UK

The murders of two 16-year-old boys who were stabbed to death just a mile apart in London are linked, according to police. The two victims have been named as Kearne Solanke and Charlie Bartolo. Investigators are trying to trace a dark-coloured SUV type vehicle “with distinctive silver roof bars”, seen in the area in the

Plans to make encouraging self-harm online illegal have been backed by a charity set up in memory of a teenager who died after viewing content related to suicide, depression and anxiety. The Molly Rose Foundation – established after the death of Molly Russell – said the proposal to amend the Online Safety Bill appeared to

The head of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has vowed to sack firefighters who bullied colleagues or have been racist, misogynistic or homophobic as he vowed to take a zero tolerance approach. Commissioner Andy Roe’s comments come after a damning independent report revealed the “toxic culture” in the LFB, with accounts ranging from women being

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is “institutionally misogynist and racist” with a “toxic culture that allows bullying and abuse”, an independent review has found. One black firefighter had a noose put above his locker while a female firefighter said she advised female friends not to let male firefighters in the house to check smoke alarms

Two late goals by Iran in stoppage time, completing a 2-0 victory, have left Wales’ World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. Goals by Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian gave Iran only their third ever World Cup victory – and Wales their first loss of this campaign. It came after Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was

Ten times more people are in hospital with flu than this time last year, latest figures show. There were an average of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, compared with the 31 seen at the beginning of December last year, according to data released by NHS England. It comes amid pressures

NHS nurses are to strike for two days in December in a dispute over pay and patient safety. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will take industrial action on 15 and 20 December across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, industrial action is being paused while pay negotiations continue. The strike ballot

The mother of Shamima Begum, the British schoolgirl who joined ISIS, has said her world “fell apart” when she ran away from home. Asma Begum said her daughter’s bedroom in the family home has not been touched since she travelled to Syria in 2015. “My youngest daughter is even more present in my mind, the

A man whose wife and two young children died in a flat fire in Nottingham has said it is “inconceivable” to think who might have “committed this cruel crime against my family”. Aboubacarr Drammeh’s wife Fatoumatta Hydara and their two young daughters – Fatimah, three, and one-year-old Naeemah – died in hospital following a blaze

A woman who was nearly killed in a hit-and-run says her life was “ruined” and she wants the driver to get their “just deserts” – as police launch a national crackdown on dangerous uninsured motorists. Sharon Cochrane spent four months in hospital after suffering a broken leg and arm, eight broken ribs, two broken collarbones

Energy suppliers need to do more to help vulnerable customers this winter, the industry’s regulator has said, with “severe weaknesses” found in the practice of five suppliers. Ofgem said failings included customers missing out on free gas safety checks, vulnerable customers not being offered the support they need, and ensuring those on prepayment meters are

England have thrashed Iran 6-2 in their opening World Cup game in Qatar. The match at Khalifa International Stadium marked the first-ever encounter between the two teams and saw thousands of fans pack the stands to watch the action unfold. Before kick-off, some England supporters struggled to enter the stadium due to an issue with

Two children killed in a Nottinghamshire flat fire have been named by police as they said their mother has also died. Naeemah Drammeh, aged one, and three-year-old sister Fatimah, were taken to Queen’s Medical Centre along with their mother after the blaze in Fairisle Close, Clifton, in the early hours of Sunday. The sisters were

England and Wales open their World Cup campaigns today in Qatar amid ongoing uncertainty about potential FIFA punishments for their activism. Captain Harry Kane is due to wear a One Love multicoloured armband when England face Iran at Khalifa International Stadium at 1pm UK time. Then at 7pm, at Al Rayyan Stadium, Gareth Bale is

The former children’s commissioner for England has warned of families across the country facing “awful conditions” in their social housing, following the death of Awaab Ishak. The two-year-old died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in his home, managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). There has been an outpouring of emotion

The housing secretary has put social accommodation providers “on notice” as he hit out at the “abhorrent” mouldy flat that killed two-year-old Awaab Ishak. In a letter to every English council leader and social housing provider, Michael Gove said Awaab’s death was an “appalling case of the utmost gravity” and “must never be allowed to

The chief executive of the housing body which ran the home in which a toddler was killed by exposure to mould has been sacked. A coroner ruled that Awaab Ishak died in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in the one-bedroom flat managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH). Its chief executive, Gareth

A sexual predator has pleaded guilty to murdering law graduate Zara Aleena just days after being released from prison. Jordan McSweeney appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday where he admitted murdering Ms Aleena, who was brutally kicked and stamped on, then left for dead, in the early hours of 26 June this year. The

Multiple failures by West Midlands Police officers “materially contributed” to the deaths of a woman and her mother who were murdered by the daughter’s abusive estranged husband, an inquest has found. Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother, Khaola Saleem, were stabbed to death outside Mrs Saleem’s home in Solihull in August 2018. They were murdered

Jeremy Hunt will continue to defend his autumn statement today as experts warn of a record fall in living standards across the country. The chancellor presented his economic plan to parliament on Thursday, littered with stealth taxes and curbs on government spending amounting to £55bn in an attempt to plug the black hole in public