National News

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..

Traffic in the run-up to Christmas is expected to peak today with about 24.4 million cars expected on the UK’s roads..

A multimillion-pound research project will see some of the world’s leading experts use artificial intelligence to create the first-ever 3D movies of black holes..

Actor Idris Elba has said it is “surreal” to have his likeness made into a waxwork at Madame Tussauds in London..

Two out of three ambulance workers fear being attacked doing their job over the festive season, according to a new report..

Parents should lead by example and get off their phones this Christmas when spending time with family, England’s Children’s Commissioner has said..

Scottish actor Alan Cumming has been announced as the host of the 2026 Bafta film awards..

All secondary schools in England will have to teach students about healthy relationships to tackle misogyny as Sir Keir Starmer said too often toxic ideas are “going unchallenged”..

The Health Secretary has apologised to patients as doctors began a five-day walkout in England in an ongoing row over jobs and pay..

More than half of people began the year with plans to reduce the time they spent on their phone, but data indicates it was another record-breaking year for mobile data usage, new research suggests..

A target for reducing average driving test waiting times in Britain to seven weeks is not expected to be met for another two years, according to the public spending watchdog..

Inflation fell sharply last month as lower food prices helped to ease the cost of living for households across the UK, new official figures showed..

Children who lived in overcrowded or damp homes missed three weeks more school than other pupils over the course of their education, a study has found..

FIFA has introduced cheaper World Cup tickets for national teams’ most loyal fans after an outcry over pricing erupted last week..

Morrisons faces a £17 million tax bill after losing a legal challenge over whether VAT should be charged on its rotisserie chickens..

A man who “furiously and repeatedly” stabbed an 11-year-old girl in a random knife attack in Leicester Square has been detained indefinitely..

A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a nine-year-old girl..

The driver who ploughed through crowds at Liverpool FC’s victory parade, injuring 134 supporters, has been jailed for 21 years and six months..

Sir David Jason is to reunite with cast members from beloved sitcom Only Fools And Horses for a new documentary series..

Dentists in England will be paid more to see patients in need of urgent treatment under new reforms published by the Government..

More than half of teachers in England have worked at a school in the past year where at least one child was homeless, a survey has found..

Sir Cliff Richard has revealed he has been treated for prostate cancer for the past year..

A driver who used a car as a “weapon” to plough through more than 100 people celebrating Liverpool’s Premier League title win told officers “I’ve just ruined my family’s life”, a court heard..

Hollywood actors have paid tribute after the death of director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, and said they feel “devastated”..

Strikes by resident doctors in England will go ahead as planned after members of the British Medical Association rejected a new offer from the Government..

Former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle has told how he became suicidal during a struggle with alcoholism..

A robotic-assisted procedure that allows doctors to make microscopic movements in the lungs could help diagnose cancer cases much faster, a UK-first trial has shown..

House sales will edge down next year amid tight affordability for borrowers, according to a forecast from a banking and finance industry body..

At least 12 people, including a British-born rabbi, have died and 29 were injured when two “terrorist” gunmen targeted a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australian police have said..

Police will put more officers into Jewish communities after an antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Australia..

Specialist rape and sex offences investigators will be introduced to every police force as part of reforms to be introduced under the Government’s violence against women and girls (Vawg) strategy..

At least 12 people have been killed and 29 injured in a terrorist attack targeting a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australian police have said..

Scientists working at a remote British research station in the Antarctic received a special delivery of a new Royal Mail post box in time for Christmas – thanks to the King..

One of Britain’s most significant train timetable changes since the ill-fated May 2018 revamp comes into effect on Sunday..

The Metropolitan Police has decided not to launch a criminal investigation into reports that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre..

Migrants began crossing the English Channel on Saturday after the longest pause in small boat arrivals in the UK in seven years..

Two people have died in a house fire following reports of an explosion in the garden, police said..

The King’s message about his cancer recovery “will save lives”, Charles’ friend and authorised biographer Jonathan Dimbleby has said..

Martin Compston has lauded Sir Billy Connolly for dealing with Parkinson’s “incredibly bravely”..

Relatively unknown Nordic resorts are rivalling Italy and Bulgaria as Europe’s best value ski trip destinations, according to new research..

Laws governing the sale of alcohol at football matches are “outdated and out of touch”, the Scottish Government has been told as it was urged to lift the ban on drinking at games..

Half of secondary pupils have avoided school in the past year because of anxiety, a poll has found..

Shoppers increasingly turned to “alternative” ways to pay in 2024, such as buy now pay later methods, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)..

The UK’s economy contracted for the second month running in October, defying expectations for a rebound as car manufacturing only made a slight recovery from the Jaguar Land Recovery cyber attack.

A £20,000 reward is being offered to help find the killer of a grandmother found dead in her home..

Three men have been jailed for life after an an innocent grandfather was shot through his living room window in a murder which was caught on a doorbell camera..

A city council says it is “deeply saddened” by the theft of more than 600 artefacts from its museum collection..

The number of people in hospital in England with flu remains at a record level for this time of year and has jumped by 55% in a week, NHS figures show..

Liverpool is the most generous city in the UK this year, according to figures from a fundraising platform..

At least 18 million people could be offered extra help with their investments and pensions over the next decade with the “game changing” introduction of targeted support, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said..

President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela amid mounting tensions with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro..

Social media platforms must do more to stop explicit images of children being shared online, a police chief has said..

The Health Secretary has warned that a resident doctors’ strike over Christmas would have a “much different degree of risk” than previous walkouts, adding that he “cannot think of a single other trade union in this country that would behave this way”..

English actor Ray Winstone has said he is “very proud to be a Londoner” after receiving the Freedom of the City of London..

Iceland’s national broadcaster RUV has confirmed it will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026..

Bestselling author Sophie Kinsella has died after being diagnosed with a form of aggressive brain cancer..

Sir Keir Starmer said improving prospects for young people is “our generation’s greatest responsibility” as the Government launches its 10-year youth plan..

Contacts to the NSPCC from worried neighbours and community members concerned about child neglect rose by almost a third in a year as the charity warned that young people in danger must not “keep slipping through the cracks”..

Electric flying taxis may become available to London airport passengers from 2028, a UK company has announced..

Train services have been disrupted and ferries cancelled in Scotland as Storm Bram sweeps in with gusts of up to 90mph forecast..

Members of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have filed defamation proceedings against Irish national broadcaster RTE..

The biggest police force in the country is turning to facial recognition technology to stamp out the use of illegal e-bikes..

England’s hopes of launching an Ashes comeback in Adelaide have been hit by a series-ending injury to pace bowler Mark Wood..

Hollywood star James McAvoy has said he is “delighted” the UK premiere of his directorial debut will close the film festival in his home city next year..

Pre-Budget “jitters” among shoppers dampened a much-needed Black Friday boost for retailers, figures show..

Balloons containing up to six times the legal limit of carcinogens are available to UK consumers through leading online marketplaces, according to an investigation..

Trains will be given a Union flag-inspired red, white and blue paint job as part of the Government’s rail-nationalisation plans..

Victims of NHS maternity failings received “unacceptable care” leading to “tragic consequences”, the head of a probe into maternity care in England has said..

The Met Office has issued “danger to life” weather warnings for rain and wind in parts of Scotland, Wales, and South West England amid Storm Bram..

European allies have discussed “positive progress” towards using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, Downing Street said, after hosting crisis talks over the country’s future..

Guinness is to open its latest brewery in London later this week after a £73 million investment..

The Queen has met the cast and crew behind the dramatisation of her late friend Dame Jilly Cooper’s bestseller Rivals, expressing sadness that a woman who meant so much to her was not there..

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake has struck off northern Japan triggering a tsunami of up to 40 centimetres in coastal communities in the region, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said..

Mohamed Salah smiled and chatted to team-mates as he attended Liverpool’s first training session since his incendiary outburst at Elland Road on Saturday..

Wicked actress Ariana Grande, Hamnet actor Paul Mescal and Frankenstein star Jacob Elordi are among the nominees for the 2026 Golden Globe Awards..

Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to see more apprentices reach the Cabinet as he set out plans to boost the training schemes..

Crisis talks over the future of Ukraine have begun behind the black door of No 10 Downing Street, after the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London to meet European allies..