UK

WhatsApp users have noticed Meta AI integration in the app, offering features like chat assistance, image generation, and more. Some users are unhappy about the lack of option to disable the feature, while others are excited about its capabilities. Users can request to stop AI training with their data and delete chat history by using specific commands in the app. Full Article

James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, was grilled on BBC Breakfast about Labour being accused of not taxing the super-rich and making life harder for those in need of state support due to welfare cuts. Murray defended the party's economic mission to boost the economy and highlighted the chancellor's plan to increase people's income by £500 compared to previous Conservative plans. Labour faced criticism for proposing a £5 billion cut to the welfare bill, potentially pushing 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty, while calls for a wealth tax on assets over £10 million were rejected by the...

Met Éireann has forecasted a weekend with a mix of sun and showers, with occasional light rain and showers expected in the coming days. Today will be cool and breezy with sunshine and showers, some heavy and possibly with isolated thunderstorms, easing later in the day with temperatures ranging from eight to 11 degrees. Tomorrow will see outbreaks of light rain and drizzle in the morning, clearing to drier and brighter conditions in the afternoon, reaching temperatures up to 15 degrees with moderate south to southwest winds. Sunday will be largely dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells,...

Blockbuster, the iconic rental store, has returned to London’s Soho as a pop-up in collaboration with KitKat for four days in April. The store, which first came to the UK in 1989 and peaked in 2004, will offer customers a nostalgic experience by providing an empty VHS case with a KitKat and streaming code. While the last remaining Blockbuster store is in Oregon, the pop-up in London aims to bring back the joy of choosing a movie to watch with loved ones, according to Nestlé UK & Ireland's marketing manager Stephanie Scales. Full Article

President Donald Trump stated that Vice President JD Vance's trip to Greenland aims to emphasize the US's need to acquire the territory, asserting that Americans will go to great lengths to secure the island for international safety and security. Despite opposition from the Greenlandic public and Danish officials, Trump remains determined to obtain control of Greenland, with Vance and his wife set to visit the US Space Force outpost at Pituffik as part of a US delegation. Full Article

Labour has launched an attack ad claiming that patients would have to pay for NHS treatment if Nigel Farage became prime minister, citing his previous comments supporting an insurance-based healthcare system. The party plans to highlight this message during an "NHS day of action" ahead of the local elections in May, as they fear the threat Reform UK poses in the polls. Labour's health secretary emphasized the importance of a free and accessible NHS, contrasting their investment in healthcare with Farage's alleged plans to cut funding and increase costs for patients. Full Article

Construction in Ireland has not kept up with the demand for housing, leaving many people unable to afford their own home. A healthcare worker interviewed by the Irish Independent expressed frustration at the lack of hope for owning a home for her family, highlighting the challenges faced by many in finding affordable housing in the country. As the housing crisis continues to worsen, the dream of owning a home in Ireland is becoming increasingly out of reach for many. Full Article

British Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, now a BBC Sports presenter, has announced her recent diagnosis of coeliac disease and advocates for the importance of gluten-free prescriptions in managing the condition. Coeliac UK has raised awareness of the risks individuals with the disease face due to cuts in gluten-free prescriptions, with healthcare professionals emphasizing the clinical necessity of these prescriptions for managing symptoms like diarrhoea, malabsorption, abdominal pain, and fatigue. The charity's petition, supported by individuals like Kate Powell and volunteer Ceira Reading, urges the UK government to protect access to gluten-free prescriptions for those with coeliac disease. Full Article

Plans for an £80m revamp of Bury Interchange in Greater Manchester have been approved, with the full plans set to be published next year. The project, which has been in the works for years, will be 'fast-tracked' with government funding of £45m allocated for the redevelopment. The government aims to improve the North's transport system, investing nearly £1.7bn in transport projects across the region, including Bury Interchange, to boost economic growth and connectivity. Full Article

The number of children in poverty in the UK has reached its highest level, with 4.45 million children living in households of relative low income after housing costs. The Child Poverty Action Group is calling for the government to scrap the two-child benefit limit and pause wider benefit cuts to address the issue, as the figures continue to rise sharply. The Resolution Foundation has also urged for the extension of free school meal entitlement and the need for well-paid, secure work to combat child poverty. Full Article