National News

Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been cleared in a police investigation into the SNP’s finances.

The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates at 4.5%, as policymakers warned that uncertainty over global trade had intensified following new US tariffs.

Warm temperatures could kick-start this year’s blossom display, the National Trust says as it urges people to celebrate the natural spring spectacle.

Lord Alan Sugar has said young people want to be “fast-tracked” to the top and lack the patience “to really learn a trade”.

He had been battling with an aggressive form of prostate cancer

It is “unlikely” that the Government will achieve its ambition of getting NHS waiting times down to 18 weeks before the end of Parliament, according to new research.

It's to address failings over wastewater and sewage

That's according to the ONS

The RSPCA and Cats Protection are calling for cat cafes across the UK to be “phased out” over concerns about the animals’ welfare.

British teenage boys are being blackmailed by Nigerian crime gangs posing as young women in a surge of online sexual extortion, the National Crime Agency has warned.

The Monetary Policy Committee will announce it's decision on Thursday

The King has expressed his admiration for the “thin green line” of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

A former subpostmaster is starting legal action against the Post Office and Fujitsu over the Horizon IT scandal.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke for about an hour on Wednesday, the US leader said, a day after he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin’s resistance to accepting am immediate ceasefire without conditions is “disappointing” and Ukraine has Britain’s “unwavering support”, Downing Street has said amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Santander is closing more than a fifth of its high street branches under a major overhaul of its network in the UK, in a move that puts around 750 jobs under threat.

A triple murderer who killed three members of his family and was plotting a school shooting has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 49 years.

Sir Gareth Southgate has said “manipulative and toxic influencers” trick young men into thinking women are against them, days after a court heard a killer “turned to” Andrew Tate the day before murdering three people.

The UK’s top stocks and shares Isa investors have built fortunes worth more than 13 times the size of the biggest cash Isas typically, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures.

The amount of plastic litter on beaches around the UK increased by almost a tenth last year, volunteer beach cleans have revealed.

Progress in slashing smoking rates across England has “stalled” in recent years, with apparent increases in some areas, researchers have warned.

Two men have been found guilty over the theft of a £4.75 million gold toilet from Blenheim Palace.

Benefit reforms branded the biggest shake-up to the welfare system in a generation will create a “pro-work system”, the Government has said.

All 18 British nationals killed in Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 have been named for the first time in a report commissioned by MPs and peers.

The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at a record high of nearly £17 billion.

The King and Queen’s planned state visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis will go ahead despite the pontiff’s continuing hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the new prime minister of Canada to Downing Street on his first foreign trip since being sworn in last week.

James Lee Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK under their drag name, was found dead at the age of 32 at their home in Cheshire on January 5.

A former scout leader and school housemaster has been found guilty of numerous sexual offences against young boys after spending 27 years on the run using a stolen identity.

A surge in the number of failed asylum seekers appealing against their rejections has left the system struggling to cope, figures have revealed.

Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting backbench discontent as the Government prepares to announce sweeping changes to the welfare system this week.

They’re opposed to the decision to hand the islands over to Mauritius

Jack Draper savoured the biggest win of his career after the British number one defeated Holger Rune in straight sets to be crowned Indian Wells champion and win his first ATP Masters 1000 title.

The future of computing will revolve around smart glasses and headsets powered by AI and able to help users with everything they do throughout the day, Meta executives have suggested.

The Monetary Policy Committee are said to be taking a gradual approach

Technology firms must tackle illegal content on their platforms under new rules

Only nine upper-tier authorities are keeping increases to 4.5% or below

Newcastle ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy as they beat Liverpool at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup.

Tina Nash's attacker got a life sentence but is being moved to an open prison

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak ended 70 years of hurt as they fired Newcastle to Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool.

Arsenal brought their three-game winless run in the Premier League to an end with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates to strengthen their grip on second place.

The spring equinox will bring hot weather and temperatures of up to 19C in the south

Lando Norris has admitted for the first time that he believes he is the favourite to land his maiden world championship following a statement victory at Sunday’s rain-hit Australian Grand Prix.

The Health Secretary thinks frontline staff will back his reforms to the health service

Experts think the pub group will seize more market share from smaller competitors

The SNP has been accused of presiding over a national “scandal” in the NHS as women are forced to wait years for hysterectomies.

The Scottish Government and environment agency NatureScot must step in to protect “critically endangered” freshwater pearl mussels before they become extinct because of the threat posed by wind farm developments, an expert has warned.

The Sunday Times list also includes John Frieda and Trinny Woodall

Teams of top doctors were sent in to reduce lists to get people back to work

Donald Trump says he's acted to protect a "vital" commercial shipping lane

They've beaten Italy 22-17

Planning for a peacekeeping force for Ukraine will move to an “operational phase”, the Prime Minister has said after a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Saturday.

The Russian captain of the container ship that crashed into a US oil tanker in the North Sea has appeared in court, where he was remanded in custody.

Vladimir Putin will “sooner or later” have to come to the negotiating table, Sir Keir Starmer said as he began further talks on a “coalition of the willing” on Saturday.

Four people have been charged with the murder of a woman who was shot dead in what may be a case of mistaken identity.

The replacements for Nasa’s two stuck astronauts have launched to the International Space Station, paving the way for the pair’s return after nine months.

Some families see school as “optional” since the pandemic – and fines for unauthorised absences are “not reversing” the trend, the leader of a headteachers’ union will say.

Russian President Vladimir Putin must stop playing games with a ceasefire and come to the table, Sir Keir Starmer said, as he convenes world leaders to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine.

The 59 year-old Russian is accused over the death of a missing crewman

Mark Ross will serve a minimum 30 years in prison

Bridget Phillipson says schools have “full backing” on removing disruptive phones from classrooms.

New boss Thomas Tuchel has named uncapped defenders Myles Lewis-Skelly and Dan Burn in his first England squad and handed recalls to Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.

Early risers were able to witness a partial lunar eclipse – or “blood moon” – before dawn on Friday.

Britain’s economy got shrank in the first month of the year.

The Prince of Wales has said he posts anonymously on Aston Villa fan forums and described his match day superstitions.

John Lennon’s life and career is being celebrated with the launch of a commemorative coin.

Tens of thousands of native tree seeds have been sown by drone as part of efforts to triple the amount of rare rainforest in south-west England.

Manchester United, Tottenham and Rangers all booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

One in three employees dislike work team-building activities, new research suggests.

The UK is “perilously vulnerable” to disruptions in the supply of the likes of antibiotics, vaccines and diagnostic tests, experts have warned.

Prisons are forecast to run out of space again in early 2026 as years of government efforts have failed to create the extra capacity needed, MPs have warned.

Sir Keir Starmer says the body will be abolished to

He will plans for greater use of AI and technology across the Service

The terrorism definition should not be changed in the wake of the Southport murders but a new offence to address the gap for lone individuals planning mass killings should be considered, the UK’s terror watchdog has said.

That's despite a rise in profits

Persistently high teacher leaving rates and “sluggish” recruitment in England have led to larger class sizes and a greater reliance on unqualified staff, a report has suggested.

His first race for the Scuderia is in Australia this weekend

Momentum in the UK housing market slowed in February amid signs of weakening buyer confidence, according to surveyors.

The Gunners beat PSV 9-3 on aggregate

The Midlands side beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate

An estimated 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK last year – with French bulldogs now the most likely breed to be taken, according to police figures.

President Donald Trump has said he does not want “to do anything to hurt Ireland” but added that the trade relationship between the countries should be focused on “fairness”.

Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken of her “sense of relief” after announcing she plans to step down next year.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK would keep open the option of retaliatory measures after Donald Trump hit steel and aluminium imports with 25% tariffs.

She represents the Glasgow Southside constituency

Nearly 40,000 child sexual abuse offences were committed by children in the space of a year, a new report has found.

Pharmacies in England are twice as likely to prescribe antibiotics for a sore throat compared to those in Wales, according to analysis.

The move has been described as "hugely disappointing"

Almost 200,000 UK deaths from breast cancer have been averted since the late 80s, according to a new report.

It's the first review of the rules in more than a decade

Prescriptions for drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have jumped 18% year-on-year since the pandemic, research suggests.

The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after the collision between a tanker and a cargo vessel in the North Sea.

Kyle Clifford was described by the judge as a “jealous man soaked in self pity, who holds women in utter contempt”.

The regulator is currently reviewing the past use of motor finance discretionary commission arrangements

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says would be the “world’s greatest” football ground.

They are to receive £50 each from next month

Coastguard aircraft were monitoring the site of the incident off the East Yorkshire coast

It hailed the turnaround of the department store brand it bought out of administration three years ago

The two sides meet this evening at Anfield

The Government has promised to “unleash seismic reforms” to the planning system as it publishes major new legislation on Tuesday.

Children who regularly eat fish could be more sociable and kind than their peers, a new study suggests.

Two ships carrying dangerous cargo collided off the coast of Yorkshire

The Princess of Wales returned to the Family of Nations when she joined the King and Queen in celebrating Commonwealth Day.

It follows his conviction for assaulting a constituent

A woman who was shot dead in a residential street in South Wales is believed to be Joanne Penney

The vessel crashed with a cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire this morning

The oil tanker and cargo vessel crashed off the East Yorkshire coast

The AA says people need to be persuaded that EVs are desirable

Automatic sentence reductions for guilty pleas should be less “generous” when there is “no question of guilt”, a Conservative MP has said, following calls from the family of a crash victim.

Almost every pharmacy is unable to dispense prescriptions at least once a day

The former Governor of the Bank of England has been elected Liberal Party leader

Daniel Day accused of causing a public nuisance

A man has been charged with the murder of a boy who was fatally shot in south London.

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has said it is a “given” that Daniel Craig’s successor should be British.

A man has been arrested after spending more than 16 hours barefoot and holding a Palestine flag while perched on the clock tower of Big Ben.

The King will praise the Family of Nations’ ability to “come together” in the spirit of friendship “in these uncertain times”, during his annual message to mark Commonwealth Day.

There’ll be a minute’s silence at midday

A body which has been recovered from the River Thames by police is being linked to a murder investigation in Kent, officers said.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that he looks “forward to the achievements possible in an equal world”, as he marked International Women’s Day with a message for his daughter.

A shooting at a pub in east Toronto left 12 people wounded, police said.

Indie rockers Blossoms and Panic Over will be among the music artists to benefit from a pot of £1.6 million.

Betsy Arakawa died of a rare disease often spread by rats

The King collaborates with Apple Music as he shares personal playlist for new show

The double Olympic champion is "ready for a new challenge"

An unexploded Second World War bomb's been found near tracks in the French capital

The UK's expected to be hotter than Spain today

It's for customers hit by outages

She was hit by a car on a sports pitch

The Toffees will move into Bramley-Moore Dock at the start of next season

Eddie Dempsey will replace Mick Lynch from Friday

Neil Young, The 1975 and Olivia Rodrigo to headline

The Royal College of Paediatrics says it's "Victorian"

A new set of stamps is being issued marking the diversity of wildlife in the UK’s gardens.

The UK has more women doctors than men for the first time, according to new figures.

Economic growth is forecast to slow amid concerns over US tariffs on whisky after Scotland outperformed the UK last year.

Harvey Elliott struck a late winner as Liverpool withstood a barrage of pressure to snatch a 1-0 victory at Paris St Germain while Harry Kane’s double put Bayern Munich within reach of the quarter-finals.

A second child's been injured

Paddy Power loses a court battle over a £1M prize it refused to pay out

The Prince of Wales suggested NHS staff should have enforced career breaks to aid their mental health, during a meeting to hear how health workers coped with the pandemic.

A Chinese PhD student has been convicted of drugging and raping 10 women.

The 16-year-old boy shot dead in Stockwell was a “very bright” pupil at school and was called Lathaniel, locals said.

A paddleboard tour company owner has pleaded guilty to five charges in connection with the deaths of four people in 2021.

He scored 5,800 runs in 154 innings

It's amid political woes in Romania

He says his ‘heart not into practising’

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that despite announcing a record level of sitting days for crown court judges to tackle delays, the “sad reality” is the backlog of cases will “still go up”.

A new documentary to celebrate the “life and legacy” of drag star The Vivienne is in production, it has been announced.

That's according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders

The Pope is resting after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

Rishi Sunak has said the Stop The Boats slogan during his time as prime minister was “too stark”.

Experts found that resistance or muscle-strengthening exercises – such as lifting dumbbells or using gym equipment – helped cut sleeplessness.

Petrol prices have reached a six-month high, according to new analysis.

An artificial intelligence (AI) platform designed to reduce hospital admissions by predicting when an elderly person is likely to fall at home or become ill is set to be rolled out nationwide.

A 16-year-old boy has died after being shot in Clapham, south London, on Tuesday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said.

Two surgeons who led the separation of conjoined twins 40 years ago in the UK have been reunited with one of the girls.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the Oval Office dispute with US President Donald Trump was “regrettable”, and that “it is time to make things right”.

President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico finally went into effect on Tuesday, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ allies.

Farmers returned to central London on Tuesday to protest over inheritance tax changes with a Pancake Day rally.

A triple killer raped his ex-girlfriend in a “violent, sexual act of spite” during an attack which saw him murder her and her sister with a crossbow and their mother with a butcher’s knife, a court has heard.

The headteachers' union has revealed a shocking amount of abuse by parents

There has been a drop in school engagement and wellbeing since before the Covid-19 pandemic, with higher rates of non-attendance and more school avoidance, a report into the School Complete Programme (SCP) has found.

Retailers' figure show a sharp increase on last month

Donald Trump says it won't resume until President Zelensky is "committed" to his peace deal

Food prices have risen at their third fastest monthly rate in a year amid hikes in the cost of butter, cheese, eggs and bread, figures show.

Thousands of jobs are at risk in higher education as the sector faces an “unprecedented crisis” amid escalating disputes, it is being warned.

A man who murdered his son’s girlfriend after wrongly believing she was trying to scam him has been jailed for at least 20 years.

The Prime Minister said the European “coalition of the willing” has been formed to avoid moving “at the speed of the most reluctant and that will be too slow”.

One person has been killed and others injured when a car was rammed into a crowd in western Germany, according to police.

Nearly 600 migrants arrived in the UK on Sunday after crossing the Channel, according to data released by the Home Office.

American actors Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison were among the big winners at the Oscars on a night which saw Anora leading the pack with five wins.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to return to the Commons on Monday for the first time since his blitz of high-stakes diplomatic action across the Atlantic and in London.

They'll find out if their children will get the school places they want

The role saw her play a lawyer who helps a Mexican drug lord change gender

Succession star Kieran Culkin has continued his award season success streak as he was named the winner of the best supporting actor category at the Oscars.

A British-Israeli woman held hostage by Hamas for 15 months said her scars represent “freedom, hope and strength” as she underwent surgery for injuries sustained during the October 7 attacks.

British stars Ralph Fiennes, Cynthia Erivo and Felicity Jones will be hoping for Oscar success in the acting categories at this year’s ceremony.

Cynthia Erivo is just one step away from Egot glory as she is set to compete for a second time for the best actress award at the Oscars ceremony, this time for her role in the musical Wicked.

Ministers are expected to axe plans to give people a right to “switch off” outside work hours, reports have suggested.

Jean-Philippe Mateta suffered a serious ear injury after he was on the end of a horror challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the all-south London FA Cup tie.

European leaders will gather in London on Sunday to forge a common position on ending the war in Ukraine, before the country’s premier heads off to meet the King.

The legacy of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who died in October at the age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, has been celebrated at the Brit Awards.

Charli XCX has continued her Brat domination at the Brit Awards, winning five categories including the coveted album of the year for her culture-shaping record Brat.

Train fares in England and Wales will rise by around 4.6%, while railcards become more expensive, despite record low reliability of services.

A former train manager has been jailed for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman after asking to check her ticket.

Supermarket customers report receiving fish steaks instead of cupcakes and sanitary towels in place of sandwich wraps as grocers grappled with suitable substitutions for online orders.

Teachers are to be consulted about a 2.8% pay rise and whether they are prepared to strike over the offer.

“I can finally live my life again"

Expected to sign a deal on Ukrainian minerals

He will quit after Saturday's game against South Africa

PM back from Trump White House trip

Man rebailed for seventh time

"wife sectioning me is the best thing to happen"

Customers hit on payday for second month in a row

Apprentice contestant Dr Jana Denzel has said a “really hurtful” remark from Lord Alan Sugar prompted him to quit the BBC One show.

Workers put in £31 billion worth of unpaid overtime last year, with teachers and health and care managers working the longest hours for free, research suggests.

The families of children with a severe genetic muscle-wasting condition claim NHS failings are preventing them from accessing a drug that slows its progression.