UK

Police are investigating alleged racist comments made by a major Tory party donor about former Labour MP Diane Abbott. The remarks were made by businessman Frank Hester during a company meeting, where he said Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and she “should be shot”. A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said

The Queen has said she tries to keep the King “in order”, as she responded to quips about men “not being the best patients”. On a visit to Belfast, she said the monarch was “doing very well” as he receives treatment for cancer. It came on the day a new picture of the King was

Emmanuel Macron’s new boxing photos have impressed so many people online that he’s got “Rocky” trending on social media. The French president’s official photographer, Soazig de la Moissonnière, posted two black and white images of him in action using a punch bag, looking determined as he offloads right hooks in a fitted black T-shirt. Image:

A Botswana minister has defended “trophy hunting” and compared it to “culling”, saying it is a way of controlling wild animal numbers in his country and a source of income for communities. It comes as MPs prepare to debate a proposed ban on UK safari hunters bringing body parts of animals they shoot, like tusks,

The King’s medical records were not accessed during an alleged data breach at the London Clinic, it is understood. As many as three staff members could have been involved in allegedly accessing the Princess of Wales’s private records, according to The Mirror, after Kate was discharged from the exclusive hospital in central London in January.

A government bill centred on deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda has been sent back to MPs after peers rejected it. The Safety of Rwanda Bill had been debated in the House of Lords after their previous changes were dismissed by the Commons earlier this week. In the upper chamber, the government lost seven votes by

Two serving police officers and a former officer are facing gross misconduct proceedings over the alleged sharing of offensive WhatsApps. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began the investigation in November 2022 after a referral from Gwent Police. Derogatory and inappropriate messages were found on the phone of deceased former officer Ricky Jones, who

The rate of inflation slowed sharply to an annual rate of 3.4% in February, according to official figures. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed an easing from the 4% rate recorded the previous month. It marks further progress in the battle against energy-led price growth that followed Russia’s war in Ukraine and

The hospital where the Princess of Wales was treated in January has launched an investigation into claims staff attempted to access her private medical records, according to reports. At least one member of staff was alleged to have been caught trying to access the royal’s notes, the Mirror reported. Kate attended The London Clinic in

A man arrested in connection with two east London crossbow attacks has now been released, police say. The 47-year-old was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder, but police confirmed on Tuesday that he had been released while they continue to investigate the case. Two people were attacked earlier this month. The first was a

A gender-critical teacher was sacked for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns, an employment tribunal has heard. Kevin Lister refused to refer to a 17-year-old biologically female student by their preferred male name and he/him pronouns in A-level lessons. The 60-year-old is claiming unfair dismissal by New College Swindon after he was sacked for

Police are investigating the death of a man who died near a rugby club in Cardiff. The man died near Llandaff Rugby Club on Western Avenue at around 3am on Monday. South Wales Police say they are continuing to investigate the “sudden and unexplained” death. The deceased has been identified as a 65-year-old local man.

The House of Commons has rejected the House of Lords’ first attempt to amend the Safety of Rwanda Bill – with the legislation sent back to the upper chamber. A total of 10 amendments were put before MPs, but Conservatives voted each of them down. Among the changes proposed by peers was scrapping the government’s

Britain’s car industry has insisted that an unprecedented 2,000% increase in vehicle exports to Azerbaijan has nothing to with Russia and is explained by the fact that the former Soviet state is a “flourishing market in its own right”. Sky analysis has found that the British car sector sent another £40m worth of cars to

Five episodes of GB News programmes that were presented by Tory MPs have been found by Ofcom to have breached broadcasting rules. Two episodes of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation, two episodes of Friday Morning with Esther and Phil – hosted by former pensions minister Esther McVey and her husband Philip Davies, a longstanding

Detectives have marked the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of university chef Claudia Lawrence with a plea for those with information to break their silence. Ms Lawrence was reported missing after she failed to report for work at York University in March 2009. Her disappearance has been treated as a murder inquiry by North Yorkshire

People have thronged the streets of cities across Ireland and the UK to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. In Dublin, tens of thousands of people, many decked out in shamrock glasses, Irish flags and leprechaun hats, lined the streets for the capital’s parade. More than 4,200 people took part in the procession, featuring 18 performances and

People in a sleepy village in Hampshire say it is “horrifying” that dozens of dead animals were left strewn outside a shop. Warning: This story contains images and descriptions readers may find distressing The bodies of around 50 dead hares were discovered by a member of staff who had gone to open up Broughton Community

MP Diane Abbott has criticised Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for not calling on her to speak at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions during a debate on racism. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said she was “surprised” not to be called to speak, with the debate “mostly about racism and me”. “Stood over 40

British soldiers “exposed” to a toxic chemical during the Iraq war must get answers, Labour has said. A Sky News investigation revealed health problems including cancer among RAF troops who guarded the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant that was contaminated with sodium dichromate, a deadly toxin. Many of them have spoken out and say they