Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, has died at the age of 92, the King and Queen said. She died peacefully at home late on Thursday night, surrounded by her close family. She was the wife of the late Queen’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, and is survived by three children — George, Earl of St Andrews; Lady Helen Windsor; and Lord Nicholas Windsor. The Palace said union flags were lowered […]

Angela Rayner has resigned from the government after an ethics inquiry found she breached the ministerial code by underpaying stamp duty on an £800,000 flat (€936,000) in Hove. Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial standards, said she acted in good faith but did not heed a caution within the legal advice that recommended seeking specialist tax guidance. She had paid about £40,000 less stamp duty than required in […]

Arsenal have announced that Alessia Russo has signed a new long-term contract with the club. The striker joined the north London side in July 2023 and has since scored 36 goals in 72 appearances. Russo played a key role in Arsenal's League Cup triumph in 2024 and in their Champions League-winning campaign last season, including a stoppage-time double against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and a goal against Lyon in […]

New figures obtained by IAM RoadSmart from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show that an average of 99 drivers per day were caught drink-driving in Britain between 2022 and 2024, equating to 108,000 drink-drive endorsements on licences. The charity says the data underline the need for a shift in mindset among motorists. Age breakdown shows 48,000 offences were recorded for 25-39-year-olds, 40,000 for 40-65-year-olds, and 15,000 for 17-24-year-olds. Just […]

Pregnant women with type 1 diabetes in England will be offered a hybrid closed loop system, an automated insulin delivery device, to help reduce the risks of stillbirth and miscarriage. The system recognises that pregnancy hormones can complicate glucose control. NHS England said the technology will be available to about 2,000 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes each year, and to those planning a pregnancy as well. In the wider […]

Reform UK’s support base is widening and moving closer to the centre, a More in Common study published ahead of the party’s annual conference shows. Luke Tryl, the organisation’s director, said the survey highlights how hard it is to pigeonhole Reform voters as its backing grows and their views align with the wider public on many social issues, immigration aside. He added that balancing the demands of highly engaged online […]

Giorgio Armani has died aged 91, the Armani Group announced. The Italian fashion designer, famed for his relaxed tailoring, dressed a string of world-renowned stars including Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Lady Gaga. He was regarded as one of the most influential figures in fashion of the late 20th century. Armani founded his eponymous label in 1975 with Sergio Galeotti. The brand became synonymous with understated luxury across […]

Portugal is observing a national day of mourning on Thursday after a Lisbon funicular derailed, killing 15 people in the capital's worst accident in recent history. Authorities have given no details about those killed or the 23 people reported injured, leaving the casualty toll provisional. The 19th‑century Elevador da Gloria is a popular tourist ride, often crowded with visitors at this time of year for its short, steep ascent. Pathologists […]

Three-quarters of UK firms did not donate time, money or goods to charities last year, according to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). The charity's Corporate Giving report shows 25% of British businesses contributed in some form, and it argues that if firms pledged to give at least 1% of pre-tax profits each year, charities could receive around £5 billion more (€5.8 billion).\n\nCAF's figures for 2024 show British businesses donated about […]