UK

The owners of a French guesthouse have revealed missing British teenager Alex Batty spent recent years staying with them under a fake name without his mother. Frederic Hambye and Ingrid Beauve said the teenager first arrived at their traditional gite farmhouse in late 2021 and had stayed with them on-and-off ever since. The couple said

In the corner of a cramped hotel room, there’s a small Christmas tree. Two stockings hang from the window ledges. There isn’t room for much more. Bunk beds and a double bed take up much of the space. The rest of the room is filled with the possessions of a family of four who have

David Cameron has called for a “sustainable ceasefire” in the escalating Gaza conflict – adding to growing global pressure on Israel. The home secretary’s intervention saw him warn that “too many civilians have been killed”. It sees the UK follow Joe Biden’s White House in expressing unease about the failure of Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to

A teenager found in France six years after he was reported missing has been reunited with his family and returned to the UK. Alex Batty was 11 when he never returned from a holiday to Spain with his mother Melanie Batty, 38 – who does not have legal parental guardianship – and his grandfather David

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a van hit a group of people in a town centre in Derbyshire. One man suffered serious injuries and died at the scene in Ilkeston, while two other people were taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be serious, Derbyshire Police said.

Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan has said there is “no evidence” to suggest that he ever hacked a phone, or told someone else to do so, as he launched a scathing attack against Prince Harry. His comments came as he made a statement outside his house this afternoon after a High Court ruling this morning.

A body has been found in the search for missing mother-of-three Gaynor Lord, police say. The 55-year-old was last seen after she left work early at Jarrolds department store in Norwich city centre at 2.45pm on Friday 8 December. Norfolk police said: “Police searching for missing Norwich woman Gaynor Lord can confirm a body has

The Bank of England has left interest rates on hold for the third successive meeting, insisting that it is determined to keep borrowing costs at their 5.25% level for some time. Unlike the Federal Reserve, which dropped heavy hints at its latest meeting yesterday that it is preparing for multiple cuts in US interest rates

A British boy who went missing in 2017 when he was 11 has been found in France and will return home soon, according to French authorities. Alex Batty never returned from a holiday to Spain with his mother and grandfather. His identity has been confirmed by his family, said the French prosecutor. Alex is from

A major incident has been declared in South Wales as roads were closed around an industrial estate after a “loud explosion” was heard before a “large fire” broke out. South Wales Police said roads around Severn Road in Treforest are expected to remain closed for some time due to the “serious incident”. Local councillor Karl

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced his resignation. Mr Drakeford made the announcement in the Senedd on Wednesday morning five years to the day since he was first elected as leader of Welsh Labour. He had already indicated he would step aside during the current Senedd term and that he would not be standing

Rishi Sunak has avoided a damaging Tory rebellion over his flagship Rwanda bill in a crunch vote in the Commons. The totemic legislation, which aims to revive the stalled £290m deportation scheme after the Supreme Court ruled it unlawful, has been backed by MPs at its second reading by 313 votes to 269, a majority

An asylum seeker has died on board the Bibby Stockholm barge. Further details concerning the incident are yet to be confirmed, including the individual’s age and country of origin. The Bibby Stockholm, docked in Portland Port in Dorset, is one of a number of alternative sites the Home Office is using to house asylum seekers.

The One Nation group of centrist Tory MPs have recommended its members vote for the government’s Rwanda bill tomorrow. It comes after MPs on the right of the party earlier today suggested they may not support the legislation. The faction of about 100 One Nation MPs met this evening to discuss their concerns that the

The UK is considering extraditing an American driver who fled the country after a crash that left a British nurse unable to walk. Mystery surrounds exactly who the other driver – 22-year-old Issac Calderon – really is after the victim of the crash was told by police that he had been visiting a British special

A mother and son have died in a crash – as police hunt a BMW driver who fled the scene. The 59-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the site of the collision, while her 22-year-old son died later in hospital, Derbyshire Police said. A black BMW collided with the victims’ Fiat 500 car on the

The government is “not contemplating” an early general election because ministers are “confident” the Rwanda bill will be approved by MPs, Michael Gove has told Sky News. Speaking to the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, the cabinet minister said the emergency legislation was “a tough but also proportionate measure”. The levelling up secretary also

The Prince and Princess of Wales have chosen a black-and-white family photograph as their official Christmas card image. In the monochrome picture, a smiling William and Kate are stood with sons Prince George and Prince Louis around a chair where a beaming Princess Charlotte is sitting with her legs crossed. The five royals are dressed

Police are investigating a possible hate crime after a “terrified” Jewish woman was violently assaulted and robbed in north London. Footage of the attack has been circulated online after it was tweeted by the neighbourhood watch group Shomrim. The 20-year-old woman was walking along Rostrevor Avenue in Stamford Hill at about 4.30pm on Thursday when

The UK is braced for more winds and rain this weekend, with gusts of up to 70mph expected to hit the country. Weather warnings have been issued across the UK for the next few days, with downpours and strong gusts expected all weekend. Areas along the Irish Sea coast should prepare for the potential of

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman who was shot dead in east London. Lianne Gordon, 42, died at the scene after the shooting in Hackney earlier this week. The Metropolitan Police said the arrested teenager was detained in the early hours of Friday and remains in custody. An investigation

The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on two Russian hackers after the private conversations of high-profile politicians and civil servants were compromised. The Foreign Office said the “Star Blizzard” group, a subordinate of an FSB cyber unit, had targeted MPs, Lords, civil servants, journalists and others in attempts to “meddle in British politics”

Benjamin Zephaniah, the British poet and writer, has died aged 65. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, a post on his Instagram page said, describing him as a “true pioneer and innovator” who “gave the world so much”. “Benjamin’s wife was by his side throughout and was with him when he

Homes have been evacuated as a bomb disposal squad investigates a “suspicious item” found in a house in north-west England. Cumbria Police declared a “major incident” after they discovered the item on Wednesday afternoon following concerns for the welfare of an individual in Steel Street, Ulverston. A 46-year-old man was arrested and is being held

Boris Johnson was interrupted as he apologised for the “suffering” caused by the COVID pandemic. Four people were subsequently removed from the hearing, where they had been in the public gallery holding up pictures. Mr Johnson had told the inquiry: “I am deeply sorry for the pain and loss and suffering.” One protester held up

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a heavily pregnant woman was stabbed in Aberfan, South Wales. The 29-year-old woman has been taken to hospital. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Local schools and childcare facilities were placed into lockdown as a precaution. Aberfan stabbing – follow live In

Prince Harry “has, unjustifiably, been treated less favourably than others” over his security arrangements when he is in the UK, a court has been told. The Duke of Sussex is taking legal action against the Home Office over a decision in February 2020 that meant he would no longer be given the “same degree” of

A new five-point plan to reduce immigration has been announced by the government, which includes banning care workers from bringing over their families and increasing the minimum salary for a skilled worker visa. Home Secretary James Cleverly has come under pressure since taking office three weeks ago to show he is taking a hardline on

Around 1,500 homes and businesses are still without power after heavy snow caused major power cuts in Cumbria. It came as much of the country was hit by cold and wet conditions over the weekend, including a low of -12.5C recorded in northern Scotland overnight. Freezing conditions are forecast to continue on Monday and the

A British soldier shot dead on a motorcycle trip in Kenya was killed just three days before he was due to finish his deployment. Major Kevin McCool, 32, was off-duty when he was attacked on 29 November. His father Joseph said he was on a bike trip away from base, preparing for the end of

A fresh amber snow warning is in place for parts of the North West region of England as the UK’s frosty start to December continues. The warning covers the coastal area of west Cumbria, and central and western parts of the Lake District and falls within a wider area already covered by a yellow warning

Weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across swathes of the UK as temperatures plummeted below freezing overnight. Forecasters have warned the wintry conditions could affect some road and rail journeys with icy surfaces posing the risk of injury from slips and falls. Glasgow Airport has suspended flights due to heavy snow, with

Charlotte, not her real name, wanders back and forth with her empty coffee cup held out towards the tide of commuters coming through the barriers. Rush hour at Whitechapel underground station is the best time of day for the small, frail, 23-year-old to earn enough change to pay for her next hit. She’s agitated, but