Ellie Ng

Cambridge University will continue investigating the circumstances of Jason Arday’s appointment and tenure after his resignation amid plagiarism allegations and questions about other claims in his biography. Cambridge academic Priyamvada Gopal and dozens of colleagues are demanding an independent, transparent inquiry into the appointment, the handling of the allegations, media communications and possible efforts to deter reporting. Cambridge’s review plans have been criticized as the university “marking its own homework.” Liverpool John Moores University previously cleared Arday of wrongdoing, while the Metropolitan Police faced criticism over its handling of a harassment complaint involving a journalist who contacted him.

Three West Midlands men—Asaf Afsar, Mark Regan and Liam McGarry—have been charged over alleged plots to assault two Pakistani dissidents at addresses in Cambridgeshire and Chesham on Christmas Eve 2025. Four other men had previously been charged in connection with the investigation, including Doneto Brammer, who also faces weapon and arson conspiracy charges linked to a New Year’s Eve incident. The newly charged men are due before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, while the four earlier defendants were remanded ahead of an Old Bailey hearing.

Holocaust survivor Annick Lever recounts how her Jewish mother, aunt and grandparents were imprisoned in Nazi-occupied France and murdered after being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, while she was smuggled to safety as an infant. Now 82, Lever fears that growing hatred and continuing genocides could indicate history is repeating itself. Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, she urges younger generations to preserve the memory of the Holocaust, reject hatred based on religion or skin colour, and respect everyone as a fellow human being.

The Met Office says a white Christmas is highly unlikely across the UK, although Jersey recorded snowflakes. Strong easterly winds are expected on Christmas Day, with gusts of up to 55–65mph in exposed coastal and hilly areas of southern England, Wales and elsewhere, potentially disrupting transport and power supplies. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow cold-health alert for South West England through December 27, warning of increased risks for vulnerable people. Frost and freezing temperatures are expected overnight, including lows of around minus 6C in rural Scotland and minus 4C in rural Wales.

Police forces across the UK arrested 1,965 people, shut down 241 county lines and seized weapons, drugs and £2.4 million in cash during a crackdown from June 23 to 29. The Metropolitan Police made 301 arrests in London, closed more than 100 drug lines and seized firearms, other weapons, nearly 70kg of class A drugs and more than £600,000. Police also safeguarded 1,179 vulnerable or young people nationally, including 260 in London, amid concerns that county lines gangs exploit children and people with mental health or addiction issues.

Callum Ulysses Parslow was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 22 years and eight months, for attempting to murder asylum seeker Nahom Hagos at a Worcestershire hotel in April 2024. The judge described the stabbing as a terrorist attack motivated by Parslow’s neo-Nazi, racist ideology. Parslow had written a terrorist manifesto and attempted to share it online, while also pleading guilty to an unrelated sexual offence and communications offences. Hagos continues to suffer severe physical and psychological consequences, including chronic hand pain, insomnia and fear of being outside. The court also heard that Parslow had previously sent sexually explicit, racist and violent messages to women and had a prior conviction for stalking and offensive communications.