National News

The Labour First Minister of Wales has not ruled out the possibility that Sir Keir Starmer could be ejected from Downing Street before the end of the year.

The King has spoken of his pride in the charity he founded 50 years ago which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in the UK.

Counter-terror, fraud and criminal gang investigations are set to be taken over by a new national police force dubbed the “British FBI” under major policing reforms.

Donald Trump has said UK soldiers who fought in Afghanistan were “among the greatest of all warriors” after previously drawing criticism for his claims Nato troops stayed away from the front lines during the conflict.

Andy Burnham has announced that he intends to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election, setting up a potential return to Westminster for the Greater Manchester mayor.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Donald Trump’s remarks about British troops in Afghanistan were “insulting and frankly appalling” and signalled the US President should apologise.

A husband has admitted drugging and raping his now ex-wife over a 13-year period.

Wes Streeting vows to end the postcode lottery of cancer care with more training and technology

More than 50 organisations employing over 1,400 workers moved to a four-day working week in 2025, according to new figures.

An acclaimed artist, known for her depictions of Second World War heroines, is to design a sculpture “portraying the strong and complex personality” of Queen Elizabeth II as part of the national memorial to the late monarch.

The first asylum seekers have been moved into a former military barracks in East Sussex as ministers face pressure to end the use of hotels.

A former Labour minister has announced he will stand down as an MP for medical reasons, paving the way for a potential Westminster return for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.

Irish actress Jessie Buckley has been nominated for an Oscar, while vampire drama Sinners has made history as the first film to score 16 nods.

Sir Keir Starmer said he will discuss how to “take the vital steps” towards strengthened security in the Arctic with Denmark’s prime minister, who thanked him for the UK’s support during “quite a difficult time” for the country amid Donald Trump’s demands to annex its semi-autonomous territory Greenland.

The Duke of Sussex has returned to a court in London for the fourth day of the trial of his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Around one in four children who started reception in 2025 were not toilet trained, a survey of teachers has found, amid warnings more children are struggling with basic life skills.

Hollywood star Sean Bean is to host an award-winning podcast for birdwatchers.

There has been a “substantial increase” in the proportion of people using medicines for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the UK, driven by a rise in prescription rates among adults, in particular women.

Next has bought Russell and Bromley after the footwear and handbag retailer fell into administration.

A teenage girl was forced to work as a “house slave” for a woman and her 10 children for more than 25 years, a court heard.

UK inflation bounced back in December as tobacco duty hikes and Christmas getaways helped push up the cost of living, official figures show.

Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats to annex Greenland, saying only the US could secure the Arctic territory, but ruled out using force.

The UK will not be pushed around by Donald Trump’s tariff threats, Rachel Reeves said as she defended Sir Keir Starmer’s attempts to cool tensions over Greenland.

NHS pre-diabetes clinics for children are to be set up after a “landmark” study confirmed the feasibility of using finger-prick blood test as a screening tool to spot the disease before symptoms arise.

Adverts for five tanning companies have been banned for making misleading and irresponsible claims about the safety of sunbeds.

A new set of stamps and coordinated nose drop events will mark the 50th anniversary of the first commercial Concorde flights.

Police have hit out at the decision not to bring further charges against child killer nurse Lucy Letby.

Overnight curfews and breaks to prevent “doomscrolling” will form part of the Government’s consultation on social media for children, which will also consider an Australian-style ban for under-16s.

China has been given permission to build a vast new embassy in the heart of London despite criticism from MPs and campaigners that it will be used as a base for spying and security crackdowns.

UK wage growth has fallen back once again while the unemployment rate has remained at the highest level for nearly five years as official figures reveal deepening jobs woes in the retail and hospitality sectors.

A child’s weight should not be the main focus when it comes to whether they qualify for help for an eating disorder, according to new NHS guidelines.

Water companies will be required to carry out to infrastructure “MOTs” to prevent major failures under plans for a new industry watchdog, the Government has said.

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, according to a new analysis.

Scottish singer Jacob Alon has been named the Critics’ Choice prize winner ahead of next month’s Brit Awards

Sir Keir Starmer will seek to steady the ship amid a tumultuous rift between Donald Trump and European countries over Greenland as the US President marks one year in the White House.

Donald Trump said he was 100% committed to hitting the UK and European allies with tariffs in protest at opposition to his plan to annex Greenland.

He was 93.

As the Duke of Sussex’s trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail is set to get underway at the High Court in London today, here are some of the key questions:

Sir Keir Starmer urged the whole country to unite in the face of Donald Trump’s threats to invade Greenland and slap tariffs on the UK and other European allies.

Pharmacists are demanding millions of pounds in compensation following an NHS error which saw patients booking Covid vaccinations only to find they were no longer eligible.

Construction work has been completed on HS2’s longest tunnel, including extensions designed to prevent sonic booms.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said 50,000 of its members at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be balloted in the coming weeks on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.

Sir Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong” in a telephone call, Downing Street said.

The security services will not be “exempt” from the Hillsborough Law, the Culture Secretary has said amid fears from campaigners and backbench Labour MPs that the duty of candour is being watered down.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called for sweeping reforms of the policing system, which he says needs to change “quite dramatically”.

The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A and E in Scotland has soared by more than 7000% in a decade, according to an analysis by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Actor Adeel Akhtar says he was asked if he was linked to terrorist organisations by airport security when he travelled with his girlfriend to an audition in New York.

The US President says a 10% tariff will be applied to all goods sent to the US from next month

The Green Party is calling for free bus travel in England for those under the age of 22.

The Government is moving at a “glacial pace” to ratify a landmark UN pact to protect delicate ecosystems in international waters, a coalition of green groups has said.

Jess’s Rule, a system which calls for family doctors to think again if a patient has had three appointments for their symptoms with no diagnosis, will be advertised in all GP practices across England from this week.

Concerns have been raised over the “ridiculous” compensation payment proposed for people who were the victims of unethical research, including boys who were infected with HIV and hepatitis as schoolchildren.

A would-be Southport copycat killer who wanted to attack a dance school and an Oasis reunion concert has been locked up for 14 months.

A husband who killed his wife and manipulated his own child in a “wicked” plot to get away with murder has been jailed for life.

One of a group of nurses who complained about sharing single-sex changing rooms with a trans colleague said “this is a victory for common sense and for every woman who simply wants to feel safe at work” after an employment tribunal ruled they had suffered harassment.

The drugs crisis inside Scotland’s prisons is a manifestation of systemic health system failure, a Holyrood committee has said.

Paedophiles and other criminals used AI to generate thousands more child sexual abuse videos last year, contributing to record levels of the harrowing material found online, campaigners have warned.

Convicted killers detained in hospitals under court order could lose thousands of pounds a year in benefit payments under new Government plans.

The Education Secretary has said she will not rule out further action following claims a Bristol school “may have been intimidated into cancelling a visit” from their local MP who is Jewish.

Robert Jenrick has accused the Tories for lacking the “stomach for the radical change this country needs” as he defected to Reform UK after being sacked from Kemi Badenoch’s frontbench.

The NHS waiting list for hospital treatment has fallen to its lowest level since early 2023, figures show.

Kemi Badenoch said she has sacked Robert Jenrick as shadow justice secretary and kicked him out of the party due to “irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect in a way designed to be as damaging as possible” to his Conservative colleagues.

Elon Musk’s pledge to stop X’s AI chatbot Grok making sexualised images of people is a “vindication for Keir Starmer”, Downing Street sources have said.

A “pervasive” culture of mistreatment at work is leading to women losing their jobs if they are pregnant or become a parent, according to a report.

More than one in three (35%) undergraduate students say Reform UK should be banned from speaking at events at UK universities, according to a poll.

South East Water is under investigation by the industry watchdog after repeated outages since November have left tens of thousands of households and businesses without supply across Kent and Sussex.

The UK economy returned to growth in November after a boost from Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) factories restarting production following a cyber attack, according to official figures.

Emma Willis has told how she was “floored” by a hole in the heart diagnosis as she met another mother with the same condition.

Former Lionesses captain Millie Bright skipped training for possibly the first time in her career to be honoured by the Prince of Wales.

One Battle After Another star Chase Infiniti is among the actors nominated for the Bafta 2026 EE Rising Star Award.

Competitions are set to be given a choice over whether to use VAR to check corner kicks, with some concerned it is a further step towards re-refereeing the game.

Ministers are holding emergency daily meetings as 17,000 properties remain without drinking water across Kent and Sussex, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted there “will be checks” on the right to work in the UK, and “they will be digital, and they will be mandatory”, as he faced fire in the Commons over a U-turn on the Government’s flagship digital ID plans.

Rachel Reeves said she wants people in northern England to “feel the benefits” of a major scheme to boost connections by “the early 2030s”.

The Home Secretary has said she has lost confidence in the head of West Midlands Police following a “damning” review into the force’s decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match against Aston Villa.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s bid to overturn the decision to throw out the terrorism case against rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh has begun at the High Court.

West Midlands Police’s chief constable has apologised to MPs for giving them an error in evidence over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, as the Home Secretary is set to address Parliament.

Brisk walking for an extra five minutes a day can help reduce a person’s risk of death, a new study has found.

Last year was globally the third warmest year on record, scientists confirmed as human activity drives the “unmistakable trend” towards a hotter climate.

Nearly one in five people have an additional job or side hustle, research indicates.

Vulnerable areas face “catastrophic flooding and economic devastation” without further Government funding for protections, councils have warned.

Michael Carrick has been confirmed as Manchester United head coach on a deal until the end of the season.

Yvette Cooper has summoned the Iranian ambassador over the crackdown on protests in the country, as the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions on the regime.

A new Home Office TikTok account posting footage of deportations and arrests by immigration enforcement has been criticised as turning raids into “click-bait online entertainment”.

Up to 640 jobs are being created at discount retailer Lidl under plans to open 19 stores over the next eight weeks as it continues to ramp up expansion plans.

The water watchdog says it is “concerned” as 25,000 properties remain affected by outages across Kent and Sussex.

The BBC will take legal steps to have Donald Trump’s 10 billion dollar defamation lawsuit over a Panorama programme edit dismissed

Lord Peter Mandelson has offered an “unequivocal” apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Medical graduates from the UK and Ireland will be prioritised for training places under new legislation to be proposed by the Government.

A new 50p coin celebrating the speed and elegance of Concorde has been launched by the Royal Mint, marking 50 years since the aircraft’s first commercial flight.

Aldi has unveiled plans to give its staff a pay rise in less than two months, ahead of an increase to the national minimum wage in April.

Macclesfield must upstage another Premier League side if they are to continue their fairytale FA Cup run after drawing Brentford in the fourth round.

Irish star Jessie Buckley was named best actress in a drama and Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty continued Adolescence’s winning streak through awards season as they all secured gongs at the Golden Globes.

Heathrow airport’s annual passenger numbers exceeded 84 million for the first time last year.

The Princess of Wales is hosting a special reception for the Red Roses at Windsor Castle this week to celebrate their Rugby World Cup win.

A formal investigation has been launched into whether Elon Musk’s social media platform X has complied with UK laws after reports its AI chatbot Grok created and shared sexualised images of children, the regulator Ofcom has said.

A major incident has been declared as 30,000 properties in Kent and Sussex are without a proper water supply.

Former Conservative chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has joined Reform UK, the party has announced.

Staff at a Stirling charity shop have said they are “thrilled” after an extremely rare edition of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit fetched a record £3,000.

The Prime Minister has hailed upcoming changes to parental leave as putting “dignity back at the heart of work”.

A flagship rewilding project has seen an explosion in wildlife since it began, with bird numbers increasing tenfold in the past two decades, monitoring shows.

Managerless Manchester United’s hopes of ending a topsy-turvy season with silverware went up in smoke as Danny Welbeck once again scored against his former club and Brighton finally secured a first FA Cup victory against the Red Devils.

Succession showrunner Jesse Armstrong has said a writers’ room can feel like “walking on the moon” when it is working well – but that he also experiences imposter syndrome.

Openreach is marking its 20th anniversary by announcing a big increase in broadband usage last year.

Drivers across England are able to see how well their local authority is tackling potholes with the launch of a new traffic light rating system.

A teaching union is calling for the Government to ban social media for under-16s to improve concentration at school and stem damage to mental health.

The Love Island: All Stars villa has been evacuated with filming postponed due to “ongoing wildfires”, ITV has said.

A protester has climbed onto the balcony of the Iranian embassy in central London.

Nutrition labels on the front of food packaging should be made mandatory in the UK, according to a consumer champion.

Non-league Macclesfield pulled off one of the biggest-ever FA Cup upsets as they knocked out holders Crystal Palace in a remarkable 2-1 win at the third-round stage.

Holyrood ministers must use their upcoming Budget to signal a “clear intent” to introduce a tax on private jets, campaigners have insisted.

A mother who donated umbilical cord blood after giving birth has described how her daughter’s life was saved by a similar donation just a few years later.

A man has been found dead after a tree fell on to a caravan as weather warnings remain in place after Storm Goretti hit the UK.

Warnings for snow and ice are in force across much of the UK as tens of thousands of people are still without power after Storm Goretti.

Shabana Mahmood will end the Government’s duty to support all destitute asylum seekers as she seeks to shut more asylum hotels, sources have said.

More snow, ice and freezing fog will hit the UK after thousands of people were left with no power after Storm Goretti.

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the killing of protesters in Iran and urged Tehran to “exercise restraint” amid a crackdown on demonstrations against the regime.

Coronation Street is to air a special “flashforward” episode which will offer viewers a glimpse into the drama that is set to unfold in 2026.

Storm Goretti continues to batter the UK with tens of thousands of Britons across the country facing widespread power cuts, travel disruption and school closures.

Some people are waiting more than a year to have their disability benefit claims processed amid “unacceptably poor service levels”, the Commons spending watchdog has found.

The Government is launching a recruitment drive for jobs in the prison and probation service.

Thousands of homes are without power as Storm Goretti hits the UK with a rare red warning issued for “dangerous, stormy” winds.

A rare red warning for “dangerous, stormy” winds has been issued by the Met Office for south-west England, with Storm Goretti set to bring 100mph gusts.

Ministers are to U-turn on increasing business rates for pubs in the face of mounting pressure from landlords and backbench MPs, the Press Association understands.

The Princess of Wales has made a surprise appearance the day before her birthday by joining the Prince of Wales on a visit to show support for NHS staff in London.

Christmas and new year gatherings may have caused a “bounce back” in winter viruses, with the number of people in hospital with flu up slightly, according to NHS England.

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been spared jail after he was found to have a sexual video of a 15-year-old boy in school uniform on his laptop.

A man who threw a six-year-old boy off the Tate Modern’s 10th-storey balcony has been jailed for 16 weeks after attacking two nurses at Broadmoor hospital.

Former Leeds and Wales midfielder Terry Yorath has died at the age of 75 following a short illness, his family have said in a statement.

Some NHS hospitals are adapting corridors and other spaces to provide care by installing plug sockets and emergency call bells in a bid to minimise patient safety risks, an investigation has found.

The average UK house price dipped to its lowest level in six months in December, according to an index.

Exercise may be just as good at treating depression as psychological therapies and possibly even antidepressants, a study suggests.

The Queen has described her charity’s mission to get people reading as “more urgent than ever”, saying “books do make life better” as she marked the fifth anniversary of her Reading Room book club.

The US military has thanked the UK for its “unwavering support” in the seizing of a Russian-flagged oil tanker.

Doc Martin star Martin Clunes will portray disgraced BBC presenter Huw Edwards in a new drama.

Former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer.

The UK is braced for heavy snowfall and strong winds from Storm Goretti with amber weather warnings issued across the country.

British armed forces provided support to the US’s seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

A man who assisted suicide by selling a substance online for £100 to vulnerable people has been jailed for 14 years after what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in the UK.

Two buses full of school children have crashed on icy roads as a deep freeze continues to grip the UK ahead of more heavy snowfall expected from Storm Goretti.

The US has seized a Venezuela-linked oil tanker which is travelling off British waters, an official has said.

Many adults are not aware of the scale of the UK’s primary school reading gap, a survey has found.

Rightmove recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day for website visits in December 2025, in signs of a bigger-than-usual housing market bounce.

A number of apps that can be downloaded onto smartphones and tablets have been recommended to help people with asthma manage their condition.

Donald Trump has been discussing a “range of options” to acquire Greenland, the White House has said, after Sir Keir Starmer joined European leaders in insisting the US president must climb down from threats to take over the territory.

Nearly half of adult pornography users have accessed sites without age checks since new verification rules came into force, research suggests.

Cutting the drink-drive limit in England and Wales is among Government plans in response to the “stalled” progress on road safety.

Waitrose is planning to hire around 550 staff to work at its new warehouse in Bristol as the upmarket grocer eyes expansion in the region.

Sainsbury’s has announced it is launching a new graduate programme focused on developing skills in artificial intelligence.

The Government is spending £4 million a year on the upkeep of an “unusable” prison which currently holds no inmates, MPs have revealed.

Plans have been unveiled for a new events space at the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, which was set up by Charles more than 35 years ago.

Aberdeenshire Council has declared a major incident as the region deals with ongoing heavy snow.

Sir Keir Starmer and European counterparts have said they will “not stop defending” Greenland’s territorial integrity in the face of continued threats from Donald Trump to annex it.

Ministers have come under fire over “atrocious” waiting-times figures in Scotland’s accident and emergency departments – with new data showing the worst November on record for waits.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said Elon Musk’s X must urgently deal with its artificial intelligence Grok being used to create sexualised deepfake images.

Temperatures plummeted to as low as minus 12.5C in the UK overnight as more snow brought a second day of school closures and travel disruption.

Liam Rosenior has “agreed verbally” to become the next Chelsea manager.

Sales of new cars grew by about 3.5% last year amid a surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), new figures show.

Shop price inflation edged up in December as food price rises continued to add pressure to household budgets, figures indicate.

Royal Mail is releasing a set of Stranger Things stamps in celebration of the Netflix show’s finale.

A spring statement will be delivered in Parliament on Tuesday March 3, Rachel Reeves has told MPs.

Celtic have sacked Wilfried Nancy after eight games – and six defeats – in charge.

Sir Keir Starmer insisted Britain will turn a corner in 2026, as he made his first visit of the year to meet members of the public.

The Duke of Marlborough has indicated not guilty pleas to strangling his estranged wife on three separate occasions.

Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United head coach having failed to make sufficient headway during an underwhelming 14 months in charge.

Supermarket Aldi has revealed a £1.65 billion sales haul over the Christmas month as price remained the “biggest priority” for shoppers.

Hundreds of schools have been shut and flights cancelled as weather warnings remain in force with snow bringing disruption.

A peaceful transition of power should be reached “quickly” in Venezuela, a Cabinet minister has said after Donald Trump declared the US would “run” the country until a new government takes over.

A mother has died and her teenage daughter remains missing after a “tragic incident” off the East Yorkshire coast, police have said.

South Korean pop group BTS are to return from hiatus with their first studio album in more than five years and a world tour.

Amber weather warnings have been issued as wintry conditions are anticipated to worsen across the UK.

A “really simple” tool that makes it easier for people to describe the colour of bodily fluids could have a “huge impact” on patient care, researchers have announced.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) alumni and others are being encouraged to share their experiences of the popular scheme in celebration of the charity’s 70th anniversary.

Travellers have been urged to plan ahead as snow and ice warnings prompt travel disruption in parts of the UK.

The “bitingly cold snap” will put extra pressure on NHS hospitals, the Health Secretary has said, as temperatures plummet across the UK.

The number of people who got on the property ladder with a mortgage across the UK last year is estimated by a building society to be up by nearly a fifth compared with 2024.

Online minicab firms will pay more tax in a move hailed as a “landmark step” for black cab drivers.

A vaccine which protects against chickenpox is to be rolled out across the NHS for the first time.

Snow and ice is forecast across the UK on Friday with warnings of likely travel disruption.

Boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital in Nigeria after the crash in which two of his friends died, authorities have said.

Sir Sadiq Khan has hailed London’s New Year celebrations as the “greatest in the world” after 100,000 people lined the banks of the River Thames to welcome 2026 with the capital’s largest fireworks display.

Snowfall is expected across much of the UK in a chilly start to the new year, forecasters have said.

One pub shut its doors for good each day in 2025 as cost pressures continued to weigh on the sector, according to new figures.

Eurostar passengers have been warned that continued delays and cancellations are possible, despite the resumption of services after a power outage in the Channel Tunnel.

Many households’ energy bills are to rise on Thursday, just as a swathe of cold health alerts have been issued for large areas of the UK.

Eurostar services are expected to resume later on Tuesday after an earlier power failure saw the Channel Tunnel closed.

Former X Factor contestant Chico has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to drink-driving.

Eurostar has told passengers not to travel because of disruption in the Channel Tunnel.

Eurostar has told passengers not to travel because of disruption in the Channel Tunnel.

Octopus Energy Group has swung to a hefty annual loss as it revealed a hit of more than £100 million from lower energy demand due to warmer weather.

Crystal Palace have reached an agreement with Tottenham over a £35million fee to sign Brennan Johnson, but the Wales international is yet to make his mind up over the move.

Beyonce has been declared a billionaire by Forbes, and has become the fifth musician to join its list of the world’s wealthiest people.

Households and businesses have endured a bumpy ride over 2025 as the impact of tax hikes and US President Donald Trump’s trade war weighed on the economy, but another slew of interest rate cuts helped cushion the blow.

Police are attempting to trace two men in connection with a fatal collision between a car and a pedestrian.

Paul Elliott, known as one half of the Chuckle Brothers, has said finding out he is being made an MBE in the New Year Honours list is “probably the best shock” of his life.

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean have been awarded a damehood and a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Former Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman will front her own chat show next year, the BBC has announced.

British boxer Anthony Joshua has reportedly been involved in a car crash in Nigeria.

A house blaze that claimed the life of a child has been extinguished by firefighters, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) said.