Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli army to launch immediate, forceful strikes in Gaza. Hamas said it would delay the handover of a hostage's body, adding pressure on the fragile US-brokered ceasefire. In Gaza, tank fire and explosions were reported across several areas, and health officials said at least two Palestinians had been killed. The ceasefire that began on 10 October has largely held despite earlier flare-ups. On […]

A London judge has allowed US R&B singer Chris Brown to return to the United States while he awaits trial over an alleged 2023 incident at a Mayfair nightclub. Southwark Crown Court granted a change to Brown's bail conditions on Tuesday, with Judge Tony Baumgartner presiding. Prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe KC said the bail terms remain stringent and numerous, including a £5 million security fee (€5.8 million) that remains in place […]

A child died after a hazardous materials incident at a flat in east London, the London Fire Brigade said. Fire crews were called to a property on Barking Road, Upton Park, Newham, after two adults and two children were taken to hospital with a smell of chemicals. One of the children later died in hospital. Around 12 people were evacuated from nearby homes as a precaution. Specially trained firefighters carried […]

Reform UK would overhaul the Civil Service code to bar non-party political activism it says has spread a woke agenda across Whitehall, East Wiltshire MP Danny Kruger has said. Kruger, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform last month, set out plans to reduce the centre of the Civil Service and close government buildings after the next general election. He argued the impartiality rule should extend beyond party political activity […]

Police and ambulance crews were called to Midhurst Gardens in Uxbridge, west London, at about 17:00 on Monday after three people were stabbed. A 49-year-old man died at the scene, and another man, 45, sustained life-changing injuries. The 14-year-old boy’s injuries were not life-threatening. The attack is not being treated as terrorism, and detectives are examining any relationship between the suspect and the victims. A 22-year-old man was arrested at […]

Prunella Scales, best known for her role as Sybil in Fawlty Towers, has died aged 93. The actress died peacefully at home in London yesterday, her family said. In a statement, the family noted she had a career spanning almost seven decades and that she spent her final days at home. She was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died. She was married to Timothy West for 61 years; […]

Rio de Janeiro is set to become a hub of climate action as the Earthshot Prize prepares to stage its ceremony in Brazil, organisers said. The Earthshot Boulevard was unveiled in central Rio on Monday in partnership with the Eleven Eleven Foundation, featuring art installations and messages urging climate action. It marks the first time the prize has opened a public space for people to engage with the event. The […]

Jamie Scott, 49, works in communications for an NHS mental health trust. She was diagnosed with ocular melanoma in 2011, and the cancer has since spread to her liver. She needs chemosaturation treatment (percutaneous hepatic perfusion), which delivers high-dose chemotherapy directly to the liver. NICE has approved the procedure for NHS use under special arrangements, yet she has been told she cannot access it through the health service. She has […]

EasyJet has announced it will donate thousands of retired crew uniforms to charity, with the aim of helping families cope with the cost of school clothing. The airline says it will recycle or pass on 100% of retired garments, sending many items still suitable for use to a range of charities close to its operations. The donation drive will begin at easyJet's headquarters in Luton, in partnership with Level Trust […]