Figures released under freedom of information show the maintenance backlog for Scotland's police stations stands at £231.6 million. The greater Glasgow division holds the largest share, with £46.5 million of repairs outstanding, around a fifth of the total. A report to the Scottish Police Authority last year described the police estate as unsustainable and not fit for modern policing, noting that alleviating the backlog would address the fabric of the […]

Justice Secretary David Lammy announced a large expansion in body armour for prison staff, increasing stab‑proof vests from 750 to 10,000. The plan was unveiled during a visit to Belmarsh prison in south‑east London and includes 5,000 vests that will be fitted for guards working in high‑security facilities. The package also provides 500 Tasers for trained staff in local response teams based in prisons, up from 20 for specialist staff […]

The UK is set to recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, despite pressure from the United States and families of hostages held by Hamas. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to confirm the move after saying the situation had deteriorated since he urged Israel to change course over the summer. Ministers warn that ongoing Gaza offensive and a perceived rush to expand settlements in the West Bank threaten any chance of […]

Flights were disrupted at Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin after a cyber‑related fault affected Collins Aerospace’s Muse system, which runs check‑in and boarding for several airlines. Collins Aerospace said it was working to restore the service, while Brussels Airport said only manual check‑in and boarding could proceed, with a significant impact on schedules. Berlin Airport reported longer waiting times at check‑in. Heathrow urged travellers to check with their airline before travelling […]

The Speaker of the House of Commons has warned that Parliament could be exposed to foreign interference after charges against two men suspected of spying for China were dropped. Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the decision effectively gave Beijing a licence to operate inside Parliament, following allegations that the pair targeted MPs’ China Research Group. The defendants, Christopher Cash, 30, from Whitechapel in east London, and Christopher Berry, 33, from Witney […]

Apple fans queued outside the flagship London store on Regent Street as the iPhone 17 went on sale in the UK. The morning crowd gathered ahead of the launch for the new device, which features an updated front camera, 256GB of storage and all-day battery life. The iPhone 17 starts at £799 and comes in lavender and sage. It forms part of a wider release that includes the iPhone Air, […]

Arsenal has announced the surprise departure of vice-chair Tim Lewis as part of a broad overhaul of the club's board. The 62-year-old has advised Arsenal's owners, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE), since 2007 and served as vice-chair for the past two and a half years. He joined the board in 2020. He played a key role alongside manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta during the club's £250 million […]

Craig Revel Horwood told BBC Breakfast that he would welcome Queen Camilla on Strictly, saying she has fantastic rhythm and would nail it. He noted that the Queen danced with him at a Royal Osteoporosis Society charity event that helped raise funds for the charity. Horwood said Camilla loves dancing and enjoys the programme, but he doubts she will ever take part. Strictly Come Dancing returns for its 23rd series […]

Take That have announced a summer 2026 UK and Ireland tour, reviving The Circus Live with a run of shows across Britain and Ireland. The band will perform the original 2009 Circus set list, with a few surprises along the way. The group posted on Instagram that the tour would celebrate people, music and the wonder of human creativity. They described The Circus tour as one of their favourite experiences […]