Mathilde Grandjean

More than 120 firefighters are tackling a major fire that spread from a burning vehicle on the A31 near Ringwood into internationally protected New Forest heathland. The blaze has affected about one square kilometre, damaged the road surface, safety barriers and fencing, and forced the A31 to close. Conservation officials warn that rare species and biodiversity may be seriously harmed, with some mature heathland features taking decades to recover. Fire crews are using drones, off-road vehicles and water drawn from a nearby lake, while authorities say there is currently no need to evacuate nearby properties.

Animal charities Blue Cross and Cats Protection have warned cat owners in flats and other elevated properties to secure windows, doors and balconies during hot weather. Falls involving indoor cats often increase in summer, and Blue Cross hospitals in London and Grimsby have treated 33 cats for related injuries this year. Younger, curious and unneutered cats may be especially vulnerable, with falls causing broken bones, internal trauma, brain damage or death. Recommended precautions include secure mesh or screens, never leaving openings unattended, neutering cats and providing indoor enrichment.

A vehicle fire on the eastbound A31 near Ringwood spread through the central reservation into adjoining heathland, prompting a major response involving 26 fire engines, water carriers, off-road vehicles and command units. The road was closed between Picket Post and junction two of the M27, with motorists advised to avoid the area. The blaze came amid multiple UK wildfires, exceptionally high fire-severity conditions and forecasts of further heatwave conditions, with temperatures potentially reaching 36°C in parts of southeast England.

The UK will experience its most extensive solar eclipse in 54 years on 12 August 2026, with more than 90 per cent of the Sun obscured between 6:17pm and 8:06pm. Devon, Cornwall and western Pembrokeshire are expected to have the greatest coverage, reaching 94–96 per cent, while eastern parts of the UK will see around 88–90 per cent. Plymouth is forecast to reach 94.66 per cent obscuration, with Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, London, Edinburgh and other cities seeing slightly lower levels. Experts warn that ordinary sunglasses are unsafe and recommend certified solar eclipse glasses, a solar telescope, organised astronomy events or indirect projection methods. The next UK eclipse of similar scale is expected in 2081, while the next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is forecast for 2090.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for much of England as temperatures are forecast to rise to 30–33°C across central and southern England and parts of Wales. The alerts run from 9am on 8 August to 9pm on 11 August and warn of pressure on health and social care services, including potentially increased deaths among older people and those with existing health conditions. The warnings follow a summer linked to more than 2,800 excess deaths and England and Wales experiencing their driest July since 1836.

Four former female recruits told the BBC they experienced rape, sexual assault or harassment while attending the Army Foundation College in Harrogate as teenagers. Allegations include a group rape, unwanted sexual touching, harassment, instructors rating girls’ appearances and entering dormitories while cadets were undressed. The British Army called the reports distressing, serious and unacceptable, urged victims and witnesses to come forward, and highlighted the independent Defence Serious Crime Command. Labour MP Emma Lewell said 122 investigations into sexual offences against under-18s at the college took place between 2021 and 2024, including 80 involving sexual assault, while North Yorkshire Council received 89 safeguarding notifications concerning staff over five years. The allegations emerged as the college prepared to hold a graduation parade for 900 junior soldiers.

Ryan Dinnage was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to eight years and six months in prison for raping a woman in her caravan after the 2022 Royal Windsor Horse Show. He initially denied sexual activity, then claimed it was consensual, but forensic and mobile-phone evidence contradicted his account. A jury convicted him of rape on 8 June 2025; he was acquitted of separate counts of sexual assault and causing non-penetrative sexual activity. Thames Valley Police said the victim had endured a lengthy and difficult process.

Detectives are offering a £20,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of 22-year-old Jordan Asije, who is sought after the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Finbar Sullivan on Primrose Hill in London on 7 April. Police have urged Asije to surrender and said they do not believe he poses a threat to the public. Three men have been charged with Sullivan’s murder and pleaded not guilty, while a fourth faces a grievous bodily harm charge.

The Metropolitan Police are offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Jordan Asije, 22, who is sought in connection with the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old student Finbar Sullivan on Primrose Hill. Police have urged Asije to surrender and warned anyone helping him evade arrest that they could face criminal investigation. Three men have been charged with Sullivan’s murder and another has been charged with grievous bodily harm; all remain in custody and the murder defendants have pleaded not guilty.

UK police seized more than 220,000 counterfeit football shirts and kits valued at over £18 million in a nationwide operation led by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit. The crackdown, intensified around the World Cup, targeted online marketplaces, apps and market stalls and resulted in six arrests. Authorities warned that counterfeit goods may be produced in unsafe conditions, contain harmful materials and generate revenue for organized crime. The operation comes amid criticism that rising prices for official replica shirts, including increases at eight Premier League clubs, are making them unaffordable for some fans.

Seven-year-old Musa Ahmed remains in critical condition after six family members got into difficulty in the water at West Mersea Beach. His relative Sameeha Rahman, 15, and her mother, Shelina Rahman, 41, both from Ilford, died after the 22 July incident. Other relatives were hospitalised but are recovering. Essex Police are investigating, while Musa’s father has called for improved beach safety measures, including additional life-saving equipment and clearer warning signs.

Seven-year-old Musa Ahmed remains in critical condition after six family members got into difficulty in the water at West Mersea Beach on 22 July. His 15-year-old cousin Sameeha Rahman and her mother, 41-year-old Shelina Rahman, died, while other relatives were hospitalised and are recovering. Essex Police are investigating with emergency-service and local-authority partners. Musa’s father, Shahin Ahmed, has called for a review of safety measures, including additional lifesaving equipment and clearer warning signs.

A 22-year-old woman died after a skydiving incident near Langar Airfield in Nottinghamshire. Emergency services found her in a nearby field and she was pronounced dead at the scene; no one else was injured. Nottinghamshire Police is investigating, preparing a file for the coroner, and appealing for information from witnesses.

A 75-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of photographing up a woman’s skirt aboard a Harrogate-to-York train on June 19. The woman confronted him and reported the incident to station staff, who contacted British Transport Police after the man left York station by bicycle. He was later bailed pending further inquiries.

A second man has been arrested in the Manchester area in connection with the suspected 1998 murder of 17-year-old Donna Keogh, whose body has never been found. A previous arrest earlier this year involved a man from Leeds who remains on bail. Cleveland Police continue to investigate, with Detective Inspector Evan Kirtley urging anyone with information to come forward. Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward, and recent inquiries have focused on Leeds. A 2018 excavation on Teesside uncovered remains later confirmed to be medieval.

A 22-year-old man was fatally stabbed at the junction of Bath Road and Great Southwest Road in Hounslow, west London, at 1:47 a.m. on Tuesday. Despite paramedics’ efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police has launched a murder investigation led by Detective Chief Inspector Paul Waller; no arrests have been made, and officers are appealing for CCTV, doorbell and mobile-phone footage while maintaining a large crime scene and increased local patrols.

A 22-year-old man died after being fatally stabbed at the junction of Bath Road and Great Southwest Road in Hounslow, west London. Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service crews attended at 1:47am, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made, a large crime scene remains in place, and local patrols have been increased. Police are appealing for witnesses and CCTV, doorbell or mobile phone footage.

Sally Lindsay, BBC director-general Matt Brittin and England rugby international Marlie Packer are among 67 people due to receive royal honours at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Lindsay will receive an MBE for contributions to drama, Brittin a CBE for services to technology and digital skills, and Packer an OBE for services to rugby union. The piece also outlines their acting, technology and sporting careers.

Janice Nix was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to 12 years in prison for the 1978 manslaughter of five-year-old Andrea Bernard, whom she scalded in a hot bath as punishment, and for cruelty toward Andrea's older brother, Desmond. Andrea suffered burns to half her body and died nearly six weeks later. The death was initially treated as an accident, but Desmond's account to police in 2022 led to the case being reopened. Evidence indicated that Andrea could not have remained in the bath voluntarily, while Nix admitted giving a false account to the coroner. Desmond said the abuse destroyed both his sister's life and his own, and Nix will be eligible for release on licence after serving two-thirds of her sentence.

Green Party leader and London Assembly member Zack Polanski was cleared of breaching the Greater London Authority Code of Conduct over allegations that he had not paid council tax on his houseboat. He said he believed council tax was covered through his mooring fees. Following concerns from Conservative and Labour members about whether the boat was his primary residence, the GLA monitoring officer concluded that the issue related solely to Polanski’s personal living arrangements and had no sufficient connection to his public role. Polanski apologised for failing to clarify his obligations and said he would pay any outstanding council tax or donate an equivalent amount to a homelessness charity.

Green Party leader and London Assembly member Zack Polanski was cleared by the Greater London Authority’s monitoring officer of breaching its Code of Conduct over uncertainty about council tax on his east London houseboat. Polanski said he believed council tax was included in his mooring or licence fees, acknowledged that he should have made further inquiries, and denied any attempt to evade obligations. The monitoring officer found no sufficient link between the matter and Polanski’s public role, rejected pursuing it as a potential criminal offence, and said no further action was required. Waltham Forest Council had not yet confirmed whether he owed council tax; Polanski pledged to pay any liability or donate an equivalent amount to a homelessness charity.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside Oxford Union to oppose a debate titled “The West Is Right To Be Suspicious Of Islam,” featuring far-right activist Tommy Robinson and former actor Laurence Fox. Protesters significantly outnumbered Robinson supporters, while police separated the groups, managed road closures and helped maintain safety. The event had been delayed after widespread criticism, including from faith leaders who said they were disturbed and saddened by Robinson’s invitation.

A 14-year-old girl appeared via videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court charged with three counts of attempted murder and two counts of possessing a bladed article after an alleged knife attack at a north Manchester school. Two pupils and a staff member were injured but released from hospital without serious harm. Counter Terrorism Police are investigating, although the incident has not formally been declared terrorism-related. The case was sent to the Crown Court, with the girl due to appear at the Old Bailey on 19 June.

A 14-year-old girl appeared via videolink at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of attempting to murder two pupils and a teacher during a knife attack at a north Manchester school. She faces three attempted murder charges and two counts of possessing a bladed article on school premises. The three injured people suffered no serious injuries and have been released from hospital. The case is being investigated by Counter Terrorism Police, although it has not been declared a terrorist incident. The defendant was remanded to youth detention accommodation and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 19 June.

King Charles III attended the British Asian Trust’s annual gala in London as the organization began celebrations for its 20th anniversary. Co-founder and patron of the Trust, Charles was praised by Meera Syal for maintaining his support despite his expanded responsibilities as monarch, particularly amid recent unrest linked to the murder of Henry Nowak. Chairman Jitesh Gadhia said the Trust’s programmes in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have reached 18.8 million people, focusing on mental health, education, child protection and conservation.

A handwritten 1991 thank-you letter from Diana, Princess of Wales, to actor Terence Stamp is due to be auctioned by Bonhams. In the letter, Diana appears to refer to using Prozac while discussing her personal struggles, thanking Stamp for taking the time to understand her situation. The note is expected to sell for between £1,500 and £2,000 and is part of an auction of items from Stamp’s estate, including film scripts, costumes and production memorabilia.

A handwritten 1991 letter from Diana, Princess of Wales, to actor Terence Stamp is expected to sell for £1,500–£2,000 at a Bonhams auction. The letter thanks Stamp for lunch and a personal conversation, and refers to Diana’s use of Prozac. The wider sale of Stamp’s estate includes Superman scripts, film costumes, photographs, furniture, fashion items and personal correspondence. Other notable lots include scripts estimated at £3,000–£5,000 and costumes from Wall Street and Last Night in Soho.

A 12-year-old boy died after being struck by a vehicle on Ashwells Road in Pilgrims Hatch, Essex. Essex Police arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man on suspicion of murder, and both remained in custody. Investigators appealed for CCTV footage and witness information, said the incident appeared to be isolated with no continuing threat to the community, and warned that Ashwells Road would remain closed temporarily.

Maxi-Cosi has recalled Family Fix Slide Pro Base car seats manufactured in China between 6 September and 24 March 2026 because a faulty safety indicator may show green even when the seat is not properly attached. Consumers are urged to stop using the product immediately and verify the model and manufacturing date using the label on the underside of the base and Maxi-Cosi’s website.

Maxi-Cosi has recalled all Family Fix Slide Pro Base baby car seat bases because a faulty safety indicator may display green even when the seat is not fully attached, creating a risk of detachment and injury. The affected bases were manufactured in China between 6 September of the previous year and 24 March 2026 and were deemed non-compliant with UK product safety regulations. Customers are advised to stop using the product and verify their model reference and manufacturing date through Maxi-Cosi’s website.

Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly died by suicide in 2017 after viewing harmful social media content, has urged the UK Government to make online platforms safer rather than imposing a blanket ban on under-16s. He supports ending engagement-based algorithms, infinite scrolling and disappearing messages for children, and preventing strangers from contacting them. Bereaved parents who met Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanded rapid action, while the Education Committee backed a statutory ban on social media for under-16s. The Government’s online-safety consultation received more than 80,000 responses, and ministers said measures would be announced within weeks.

Kate and Gerry McCann say they are disappointed that Channel 5’s true crime drama Under Suspicion: Kate McCann was made without their involvement or consent. They are concerned about the potential negative impact on their family, while Channel 5 says the sensitive production was created with accuracy, restraint and fairness. The drama portrays Kate McCann as a suspect during the investigation into Madeleine’s 2007 disappearance in Praia da Luz, Portugal.

Dylan Ossei, 34, has been charged with religiously aggravated assault, harassment and threatening behaviour after two men and a woman were assaulted on Southbury Road in Enfield. The three Jewish victims sustained minor injuries. Ossei has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Highbury Magistrates’ Court, while the Metropolitan Police said it is treating the incident seriously amid rising antisemitic hate crime in London.

Dylan Ossei, 34, has been charged with religiously aggravated assault, harassment and threatening behaviour after three Jewish people were allegedly attacked and threatened on Southbury Road in Enfield. The victims sustained injuries that did not require further treatment. Ossei has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Highbury Magistrates’ Court. The incident follows several other antisemitic attacks and a large protest outside Downing Street calling for action against extremism.

Two people—a 45-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman—were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson following a deliberate fire at a former synagogue on Nelson Street in Whitechapel. The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident alongside other attacks on Jewish, Israeli and Iranian sites in London. Only minor damage was reported, but the attack has heightened concerns among local faith communities. The Met has added 100 officers to a community protection team focused initially on safeguarding Jewish communities, while previous related investigations have resulted in 33 arrests and eight charges.

A Buckinghamshire coroner is due to hold a second pre-inquest review into Liam Payne’s death after awaiting investigation reports and eyewitness statements from Argentina. Payne, 31, died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires. A post-mortem attributed his death to multiple traumas and internal and external haemorrhage, while an Argentine court later dropped criminal-negligence charges against three of five people initially charged.

Four Palestine Action activists—Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani—were convicted of criminal damage after raiding Elbit Systems’ factory in Bristol in August 2024 and causing an estimated £1 million in damage. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm for fracturing Police Sergeant Kate Evans’s spine with a sledgehammer. The convictions followed a retrial at Woolwich Crown Court after an earlier jury failed to reach verdicts on the relevant charges.

Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani were convicted of criminal damage after breaking into Elbit Systems’ Bristol facility in August 2024 and damaging computers, drones and other equipment, with losses estimated at £1 million. Samuel Corner was also convicted by an 11–1 majority of grievous bodily harm for striking Police Sergeant Kate Evans with a sledgehammer, although he was cleared of the charge involving intent. Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin were acquitted of criminal damage. The defendants said they intended to dismantle equipment they believed could be used to kill people and argued that their actions were justified, while prosecutors described the raid as meticulously organised and designed to cause extensive damage. The convictions followed a retrial after the first jury failed to reach verdicts on the unresolved charges.

Graham Linehan was cleared of criminal damage after an appeal court found it could not be sure he caused damage to Sophia Brooks’s phone during a confrontation at a 2024 conference. The court noted the absence of contemporaneous evidence and that Brooks initially reported harassment rather than phone damage. Linehan welcomed the verdict, accused police of unfairly supporting trans-rights activists, and criticised what he called “two-tier policing.” He had previously been cleared of harassing Brooks through social-media posts, although a judge described those posts as deeply unpleasant and insulting.

Comedy writer Graham Linehan’s conviction for criminal damage was overturned on appeal at Southwark Crown Court. Mrs Justice Amanda Tipples ruled that the court could not be sure Linehan caused damage to Sophia Brooks’s phone during a 19 October 2024 confrontation outside a Westminster conference. Linehan had also previously been cleared of harassing Brooks through social media posts.

Prosecutors told the Old Bailey that Roman Lavrynovych, Petro Pochynok and Stanislav Carpiuc allegedly carried out arson attacks against a car and two homes linked to Prime Minister Keir Starmer after being offered payment by a Russian-speaking contact known as “El Money.” All three defendants deny conspiring to damage property by fire, and the trial is expected to continue until the end of May.

Virginia Giuffre’s family is urging King Charles III to meet them and other Jeffrey Epstein survivors during his US state visit. Her brother, Sky Roberts, said the family would lobby near the King’s scheduled locations and requested a brief meeting to emphasize the personal impact of the allegations. The family and another survivor are also calling for a public inquiry into allegations made by women in the UK, while opposing any clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell. Royal sources say the King cannot meet survivors because of ongoing police investigations and constitutional considerations.

Two men and three teenage boys have been charged in connection with the alleged rape of a teenage girl at a private property in Gravesend, Kent. Ionut Dobre, 33, and two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old face rape charges, while Benone Inofte, 46, is charged with aiding and abetting rape. The defendants appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court and are due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on May 22; the men were remanded in custody, two boys were placed in youth detention, and one was released into local-authority care.

The UK government is closely monitoring jet fuel stocks after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising oil prices raised concerns about possible aviation disruption. Airlines say they are not currently experiencing shortages, and the Department for Transport says there is no need to change travel plans, while advising passengers to check with carriers and maintain travel insurance. UK airports will allow airlines to seek exemptions from the “use it or lose it” slot rule if fuel shortages prevent flights from operating. Jet2 said its schedule is unaffected, will not add fuel-related surcharges, and expects flights and holidays to continue normally; Virgin Atlantic and easyJet are also expected to operate as usual.

Barry O’Sullivan was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and was disqualified from driving for a year after being convicted of causing the death of 68-year-old Pulvinder Dhillon by careless driving. O’Sullivan’s van struck a stationary Nissan Micra in the fast lane of the M4 in March 2022, causing it to catch fire. The motorway’s radar-alert system had suffered an unresolved technical failure for five days, preventing warnings about broken-down vehicles from reaching the control room. The judge nevertheless said the malfunction did not remove O’Sullivan’s duty to remain alert, finding that he failed to respond to clear signs that the car was stationary. Dhillon’s family described their continuing grief, while O’Sullivan expressed remorse and said the incident would haunt him.

The Metropolitan Police arrested 523 people at a mass protest in Trafalgar Square against the government’s proscription of Palestine Action. Those detained, aged between 18 and 87, were arrested for allegedly showing support for the organization, with musician Robert Del Naja among them. Protesters opposed the ban and some accused officers of rough handling. The arrests took place while an appeal was ongoing against a High Court ruling that the government’s proscription was unlawful.

Eamonn Holmes is recovering in hospital after suffering a stroke, according to GB News and his eldest son Declan. Declan said the event was a shock but that Holmes is doing reasonably well, while asking for privacy as the family focuses on his recovery. GB News said Holmes is responding well to treatment and will be replaced temporarily by Alex Armstrong. The report also outlines Holmes’s more than 40-year broadcasting career and longstanding mobility problems, including spinal surgery, double hip replacement and previous falls.

Police arrested 523 people at a Trafalgar Square demonstration opposing the government’s proscription of Palestine Action, with detainees reportedly ranging in age from 18 to 87. Among those arrested was Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja, who said he attended despite concerns about the effect on his career and defended Palestine Action’s actions. Protesters criticised the policing of several arrests and alleged that some people needed medical assistance. The demonstration was organised by Defend Our Juries as the legal battle over Palestine Action’s ban continues, following a High Court ruling that the proscription was unlawful and an expected government appeal.

Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was arrested in London during a Trafalgar Square demonstration opposing the government’s ban on Palestine Action. Police said 212 people were arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organization. Del Naja, who carried a sign supporting Palestine Action and opposing genocide, said he believed his arrest was unlawful and was prepared to challenge it in court.

Police arrested multiple demonstrators during a central London protest against the ban on Palestine Action. Hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square, many holding placards opposing genocide and expressing support for the group and the right to non-violent protest. Around 100 officers attended, and several protesters—including women and an elderly man—were carried away, prompting bystanders to accuse police of harming protesters and shameful conduct.

Two teenagers died after the blue car they were travelling in plunged from Gilmorton Lane bridge onto the M1 near Lutterworth and collided with a southbound Fiat Ducato minibus. Four minibus occupants were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; the driver was discharged while three women remained hospitalized. Leicestershire Police are seeking witnesses, dashcam footage and information about the vehicles before the crash.

Two teenagers died after their blue car left Gilmorton Lane bridge in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and crashed onto the M1, colliding with a white Fiat Ducato minibus. Four minibus occupants were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver was later discharged. Leicestershire Police are seeking witnesses and dashcam footage.

Police are appealing for a woman who filmed a fight in Primrose Hill to come forward, describing her footage and account as potentially vital evidence in the investigation into the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old filmmaking student Finbar Sullivan. Officers stress that she has committed no offence. A second man suffered non-life-threatening knife wounds, and no arrests had been made. Sullivan’s father described his son’s creative ambitions and rejected any suggestion that he was involved with gangs.

Finbar Sullivan, a 21-year-old filmmaking student, died after being stabbed during a fight at Primrose Hill in London. His father, musician Christopher Sullivan, remembered him as a loving and talented aspiring cinematographer who made music videos and hoped to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Michael Seresin. Sullivan denied that his son was involved in gang activity and said he appeared to have been the victim of an indiscriminate attack. Police are investigating the killing and have appealed for photographs, videos and other information.

Filmmaking student Finbar Sullivan, 21, was fatally stabbed in Primrose Hill, London, while visiting the park to use a new camera he had received for his birthday. His father, Christopher Sullivan, said Finbar was not involved in gang violence and described the attack as indiscriminate. The Metropolitan Police are seeking witnesses and any photographs or videos of the incident.

British man Jermaine Grant has been charged with allegedly directing Al-Shabaab’s activities between 2007 and 2010, attending a training camp in Kismayu, Somalia, and possessing an AK-47 for terrorist purposes. The charges were brought after an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London, and Grant is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence and a public interest in prosecuting, while emphasizing that the proceedings are active and Grant has the right to a fair trial. Al-Shabaab is described as an al-Qaida-linked group responsible for attacks in Somalia and Kenya.

British man Jermaine Grant, 43, has been charged with directing the activities of Somalia-based Al-Shabaab between 2007 and 2010, attending three of the group’s training camps in Kismayu, and possessing an AK47 for terrorist purposes. The charges followed an investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing London, and Grant is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are reportedly unable to meet privately with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein during their planned four-day US state visit because UK police investigations related to Epstein remain ongoing. US Congressman Ro Khanna has urged the King to meet the survivors. The visit, scheduled for 27–30 April, is expected to include a White House banquet hosted by Donald Trump, despite calls for postponement or cancellation linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

An inquest found that 17-year-old footballer Adam Ankers’ death after collapsing during a match was contributed to by a failure among the 999 call handler and people at the pitch to recognise cardiac arrest and agonal breathing. As a result, CPR was not advised or performed before paramedics arrived, and an available defibrillator was not used because of uncertainty about its safety. Adam died from brain damage caused by an inherited heart condition, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit criticised the lack of understanding about cardiac-arrest signs and defibrillator use, and is considering prevention of future deaths recommendations for the FA, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. NHS England has since changed its triage system so sudden collapse during sport or exercise is automatically treated as requiring immediate CPR.

A woman in her 20s died after a white BMW allegedly fleeing police travelled south on the northbound carriageway of the A19 in Sunderland and collided with a grey Volkswagen Sharan. The BMW’s 24-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. A male BMW passenger remains in life-threatening condition, while the Sharan’s driver suffered non-serious injuries. Northumbria Police referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is investigating police actions before the collision.

Ian Huntley remains seriously ill in hospital after allegedly being attacked with a metal bar by fellow inmate Anthony Russell at HMP Frankland. Durham Constabulary said Huntley’s condition had not changed overnight. Russell, who is serving a whole-life tariff for three murders, was reportedly detained after the incident. Huntley was also seriously attacked in prison in 2010.

Ian Huntley remains seriously ill in hospital three days after allegedly being attacked with a metal bar at HMP Frankland. Durham Constabulary said his condition had not changed overnight and confirmed that a man in his mid-40s had been detained but not arrested. Reports identify convicted triple murderer Anthony Russell as the alleged attacker. Huntley is serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and has previously suffered a serious prison attack.

Major airlines have suspended flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar until at least Monday amid escalating conflict involving US and Israeli forces and Iran. Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways are offering affected passengers rebooking or refunds under varying deadlines. The UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to register with the government for updates.

The UK Government will launch a consultation on children’s online safety, examining risks from AI chatbots, direct messaging, stranger-pairing tools, livestreaming and potentially mandatory overnight curfews. Officials are particularly concerned that realistic chatbots could foster emotionally dependent relationships with vulnerable children. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said measures could be implemented within months, while the Molly Rose Foundation urged evidence-based reforms. Conservative spokesperson Julia Lopez called instead for an outright social media ban for under-16s and criticized Keir Starmer for delaying decisive action.

Ian Huntley remains in serious condition in hospital after allegedly being attacked with a metal bar at HMP Frankland. Durham Constabulary said a man in his mid-40s was detained in connection with the assault. Huntley is serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and had previously been attacked in prison in 2010.

Ian Huntley remains in serious condition in hospital after being attacked with a metal bar at HMP Frankland. Durham Constabulary said his condition had not changed overnight and confirmed that a man in his mid-40s had been detained but not arrested. Reports allege that convicted triple murderer Anthony Russell carried out the assault. The attack is the latest attempt on Huntley’s life in prison, following a 2010 slashing that caused a severe neck wound. Huntley is serving a life sentence for murdering Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Six Home Office immigration officers deny allegations that they stole cash and property worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from small boat migrants during arrival and processing operations in the UK between 2021 and 2022. Five face conspiracy to steal and misconduct charges, while all six face money-laundering-related allegations; Besmir Matera also faces charges over alleged deception in his own immigration application and possession of identity documents. The defendants were released on bail, with a six-to-eight-week trial scheduled for January 2028.

Barry O’Sullivan was convicted of causing death by careless driving after his Ford van struck a stationary Nissan Micra on the M4 in Berkshire, killing passenger Pulvinder Dhillon. The trial heard that a technical failure in the smart motorway’s stopped-vehicle alert system had gone unresolved for five days because tickets were misassigned and given a low priority. The defence argued the crash was inevitable because the car was stopped in the fast lane without warning signs, while prosecutors said O’Sullivan was driving at 74–80mph and failed to react to cues from other motorists.

Barry O’Sullivan was convicted of causing death by careless driving after his van struck a stationary Nissan Micra on the westbound M4 in Berkshire on 7 March 2022. Passenger Pulvinder Dhillon died when the Micra caught fire. The trial heard that a technical failure in the smart motorway system had prevented alerts about broken-down vehicles from being properly communicated for five days, but prosecutors argued that O’Sullivan was driving carelessly and too fast and failed to see the stationary car or other motorists avoiding it.

Donald Trump is suing the BBC for up to $10 billion over a Panorama documentary that spliced separate excerpts from his 6 January 2021 speech, allegedly making it appear that he urged supporters to fight at the Capitol. The BBC apologized for the editing and withdrew the programme in that form but denied that it defamed Trump or owed him compensation. The controversy led to the resignations of director-general Tim Davie, BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness and board member Shumeet Banerji, while BBC chair Samir Shah said the corporation would defend the case. A Florida judge has rejected the BBC’s request to delay discovery and ordered the lawsuit to proceed to trial in February 2027.