UNITED KINGDOM

Reduction follows Bank of England’s base cut in December, with further cuts expected this yearHSBC has become the first major lender to cut mortgage rates this year, a move that could spark a price war over the coming months.The banking group, which is one of the UK’s largest mortgage lenders, has cut rates across a range of residential and landlord buy-to-let mortgage products. The new rates come into effect on Monday. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/04/hsbc-first-big-uk-lender-cut-mortgage-rates-2026 Author : Mark Sweney Publish date : 2026-01-04 15:54:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Lucy Morville, from Burnley, thought most students would be from the north and felt ‘culture shock’ surrounded by southernersLike many students from the north, Lucy Morville says she felt “culture shock” at being surrounded by southerners when she arrived at university. But she said the shock was even greater because it wasn’t what she expected when she enrolled at the University of York.“I hadn’t travelled much down south before university, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re all from London and Cambridge.’ It was such a shock to me,” she said. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/jan/04/oh-my-gosh-theyre-all-from-london-and-cambridge-york-universitys-northerners-fight-back Author :

President Nicolás Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday after capture by US forcesFull report: Trump says US will ‘run’ VenezuelaExplained: Is there legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela?Keir Starmer also told the BBC that he thinks we are living in a more “volatile” world than we have been for “many, many years” and said global affairs have much more of a “direct impact” on the UK than they have in a long time, citing the effects of military conflicts and the climate crisis.Asked if Donald Trump is worsening global turmoil,

Hope appeal supports causes battling backdrop of extremist violence, anti-migrant rhetoric and racismDonate to the charity appeal hereThe Guardian’s Hope appeal has so far raised over £750,000, with generous readers digging deep to support inspirational grassroots charities that bring together divided communities, promote tolerance, and tackle racism and hatred.The 2025 Guardian appeal is raising funds for five charities: Citizens UK, the Linking Network, Locality, Hope Unlimited Charitable Trust, and Who Is Your Neighbour? Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/04/guardian-readers-raise-750000-for-charities-uniting-divided-communities Author : Patrick Butler Social policy editor Publish date : 2026-01-04 08:00:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.