UK

There’s been a huge increase in animal neglect and abandonment in England and Wales and the RSPCA’s rescue centres are “absolutely full”, according to the charity. New figures show there were 38,977 incidents of neglect reported to the RSPCA’s emergency cruelty line between January and September 2023. But for the same period in 2024, there

A headteacher who was in charge of a school ski trip where a girl was said to have been blackmailed into having sex has been banned from teaching. Justine Drury, 52, was head of CP Riverside School in Nottingham – which provides education for children aged 13 to 16 with behaviour or social issues –

Average water bills in England and Wales will increase by 36% over the next five years, water regulator Ofwat has said. The rise is equivalent to an average extra of £31 per year. Water companies had asked for an average rise of 40%. The regulator’s draft determinations issued in July said the bills would rise

Sir Keir Starmer has nominated his former top adviser Sue Gray for a peerage. Ms Gray, whose report into the partygate scandal contributed to the downfall of former prime minister Boris Johnson, is among 30 new Labour peerages announced ahead of Christmas to redress the party “imbalance” in the House of Lords. The Conservatives have

Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan must forfeit more than £2m after a judge ruled they failed to pay any tax on £21m in revenue from online businesses including OnlyFans. Devon and Cornwall Police brought the civil case to seize £2.8m held in seven frozen bank accounts from the Tate brothers

Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike after rejecting a deal aimed at resolving a dispute over rest day working. Train managers will strike on New Year’s Eve, 2 January and Sundays between 12 January and 25 May, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said. An RMT spokesperson said: “Our members have resoundingly

Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother have been handed life sentences for murdering the 10-year-old after she suffered years of abuse. Warning this story contains distressing details. Urfan Sharif, 42, will serve at least 40 years in prison and Beinash Batool, 30, a minimum of 33 years. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was also sentenced to

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not join the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham, Sky News understands. It comes after an alleged Chinese spy with links to the Duke of York was publicly named for the first time as High Court restrictions were lifted on Monday afternoon. Image: Alleged Chinese spy

A 12-year-old girl has been charged with manslaughter following the death of an 80-year-old grandfather, Leicestershire Police has said. Bhim Kohli died from serious injuries he allegedly suffered while walking his dog in Franklin Park, near his home in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, on 1 September. He died at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham the next

Police are appealing for the driver of a Porsche who fled after a two-year-old boy was killed in a car crash to hand themselves in. A woman aged 29 and a 30-year-old man are in a serious condition following the incident in Smethwick near Birmingham, while another man and woman aged 30 are stable, West

A murder investigation is under way after a woman was killed and two men injured in a triple shooting in northwest London. Metropolitan Police officers were called to reports of a shooting at around 9.15pm on Saturday in Gifford Road in Harlesden. The woman, believed to be in her 40s, was found injured but despite

Eight people are injured in Glasgow after a double decker bus hit a railway bridge. One person is in a critical condition, according to the police, and five people were taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment. Footage posted online shows a First Bus wedged under the bridge on Cook Street on

Government departments are doing “anything to avoid” sharing information about Prince Andrew’s past business dealings. The claim comes from author Andrew Lownie who’s been working for four years on a new book about the Duke of York. He has submitted over a hundred requests to Whitehall departments only to find that information “has vanished”. Speaking

Prince Andrew says he “ceased all contact” with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after concerns were raised with him by the government. In a statement from his office, the Duke of York said he had cut ties following “advice” from officials but insisted the pair had never discussed anything of a “sensitive

Concerns about Sara Sharif’s care were first raised when she was less than a week old – and her parents were known to social services three years prior, newly-reportable details show. The 10-year-old girl was found dead at her family home in Woking, Surrey, in August last year, with her father and stepmother having already

A former British paratrooper was unlawfully killed in Ukraine, a coroner has concluded. Daniel Burke died from multiple gunshot wounds in September 2023. At the inquest at Manchester City Coroner’s Office, the coroner said: “Daniel was unlawfully killed by someone who purported to be his friend. He died with bravery and valour but was killed