

Axel Rudakubana, the Southport killer who murdered three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, has appeared in court for allegedly threw boiling water mixed with sugar at a prison officer

Inside Djibouti refugee camp for thousands fleeing Houthi advance in Yemen

Fighting on Yemen's west coast has prompted thousands of people to flee by boat across the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Edwards signs short-term deal with Red Roses

Shaun Edwards has started a short-term coaching consultancy role with England women.

Three South Korean soldiers injured in landmine border explosion

Three South Korean soldiers have been injured in an explosion at the heavily fortified border with North Korea.

A diner at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub protested at the price but he wasn’t sticking it to the man quite so devastatingly as he suggested

Jeremy Clarkson isn’t just farming these days he also owns his own pub, The Farmer’s Dog, just near Burford in west Oxfordshire, apparently. We’ve not been there but we can imagine the sort of person who would. Except in this case we don’t to imagine, because Farmer’s Dog diner Rick Gannon went on Twitter to […]

The post A diner at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub protested at the price but he wasn’t sticking it to the man quite so devastatingly as he suggested appeared first on The Poke.

Forger made £2.7m from largest fake vinyl haul ever found by UK police

A vinyl forger made £2.7 million by selling thousands of fake records of artists including the Beatles, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift - made in an industrial site in London.

This particular vision of ‘student life’ in 2026 prompted an especially no nonsense reply and it’ll make you proud to be British

It’s been a long time since we ever indulged in something called student life, and even then it wasn’t that studenty to be honest (and more fool us). And it certainly wasn’t anything like this, a vision of student life shared by over on Twitter (they appear to be from Portugal but that doesn’t mean […]

The post This particular vision of ‘student life’ in 2026 prompted an especially no nonsense reply and it’ll make you proud to be British appeared first on The Poke.

Gibbs-White set to replace Palmer in England squad

Morgan Gibbs-White is in line for an England recall to replace Cole Palmer, who is set to withdraw from the squad because of a minor injury.

SNP MSP asks King if he'll pay 300% council tax rise on Scottish properties

An SNP MSP has written to King Charles "seeking clarity" on whether he will be paying higher council tax rates on royal properties in Scotland.

A Reform UK-er got super excited by all these Union Jacks put up in Portsmouth and these 17 A++ replies surely said it best

Portsmouth has been in the news this last week or so, with far- right protestors targeting the RNLI for daring to rescue migrants as they attempt to reach the UK in small boats. So much so that the life-saving volunteers have had to close their Portsmouth station because of the absue and online threats. But […]

The post A Reform UK-er got super excited by all these Union Jacks put up in Portsmouth and these 17 A++ replies surely said it best appeared first on The Poke.

World Gurning Championship winners crowned

The World Gurning Championship is held annually in the small Cumbrian town of Egremont.

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party but vows to stay on

Exit polls show damaging losses for Merz's centre-right CDU party in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin.

Will you get £13,000 a year when you stop working? Here's how to check

How to find out how much state pension you're likely to receive - and what you can do about it now.

Specialist courts for rape cases to be rolled out in England and Wales

Funding will allow victims to view proceedings remotely and give evidence from a separate room via video link, the government says.

Laura Kuenssberg asked if it’s really the job of celebrities to get involved in complicated politics and ended up schooled into next week.

Ed Sheeran has been busy doing his utmost to get his tour back on track after it was plunged into turmoil by support act Macklemore’s removal for shouting ‘free Palestine’ at a concert. It was naturally a topic of discussion on Laura Kuenssberg’s BBC1 Sunday morning politics show, where the presenter wondered if it was […]

The post Laura Kuenssberg asked if it’s really the job of celebrities to get involved in complicated politics and ended up schooled into next week. appeared first on The Poke.

Prince William 'furious' over Earl Spencer's bombshell Diana book claims

Prince William is reportedly 'beyond furious' with his uncle Charles Spencer over bombshell claims about King Charles and Princess Diana in a new book

Manchester and Belfast airport chaos as air traffic control issue sees delays across UK

Major airports across the UK, including Manchester, Newcastle, Belfast and Glasgow, have been hit with flight delays after reports of problem with air traffic control prompting restrictions

Bridget Phillipson had the perfect clapback to Laura Kuenssberg quoting Jim Ratcliffe’s hot take on the UK

The billionaire part-owner of Manchester United, who made his fortune in the petrochemical industry, has been sharing his hot take on the state of the UK, and it’s not a glowing report. Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in the UK, describing the country as "on the slide". "Nobody's tough enough to deal […]

The post Bridget Phillipson had the perfect clapback to Laura Kuenssberg quoting Jim Ratcliffe’s hot take on the UK appeared first on The Poke.

It’s 49 years since the Fonz ‘jumped the shark’ on Happy Days and Henry Winkler’s A++ response just made the whole thing worthwhile

As no-one anywhere needs reminding, ‘jump the shark’ has long become a common term for the moment TV series go rubbish. It was named after the Happy Days episode in which the Fonz – you guessed it – jumped the shark, in this episode of the classic TV comedy which it turns out just celebrated […]

The post It’s 49 years since the Fonz ‘jumped the shark’ on Happy Days and Henry Winkler’s A++ response just made the whole thing worthwhile appeared first on The Poke.

Dad faces court and £100 fine after 'not paying to take his kids to school'

Steven Thompson has been hit with a £100 private road parking charge for stopping on Hawthorns Grove near Runnymede St Edward Catholic Primary School in West Derby, Liverpool, during the school run

Southport killer accused of throwing boiling water mixed with sugar at prison officer

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana allegedly threw boiling water mixed with sugar at a prison officer and punched another while at HMP Belmarsh.

17 scathing takedowns of the conspiracy theory that Greta Gerwig is trying to destroy Christianity by casting Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan

We regret to inform you that people have been getting their panties in a bunch about trivial things again – in this case, Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the CS Lewis Narnia book, The Magician’s Nephew. Empire had the scoop on the project …and the most important piece of casting. 🚨WORLD-EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK 🚨 Greta Gerwig […]

The post 17 scathing takedowns of the conspiracy theory that Greta Gerwig is trying to destroy Christianity by casting Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan appeared first on The Poke.

Presley Gerber, Cindy Crawford's son, dies aged 27

His family asked for privacy during a "very difficult and painful time" following the model's death.

'Far from their best' to 'a joy to watch' - ranking Premier League teams' start to season

Five matches into the league season, which teams in the Premier League have impressed so far and who have disappointed?

Converse apologises and removes ad after backlash

Converse, the American footwear brand, has apologised for an ad which critics said evoked Ku Klux Klan imagery, saying it recognised why the image was "deeply upsetting".

Chiefs back in business as star QBs go down - five things from NFL week two

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs look back to their best but Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels suffer serious injuries. Here's what you need to know from week two in the NFL.

'I forgive her for killing our children', says Lindsay Clancy's ex-husband

Lindsay Clancy's former husband said he forgave her for killing their three young children in his first televised interview since a jury failed to reach a verdict in her murder trial.

Prince Harry's demand but Prince William and King Charles refused to back down and give in

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have taken their decision to move their children from one school to another amid claims their security team raised concerns

Spygate's final twist - Southampton manager says he's asked for forgiveness before FA misconduct hearing

As Southampton manager Tonda Eckert awaits the FA hearing into his 'Spygate' misconduct conduct charge BBC sports editor Dan Roan speaks to him and club chief executive Phil Parsons on what happens next.

'I've asked for forgiveness' - Eckert and Southampton braced for Spygate verdict

As Southampton manager Tonda Eckert awaits the FA hearing into his 'Spygate' misconduct conduct charge BBC sports editor Dan Roan speaks to him and club chief executive Phil Parsons on what happens next.

Elon Musk has been trying out a new comedy routine on Twitter by banging on about ‘Uranus’, and it’s a whole new level of cringe

Elon Musk has never been one to shy away from schoolboy humour, but this latest attempt at live stand-up on Twitter has left people more exasperated than amused. His Boring Company has previously sold weird merchandise such as $100 ‘Burnt Hair’ perfume and ‘Boring Bricks’ made from tunnel spoil, but his latest product proposal seems […]

The post Elon Musk has been trying out a new comedy routine on Twitter by banging on about ‘Uranus’, and it’s a whole new level of cringe appeared first on The Poke.

Normandy veteran who survived capture weeks after D-Day dies aged 101

Normandy veteran Ken Hay, who survived capture just weeks after D-Day and dedicated years to educating children about the war, has died aged 101.

'I see my abusers in the supermarket' - Oxford grooming gang survivors' ongoing torment

Men who sexually abused them as underage girls are still walking around the city, they say.

Just when you thought Trump had hit peak ‘tinpot dictator’, he’s adding snipers and drone storage to his colossal arch – 24 devastating shots on target

Donald Trump has been very busy campaigning for the midterm elections, which are 43 days away, and are likely to be bad news for the Republican Party. 🚨 BREAKING: Republicans have COLLAPSED in support in the past two weeks. Since Labor Day, their odds of winning the Senate have gone down to only 31% pic.twitter.com/r6LkjhkO8s […]

The post Just when you thought Trump had hit peak ‘tinpot dictator’, he’s adding snipers and drone storage to his colossal arch – 24 devastating shots on target appeared first on The Poke.

UK should 'team up' with Canada in new Europe alliance, Canadian minister tells BBC

It comes after European Commission President proposed "opening the door" for Canada to become an associate member of the EU.

Young people aren't snowflakes - mental distress is rising, says head of official review

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, Prof Peter Fonagy says being young is much harder now than it was.

Russia's elections had few surprises - but how the Kremlin uses the results will be crucial

Vladimir Putin will likely use the result to claim most Russians back the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, writes the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.

What food items should you stock up on in case of an emergency?

Extreme weather may be changing the way we need to shop, with the UK government urging people to stock up on canned goods.

Workers came across human remains – and unearthed a mass grave of 572 people

Workers in northern Sri Lanka accidentally uncovered the country's largest mass grave – and reopened wounds from its civil war.

Kate Middleton's brutal one word assessment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shared some pictures of their time back in the UK but it seems relations with the Prince and Princess of Wales haven't yet improved

Under-pressure German leader says state election result a 'disaster'

Under-pressure German ‌Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described a state election result as a "disaster" but vowed to stay in office.

Key takeaways from BBC interview as Earl Spencer defends claims about King

Earl Spencer speaks to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the publication of his book about his sister Diana, Princess of Wales.

Iran issues warning after 'learning US plans to resume action'

Iran has issued a warning after reportedly learning that the US is planning to resume military action – after also insisting the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until its conditions are met.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's warned 'be good people' by new celeb neighbour

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly moved to the Cotswolds and famous neighbours have issued advice for the couple, including a warning about the area's formidable local women

Prince William shows true colours as he looks on at Kate on royal visit

Prince William and Princess Kate tried their hand at shinty during their first royal visit to the Isle of Bute in Scotland, with William's reaction to his wife catching royal watchers' attention.

Billionaire Man Utd owner and Monaco resident Jim Ratcliffe says he’s lost confidence in the UK, and people think that’s a bit rich coming from him

You know who we don’t hear from half enough these days? Billionaires. Poor dears are being silenced left, (far) right and centre. So, over to you Sir Jim Ratcliffe, petrochemical billionaire and part owner of Manchester United. You might remember this charmer from his comments about immigration earlier this year. Sir Jim, who is worth […]

The post Billionaire Man Utd owner and Monaco resident Jim Ratcliffe says he’s lost confidence in the UK, and people think that’s a bit rich coming from him appeared first on The Poke.

Ed Sheeran addressed the ‘Free Palestine’ controversy at the start of his concert, but it seems he might have just made things even worse

When Ed Sheeran took to the stage at Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia on Saturday night, everyone knew he’d have to address the Macklemore/’Free Palestine’ fiasco that threatened to derail his tour – and career. And so he did speak about what has been happening – reading a carefully-scripted speech from a teleprompter. PHILADELPHIA […]

The post Ed Sheeran addressed the ‘Free Palestine’ controversy at the start of his concert, but it seems he might have just made things even worse appeared first on The Poke.

A glam brunette says people are stunned when she reveals she drives a 32-tonne bin lorry for a living

Luca Klimmt - who passed her HGV test in October 2023 and was offered a role driving lorries with her current employer - says 'it's like driving a car'.

Prince Harry's telling comment shows huge difference between Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved their children from the first school they were attending back in the UK after their security detail raised concerns about the journey from their home to the classroom

Ex-West Ham hooligan warns 'scores need settling' at Millwall match as he makes plea

Millwall and West Ham play one another for the first time in 14 years this weekend and one former hooligan wrote in his book about why away fans should be banned from the tasty fixture

Bayeux Tapestry ticketholders 'evacuated' as thousands leave British Museum after alarm

The British Museum in London was evacuated this evening with around 3,7000 visitors, many looking to see the Bayeux Tapestry, forced to leave after reports of smoke

Andy Burnham's decision to cut Army training 'recipe for disaster', warns NATO chief

Lt Gen Benoît Desmeulles, the commander of France’s 1st Army Corps, said the move to save £30m is a ‘very, very bad’ idea that will harm the UK’s ability to fight

Earl claims 'lack of care' for Harry at Diana funeral and shares his 7-words to prince

Ahead of his bombshell memoir being released next week, Earl Spencer has made further claims on the Royal Family with the latest extract on Prince Harry at Princess Diana's funeral

The Butlin's Big Weekender shows why it is still offers some of the best entertainment in the UK

Nestled on the southern coast, Bognor Regis may appear just like any other provincial UK town...except it promises The Butlin's Big Weekender - one of the UK's most entertaining events

Earl Spencer questions if King Charles 'furious or embarrassed' after Palace statement

Ahead of his forthcoming bombshell memoir on his late sister Princess Diana, Earl Spencer has broken his silence on the Buckingham Palace statement in response to his allegations on King Charles' conduct following her death

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary issues apology after comparing rival airlines to 'rapists'

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has issued an apology for previously comparing competitor airlines to “rapists”, saying it has caused “considerable upset and offence”, in a video message

'I worked for King Charles and he made his feelings about Princess Diana's death clear'

Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, has made a series of claims about King Charles in his new book, including a revealing account of how the monarch reacted to his sister’s death

Putin's government declares UK facilities 'legitimate targets' in retaliation warning

Russian President Vladmir Putin's government has warned that it is considering of making British facilities “legitimate targets” in “retaliatory measures' should they aid Ukraine in striking Russia

Bash the bookies with a banker of a bet builder from our top tipster Wardy's Wagers

Britain's funniest tipster has top picks on the weekend's NFL, football and horseracing plus a tip on how sprinter Amy Hunt could end her feud with Sydney Sweeney

Woman with biggest breasts in Scotland plans to make them bigger despite warning

Doctors have told Ayla her planned surgery is not a good idea

Brit mum 'kidnapped on school run' has been rescued by police as 'hero' officer shot

Nusrat Osman, a British mother-of-two who is believed to be from Leicester, has been rescued in a major police operation after she was kidnapped while on the school run

Diana claims about King are 'nuclear strike at the heart' and 'Harry is probably aware'

Former royal butler Grant Harrold has slammed claims made by Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer in his new book after making allegations regarding King Charles' conduct at the times

BBC News app

Top stories, breaking news, live reporting, and follow news topics that match your interests