UK2.XYZ NEWS

What Sky buying ITV could mean for your favourite shows

An announcement is expected imminently on Sky buying ITV's TV and streaming channels.

Prince Harry and Meghan: Will they or won't they, and will we care?

There will be much attention on whether the Duke of Sussex can build bridges with his family.

Moment of destiny for France's Le Pen in verdict to decide her future in presidential race

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is appealing a verdict which found her guilty of misusing EU funds.

Mbappe coolly fires France into lead from penalty spot

France's Kylian Mbappe keeps his cool to send Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way to score his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup.

The Papers: 'Kicking up a storm' and 'Burnham plots homes tax raid'

Logistics surrounding the World Cup match between England and Mexico continue to lead a number of the papers.

James doubtful for Mexico tie but Quansah fit again

Reece James misses training on the eve of England's World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico but Jarell Quansah is available again.

NHS app to use AI to determine which service best for patients

The update will be available to all users in England by April 2028, the health service says.

Unbeaten in 34 matches - why Morocco are World Cup contenders

As Morocco beat Canada to book their place in the last-8, their World Cup campaign can no longer be seen as a fairytale.

Major Ukrainian drone attack on Russia strikes St Petersburg oil terminal

Ukrainian drones have struck an oil terminal and port in St Petersburg and the surrounding region, Russian and Ukrainian officials say.

‘If you could telepathically say something that all people on earth could hear at once what would it be?’ – 22 mind-bogglers

Who amongst us hasn’t wondered what it’d be like to be able to read minds. The answer is almost certainly absolutely life-ruining, because all those little white lies people tell to grease the wheels of society would be useless. Your mate thinks your bum does look big in those jeans. Who does it help to […]

The post ‘If you could telepathically say something that all people on earth could hear at once what would it be?’ – 22 mind-bogglers appeared first on The Poke.

Boks unleash big-game brutality on Borthwick's faltering England

Defeat by South Africa can, and does, happen to any team in world rugby, but England need to stop their losing streak soon.

GB's Fery fights off Bergs and nosebleeds to win five-set epic

British wildcard Arthur Fery beats Zizou Bergs to reach the Wimbledon fourth round and keep home singles hopes alive - despite suffering three nosebleeds.

“Oh, you’re a programmer? I have a problem with my printer…”. What’s the equivalent of this in your job? 28 things not to ask at parties

There are some jobs it may be better to keep to yourself at parties. Doctor, for instance – unless hearing about your best friend’s cousin’s weird rash on your day off is your idea of a good time. Over on Reddit, they were pondering this related question. “Oh, you’re a programmer? I have a problem […]

The post “Oh, you’re a programmer? I have a problem with my printer…”. What’s the equivalent of this in your job? 28 things not to ask at parties appeared first on The Poke.

Police leadership needs 'ethical reset', Lord Blunkett tells BBC

The former home secretary has co-authored a major report that has found the running of forces in England and Wales needs a "fundamental overhaul".

Driver arrested on suspicion of murder after fatal head-on collision

A crash between two cars, in which an elderly woman died, is now being treated as murder, police say.

Why England won't fear Mexico or the Azteca - Shearer

Former England captain Alan Shearer explains why Thomas Tuchel's team will not be worried about the difficult conditions when they play Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

Ukraine hits major oil terminal in Russia's St Petersburg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the target is key infrastructure "that generates revenue for Russia's war".

Supporting Pride London 'more important than ever'

Hundreds of charities, community groups and companies took part in Saturday's parade.

Dior dress and a man of honour: What we know about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding

The couple tied the knot in New York on Friday, after months of speculation about when, where and how it would happen.

Serena Williams pulls out of Wimbledon doubles alongside sister Venus

Serena Williams pulls out of her planned Wimbledon doubles appearance with older sister Venus because of a knee injury.

British wild card Arthur Fery through to last 16 at Wimbledon after epic five-set victory

Britain's Arthur Fery has reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time after beating Belgium's Zizou Bergs.

New heatwave likely to peak at 34C with week-long health alert issued

Another heatwave is on its way and set to last significantly longer as Stav Danaos explains.

Suspected shark attack as swimmer bitten at New York beach

A swimmer was bitten in a suspected shark attack at a New York beach, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend swimming.

King hails 'truly historic milestone' on 250th anniversary of US independence

The King says the countries have forged a relationship "founded on friendship, trust and a belief in liberty".

Duchess of Sussex and children 'not travelling to London' with Prince Harry next week

Prince Harry won't be accompanied by the Duchess of Sussex and their children when he visits London next week, Sky News understands.

The massive scramble behind the scenes before the new PM arrives

As Starmer gets ready to pack his bags, there's a "bunfight for jobs" in Whitehall, one MP tells Laura Kuenssberg.

Pubs and police brace for England-Mexico 1am kick-off after Fifa U-turn

England's last-16 World Cup tie will kick off at 01:00 BST on Monday, after Fifa reconsidered bringing it forward.

Boy, 3, had five surgeries after crocodile attack

His parents say there is "uncertainty" about movement and feeling in his arms, wrists and hands.

Fresh health warning comes into effect as new heatwave on the way

A week-long health warning has come into effect as another heatwave is on its way for parts of the UK.

Pope urges Europe to do more for migrants as he visits gateway island

The pontiff pays tribute to migrants who lost their lives at sea at a cemetery on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Lightning, hotel security and spying - issues England face in Mexico

England are booed as they arrive at their Mexico City hotel to prepare for their World Cup last-16 game against Mexico - and it's not the only issue they face.

Second murder arrest over 1998 teen disappearance

A 62-year-old man is questioned on suspicion of murdering Donna Keogh who was last seen in 1998.

Mind-blowing number of learners failing 'impossible' driving theory test – can you pass?

The UK driving theory test has turned 30 this week, but failure rates remain alarmingly high after barely a third of learners at one centre passed

Pub boss ate one Tesco snack for every meal to save cash and claw out of debt - but piled on weight

With just £40 per week allocated for food shopping for her and her partner, Lauren says she resorted to eating Tesco pate and white bread for every meal in order to save cash - but it came with a big catch.

Large crowds gather in Tehran on first day of Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral

Ali Khamenei's body will lie in state in Tehran's Grand Mosalla until Monday, before travelling across Iran and Iraq.

The NHS plans to reward people for walking 30 minutes a day with discounts and vouchers – 18 reactions to put a spring in your step

“Just getting my steps in” is a common refrain from the smartwatch-sporting set. For a long while now, people have been tracking how much walking and how many steps they make on a given day. And now the NHS wants in on the action. 🚨 NEW: The NHS will reward people who walk for 30 […]

The post The NHS plans to reward people for walking 30 minutes a day with discounts and vouchers – 18 reactions to put a spring in your step appeared first on The Poke.

Boy, 3, seriously injured in zoo crocodile enclosure 'undergoes five surgeries'

A three-year-old boy who was seriously injured in a crocodile enclosure at a zoo has undergone five surgeries already and faces a lengthy rehabilitation, his parents said.

Eight of the 10 most populous countries are not in the World Cup

Many countries with massive populations consistently miss out on football’s biggest party. What can they do to change their sporting fortunes?

This British man who vanished while travelling to the World Cup was found living his best life in a pub in Spain, and truly this is what real freedom looks like

Here’s a new addition to the “you couldn’t make it up” file. Michael Hewitt, a 65-year-old from Leeds, left the UK on June 20, flying to Spain for a layover before travelling on to Boston for the start of the World Cup. But then he lost his phone which had all of his tickets stored […]

The post This British man who vanished while travelling to the World Cup was found living his best life in a pub in Spain, and truly this is what real freedom looks like appeared first on The Poke.

Donald Trump, 80, has vowed to deliver a really long July 4 speech outside in extreme heat and people are sending him some morbidly funny words of encouragement

The US is marking its July 4 holiday this weekend – which is also the 250th anniversary of the founding of the republic. And at the centre of it all – mostly because he’s made it all about himself – is Donald Trump. The anniversary celebrations have provided some unintentionally hilarious moments already – such […]

The post Donald Trump, 80, has vowed to deliver a really long July 4 speech outside in extreme heat and people are sending him some morbidly funny words of encouragement appeared first on The Poke.

Five and a half hours that left England's last-16 tie in chaos

For several hours on Friday, no-one seemed to know when England's World Cup last-16 match against co-hosts Mexico would kick off. BBC Sport explains how a story of confusion and anger - culminating in a Fifa U-turn - unfolded.

Ear plugs have become a festival must-have - but they aren't all created equal

Ear plugs are becoming an increasingly popular accessory at music festivals.

'Hotter and hotter and hotter' - Europe's new climate in seven charts

Temperature records were smashed in June - and scientists warn this is a sign of things to come. 

'Flamingo Revolution' takes off as thousands demand Albanian PM's resignation

Flamingos have become a national symbol of protest, triggered by opposition to a luxury development.

England vs Mexico kick-off time reverted as FIFA make U-turn after angry reaction

England's World Cup round of 16 match against Mexico reportedly came close to having its kick-off time changed before FIFA ultimately decided not to move at all

Starmer tells of 'intensely personal' decision to quit and warns Burnham in first interview since resigning

In an untypically candid interview, the outgoing PM tells the BBC it was "really tough" to accept his political career was over.

Convicted murderer held girl, 15, hostage for 8 hours and performed sex act in car

Paul Sharpe, 56, a convicted murderer from Stockport, has pleaded guilty to a string of offences after subjecting a 15-year-old girl to a 'terrifying' eight-hour ordeal in which he kidnapped her at knifepoint

England players break silence on Mexico World Cup kick-off time change

England stars Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers have responded after FIFA reportedly plans to move England's crucial World Cup 2026 round of 16 clash with Mexico

‘What’s a common UK idiom that you use regularly, but didn’t learn the origins of for a long time?’ – 18 dips into Dictionary Corner

Idioms are a beautiful thing. They add colour to speech and language, and it can be fascinating to discover new ways of saying things, as well as how they came about. Just ask Susie Dent. Over on r/AskUK, sad-insurance1313 asked – “What’s a common UK idiom that you use regularly but didn’t learn the origins […]

The post ‘What’s a common UK idiom that you use regularly, but didn’t learn the origins of for a long time?’ – 18 dips into Dictionary Corner appeared first on The Poke.

People have been explaining children’s books badly, and these 17 are a twisted delight

If you loved books as a child, there’s a good chance you still have one or two that you read back then. If you have young children, you may read to them from the very copies that once sent your imagination soaring. But if you haven’t read a children’s book in a long time, you […]

The post People have been explaining children’s books badly, and these 17 are a twisted delight appeared first on The Poke.

England vs Mexico World Cup kick-off time to be moved with FIFA announcement imminent

England will take on Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup and now the kick-off time could be moved at the Azteca Stadium

Wife mouthed 'sorry' to abused husband in court after home became 'like a horror film'

Karen Palmer, 47, from the Wirral, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting a prolonged domestic abuse campaign against her husband, slashing and stabbing him repeatedly

UK charity shop giant closing 87 charity shops by 2027 – see full list

The British Heart Foundation has announced it will close 150 of its charity shops across the UK, with 87 set to shut by the end of March 2027. The BHF said it is facing an "exceptionally challenging trading environment"

After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream?

Historian Heather Cox Richardson on what history tells us about modern America

The Story Of Andy Burnham's Return To Westminster - Live At Crossed Wires Festival

Chris and Faisal look at how he's gone from mayor to likely next PM.

Major train disruption after car 'careered through fencing' onto railway line

Great Western Railway (GWR) said the car is blocking the railway between St Erth and St Ives in the Carbis Bay area, with all train services cancelled after a motorist 'lost control of their vehicle'

Afghan man raped two unconscious teenage girls after plying them with alcohol

Sultani Bakatash, 29, who was as been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK after arriving from Afghanistan, has been found guilty of raping two unconscious teenage girls

Educating Cardiff star banned from teaching for changing school term dates for cruise

Joy Ballard, who starred in the Channel 4 documentary Educating Cardiff in 2015, has been banned from teaching after changing term dates for a holiday and using school funds to fund personal trips

Jet2 tells passengers to pack everyday item to avoid delays

Jet2 has urged passengers to bring it with them with the reminder posted on its website

‘What is a common stereotype about your culture that is actually 100% accurate?’ – 23 national clichés that hit the nail on the head

National stereotypes tend to be viewed as negative. Oversimplified and exaggerated beliefs about the characteristics of a place and its people are never going to be accurate, right? Well, it turns out that sometimes they are, according to the folks who live there. Over on the AskReddit page, user thor123321 asked this: ‘What is a […]

The post ‘What is a common stereotype about your culture that is actually 100% accurate?’ – 23 national clichés that hit the nail on the head appeared first on The Poke.

Karoline Leavitt said young people are lazy and complain a lot and she didn’t just not read the room, she’s on the wrong planet

Karoline Leavitt has only been back from maternity leave for a week or so, but she has wasted no time getting her talking points across a variety of media. First, she took a flight aboard Air Force One and did some light reading. Now she’s alienating a huge portion of the voting base. The White […]

The post Karoline Leavitt said young people are lazy and complain a lot and she didn’t just not read the room, she’s on the wrong planet appeared first on The Poke.

‘What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard a stranger shout out of nowhere?’ – 22 hilariously gobby people

If you hear people yelling things in the street, the chances are they’re drunk or angry, and it’s generally not something you want your ears bothered with. However, very occasionally you’ll be glad you listened because you’ll overhear an absolute gem. They’ve been discussing this on the AskUK subreddit after Jack_In_Black89 shared their own experience… […]

The post ‘What’s the funniest thing you’ve heard a stranger shout out of nowhere?’ – 22 hilariously gobby people appeared first on The Poke.

Donald Trump said his children have ‘inside information’ on anything they buy because of his presidency and basically the entire internet said the same thing

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In this case, the apple is rotten. Donald Trump spoke about his children on CNBC this week and ran head first into a stunning admission that would’ve been front page news for any other President. The big orange blob was asked about the financial transactions his kids […]

The post Donald Trump said his children have ‘inside information’ on anything they buy because of his presidency and basically the entire internet said the same thing appeared first on The Poke.

What 80% chance of rain really means as people 'highly concerned' by BBC post

You'd be surprised as many people have said they're "genuinely worried"

Fast and Furious' bikini model spends days smoking guys on drag strip in 1,000HP motor

Jessica Barton, who became a star of America's Fast & Furious-era car scene, says she loves nothing more after a day of stripping off than to hop into her 1,000 HP Toyota Supra and beating men on the drag strip.

‘What happened at your school that would never be allowed today?’ – 21 hair-raising stories that prove they were not always the best days of our lives

Are your school days the best days of your life? Perhaps if you were one of those people who were super popular at 16 and have been on a downward trajectory ever since. But the majority of people seem to have found them a bit of a nightmare, if the answers to this post from […]

The post ‘What happened at your school that would never be allowed today?’ – 21 hair-raising stories that prove they were not always the best days of our lives appeared first on The Poke.

Turns out that millions of kebabs contain ‘goat and skin’ but not everyone has been put off – 17 deliciously entertaining replies

The doner kebab is often considered the ultimate food to be enjoyed after a few beers. The sweaty slices of brown meat, lovingly carved from a rotating ‘elephant’s leg’ and slapped into a pitta bread has long been sustaining hungry customers in that time between last orders and the late night bus ride home. But […]

The post Turns out that millions of kebabs contain ‘goat and skin’ but not everyone has been put off – 17 deliciously entertaining replies appeared first on The Poke.

This American blamed red cards for ‘ruining the product’ after a US player was sent off in the World Cup and the rest of the world responded as one

Say what you like about the World Cup – please! – but one consequence of its return to the United States for the first time in 32 years has been to introduce the beautiful game to a whole new generation of fans. Whether they embrace it in quite the same way as they do baseball, […]

The post This American blamed red cards for ‘ruining the product’ after a US player was sent off in the World Cup and the rest of the world responded as one appeared first on The Poke.

Men have been sharing what they’d do if they knew they’d get away with it – 17 revealing aspirations

If you knew you could get away with something, what would you do? Rob a bank? Sneak into a cinema and save yourself loads of money? If you’re a bloke, you might have more revealing ideas. That’s because it seems that men secretly want a bit of peace and quiet. At least that’s according to […]

The post Men have been sharing what they’d do if they knew they’d get away with it – 17 revealing aspirations appeared first on The Poke.

Disabled grandad 'surrounded by security' before being 'kicked out of Asda'

Tony Daniels, 73, was asked to leave an Asda store for refusing to do one thing

There’s a lighter side to getting older, and these 27 funny Threads posts completely get it

In many ways, it’s a privilege to grow old, but one that can be understandably overlooked when balanced against the pitfalls, such as increasing aches and pains, forgetfulness, and having no clue how to handle the latest technology. Not all OAPs fit that stereotype, but it’s a cliché for a reason. You don’t even have […]

The post There’s a lighter side to getting older, and these 27 funny Threads posts completely get it appeared first on The Poke.

A New Yorker was confused why England fans would want to watch the football at 1am in the pub and the responses will make you proud to be British

One of the many reasons why people weren’t overjoyed with the World Cup going to the US (and Canada and Mexico) was the unfortunate time difference which meant some games would be played in the middle of the night, UK time. And the time difference has really come home to roost with England’s last 16 […]

The post A New Yorker was confused why England fans would want to watch the football at 1am in the pub and the responses will make you proud to be British appeared first on The Poke.

Kate Middleton's bold move makes royal fans think she made dig at Harry and Meghan

Kate Middleton recently made an alleged bold move, and royal fans have admitted they think it was very telling. They believe she did it to make a dig at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Donald Trump told Keir Starmer he was worried about foxes getting fat in the UK and it was already eye-opening enough but then comes the payoff

Keir Starmer’s former righthand man Morgan McSweeney – no, stick with us – has been looking back on Keir Starmer’s not entirely glorious two years in Downing Street before he steps down some time soon. Specifically what happened when Starmer and his team had their first presidential call with Donald Trump, and it’s fair to […]

The post Donald Trump told Keir Starmer he was worried about foxes getting fat in the UK and it was already eye-opening enough but then comes the payoff appeared first on The Poke.

Our 25 Favourite Funny Tweets of the Week

It’s Friday, it’s Wimbledon, it’s the World Cup, it’s the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup. What a terrible time to hate sports and love daytime TV. If you’re sulking because they’ve moved your favourite afternoon quiz to make way for a Brit losing at tennis, console yourself with a read through our favourite funny tweets […]

The post Our 25 Favourite Funny Tweets of the Week appeared first on The Poke.

Employees confess to using work laptops for personal use – including job hunting

Seven in 10 employees use their work laptop for personal tasks, including online shopping, booking holidays and even job hunting.

Hunter Biden’s nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for winning the same war 38 times should get an award of its own for Top Trolling

Hunter Biden has arrived on Twitter like a whirlwind of sarcasm, brutal putdowns, and just as brutal self-awareness. The recovering addict has been very open about his problems, while also taking no shit whatsoever from the Trump regime that likes to slander his dad, President Joe Biden. He’s been nicknamed the Maga Whisperer after winning […]

The post Hunter Biden’s nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for winning the same war 38 times should get an award of its own for Top Trolling appeared first on The Poke.

Restaurant shares CCTV of alleged 'dine and dash' over £400 'earthy' lobster bill

A restaurant in Worcestershire has shared CCTV images of a group of six people who they claim 'deliberately left without paying for their food and drinks' after allegedly racking up a £400 bill

Future PM Andy Burnham says England 'getting ahead of ourselves' over World Cup dream

Andy Burnham, recently elected MP for Makerfield, has weighed in on England's World Cup hopes as the Three Lions need to improve before "we can start seriously dreaming of it coming home”

Preston Davey tribute planned by Blackpool after mum makes heartbreaking request

Blackpool will pay tribute to the life of Preston Davey after a request to light up the tower in blue is understood to have come via Preston's birth mum Sarah Davey

Starmer announces pubs can stay open until 5am for England-Mexico World Cup match

Three Lions fans will be able to sink a few pints in the pub in the early hours of Monday as Sir Keir Starmer has announced that opening times will be changed for England vs Mexico

Amazon backs scheme to plant millions of shrubs in area twice size of Birmingham

Amazon is backing a scheme to plant 180 million shrubs across 200 square miles in South Africa's Eastern Cape.

Holidaymakers say foreign crisps are one of the best things about going away

Brits admit one of their favourite things about going on holiday is trying different crisps flavours - here are the top 30 ranked.

Gen Z women revert back to simple skincare routines after tiring of beauty fads

Over half of Gen Z women want to return to simpler beauty routines after growing overwhelmed and disappointed by modern beauty trends.

Teen fighting for life after 'stabbing' outside Wetherspoon pub

West Midlands Police have confirmed a 19-year-old is currently in hospital with life-threatening injuries after reports of an altercation outside a Wetherspoon pub

Mr Blobby costume sells for £8,500 at auction

Auctioneers say they had bids from around the world for the costume of the 'iconic' TV character.

'I love my superhero legs', says boy who 'inspires everyone around him'

The school says the young double amputee's courage and positivity has "inspired everyone".

Pupils perform for Foo Fighters in stadium show

The Bell Tower Beats, from Anfield Road Primary School, performed for the US stars in Liverpool.

Zendaya stars in this heated tennis love triangle

A love triangle forms between three tennis players.

Greyhound who refuses to race finds new home in US

Kiki, who was bred to race, will cross the Atlantic to live in California with her new family.

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