UK & National News

Houses of Parliament (John Walton/PA)

Fire outbreaks in Palace of Westminster spark ‘Notre Dame inferno’ warning

(Peter Byrne/PA)

(Peter Byrne/PA)

Police hunt suspect after serious assault in Plymouth

A firefighter monitors flames caused by the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, California (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

A firefighter monitors flames caused by the Hughes Fire along Castaic Lake in Castaic, California (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

More than 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings from new fire

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrives at the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles in 2022 (AP)

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrives at the BET Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles in 2022 (AP)

Sean Combs sues man who claimed to have incriminating sex tapes

Strong winds are set to batter parts of the country as Storm Eowyn arrives (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Strong winds are set to batter parts of the country as Storm Eowyn arrives (Owen Humphreys/PA)

UK braced for strong winds, rain and snow as Storm Eowyn set to batter country

(left to right) Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton TD, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD, and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin address the media outside Government Buildings, Dublin, after the Dail was adjourned amid chaotic scenes on Wednesday

(left to right) Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton TD, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD, and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin address the media outside Government Buildings, Dublin, after the Dail was adjourned amid chaotic scenes on Wednesday

Irish parliament to reconvene after unprecedented row over speaking time

The designs for the renewed playground of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens (The Royal Parks/Timberplay/PA)

The designs for the renewed playground of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens (The Royal Parks/Timberplay/PA)

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground to receive £3m upgrade

Axel Rudakubana is due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday (Merseyside Police/PA)

Axel Rudakubana is due to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday (Merseyside Police/PA)

Child-killer Axel Rudakubana to be sentenced for dance class murders

People at a Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) protest outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, campaigning for justice and full compensation. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2024 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

People at a Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) protest outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, campaigning for justice and full compensation. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2024 (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Waspi compensation calls could face symbolic Commons vote

The new stamps feature items from the Royal Armouries collection (Royal Mail/PA)

The new stamps feature items from the Royal Armouries collection (Royal Mail/PA)

New stamps celebrate ‘magnificent’ items in Royal Armouries collection

More than one in four parents have bent the rules, lied or played the system to get their child into their preferred school (Ian West/PA)

More than one in four parents have bent the rules, lied or played the system to get their child into their preferred school (Ian West/PA)

More than one in four parents break admissions rules or play the system – poll

One in 20 adults in England smoke and vape (Alamy/PA)

One in 20 adults in England smoke and vape (Alamy/PA)

One in 20 adults in England smoke and vape – study

A poll of more than 1,200 recent graduates found half have undertaken an internship (PA)

A poll of more than 1,200 recent graduates found half have undertaken an internship (PA)

Growing gap in access to internships, study suggests

Projects such as the Sizewell C nuclear plant have been held up by judicial reviews. (Chris Radburn/PA)

Projects such as the Sizewell C nuclear plant have been held up by judicial reviews. (Chris Radburn/PA)

PM vows to curb ‘Nimby’ court battles over major projects

Concerns have been raised about funding for GPs (PA)

Concerns have been raised about funding for GPs (PA)

GP surgeries unable to recruit due to lack of funds and space, experts warn

Author Mick Herron has been honoured for his crime-writing (Ian West/PA)

Author Mick Herron has been honoured for his crime-writing (Ian West/PA)

Slow Horses creator wins crime writers award for ‘reinventing spy thrillers’

Consumer expectations for the economy have fallen to a ‘new low’, according to a poll for the British Retail Consortium (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Consumer expectations for the economy have fallen to a ‘new low’, according to a poll for the British Retail Consortium (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Consumer expectations for economy plunge to ‘new low’

Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden for The Fifth Step (Phil Fisk/PA)

Martin Freeman and Jack Lowden for The Fifth Step (Phil Fisk/PA)

Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman to star in West End play about addiction

Half of motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests, an investigation has found, sparking calls for a fresh approach to tackle the ‘growing epidemic’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

Half of motorists pulled over on suspicion of drug-driving fail roadside drug tests, an investigation has found, sparking calls for a fresh approach to tackle the ‘growing epidemic’ (Liam McBurney/PA)

Half of roadside drug-driving tests get positive result

Exercising prior to surgery could slash the risk of complications by half (Jacob King/PA)

Exercising prior to surgery could slash the risk of complications by half (Jacob King/PA)

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Exercise and eating better prior to surgery cuts complication risks – study

Former Spice Girl and patron of Women’s Aid, Melanie Brown (Lucy North/PA)

Former Spice Girl and patron of Women’s Aid, Melanie Brown (Lucy North/PA)

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Melanie Brown calls for action rather than talking on domestic abuse

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (PA)

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (PA)

‘Farcical’ Irish parliament row sees efforts to appoint a premier fail

Twelve people have been charged after phones were stolen from 13 different Apple stores (PA)

Twelve people have been charged after phones were stolen from 13 different Apple stores (PA)

12 charged after phones stolen from Apple stores across London

Dasia Pleitez prays as she waits for her daughter at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville (George Walker IV/AP)

Dasia Pleitez prays as she waits for her daughter at a unification site following a shooting at the Antioch High School in Nashville (George Walker IV/AP)

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Teenage gunman kills female student and himself at US high school

Volunteers talk in a tent along a border wall separating Mexico from the US (Gregory Bull/AP)

Volunteers talk in a tent along a border wall separating Mexico from the US (Gregory Bull/AP)

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Pentagon to send up to 1,500 troops to help secure US-Mexico border – officials

ASAP Rocky, centre, arrives at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Centre in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

ASAP Rocky, centre, arrives at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Centre in Los Angeles (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

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ASAP Rocky’s lawyers look for jurors on charges he fired gun at former friend

Amnesty International hold a vigil for British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Amnesty International hold a vigil for British-Egyptian writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

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Family hope David Lammy’s Egypt visit can lead to release of jailed writer

President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

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Trump tells Putin to end ‘ridiculous’ Ukraine war or face further sanctions

Queen Camilla speaks to guests as she hosts a reception at Clarence House (PA)

Queen Camilla speaks to guests as she hosts a reception at Clarence House (PA)

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Queen receives ‘sweet’ picture from girl as she hosts equestrian athletes

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD (left) and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin address the media outside Government Buildings in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris TD (left) and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin address the media outside Government Buildings in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

Row in Irish parliament a ‘subversion of constitution’ and ‘farcical’

The Prime Minister and his wife hosted Holocaust survivor Renee Salt, 95, at a Downing Street reception on Wednesday (Alberto Pizzoli/PA)

The Prime Minister and his wife hosted Holocaust survivor Renee Salt, 95, at a Downing Street reception on Wednesday (Alberto Pizzoli/PA)

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Starmer hails Holocaust survivors’ ‘remarkable courage’ ahead of memorial day

First Minister John Swinney, who is calling on Westminster to work with him to develop a ‘tailored’ migration policy for Scotland (PA)

First Minister John Swinney, who is calling on Westminster to work with him to develop a ‘tailored’ migration policy for Scotland (PA)

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Westminster says it has ‘no plans’ for bespoke migration policy for Scotland

Redundancy payments to MPs’ staff after the 2024 election cost millions of pounds. (John Walton/PA)

Redundancy payments to MPs’ staff after the 2024 election cost millions of pounds. (John Walton/PA)

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Election losses cost 2,000 people their jobs, says Westminster watchdog

Hope Gordon, six, whose body was found with her father Mark Gordon’s body at a property in West Calder on Monday afternoon (Police Scotland/PA)

Hope Gordon, six, whose body was found with her father Mark Gordon’s body at a property in West Calder on Monday afternoon (Police Scotland/PA)

School headteacher pays tribute to ‘much-loved’ pupil, six, found dead

Experts have warned that there could be 33.5 million A&E attendances in 2034 without reform (PA)

Experts have warned that there could be 33.5 million A&E attendances in 2034 without reform (PA)

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‘A&Es will treat equivalent of half the population each year without reform’

Italian justice minister Carlo Nordio puts his hand to his head during the presentation of the report on the justice administration at the Senate in Rome (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

Italian justice minister Carlo Nordio puts his hand to his head during the presentation of the report on the justice administration at the Senate in Rome (Roberto Monaldo//LaPresse via AP)

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Italy under fire for releasing Libya warlord accused of war crimes

York Minster in North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)

York Minster in North Yorkshire (Danny Lawson/PA)

3

Minister swerves ‘cultural mutilation’ claim as church VAT scheme extended

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Irish parliament fails to nominate new taoiseach

James Dixon and Thomas Loring (Metropolitan Police/PA)

James Dixon and Thomas Loring (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Jail sentences for pair after TV antique expert’s Chelsea jewellery store robbed

RFA Proteus monitoring Russian ship Yantar in November 2024 (Royal Navy/PA)

RFA Proteus monitoring Russian ship Yantar in November 2024 (Royal Navy/PA)

Royal Navy submarine used to warn off Russian spy ship loitering over cables

News Group Newspapers have issued an ‘unequivocal apology’ to the Duke of Sussex (Victoria Jones/PA)

News Group Newspapers have issued an ‘unequivocal apology’ to the Duke of Sussex (Victoria Jones/PA)

Duke of Sussex given apology over ‘unlawful activities’ from The Sun publisher

The Bank of England, London (PA)

The Bank of England, London (PA)

MPs back Bill to prevent taxpayers being ‘on the hook for small bank failures’

The chairman of a spending watchdog has urged HM Revenue and Customs to ‘take seriously’ its recommendations (Alamy/PA)

The chairman of a spending watchdog has urged HM Revenue and Customs to ‘take seriously’ its recommendations (Alamy/PA)

HMRC should ‘take seriously’ recommendations, says spending watchdog chairman

Workers clear a road cut off by a landslide following a flash flood in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia (Janaki DM/AP)

Workers clear a road cut off by a landslide following a flash flood in Pekalongan, Central Java, Indonesia (Janaki DM/AP)

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Death toll in deadly flooding and landslides in Indonesia rises to 21

The Houses of Parliament in London. MPs would face security risks frequenting pubs outside Parliament if all bars on the estate were closed, the leader of the House of Commons has suggested. (Lucy North/PA)

The Houses of Parliament in London. MPs would face security risks frequenting pubs outside Parliament if all bars on the estate were closed, the leader of the House of Commons has suggested. (Lucy North/PA)

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MPs would face security risks while drinking if Parliament bars closed – Powell

The fire hit the hotel at a ski resort of Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province, in north-west Turkey (Enes Ozkan/IHA via AP)

The fire hit the hotel at a ski resort of Kartalkaya, located in Bolu province, in north-west Turkey (Enes Ozkan/IHA via AP)

Witnesses describe helplessness over Turkish ski hotel fire horror

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin had been poised to become the new Taioiseach until a row over speaking time in the Dail delayed proceedings (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin had been poised to become the new Taioiseach until a row over speaking time in the Dail delayed proceedings (Gareth Chaney/PA)

Taoiseach selection delayed as Irish Parliament erupts in row

Kim Leadbeater’s proposed law to legalise assisted dying has passed its latest test in the Commons (Ben Whitley/PA)

Kim Leadbeater’s proposed law to legalise assisted dying has passed its latest test in the Commons (Ben Whitley/PA)

Assisted dying proposal clears latest Commons test amid money questions

Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Barry Heneghan in the Dail chamber ahead of the vote on the nomination of Micheal Martin as taoiseach (Handout/PA)

Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Barry Heneghan in the Dail chamber ahead of the vote on the nomination of Micheal Martin as taoiseach (Handout/PA)

Row over opposition speaking rights leads to delay in electing taoiseach

The US president’s mother was born on the Isle of Lewis (Evan Vucci/AP)

The US president’s mother was born on the Isle of Lewis (Evan Vucci/AP)

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Trump’s ‘deep affection’ for Scotland should be used to country’s advantage – MP

Marianne Kilonzi, who was found beaten to death in her flat in south-east London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Marianne Kilonzi, who was found beaten to death in her flat in south-east London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Citibank boss ‘killer’ may have fled abroad, say police

The Prime Minister said there must be ‘a fundamental change in how Britain protects its citizens and its children’ (James Manning/PA)

The Prime Minister said there must be ‘a fundamental change in how Britain protects its citizens and its children’ (James Manning/PA)

Starmer promises tougher rules on online knife sales after Southport murders

The number of people in England with a disabled parking badge increased by 10.5% in a year to reach a record high, new figures show (Alamy/PA)

The number of people in England with a disabled parking badge increased by 10.5% in a year to reach a record high, new figures show (Alamy/PA)

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Number of blue badges in England rises 10.5% in a year to record high

HMS Somerset flanking Russian ship Yantar near UK waters (Royal Navy/PA)

HMS Somerset flanking Russian ship Yantar near UK waters (Royal Navy/PA)

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Royal Navy sub used to warn off Russian spy ship, Healey tells MPs