UK politics live: Rupert Lowe ‘bullying’ scandal hangs over Nigel Farage at Reform press conference

Downing Street has denied claims that welfare reforms are driven by the country's fiscal situation, with Work and Pension Secretary Liz Kendall planning to unveil changes to boost employment and reduce benefits costs. Despite facing criticism from Labour MPs, the government asserts that the overhaul is necessary both morally and economically to address issues like high levels of inactivity due to ill health and a lagging employment rate post-pandemic. The reforms aim to fix a...

In 2024, non-resident foreigners accounted for 8 percent of property purchases in Spain, with a total of 56,139 homes acquired, a modest 2.2 percent increase from the previous year. The majority of these purchases were concentrated in Málaga and Alicante, while emerging nationalities like Poles and Czechs are also entering the market. Amidst government restrictions, non-resident foreign buyers face challenges in the Spanish property market, with potential tax increases and bans being proposed. Full Article

A seven-day mourning period has been declared in North Macedonia following a tragic fire in Kočani that claimed the lives of fifty-eight young people and left nearly a hundred injured. The Orthodox Church expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil reaching out to offer support. The tragedy sparked calls for responsibility and conscience in society to prevent such losses in the future. Full Article

Syria’s foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani will participate in an annual EU conference in Brussels on March 17, 2025, focusing on Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction post-al-Assad regime. The EU plans to reveal additional funding, potentially involving the European Investment Bank, to support Syria’s transition and address humanitarian needs, amid concerns of a US aid freeze exacerbating the crisis. The EU is expected to increase financial commitments towards Syria’s reconstruction, aiming for a contribution similar to...

Brambles are considered a nuisance by woodland managers, but recent research has revealed that fallow deer surprisingly have a taste for them, as shown by analysis of plant DNA in their feces. This discovery sheds light on deer diets and their impact on woodland ecosystems, particularly as deer populations thrive in human-altered landscapes in the UK. The government's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 may be at risk due to deer grazing on...

Experts predict a significant drop in slug populations this spring, attributed to cold winter weather and a recent dry spell by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) entomology team. This decline will benefit gardeners growing plants like lettuce, carrots, and broccoli from seed, following a record-breaking year for slugs in 2024 due to mild, wet conditions. The RHS notes that years of high slug activity typically lead to periods of lower activity, with weather playing a...