UK

A new law will force criminals to attend their sentencings in court, with the offenders facing longer behind bars if they still refuse to sit in the dock. The government confirmed its plans to introduce the reform on Wednesday, promising to create a new power for judges to make the order. The change will also

The chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS) has said he cannot reveal the cause of the glitch which has affected thousands of passengers but is “not ruling out anything at this stage”. Martin Rolfe said on Tuesday evening that an initial investigation had found that the air traffic control failure was caused by

Sara Sharif’s cause of death is yet to be determined – but an inquest has heard it is “likely to be unnatural”. The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking on 10 August, with Surrey County Council confirming she was previously known to authorities. Earlier this month, a post-mortem revealed Sara had “suffered

Heathrow Airport has said its services will “remain significantly disrupted” on Tuesday after air traffic controllers across the UK experienced a technical fault. In a statement about the “technical issues” that affected the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Britain’s busiest airport urged passengers to contact their airline before travelling to the airport. “The issue has

Passengers have been told to expect “significant delays” of up to 12 hours as air traffic controllers across the UK are experiencing a technical fault. One airline reported a “network-wide failure” but NATS, the national air traffic controllers, said UK airspace was not closed but restrictions were in place on one of the busiest travel

Two people have died after a car was driven into a flooded area in Merseyside. Officers were called following safety concerns for a man and a woman inside a black Mercedes in Mossley Hill at 9.20pm on Saturday. The vehicle had driven into a flooded area in Queens Drive, between North Mossley Hill Road and

A murder investigation is under way after “partial” human remains were discovered off a cliff-side path in Bournemouth. Police said a passer-by made the grim find near the Manor Steps Zig Zag, a path leading to the beach, off the cliff top at Boscombe Overcliff Drive, in the Dorset coastal resort town, at around 1.10pm

Whole-life prison sentences will become the “default” punishment for “sexual or sadistic” murders, the prime minister has said. Former NHS neo-natal nurse Lucy Letby was told she will never be released on Monday after being convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six others on 18 August. She is only the fourth woman

A man has been charged with murder after police in Bury found a body while responding to reports of a white labradoodle being stolen. Ian Gary Connell, 39, of Duke Street, Bolton, was due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court today. Donald ‘Prentice’ Patience, 45, was discovered by officers at a house on Ainsworth

The energy regulator has confirmed a cut to its price cap that will see average household bills come down this autumn, as experts continue to warn of hikes to come during the winter months. Ofgem said the typical household paying by direct debit for gas and electricity faces an annual charge of £1,923 from October

A man has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of council worker Ashley Dale in Liverpool. Ms Dale, 28, was found with a gunshot wound in her garden in the Old Swan area on 21 August last year. Ian Fitzgibbon, also 28, has been charged with murder after being arrested by the Spanish

A former teacher has been found not guilty of animal cruelty after video footage showed her kicking and slapping a horse. Sarah Moulds, 39, had been accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal – a grey pony she owned called Bruce Almighty. The 39-year-old, who said she lost her job as a teacher

The former boss of the hospital where Lucy Letby killed seven babies says she fears it is “more likely than not” that failures of management to deal with complaints about the nurse led to lives being lost needlessly. Dr Susan Gilby joined the Countess of Chester Hospital as medical director and deputy chief executive in

Energy bills are to rise higher than last year for millions this winter, despite the energy price cap falling, a think tank has said. Withdrawn energy supports and a rise in the daily standing charge will mean winter bill costs going up for one in three English households, the Resolution Foundation said. That’s despite the

NatWest has said former boss Dame Alison Rose, who quit last month over her handling of Nigel Farage’s bank account closure, could receive a pay package worth more than £2.4m. Dame Alison resigned last month, abruptly ending her four-year tenure, amid government pressure on her position. It followed her admission that she had discussed the

The brother of a man wanted over the death of his 10-year-old daughter told officers Sara Sharif “fell down the stairs and broke her neck”, according to police in Pakistan. Sara’s uncle, Imran Sharif, is currently held in police custody for questioning, Jhelum police have exclusively told Sky News. He has not been charged and

The Lionesses landed at Heathrow this morning after their World Cup defeat – but left waiting fans disappointed after leaving through a private exit. England’s players left Sydney more than 24 hours before landing at Heathrow at around 6.20am on Tuesday morning. Waiting fans had carried signs and gathered in the airport to greet the

The mother of a baby murdered by Lucy Letby said her experience in hospital was “like something out of a horror story” as the parents of newborns attacked by the killer nurse revealed their heartbreak in court. The mother of premature baby Child D said her child’s funeral was held the day before her due

Lucy Letby will die in prison after murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working on a hospital’s neonatal unit. The judge imposed a whole-life order, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison unless under very exceptional circumstances. Letby, 33, did not appear in court for her sentencing.

England fans are calling for the Lionesses to be given honours and a homecoming parade following their efforts at the World Cup. Sarina Wiegman‘s side suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the final against Spain on Sunday. It was Spain’s first major tournament win, and England’s first defeat under their Dutch coach in two years.

England’s Lionesses have missed out on glory at the Women’s World Cup after being beaten 1-0 by Spain. Closely missing out on repeating their success at Euros 2022, Sarina Wiegman’s team fought to the very end at a packed-out Stadium Australia in Sydney. But a first-half goal by Spain’s Olga Carmona, who shot across Mary

Prince William has said “sorry we can’t be there in person” as he wished the Lionesses good luck ahead of the Women’s World Cup final tomorrow. The heir to the throne has issued the video message as he faces criticism for not flying out to Sydney for England’s historic match against Spain. He is joined

The families of babies murdered by Lucy Letby have vowed to continue their search for answers as questions swirled around what more could have been done to stop her killing spree. The 33-year-old neonatal nurse was convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more at the Countess of Chester

One of the doctors involved in the Lucy Letby trial has hit out at the managers of the Countess of Chester Hospital for “taking months” to take action against the killer nurse. Dr Ravi Jayaram – a consultant paediatrician at the hospital who gave evidence in Letby‘s court case – said there are “things that

Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird has described saying “goodbye” to Sir Michael Parkinson the day before he died – with the friends having an unspoken feeling it would be their final chat. Bird was emotional as he recalled his final words with his friend of 74 years – who died on Wednesday night after a

In the hospital corridor, Jasmine got ready for yet another round of blood tests – and she couldn’t help but cry. “She’s never liked needles,” her father, Anthony Freeman, explained, “but since her diagnosis it’s been non-stop, and she’s just terrified of injections now.” Image: Jasmine Freeman was diagnosed with a brain tumour in February

Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88. His agent said he died peacefully at home in the company of his family on Wednesday night following a brief illness, and requested that his family be given privacy and time to grieve. Sir Michael, a former journalist, was one of British television’s most

There should be an inquiry into the “total public mess” caused by a miscarriage of justice that led to an innocent man spending 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, a former solicitor general has said. Lord Edward Garnier KC told Sky News that the case of Andrew Malkinson was “astonishing”

The rate of price rises has fallen sharply, according to official figures. The key, consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation fell to 6.8% in the year to July, down from a rate of 7.9% in June, Office of National Statistics (ONS) data showed. It means prices are still rising but at a slower rate

Private sector wages and total pay, including bonuses, surpassed inflation despite a surprise rise in the rate of UK unemployment. Economists thought the unemployment rate would remain at the 4% level recorded last month but it has now gone up to 4.2%. Wages have also risen again with private sector wage growth increasing to 8.2%

An asylum seeker taken off the Bibby Stockholm barge following the discovery of Legionella bacteria says the government is “endangering” migrants and treating them like “less than animals”. The man, who we are not naming, spoke to Sky News outside the hotel he was moved to following the evacuation by the Home Office on Friday

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Official Secrets Act, the Metropolitan Police has said. Three of the five arrested back in February were then charged with possession of false identity documents with improper intention, under section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010. The five arrested include: • A

Asylum seekers should still be put back on the Bibby Stockholm barge despite the row caused by the discovery of Legionella, the health secretary has said. Legionella bacteria can cause a potentially deadly lung infection known as Legionnaires’ disease. It is contracted by people breathing in droplets of water containing the bacteria. None of the