National News

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.

A mother and her two young children died in a house fire that destroyed their home in the early hours of Boxing Day despite the efforts of her husband to save his family, police said.

The UK’s landscapes and wildlife endured drought, heat and fires that gave way to downpours and floods in 2025 as extreme weather becomes the “new normal”.

The earliest known coin minted in Scotland – almost 900 years ago – has been acquired for the nation after it was found by a metal detectorist.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of investors with at least £100,000 in assets plan to increase the amounts they put away in 2026 despite market uncertainties, a survey indicates.

French actress Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91.

Model Holly Ramsay has arrived at Bath Abbey for her wedding to Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty with her TV chef father by her side.

England’s long wait for an Ashes win on Australian soil is finally over as they came out on top after two days of mayhem in Melbourne.

Chaos ruled in front of a record Ashes crowd as Australia got the better of the Boxing Day madness at the MCG.

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman has spoken about her emotional return to EastEnders, as her character is back on screens to “create havoc” in Albert Square.

A cold health alert has been issued for Christmas Day, as forecasters said the prospect of a white Christmas was “highly unlikely”.

Hospital admissions for flu in England are falling for the first time this winter, though health officials have warned the virus is “still with us” and that infections could “bounce back” in the new year.

The family of a 13-year-old girl have said they are “heartbroken” by her death, as police continue to investigate after arresting a teenage boy on suspicion of harassment.

Passengers travelling home on Christmas Eve have faced travel difficulties after railway services from a major airport were disrupted because of a lack of staff.

Shoppers descended on UK high streets and retail parks to buy last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve, boosting retailers amid a challenging consumer backdrop.

More than one million people will be working on Christmas Day, often in low-paid jobs, according to new research.

The King has chosen Westminster Abbey as the location for his Christmas broadcast, which will have the key theme of pilgrimage.

Royal Colleges representing more than 90,000 health professionals have joined forces to urge pregnant women to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible.

England’s demoralising Ashes tour lurched to a fresh low as their player of the series, Jofra Archer, was ruled out with the latest in a long line of injuries.

A baby boy who has been in hospital for the majority of his life is preparing to spend his first Christmas at home after finally being discharged.

A man accused of drugging and raping his ex-wife over a 13-year period has been remanded into custody, with five other men due to appear in court over alleged sex offences against her.

A police officer injured in the Bondi terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia has woken from a medically induced coma, his family said.

Young people leaving care will benefit from free prescriptions, as well as free dental and eye care, until their 25th birthday under new measures announced by the Government.

Christmas Eve will be the busiest day for cash machines in 2025, with nearly £370 million set to be withdrawn on December 24, ATM and cash access network Link predicts.

A UK-backed initiative is working with farmers in Kenya to turn tea waste into clean energy and fertiliser.

Singer Barry Manilow has revealed he has a cancerous spot on his lung and will undergo surgery.

Singer Chris Rea, whose songs include the festive hit Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of 74, a spokesperson for his family said.

Two people lie on the ground looking up at a London skyscraper in the latest artwork thought to be by graffiti artist Banksy.

Children’s author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from the line-up for the Waterstones Children’s Book Festival, the book chain has said.

A Russian general was killed on Monday morning after an explosive device detonated underneath his car in Moscow.

US chat show host Jimmy Kimmel will deliver Channel 4’s 2025 Alternative Christmas Message, saying it has been a “great year” from “a fascism perspective”.

Job vacancies fell for the fifth month in a row in November as employers remained cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty, according to a report.

Driving authorities must crack down on a “number plate wild west”, an MP has said, after figures showed just a fraction of suppliers faced an audit this year.

The new chairwoman of Britain’s equalities watchdog has warned against the “demonisation of migrants” and said it would be “a mistake” for the UK to withdraw from a longstanding international treaty on human rights.

Hospitals in England are working to recover from disruption caused by strikes in the run-up to Christmas.

A gunman accused of killing people on Australia’s Bondi Beach recorded a video outlining what police allege was his motivation for a “meticulously” planned attack on a Jewish celebration, court documents show.

The costs of raising a child in 2025 have been revealed by a new report which warns many families are still struggling to afford to buy essentials for their children.

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken to US President Donald Trump for what will likely be their final phone call of 2025.

Rob Cross eased into the third round of the PDC World Championship with a 3-1 win over veteran Ian White.

England’s Ashes dreams were snuffed out as they succumbed to an 82-run defeat in Adelaide, where an injury to Nathan Lyon gave them hope of pulling off a miracle.

Many workers in the food industry believe their wages are insufficient to meet basic needs such as food and energy, according to a new report.

Officials have urged people to come forward for NHS care as normal as services “remain up and running this weekend” as resident doctors enter the final 48 hours of their five-day strike.

Dame Helen Mirren has praised the “fantastic” restoration of a beloved cello dating back to the Second World War, in a first look at the upcoming Christmas special of The Repair Shop.