UK

The UK will scrap five warships, dozens of military helicopters and a fleet of drones to save money despite growing threats from Russia and a war raging in Europe. John Healey, the defence secretary, announced the dramatic move in parliament on Wednesday, saying it would save up to half a billion pounds over the next

Mourners including Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy have gathered to say goodbye at his funeral. Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Zayn Malik are among the family and friends attending the private ceremony, which is taking place at a church in the Home Counties. Simon Cowell, who put the

An ice alert for the South East and West Midlands is among new weather warnings now in force across the UK. Wintry conditions caused widespread travel problems on Tuesday and forced more than 200 schools to close. Forecasters say the difficult conditions will last until Wednesday morning, raising the prospect of a tricky rush hour

Getaway driver Antony Snook has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years over the murders of two teenagers. Mason Rist and Max Dixon died in a machete attack after a case of mistaken identity. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the

Four suspects have so far been identified by police investigating possible criminal charges in the Post Office scandal, Sky News has learned.  Sources have said that among the offences being considered are perverting the course of justice and perjury. Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted for stealing from their branches between 1999 and 2015 after

Two Met Police officers have each been charged with four counts of sexual assault against a woman in central London. Jerome Beasley, 41, and Luke Robinson, 39, who work in the force’s Central West Command Unit, are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The alleged incident took place in central London in

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) says it has made wide-ranging changes to the treatment of women in custody, following a Sky News investigation. This includes ending the use of police strip searches for “welfare” purposes and ensuring it is a “last resort” when looking for concealed items. A Sky News investigation in 2023 into the custody

South Yorkshire Police have warned pet owners to “step up before someone dies” after receiving 13 reports of dangerous dogs in less than 48 hours. One man was attacked by his own American bulldog in Sheffield on Thursday afternoon, the force said, when he attempted to separate it and a pocket bully inside a property.

A murder investigation has been launched after a woman’s body was found in the boot of a car in east London. Detectives said a murder inquiry has been launched into the “suspicious” discovery in Ilford. The woman, who has not been named but is from Corby in Northamptonshire, may have been the victim of a

Essex Police say they are investigating an alleged criminal offence of inciting racial hatred, after Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson said she was “dumbfounded and upset” when officers knocked on her door last Sunday. Ms Pearson revealed she was told she was being investigated over a year-old deleted post online. She said she wasn’t informed

Four teenagers and a 45-year-old man have been found guilty of murdering two boys, aged 15 and 16, who were attacked with machetes in a case of mistaken identity. The convictions follow a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court. The jury heard how Max Dixon and Mason Rist were killed in a case of mistaken

A teenage girl who was killed after getting out of a police car on the M5 in Somerset has been named. Tamzin Hall, 17 and from Wellington, was hit by a vehicle that was travelling southbound between junction 24 for Bridgwater and junction 25 for Taunton shortly after 11pm on Monday. She had exited a

“If you are a member of something, it means you’ve accepted membership. Anything with ‘ship’ on the end, it’s giving you a clue: it’s telling you that’s maritime law. That means you’ve entered into a contract.” This isn’t your standard legal argument and it is becoming clear that I am dealing with an unusual way

A police officer who sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl on duty has been jailed. Dean Dempster, 35, from Manchester, attacked the child when he was responding to a domestic disturbance on 29 December 2023 while on duty in Oldham. During the investigation, it was also found he had superimposed his face onto child abuse images.

Sara Sharif’s murder-accused father has told jurors he “takes full responsibility” for the death of his daughter. Minicab driver Urfan Sharif, 42, called police in the early hours of 10 August last year saying he had beaten her “too much” for being “naughty”, the court previously heard. The 10-year-old’s body was found in a bunkbed

The Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned after a report found the Church of England covered up sexual abuse by a barrister. The independent Makin review into John Smyth QC’s abuse of children and young men was published last week. Across five decades in three different countries and involving as many as 130 boys and young

WARNING: This article contains language and content some readers may find distressing As a single mum, Lucy* looked forward to her rare nights out. A few years ago, during after-work drinks at a local pub, she started feeling unwell. When she collapsed and passed out, a bouncer called an ambulance. Lucy’s drink had been spiked.

Gary Lineker will step down as host of Match Of The Day at the end of the season, the BBC has confirmed. The 63-year-old will continue to host coverage of the FA Cup in 2025/26 and the World Cup in 2026, the broadcaster announced. Lineker will continue with the MOTD Top Ten podcast while his

A six-month expected lifespan and the ability to take the fatal drugs will be requirements for someone to end their own life under proposed assisted dying legislation. Someone with disability or mental health issues will not be eligible for assisted dying under the plans, published in the End of Life Bill on Tuesday. MPs will

A former soldier accused of spying for Iran has pleaded guilty to escaping from prison under a food catering truck and going on the run for four days while he was awaiting trial. Daniel Khalife, 23, from Kingston, southwest London, changed his plea to a charge of escaping from lawful custody, halfway through giving evidence