UK2.XYZ NEWS

'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

Travelodge failed sex assault victim 'at every stage', review finds

Room intrusions were still being reported at one-in-10 Travelodge hotels this summer, a review finds.

Trump's AI rebrand causes 'unprecedented' demand for Slovenian website names

The president wants AI to be called super intelligence - or SI - the same initials used by Slovenian domains.

‘What’s an obscure item you own that 99.9% of the population does not have?’ – 22 weird and wonderful possessions

We live in a world of rampant consumerism, which means that the vast majority of our possessions are exactly the same as everyone else’s. Yes, it’s a bit embarrassing when you realise your friends’ houses are cookie-cutter versions of yours because they kitted out the whole place from IKEA too. But, very occasionally we end […]

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Nine scandals that rocked the sporting world

Manchester City are far from the first. The lure of glory and riches on the biggest stages have tempted plenty of other sports stars to break the rules.

Teacher who tied boy to bed, 9, 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

Why penalty for Williamson handball was correct call

Arsenal defender Leah Williamson was at the heart of a bizarre incident in their Women's Champions League draw with Paris FC.

Too early to say if Iran involved in Dubai-Tel Aviv flight attack, Israeli PM says

A pilot who stabbed another pilot on an Israel-bound plane is being investigated in Saudi Arabia, Benjamin Netanyahu says.

This looks like George Osborne has just found out how the triple lock works, 16 years after he launched it

The former political opponents Ed Balls and George Osborne now have a podcast together, named Political Currency. The two former chancellors don’t solely talk about finance, but it’s often at the heart of their discussions, and their recent dissection of Andy Burnham’s conference performance included their take on his remarks about changing the pensions triple […]

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Prep school teacher jailed for gross indecency against boy she tutored

A former prep school teacher has been jailed for seven years after being found guilty of gross indecency against a boy she tutored.

Russell says his 'confidence is back and growing'

George Russell says he "doesn't feel lost any more" as he seeks to end a difficult season on a high and chase down team-mate Kimi Antonelli's championship lead.

People shared the ‘craziest thing’ their spouse has ever done and these 14 range from adorably unhinged to utterly bonkers

Ah, marriage, the sacred bond where two people vow to love and honor each other until they eventually drive each other completely insane. We say this after one of the good folk over on Reddit asked married folks to dish on their spouses. And let’s just say people did not hold back. ‘Married people of […]

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'Deceived' Campbell wins legal fight over charity funds used for luxury hotel stay

Naomi Campbell has overturned a ban on her being a charity trustee after a tribunal ruled she had been "deceived".

Conservatives pledge 'tough love' benefit rules for under-25s

The party says it would bring in new work requirements for young people claiming Universal Credit.

Why are hundreds of prisoners being released early?

More people going to prison, and for longer, is why governments including the current one have had to release prisoners early.

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

What happened in failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?

The convicted killer is in hospital in Tennessee after surviving two lethal injections, in a case that has raised many questions.

An influencer told Chat GPT she was deleting the app and its brain-melting response is a hideous snapshot of where we find ourselves now

Like us you might not be familiar with influencer Alexandra Cross but no matter because you will be perfectly well acquainted with the world of Chat GPT. And that is what brings us here right now after Cross went viral – wildly viral – after she told Chat she was deleting the app. And it […]

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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'

Ministers hand EY contract to scrutinise Tata Steel funding request

Ministers have awarded a seven-figure contract to scrutinise Tata Steel's request for hundreds of millions of pounds of extra taxpayer funding amid doubts over the timetable for constructing a new electric arc furnace (EAF) in South Wales.

England call up Crane and rest Archer for Pakistan series

Leg-spinner Mason Crane has the chance to play for England for the first time in eight years after being recalled for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan.

US death row inmate survives execution attempt after two lethal injections

Killer Christa Pike's lawyer says she is being given "life-saving measures" in hospital after two syringes of pentobarbital.

Some flag-waving patriots had a get-together in the woods and as a vision of Farage’s Britain it’s hard to beat

If you go down to the woods today you’re sure for an unpleasant surprise. Because a bunch of flag-waving patriots have got there before you for what appears to be a bit of a get-together with like minded folk. And as a vision of Farage’s Britain – or something like it – it is surely […]

The post Some flag-waving patriots had a get-together in the woods and as a vision of Farage’s Britain it’s hard to beat appeared first on The Poke.

Pete Hegseth just declared the American military a ‘woke free zone’ and of all the funny replies this one hit hardest

It’s mission accomplished for Donald Trump’s secretary of defence, sorry, secretary of war Pete Hegseth. No, nothing to do with the absolute clusterfuck that is the war on Iran, but something much closer to Hegseth’s tiny heart – the war on woke. Hegseth: "It's worth saying again so the fake news understands it. We are […]

The post Pete Hegseth just declared the American military a ‘woke free zone’ and of all the funny replies this one hit hardest appeared first on The Poke.

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?

Ivan Toney denies Soho nightclub assault

England striker Ivan Toney pleads not guilty to assaulting a man at a Soho nightclub last year.

GB News’ Tom Harwood was wanging on about plastic bottle tops again, but sympathy was thin on the ground – 18 of the juiciest replies

We’re not exactly sure at what point tethered bottle tops became a central battleground in the modern culture wars, but here we are. For months now, commentators on the right have been directing their absolute fury toward these eco-friendly lids, though few have framed the issue as a personal safety hazard quite like GB News […]

The post GB News’ Tom Harwood was wanging on about plastic bottle tops again, but sympathy was thin on the ground – 18 of the juiciest replies appeared first on The Poke.

Gigantic £16.5bn data centre planned for former nuclear plant site

Plans to build a gigantic £16.5bn data centre on the site of the former Chapelcross nuclear plant in Scotland have been submitted.

Kate Garraway burst Suella Braverman’s hypocritical migration bubble in four words flat and it was just magnificent

To ITV’s Good Morning Britain now, where Reform UK-er and Tory turncoat Suella Braverman was in the studio to big up her memoirs about growing up in Thatcher’s Britain and rising up the ranks to be a minister in one of the least effective governments in living memory. And during this particular exchange she looked […]

The post Kate Garraway burst Suella Braverman’s hypocritical migration bubble in four words flat and it was just magnificent appeared first on The Poke.

Oasis 'sue' over auction of unheard recordings archive

A set of unheard archive Oasis recordings have been pulled from sale after the band filed legal proceedings against a former sound engineer, his son and the auction house.

Moment Esther Rantzen surprises Nicholas Winton with children he saved

One of her most memorable career moments came during one particular episode in 1988 - the footage of which has gone viral several times over in recent years.

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

Ranking the best British football exports this century

From David Beckham and Gareth Bale to Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who are the best British exports this century?

Tributes paid to 'inspirational' presenter and campaigner Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther Rantzen was "an inspirational individual", the director of her Childline helpline says.

Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?

Capt Smit Machchhar was attacked by another pilot onboard the Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.

'Devastating year' as Swiss glaciers shed 5% of ice amid record-breaking heatwaves

Glaciers in Switzerland have lost 5.5% of their ice volume in 2026 after a "devasting year" marked by intense heatwaves and low snowfall, according to a study.

Talks between council and union 'break down again' amid fire and rehire plans

Talks between Glasgow City Council and trade union Unison have once again "broken down" after plans to fire and rehire 23,000 workers were put on hold.

Pete Hegseth is creating the Office of Religious Affairs, and the US Constitution would like a quiet word – 21 alarmed responses

We cross now to the United States, where Pete Hegseth, the self-styled Secretary of War, has been making a fool of himself and the country with some grade A macho BS. He took some of the military on a run …with flags. We are a ridiculous country. https://t.co/vxqt230J6v — S.V. Dáte (@svdate) September 30, 2026 […]

The post Pete Hegseth is creating the Office of Religious Affairs, and the US Constitution would like a quiet word – 21 alarmed responses appeared first on The Poke.

Man found guilty of neglecting 84 dogs kept in 'filthy and squalid' home covered in faeces

A man has been found guilty of neglecting 84 dogs and two cats who were found living in "filthy and squalid" conditions at a house in South Yorkshire.

Energy bills are rising by £60 a year - here's how you can bring that down

Household energy bills have risen again but there are ways to keep a lid on your expenditure.

Employers should teach primary-age children about work, says Milburn

The author of a major report into youth activity in the UK says children as young as four should be learning about careers.

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'"

This American mocked Brits for saying ‘washing-up liquid’ and these 18 comebacks will make you proud to be British

We feature no end of transatlantic confusion – and sometimes just plain old conflict – on these pages, but this one really is a classic of the genre. It’s a tweet that went viral – so very viral – a little while back about Brits’ penchant for saying ‘washing up liquid’ rather than – stand […]

The post This American mocked Brits for saying ‘washing-up liquid’ and these 18 comebacks will make you proud to be British appeared first on The Poke.

Northern Ireland's young drivers first in UK to get restrictions put on new licences

Northern Ireland becomes the first part of the UK to introduce new rules for new drivers in a bid to reduce fatal road crashes involving young people.

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

We fear for our lives after being told our abusive exes will be freed from jail early

Three victims of domestic abuse tell the BBC why they feel let down by the early prisoner release scheme.

Donald Trump unveiled a new and utterly baffling way of standing, sending the internet into a hilarious frenzy of speculation – 18 funniest reactions

We’ve grown used to the unusal stances of Donald Trump. Not political stances – we’ll never get used to the idea that five-year-olds should go hungry because Doge cut their food stamps, while every raised surface in Washington DC needs to be plastered in gold leaf. No, the stance we’ve accepted is this weird tilt […]

The post Donald Trump unveiled a new and utterly baffling way of standing, sending the internet into a hilarious frenzy of speculation – 18 funniest reactions appeared first on The Poke.

Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86, sending this incredibly moving moment of TV history viral again

Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86, almost six decades after beginning a career in broadcasting that would see her become a household name. Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86. Her family said in a statement she was the “most wonderful mother” and “cherished grandmother” […]

The post Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86, sending this incredibly moving moment of TV history viral again appeared first on The Poke.

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

What we know about stabbing on Israel-bound plane

A pilot has been arrested and is being questioned after another pilot was stabbed, officials say.

MPs recommend BBC charter renewal is scrapped and licence fee is extended beyond TV

An parliamentary committee has published a new report as debate about the BBC's future continues.

Celebrity Traitors is back - here's what you need to know ahead of the first show

Maya Jama, Michael Sheen and Bella Ramsey are among this year's celebrities taking part in the show.

Swiss glaciers suffer 'disastrous' year of ice loss, threatening water supplies

Scientists say such rapid melting is no longer surprising given the pace of climate change.

'I'm very shocked' - College students react to Cornell University rape investigation

The BBC asked students in Washington about the allegations from a woman who says she was raped at a fraternity house in 2024.

China has cracked down on AI relationships. Is it ahead of the game?

Beijing has cracked down on AI chatbots that can replicate human relationships. Experts are asking if this is the right thing to do.

Tiny image sparks big backlash in Nikon photo contest

Dr Ning Xu denies he broke the rules of Nikon's annual Small World In Motion contest.

Rosenberg: Putin shows no sign of stopping the war as Russia doubles down on Ukraine

A foreign policy speech by the Russian president will be keenly watched, but all signs point to the full-scale invasion continuing.

'One of the worst botched executions': Death row inmate survives two lethal injections

A Tennessee death row inmate set to be the first woman to be executed by the state in more than 200 years is still alive after being administered two lethal injections, her lawyers have said.

Vape tax comes into effect - but prices won't rise yet

Vaping is about to becoming more expensive due to a new tax on products.

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

Flydubai passenger describes putting attacker in chokehold after cockpit stabbing

Other passengers on the Israel-bound flight described the "terrifying" moment the plane dropped.

Boy, 8, dies after being kicked by horse at UK stables in tragic accident

Louie Isaac Webster, 8, from Wigan, was pronounced dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being kicked in the head by a horse at a Warrington livery stables — a coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death

China spies target 100 UK academics to get hands on James Bond-style secret tech

China is looking at real-life Q's to get hands on 007-style tech after eggheads were given research cash by an organisation the British security service says is a front for Beijing’s intelligence agency

Ronaldo leaves Portugal camp after coach denies rift

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has left Portugal's international camp and will explain why "in time", hours after head coach Jorge Jesus denied any rift with the player.

Andy Burnham vows 'honesty' over funding costs of National Care Service

The PM promised to “say where that money is coming from” for the free-at-the-point-of-use service, leaving the door open to tax rises

Teenager admits trying to have sex with Shetland pony named Cheeky

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Thomas Mikaelson, 19, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday (September 30), to attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal as he was photographed outside court

Three teens who died when car plunged into River Wear pictured for first time

The three youngsters were in a car that came off the road, and plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland yesterday afternoon

Andy Burnham says 'strong indications Iran played a part' in suspected RAF Fairford plot

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there is “strong indications” Iran played a part in a suspected terror plot near RAF Fairford as he responds to Trump's comments

Police probe spikings amid claims 'university rugby players plotted to target freshers'

Officers toured 20 University of Bath Freshers' Week events to reassure students after a WhatsApp message warning spikers were 'on the prowl' was circulated around the campus

First murder probe on tiny Channel Island since WW2 as woman found in water

The body of mother-of-two Hannah Benfield, nee Cox, was discovered in the sea at the base of cliffs on the western end of Alderney early on Monday

Precise moment 'fashionably late' becomes plain rude - what time is unacceptable

A poll of fed-up folk found arriving 15 minutes behind schedule is still considered socially acceptable but get near the half hour mark and you're in trouble

Sue Johnston, 82, launches 'Age Intelligence' to rival AI

The Brookside actress has unveiled a very different kind of AI and wants you to put it the test by submitting the queries they would normally go to a digital chatbot with

Millions battered as energy prices set to soar towards £2,000 when costs jump tomorrow

Over four million people will see a 4% energy bill rise on Thursday, which adds £60-a-year to the typical bill - taking it to £1,723 - just as the cooler weather sees millions crank up their heating

Limited-edition Traitors doughnut launches at Krispy Kreme before big show

The new special edition doughnuts are inspired by the smash-hit TV show - one a faithful and the other is a little traitorous

All the crazy Labour conference merch revealed - including sell-out Andy Burnham mug

Labour delegates went wild for crazy conference swag in Liverpool - and one £10 Andy Burnham item triggered an absolute buying frenzy before teatime

Donald Trump had big tech’s biggest names sign an AI ‘Constitution’ but the document had one glaring mistake – 17 super intelligent shutdowns

For anyone worried about the creepily encroaching artificial intelligence takeover, have no fear, Donald Trump is here to save the day. While he’s not busy renaming AI to SI (that’s “super intelligence” for all of you luddites out there) and launching ruthlessly honest chatbots, the President of the United States is penning contracts to keep […]

The post Donald Trump had big tech’s biggest names sign an AI ‘Constitution’ but the document had one glaring mistake – 17 super intelligent shutdowns appeared first on The Poke.

Russell Crowe’s no-nonsense way of dealing with autograph hunters was already good but the final payoff was absolute Maximus

Hard to believe we know but no-one’s ever asked for our autograph but you can imagine it might get a little tiresome of you were someone of the stature of, say, Russell Crowe. And we mention the great man because of this particular clip of the star dealing with autograph hunters that has just gone […]

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Former Man Utd defender Smalling signs for Porto

Former Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling signs for Portuguese league leaders Porto.

Someone asked about things that are ‘basically on life support and we don’t realise it yet’ – 21 everyday features we’re about to lose

The world around us changes at such a breakneck pace that things that we thought would be with us long term are suddenly redundant. Just ask anyone with multiple shelves of unwatched DVDs still cluttering up their living room. So can we predict what’s next for the chop? They’ve been discussing this on the AskReddit […]

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Donald Trump tried to brag about how he doesn’t take a salary and the internet buried him in a pile of receipts

Of all the things that didn’t happen, Donald Trump not making any money as President of the United States didn’t happen the most. And yet he keeps insisting that everyone sing his praises for not taking a salary during his current term. Here he is bragging to a room full of hostages (probably?) that he […]

The post Donald Trump tried to brag about how he doesn’t take a salary and the internet buried him in a pile of receipts appeared first on The Poke.

Prince Harry's real reason for UK return revealed by Earl Spencer in frank interview

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to the UK in August 2026, and the Duke's uncle Earl Spencer has shared his thoughts on the move in a new interview while promoting his book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister

This young lad’s show-and-tell rock-out is still one of the most joyous things on the internet

Back in 2021, when we seem to remember there being an awful lot of misery in the world for some reason, one thing that brought a brief light into the gloom was this absolutely brilliant viral video of a small boy’s moment in the classroom spotlight. @britaincovey Teacher didn’t know how to react 😂 ♬ […]

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People are sharing the smells that immediately make them think of Britain – 21 scents that reek of Blighty

Britain is celebrated at home and abroad for a producing a wide variety of good things, such as Shakespeare, the Spinning Jenny and Adele. But how about smells? Do we ever reflect on the wonderful whiffs that make up our everyday lives? Well, not really, until user DishyUmbrella took to the AskUK subreddit with this […]

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People shared examples of ‘proper British passive aggression’ – 23 gloriously petulant moments that will make you proud to be a Brit

Are British people really more passive aggressive as those of nationalities? Or are we just more willing to own up to the ways in which we are unable to express our feelings in a clear and direct way? Hard to say, and, anyway, it doesn’t look like we’ll be changing any time soon. Over on […]

The post People shared examples of ‘proper British passive aggression’ – 23 gloriously petulant moments that will make you proud to be a Brit appeared first on The Poke.

This artist was accused of plagiarism by a Facebook troll and the jaw-dropper of a payoff is one for the ages

To the world of Facebook now – no, stick with us, please – where this artist who proudly showing off her latest work was accused of plagiarism by an especially persistent troll who just wasn’t letting it lie. A tale told in six parts, you think you know where it might be going until the […]

The post This artist was accused of plagiarism by a Facebook troll and the jaw-dropper of a payoff is one for the ages appeared first on The Poke.

Seven weirdest things I saw at Labour conference - from Burnham duck to scary robot dog

From robodogs to giant giraffes and expensive fizzy drinks, we go inside the Labour conference to reveal some of the weirdest things spotted at the event in Liverpool

Footballer Ivan Toney pleads not guilty over alleged assault at Soho nightclub

England international Ivan Toney has pleaded not guilty to assault over an alleged incident in a Soho nightclub on 6 December last year.

Breast Cancer Scandal: Exposing the Harm

BBC Health correspondent Sharon Barbour investigates a deepening breast cancer scandal.

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