News 18/11/25

Scotland are heading to the men’s World Cup for the first time since nineteen ninety eight after a dramatic four two victory over Denmark at Hampden Park.

Scott McTominay set the tone with a spectacular bicycle kick inside three minutes, giving the hosts a lead they carried into the break. Denmark responded when Rasmus Hojlund levelled just before the hour, shortly before Rasmus Kristensen was sent off. Lawrence Shankland restored Scotland’s advantage, only for Patrick Dorgu to bring Denmark level again with nine minutes to go, seemingly securing the point the visitors needed to top the group. But deep into stoppage time Kieran Tierney struck, followed moments later by Kenny McLean, sealing Scotland’s long awaited return to football’s biggest stage.

Lebanon’s health ministry says thirteen people have been killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Ein el Hilweh refugee camp near the city of Sidon.

State media report that the attack targeted a car parked outside a mosque inside the camp. Several others were injured. It is the deadliest strike on Lebanese soil since the ceasefire that ended last year’s conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The situation has raised fears of renewed instability along the border as regional tensions remain high.

In Washington, the US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a bill requiring the Justice Department to release all remaining files linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The vote was four hundred twenty seven to one, easily clearing the two thirds majority needed. Cheers broke out in the chamber as the result was announced. Supporters say full transparency is vital to restore trust and address long standing questions about Epstein’s connections. The bill now heads to the Senate where bipartisan interest is expected.

A man accused of attempting to murder his former partner instead caused the deaths of her sister and three young children in a house fire in Bradford, a court has heard.

Prosecutors say Sharaz Ali, fuelled by jealousy, alcohol and drugs, forced his way into the property with an associate before pouring petrol and setting it alight. Doncaster Crown Court was told he intended to confront his ex partner, who had recently ended what was described as an abusive relationship.

Security minister Dan Jarvis says the government will not tolerate what he calls covert and calculated attempts to interfere with the UK’s sovereign affairs.

His comments follow an MI5 alert warning MPs, peers and parliamentary staff about the risk posed by individuals acting on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. The notice identifies two LinkedIn profiles that appear to operate as civilian recruitment consultants but are believed to be targeting people working in British politics. MI5 says the aim is to extract insider insights that could be of strategic value to Beijing, and has urged anyone approached in this way to report it immediately.

M&S is defending the price of a one hundred ninety five pound beef wellington created by chef Tom Kerridge after the festive dish sparked debate online.

The Collection Fillet of British Beef Wellington serves six people and is close to selling out despite the reaction on social media. One person joked that the cost reflects M&S overspending on Christmas, while another suggested the price might make sense only if Kerridge himself arrived to cook it and handle the washing up. The retailer says the dish uses premium ingredients and is prepared to a restaurant standard.

The Cambridge Dictionary has named parasocial as its word of the year for twenty twenty five.

It describes the strong emotional connection some people feel toward a celebrity or public figure they have never met. Researchers say these one sided relationships have become increasingly common as social media blurs the boundary between performers and their audiences. The phenomenon has been highlighted by events such as the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, which prompted thousands of fans to respond as though personally involved.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said accusations of espionage were “pure fabrication” and accused the UK of a “self-staged charade”.

A man has pleaded guilty to selling a substance online to assist with the suicide of others. Thirty three year old Miles Cross admitted four counts of intentionally carrying out an act capable of encouraging or assisting suicide. Wrexham Magistrates Court heard that he supplied chemicals to twenty six year old Shubhreet Singh last August. Ms Singh died in West Yorkshire soon after receiving the substance. Cross will be sentenced at a later date, and the court was told the case raises significant concerns about online access to dangerous materials.

Poland’s prime minister says two Ukrainian citizens who spent years working for Russian intelligence have been identified as the suspects behind sabotage on the country’s rail network.

Donald Tusk told parliament that one of the men has already been convicted in absentia for similar attacks in Ukraine. He visited the scene of an explosion near Mika at the weekend, which damaged a key line leading toward the Ukrainian border and described the incident as an unprecedented act of sabotage. A second disruption near Pulawy forced a packed passenger train to halt suddenly, with overhead cables found damaged. Polish authorities say the incidents are being treated as part of a wider campaign of destabilisation.

The Princess of Wales has called for more dignity for carers and greater respect for values such as tenderness in the workplace during her first public speech in two years.

Addressing senior business leaders in the City of London, Catherine urged employers to support healthy family lives, including caring responsibilities. She said the quiet and often unseen work of caring should be recognised as essential to building a happier and healthier society. The event was part of her wider campaign highlighting the importance of children’s early years and strong family relationships.

MPs and peers have been warned that they face a growing threat of espionage from the Chinese state.

A fresh alert from MI5 highlights two LinkedIn profiles believed to be operated for China’s Ministry of State Security. The accounts pose as recruitment consultants but are said to target people working in British politics for insider information.

A yellow Met Office ice warning will cover Berkshire overnight.

Forecasters expect freezing temperatures and potentially icy surfaces as rain clears south. Drivers and pedestrians are being urged to take extra care during the morning commute.

MPs and members of the House of Lords have been warned they face a serious and growing risk of espionage from the Chinese state.

A new alert from MI5 has been circulated by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lords Speaker Lord McFall. It identifies two LinkedIn profiles said to be operated for China’s Ministry of State Security. MI5 says the accounts pose as civilian recruitment consultants but are actually used to approach people working in British politics, encouraging them to share insider insights that could be of value to Beijing.

The alert warns parliamentarians and their staff to remain vigilant and report any suspicious contact.

An ice warning for Berkshire will come into force overnight, with the Met Office cautioning of possible injuries from slips and falls.

The yellow alert begins at midnight and continues until eleven in the morning, covering Berkshire along with neighbouring Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Forecasters say rain will push south overnight and may fall briefly as snow over higher ground before clearing. As skies brighten later, temperatures are expected to drop close to or below freezing, creating icy patches on untreated roads and pavements. Drivers and pedestrians are being urged to take extra care during the morning commute.

A widespread online outage has affected several major platforms, including X and ChatGPT, following problems linked to internet infrastructure company Cloudflare.

Thousands of users reported issues shortly after half past eleven this morning. X displayed a notice blaming an internal server problem caused by a Cloudflare error. ChatGPT users saw a message asking them to unblock challenges from Cloudflare to proceed. Cloudflare has not yet provided full details of the disruption but says engineers are investigating.

The number of Britons leaving the country has been sharply revised upwards after the Office for National Statistics updated its methodology.

It now estimates that 257 thousand British nationals emigrated in the year to December 2024, compared with an earlier figure of 77 thousand. The number returning has also risen to 143 thousand. The ONS says the revisions reflect better modelling of long term migration.

Survivors of female genital mutilation in the UK say they are being forced to travel overseas for reconstruction surgery because the NHS is waiting for further research before offering the procedure.

The operation is approved by the World Health Organisation and already available in several European countries, including Switzerland, where specialist Professor Jasmine Abdulcadir treats up to thirty women a month. Campaigners say British survivors are being left behind and are calling for faster access to established care.

A long running community campaign in Windsor has reached a major milestone with the installation of the town’s thirtieth public access defibrillator.

The project began nine years ago, led by PCSO David Bullock alongside local groups including the Windsor Lions, the Rotary Club of Windsor St George and the Windsor and Eton Town Partnership. Organisers say the network of round the clock accessible devices is helping to make the town safer and more resilient.

The competition watchdog has launched a major investigation into eight companies over concerns about how prices are displayed to customers online.

The CMA says StubHub, viagogo, AA Driving School, BSM Driving School, Gold’s Gym, Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Marks Electrical will all face a formal inquiry into whether shoppers are being misled. It comes as the government is expected to confirm a separate ban on reselling tickets for live events above their face value as part of a wider crackdown on touts.

The CMA’s chief executive Sarah Cardell says people deserve clarity and honesty at a time when every household is watching what they spend, adding that customers should have confidence that the price they see online is the final price they will pay and that any advertised sale is genuine.

The home secretary has admitted the number of illegal immigrants entering the UK is too high, while telling Nigel Farage to “sod off” after he suggested she sounded like a Reform supporter.

Shabana Mahmood made the comments shortly after announcing major changes to migration policy. She said she was horrified by a twenty seven percent rise in irregular arrivals in the year to June and stressed that bringing the numbers down is now an urgent priority. She added that she is impatient to see results and wants the system to regain public confidence.

The government is reportedly preparing to ban the resale of live event tickets above their face value in an effort to crack down on inflated prices.

Fans of music and sport have long complained about tickets being snapped up within seconds, only to reappear online at many times the original cost. Much of the trade is driven by bots that imitate customers and buy tickets in bulk the moment they go on sale. Operators can be based anywhere in the world, making enforcement difficult, but ministers are said to be considering new legislation aimed at stopping the practice.

Teachers’ wellbeing across the UK has fallen to its lowest level since twenty nineteen, according to the charity Education Support.

Its annual report warns the education workforce is in crisis and that pupils will ultimately suffer if more is not done to retain staff. Teaching unions in England say schools are facing a tsunami of stress and pressure, with many teachers being driven out of the profession when children need them most. The Department for Education insists it is restoring teaching as a highly valued career and says last year saw one of the lowest departure rates since twenty ten.