United kingdom
St Andrew’s Day 2025: History, Global Traditions, Scotland’s National Celebrations & Major New Developments
St Andrew’s Day 2025, observed worldwide on 30 November, arrives with a blend of ancient history, vibrant cultural traditions and several notable updates for Scotland, the UK and countries where Saint Andrew remains a deeply revered figure. From Scotland’s national celebrations and global rituals to Ukraine’s calendar shift, the Scottish ...
Nationwide Building Society Transactions Jump 13.6% on Black Friday 2025 as Activity Hits 7.3M by Afternoon
Black Friday 2025 delivered a powerful jolt to the UK retail sector as Nationwide Building Society reported a remarkable surge in customer spending from the early hours of the day. Between midnight and 10am, transactions crossed 2.5 million, marking a 13.6% increase compared with Black Friday 2024, when the figure ...
Royal Mail Issues Urgent Delay Alert as 25 UK Postcodes Hit by Severe Delivery Disruptions
Royal Mail has issued a major warning to customers across the UK as widespread delivery delays affect 25 postcode areas due to staffing shortages, resourcing challenges and a key transport breakdown. The disruption, impacting mail centres from the Home Counties to the East Midlands and Scotland, comes at a time ...
John Lewis Unveils Ambitious £800m Revival Plan as Bluewater Store Leads a New Era of Experiential Retail
John Lewis is entering one of its most ambitious eras in decades, launching an £800m national reboot aimed at transforming every one of its 36 remaining department stores by 2029. With the pandemic years behind it and consumer confidence slowly recovering, the brand is moving decisively toward experiential retail, new ...
Budget Confirms Major Rise in Universal Credit and Benefits from April 2026 as Two-Child Cap Is Scrapped
The government has confirmed sweeping welfare changes that will bring one of the biggest benefit upratings in recent years. Under Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget announcement, millions of people on Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and other statutory benefits will see their ...
UK Government U-Turn on Day-One Unfair Dismissal Rights Reshapes the Employment Rights Bill
The UK government has executed a major policy reversal by scrapping its manifesto promise to grant workers day-one protection from unfair dismissal. Instead, unfair dismissal rights will now begin after six months, following intense negotiations with major business groups and trade unions. The unexpected shift aims to break the prolonged ...
UK’s New Pay-Per-Mile EV Tax from 2028 Sparks National Debate: Revenue Fix or Roadblock to Electrification?
The UK Government has officially confirmed a landmark policy that will reshape the future of electric mobility: a pay-per-mile tax on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from April 2028. Introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the move aims to compensate for collapsing fuel-duty revenues as the country accelerates towards the 2030 ...
Rare Sudden Stratospheric Warming Sparks Fears of ‘Beast from the East’ Return as UK Faces Winter Weather Shift
The UK may be heading towards a significant winter weather shift as meteorologists warn that a rare Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event—similar to the one that triggered the 2018 “Beast from the East”—is developing unusually early this season. After a week of sub-zero temperatures, snow, and widespread ice warnings, the ...
