UK2.XYZ NEWS

Sabalenka 'trying hard to be easier on myself'

Aryna Sabalenka says she is "trying so hard to be easier on myself" as she begins her China Open campaign with victory over Renata Zarazua.

Woman at centre of Cornell rape inquiry was 'failed' by officials, says New York governor

The woman, known as Jane Doe, alleges she was raped by seven students at a fraternity house at the university in 2024.

Alison Hammond has heart check-up in hospital after leaving TV's This Morning

The host says she is "fine" but getting checked after leaving midway through Friday's This Morning.

Will Warrington or Wakefield be Super League's sixth winner?

Only five clubs have lifted the trophy in a Super League Grand Final - Warrington and Wakefield now have the chance to add their name to that list.

Woman spends £25k turning home into Barbie-style 'pink palace' – even power drill matches

Sarah, 46, has spent eight years changing every aspect of her five bed home into a Barbie-style and now every corner is covered in various shades of pink, from the kitchen and staircase to the garage door

First minister demands 'new deal' from Andy Burnham to make Wales equal with Scotland

Rhun ap Iorwerth demands the UK government devolve policing, justice and welfare powers to Cardiff Bay.

Spanish PM Sánchez loses key housing crisis vote after eviction of woman, 87

The defeat raises pressure on Sánchez to call a snap election, after a series of scandals affecting his party and allies.

Three reasons Middle East oil supply is nearly back to pre-Iran war levels

Experts say US military assistance, using shuttle tankers and pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz mean exports have rebounded.

Intensified Russian strikes are tearing Kyiv apart, warns mayor

Vitaliy Klitschko says Ukraine's capital is in a "very dramatic situation" as Russia hits critical infrastructure.

Newcastle University buildings 'evacuated' as police set up huge cordon

A huge police presence is in the area, with sniffer dogs and firefighters also on the scene as officers respond to a report of a "suspicious item"

City steps up opposition to Healey bank tax raid in budget

Some of Britain's leading business groups are mobilising to intensify their opposition to a Treasury tax raid on the banking sector in this month's budget, days before sector chiefs meet the chancellor in person for the first time.

London Fire Brigade named in Met's evidence file on Grenfell fire

The brigade is among 20 organisations the police have compiled evidence against since 2017.

Tuchel would never rule out players not in top flight

England boss Thomas Tuchel says he would "never rule out" selecting someone who is not playing in the top flight, should Manchester City be relegated.

Brits reveal the key rules of the bedroom with starfishing and cold feet outlawed

More than half of couples now have at least one strict “bed boundary” from banning food between the sheets to dimming your phone while scrolling

Donald Trump’s latest unhinged Iran rant was eye-opening enough to listen to but written down it’s simply next level

Donald Trump’s been talking about Iran again and the war (not war) that looks likely to define his return to the White House. Trump memorably said it would be over in a couple of weeks but now it’s been a couple of months and it might very well turn into a matter of years. Way […]

The post Donald Trump’s latest unhinged Iran rant was eye-opening enough to listen to but written down it’s simply next level appeared first on The Poke.

Lags fuming as cheeky criminals whizz about prison in wheelchair – then 'stand up'

Cons reckon able-bodied prisoners who do not need help getting about are abusing the easy availability of the chair on wheels devices for cheap laughs on wings

‘What’s a dating mistake you’ll never make again?’ – 23 romantic lessons learned the hard way

When you’re looking for love, it’s rare that the first person you go out for dinner or a drink with ends up being The One. You have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince or princess. But, if the answers to a recent post on the AskReddit page are anything to go […]

The post ‘What’s a dating mistake you’ll never make again?’ – 23 romantic lessons learned the hard way appeared first on The Poke.

Prince Harry reveals he lost 'purpose and identity' in emotional video message

Speaking to Nato’s military committee in Brussels, Harry said he wanted the Invictus Games to be a platform for others who may be struggling with their identity

Greens can move Labour in the right direction, says Polanski

The Green leader tells his autumn conference that a vote for his party can force changes from Andy Burnham.

Sir Kevin Sinfield to complete £1m MND charity challenge at the Super League Grand Final

Charity hero Sir Kevin Sinfield will be joined by rugby playing son Jack as he delivers the match ball for the rugby match at Old Trafford as the rugby legend completes another MND fundraising challenge

Donald Trump promised a healthcare plan where Americans wind up with ‘a lot of money left over’ and these 17 replies prescribed a healthy dose of scepticism

Donald Trump usually spends his rallies making jokes about transgender athletes and complaining about rigged elections. So when he actually addresses one of the biggest issues facing his voters, it’s newsworthy. Such was the case when the President decided to promise a simple solution to one of the most complex problems hampering Americans today: healthcare. […]

The post Donald Trump promised a healthcare plan where Americans wind up with ‘a lot of money left over’ and these 17 replies prescribed a healthy dose of scepticism appeared first on The Poke.

Tories aim to be election-ready ahead of party conference

The party will focus on the economy and welfare, as Kemi Badenoch tells her team to prepare for a possible early election.

People have been sharing the things they can’t prove but 100% believe – 17 weird hunches that don’t need evidence

As the old saying goes, seeing is believing. But for certain theories, a gut feeling is all it takes to be convinced. These hunches cover everything from the everyday to who’s really running the world. To hear the strangest things people believe without any basis, u/Leading-Language1 put the following question to r/AskReddit: ‘What’s something you […]

The post People have been sharing the things they can’t prove but 100% believe – 17 weird hunches that don’t need evidence appeared first on The Poke.

I've seen nearly 500 executions - but never one like Christa Pike's

Texas reporter Michael Graczyk has seen botched executions in his time, but not one in which an inmate survived.

Dolly Parton sings Jolene in Welsh in recording released after her death

Parton's niece Jada Star and Welsh singer Bronwen Lewis say the country artist was proud to sing in Welsh.

British paratrooper killed by explosion in Ukraine, coroner rules

L/Cpl George Hooley is the first UK service member to die in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Michael Spicer reckons ‘most TV is just this now’ and he’s so on the money it’s brilliant

The great Michael Spicer has just gone wildly viral with his take on what most TV looks like these days. And with the return of The Great British Bake Off, not to mention Celebrity Traitors and all the rest, it was especially apposite. And he’s so on the money it’s brilliant. Most TV is just […]

The post Michael Spicer reckons ‘most TV is just this now’ and he’s so on the money it’s brilliant appeared first on The Poke.

Tributes to teenagers who died after car plunged into River Wear

The families of two teenagers who died when a car was driven into the River Wear described one as a "beautiful girl" and the other as a "loving" boy.

Remains of 10 infants discovered at former mother and baby home in Ireland

The remains of a further 10 infants have been found at the site of a former mother and baby home in Ireland.

This interview with an especially overwrought Maga is a terrifying insight into how Donald Trump made it into the White House twice

The number one question every (sane) American asks themselves when they wake up and unlock their phone in the morning: how the hell did this orange sack of decaying bones and unhinged racism get elected President of the United States? Well, they finally have an answer. Donald Trump visited Texas and Oklahoma this week to […]

The post This interview with an especially overwrought Maga is a terrifying insight into how Donald Trump made it into the White House twice appeared first on The Poke.

Celebs taunted by strange graffiti across city - 'Danny Dyer smokes Parma Violet vapes'

Light-hearted graffiti making absurd claims about celebrities like Lorraine Kelly and Danny Dyer has appeared in a city suburb, sparking local intrigue

How Gordon became one of England's main men

Anthony Gordon has been England's in-form player since the World Cup knockout stage - is the Barcelona forward now undroppable?

Suella Braverman trying to convince this man he’s not English is like the very essence of Reform and his A++ response was simply brilliant

Question Time wouldn’t be Question Time without a Reform UK-er on the panel – when are they not? – and this time it was the turn of Tory turncoat, Suella Braverman. And if you want an insight into the very essence of Nigel Farage’s party and the sort of people who inhabit it, then it […]

The post Suella Braverman trying to convince this man he’s not English is like the very essence of Reform and his A++ response was simply brilliant appeared first on The Poke.

Retired engineer jailed for 15 years for blowing up ULEZ camera

An anti-ULEZ activist who deliberately blew up a street camera in southeast London using a homemade bomb has been jailed for 15 years.

School protests send shivers down French government's spine

A movement that started nearly two weeks ago has spread, and in France young people on the streets spells trouble, writes Hugh Schofield.

K-pop giants Stray Kids join BTS in boycotting the Grammys

Stray Kids become the second major act to withdraw from the Grammys over the new best Asian Pop award.

People have been sharing the weird little rules they follow on a daily basis – 17 bizarre but harmless ways of living

There are certain rules that everyone has to follow, like wearing clothes in public and being polite to your boss. But there are lots of individual rules people live by that may seem confusing to others. To hear about these weird and wonderful rules, u/brit_parent invited r/AskUK users to share the little personal, inconsequential rules […]

The post People have been sharing the weird little rules they follow on a daily basis – 17 bizarre but harmless ways of living appeared first on The Poke.

Someone asked people who’d ever won a ‘lifetime supply’ of something how they had fared and it turns out you can have too much of a good thing

Being lucky enough to win a lifetime’s supply of something sounds pretty cool, right? A dream we all share. Well, it turns out that it very much depends on what you end up getting, because too much of a good thing eventually turns bad. AskUK subreddit user OverSeasoned_ has been curious about this, and posted […]

The post Someone asked people who’d ever won a ‘lifetime supply’ of something how they had fared and it turns out you can have too much of a good thing appeared first on The Poke.

Woman who killed abusive partner has murder conviction overturned

The Court of Appeal ruled that jurors were misdirected on Julie Ann McIlwaine's loss of control defence to the killing of James Joseph Crossley.

Trump’s DoJ is investigating whether Nixon was a victim of ‘lawfare’, in case you were wondering how far through the looking glass the US has gone

In an unsurprising turn of events, the US conservative right is trying to rehabilitate the reputation of the disgraced Republican president Richard Nixon. He resigned in 1974, before a vote on his impeachment for his administration’s attempts to spy on the Democrats, and the subsequent cover-up of the plot. GOP Rep. Moore on Watergate: "Richard […]

The post Trump’s DoJ is investigating whether Nixon was a victim of ‘lawfare’, in case you were wondering how far through the looking glass the US has gone appeared first on The Poke.

Tear gas and fires on French streets as student protests turn violent

Violent student protests have broken out again across France, where around 400 schools have stayed closed to try to quell the unrest.

What's really going on with the lymphatic drainage beauty trend videos?

Fans of these massages claim they "depuff" and "define" their stomach - but what's actually happening to their bodies?

Tommy Robinson appears in court over alleged harassment of two journalists

Tommy Robinson has appeared in a crown court accused of harassing two journalists.

Russell says Red Bull strongest after Bahrain practice

Red Bull are tipped by George Russell and Charles Leclerc as the team to beat after the first day at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Freddie Mercury's handwritten lyrics sell at auction for £277,000

A notebook containing lyrics by Freddie Mercury has sold for £277,000 at auction.

This woman taking down the flag from a roundabout was already a hero but the eye-popping fury it prompted among these ‘patriots’ was absolutely hilarious

To be filed under ‘not all heroes wear capes’ comes this woman who’s taken enough of all those flags put up everywhere by anti-migrant protesters desperate to show their patriotism but invariably revealing something else. She was caught on video removing this St George’s flag from a roundabout by a man who, it’s fair to […]

The post This woman taking down the flag from a roundabout was already a hero but the eye-popping fury it prompted among these ‘patriots’ was absolutely hilarious appeared first on The Poke.

Man, 87, faces no further action over double cowshed murder

An 87-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the cowshed murder of a couple more than 30 years ago will face no further action.

Son of ex-Chelsea player died in 40C desert hike

Cassius Newton's wife urged him not to go on the hike, a coroner tells an inquest into his death.

Suella Braverman was brutally fact checked by Fiona Bruce in real-time and it was an absolute treat

Reform UK-er Suella Braverman was on Question Time on Thursday and went viral for a variety of reasons, one of which was this moment when the Tory turncoat accused the audience of being biased against her. It prompted quite the look from Fiona Bruce who was having absolutely none of her nonsense, and it was […]

The post Suella Braverman was brutally fact checked by Fiona Bruce in real-time and it was an absolute treat appeared first on The Poke.

Cornell students gather to voice anger over alleged gang rape investigation

Students tell the BBC that the tension on campus has become palpable since allegations from 2024 resurfaced.

Our 25 Favourite Funny Tweets of the Week

It’s not our habit to say “Friyay!”, any more than we’re tempted to plan the holibobs or talk about our fur babies. No judgement if you do – we’re not the word police. But we’re not too proud to admit that a little whisper of Friyay almost leaked out when we realised this interminable week […]

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

Olivia Dean accused of copying Bill Withers' Just The Two of Us

The star's record label is sued over similarities between her song I've Seen It and Withers' classic.

What does Man City guilty verdict mean for their squad?

BBC Sport looks at how Manchester City's guilty verdict will affect their existing players' futures and the club's dealings in the transfer market.

How to move 1,300 plants for Kew's Palm House mega makeover

The world-famous Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London is about to undergo a massive makeover.

Man City confirm appeal against guilty verdict

The club's statement says the ruling contains "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe".

Watch: 'I was not going to let others die' - pilot of Flydubai flight describes cockpit attack by co-pilot

He has been hailed a hero for opening the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower his co-pilot.

People are absolutely buzzing at Ross Kemp’s extreme Celebrity Traitors paranoia – 19 funniest comments

Ross Kemp is best known for two things – playing the violent and troubled Grant Mitchell on Eastenders, and making documentaries about real-life violent and troubled people involved in crime. He’s one person you’d think would have no trouble keeping a calm head under the stress of – for example – being a Faithful on […]

The post People are absolutely buzzing at Ross Kemp’s extreme Celebrity Traitors paranoia – 19 funniest comments appeared first on The Poke.

To call Donald Trump’s Time interview ‘word salad’ would be an insult to words …and salads – 19 stunned reactions

Donald Trump sat down with Time to give a wide-ranging interview, in which they asked him about AI, his alterations to the White House, the upcoming midterm elections, and the economy, to name just a few topics. His responses were erratic, and he either didn’t hear or couldn’t understand some of the points put to […]

The post To call Donald Trump’s Time interview ‘word salad’ would be an insult to words …and salads – 19 stunned reactions appeared first on The Poke.

How to see the Orionid meteor shower this weekend

Friday sees the start of the Orionid meteor shower as Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. It peaks later in October.

Ex-priest who ran rave-inspired 'cult' group found guilty of rape and indecent assault

A former priest who ran a rave-inspired "cult" group has been found guilty of rape and four indecent assaults.

The only thing better than Miatta Fahnbulleh’s side-eye was her succinct takedown of Suella Braverman

This week’s Question Time was a lively one, with Reform’s Suella Braverman going on the offensive from the start. She tried to suggest that the audience were biased against her, and got put in her place by Fiona Bruce. Suella Braverman is fact checked live on #bbcqt by Fiona Bruce. pic.twitter.com/I90w7M3t8v — Mike H (@mikoh123) […]

The post The only thing better than Miatta Fahnbulleh’s side-eye was her succinct takedown of Suella Braverman appeared first on The Poke.

Prince Harry's feelings for Prince William summed up in stark eight word statement

Prince Harry and Prince William once shared an incredibly close bond but it seems the feud between the two royal brothers is not yet at an end

Key thing everyone needs to do now to prepare for a nuclear attack on the UK

Western governments have issued clear warnings and advice on what to do in the even of a nuclear strike as Vladamir Putin issues terrifying threats from his London embassy.

Celebrity Traitors is back, and Richard E Grant may have already bagged the unbeatable moment of the series – 24 five-star reviews (with spoilers)

Celebrity Traitors exploded back onto our screens on Thursday night – at one point, quite literally. If you haven’t watched it yet – and intend to – turn back now. Here be spoilers. The twenty-one celebrities playing cat and mouse in the Scottish Highlands under Claudia Winkleman’s mischievous eye include Richard E Grant, Julie Hesmondhalgh, […]

The post Celebrity Traitors is back, and Richard E Grant may have already bagged the unbeatable moment of the series – 24 five-star reviews (with spoilers) appeared first on The Poke.

Burnham gives Labour post-landslide euphoria absent under Starmer, says peer

Andy Burnham has given Labour the "post-electoral euphoria" that they did not have after Sir Keir Starmer's landslide 2024 general election victory, Harriet Harman has said.

What's gone wrong at Nike? How the world's sportswear giant lost its mojo

Several self-inflicted mistakes have cost the biggest sportswear brand on the planet in recent years.

'It could cost me £10k but I need the money now': Why Gen Z are opting out of pensions

A growing number of people are opting out of these schemes due to cost-of-living pressures.

British-Iranian arrested over RAF Fairford attack plot is 'alleged mastermind'

An British-Iranian arrested over a foiled RAF Fairford bomb plot was the alleged mastermind who hired a proxy gang to carry out a dramatic attack, it is claimed

Woman 'showed teen boy how to kiss and have sex and told him to keep it secret'

A jury heard a teenager testify that Kirsty Slater, 38, engaged in sexual activity with him and swore him to secrecy, allegations she strongly denies

Fury as Andy Burnham accused of backing football cash cheats Manchester City

Downing Street has to step in to calm storm after Prime Minister slammed by players and politicians who accused him of supporting Premier League cash cheats

David Sullivan sues BBC for £150m over sexual misconduct claims made by Panorama

West Ham United's co-owner says TV programme's 'false' allegations exposed him to 'profound public hatred', 'universal ridicule', 'severe commercial alienation' and 'financial destruction’

Shooting down UFOs 'could spark deadly alien retaliation - and interstellar war'

A legal expert has warned that military strikes on UFOs could risk triggering an unwinnable interstellar war against far superior alien technology

Sophie Lancaster's 'feral' killer freed despite denying he attacked her

Sophie Lancaster's killer Brendan Harris was released after an appeal to block his parole failed, even though he denied he personally attacked her

Donald Trump’s trade secretary just lowered the bar for publicly kissing his big ass and the internet nearly died of second hand shame

There’s nothing in America that can’t be achieved with the right amount of hard work. As long as all of that hard work is focused directly on slinging third grade teacher-level praise at the President. Donald Trump’s hand-picked Secretary of Commerce leads the pack when it comes to heaping compliments on his dear leader. Howard […]

The post Donald Trump’s trade secretary just lowered the bar for publicly kissing his big ass and the internet nearly died of second hand shame appeared first on The Poke.

Richard Keys tried to take revenge on Liam Gallagher over the Man City fallout but the joke was still very much on him

It’s the only sports story in town right now as Manchester City wait to find out just how severe a punishment they will face after being found guilty of a mountain of serious financial breaches. One person who was keen to tell everyone how he wasn’t surprised was Richard Keys, who older readers might remember […]

The post Richard Keys tried to take revenge on Liam Gallagher over the Man City fallout but the joke was still very much on him appeared first on The Poke.

Elon Musk claimed that AI will make us all rich and got dragged to the bank and back in the replies – 17 withering takedowns

Of all the condescendingly idiotic things Elon Musk has said over the years, this might be the most mortifying. Musk was at the White House alongside the other geekiest, and richest, minds in tech to draft a plan for policing artificial intelligence. After putting together a typo-filled, “morally” binding “constitution” for AI, Musk and Trump […]

The post Elon Musk claimed that AI will make us all rich and got dragged to the bank and back in the replies – 17 withering takedowns appeared first on The Poke.

'Buzzing' inmates freed early from prison say ‘thank you Andy Burnham’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been thanked by some prisoners who have been released from jail early today, a decision made by the government due to overcrowding in prisons

Teacher who tied boy, 9, to bed and called husband's name during sex act is jailed

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Former prep school teacher Deborah Franklin, 65, has been jailed at St Albans Crown Court for seven years after being found guilty of gross indecency against a boy she tutored

More than a third of UK business owners fell into entrepreneurship by accident, according to a poll

A study of 1,000 business owners found 35% hadn't planned to run a business, while 62% had no previous business experience when they started out

Mum's 'nightmare' as neighbour demolishes his semi-detached home without proper permission

Shivarna Mitra saved up for years to put a deposit down on her three-bed home in Pudsey, Leeds, but claims her house has now been left riddled with problems and 'unsellable'

How much do you know about the celeb Traitors line-up? Take our fiendishly tricky quiz to find out....

Think you're a Traitors super-fan? Then prove it by showing you know these little known facts about this series' crop of stars. Why not take on your mates to see who can score highest?

Major high street giant Boots in '£7 billion sale deal talks' with ex-Selfridges owner

High street giant Boots is reportedly close to be sold in a huge £7 billion deal to the Canadian arm of the Weston family, who use to own department store Selfridges

Mum says a school worker called her a 'nutter' and accused her dog's breed of 'killing babies'

Teresa Clive, 36, describes a "scary" dog lead dispute with a school worker in Greenwich Park, who allegedly called her dog Storm an XL Bully and warned children about "murder dogs'"

Prince William's true feelings about Meghan Markle summed up in two brutal words

Prince Harry is back in the UK but his older brother, Prince William, is said to be keen to "avoid" drama over the return of the Sussex family

OAP arrested after police find suspicious items at Somerset property and evacuate 153 homes

A 100m police cordon has been set up overnight in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, following the discovery of suspicious substances and items at a property in Somerset

UK weather maps show -1C Arctic blast to hit Britain after Polar Vortex forecast

Bitterly cold weather could be just days away, with forecast models suggesting temperatures will dip below 10C across every part of the UK at some point in October

BBC News app

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