UK

A Premier League footballer has been arrested on suspicion of rape. The footballer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested in north London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed an allegation of rape of a woman in her 20s was reported to police. The force said the alleged rape reportedly happened in June 2022. In

One person has died after an “inferno” at a block of flats in Bedford following a suspected gas explosion. Authorities fear more people may have lost their lives in the blaze on Redwood Grove. Earlier it was announced three people, including a firefighter, had been injured. Two of them suffered smoke inhalation and were taken

Motorists could face “serious disruption throughout the day,” police have warned, as protesters are expected to target motorways in a demonstration over high fuel prices. Roads across the country could see traffic jams as protesters call for a cut in fuel duty. They will target mostly three-lane motorways and result in slow-downs on two lanes,

Boris John made the “choice he thought was best” in appointing Chris Pincher to government and was “not aware of specific claims” about the Tory MP, a cabinet minister has insisted. Speaking to Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey also rejected the idea there was a “problem with

Security tests for new airport workers are being completed in record time, ministers claim, despite travel disruption continuing to dog holiday plans. The time taken to vet new employees has been raised as one of the reasons for shortages in airport staff, contributing to thousands of flight cancellations, delays and missing luggage. Airports across the

Chris Pincher, who lost the Conservative whip after being accused of groping two men, said he is seeking “professional medical support” as he hopes to return to his duties as an MP “as soon as possible”. In a statement by the Tamworth MP, Mr Pincher said he “respected” the prime minister’s decision to suspend the

Frustrated travellers face more flight cancellations over the coming weeks, as airlines rush to re-work their schedules. The upheaval comes in response to last month’s announcement that an amnesty will allow airlines to cancel flights while still retaining take-off and landing slots next year. Airlines buy slots to operate their schedules but can lose them

The number of people in the UK with COVID has risen by 32% to almost 2.3 million, latest figures show. It is up from 1.7 million people the previous week and the highest estimate for total infections since late April. But it is still below the record high of 4.9 million which was reached at

A 14-year-old sentenced to life in prison for murdering five-year-old Logan Mwangi has been named as Craig Mulligan. It is common for children in criminal cases not to be named, but a judge at Cardiff Crown Court has decided to lift an anonymity order in this instance. Earlier, Mulligan, along with Logan’s mother and stepfather,

A mother, stepfather and teenager have been given life sentences for the murder of five-year-old Logan Mwangi. Logan’s body was discovered in the River Ogmore in Bridgend on 31 July 2021 – just 250 metres from his home. A trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard he had suffered 56 external cuts and bruises, as well

Buckingham Palace is facing questions about why it won’t reveal more about the findings of an investigation into bullying allegations made against the Duchess of Sussex. The palace has confirmed a private investigation into complaints that Meghan had bullied members of staff had concluded, claims she has always denied. It confirmed the review had looked

Dame Deborah James was “an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on”, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said. Paying tribute to the podcast host and cancer campaigner following her death aged 40, William and Kate said their “thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones”. Prince William

Nicola Sturgeon has set the date for a proposed “consultative referendum” next year on Scottish independence. To cheers and applause in the devolved parliament in Holyrood, the first minister said legislation will lay out plans for a vote to take place on 19 October 2023. It will ask the question: “Should Scotland be an independent

Britain and its allies face their “1937 moment” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and must do everything possible to avert another world war, the new head of the Army is set to signal. The warning emerged as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce an uplift in UK defence spending this week, in line

Podcaster and campaigner Deborah James, whose frank accounts of life with bowel cancer sparked an extraordinary deluge of charity donations, has died, her family have announced. James, the driving force behind BBC podcast You, Me and The Big C, broke the news of her diagnosis to followers last month that she had moved into end-of-life

A woman has been found dead after a suspected gas explosion saw a house destroyed in Kingstanding, Birmingham last night. West Midlands Fire Service said: “We’re very sad to confirm that a woman has been found dead at the scene of last night’s explosion in Kingstanding. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with everyone affected.” A

One house has been destroyed and several others have been significantly damaged after an explosion in Birmingham. West Midlands Police has said there have been reports of casualties but the number and the severity of the people’s injuries are currently unknown. Emergency services and utility companies are currently at the scene in Dulwich Road, Kingstanding.

Motorist William Smith was proud of his perfectly clean driving record before he crashed his car last year. The 50-year-old was driving home after visiting his mother when his Ford Focus went into the back of an Audi that had stopped suddenly at a roundabout in Nottinghamshire. He admitted responsibility for the collision, having been

Boris Johnson wants to serve a third term as prime minister despite a bruising week in which the Conservatives suffered two by-election defeats. Speaking to reporters on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, Mr Johnson said the government was “embarked on a colossal project to unite and level

Thousands of people with weekend plans will face disruption and chaos as rail workers strike for the third day this week. Only a fifth of services will run and half of lines will be closed as 40,000 members of the Rail, Maritime and transport (RMT) union at Network Rail and 13 train operators walk out.