Author: UK News

The mysterious disappearance of a 74-year-old woman has now turned into a murder investigation, as Bedfordshire Police believe Annette Smith has not been seen since November. Ms. Smith, from West Wing, Fairfield Park, near Stotfold, was last seen wearing a black and white striped cardigan and red leather slip-on shoes, carrying a suitcase and getting into a navy blue or black estate car with another woman. Detective Chief Inspector Dale Mepstead, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, stated, “We have been carrying out thorough inquiries into Annette’s disappearance and based on the information that we have, we…

Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, has broken her silence after her husband, Peter Murrell, was charged in connection with the Scottish Parliament’s inquiry into the handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond. Sturgeon, who has been facing intense scrutiny over her involvement in the investigation, took to social media to address the situation. In a statement, she expressed her confidence in the judicial process and reiterated her commitment to cooperating fully with the inquiry. Murrell, who is the Chief Executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has been charged with perjury over his evidence to the inquiry. The…

In a shocking turn of events, a Welsh cabinet minister had a complete meltdown during a live television interview, prompting the host to intervene. The incident unfolded during a heated discussion on BBC Question Time, where the minister was grilled on a controversial policy decision. Welsh Conservative has a meltdown on BBC Question Time Welsh MP David TC Davies, The Secretary of State for Wales, was in a live show in the Spa town of Buxton, Derbyshire, alongside Labour’s Bridget Phillipson MP; the co-leader of the Green Party Carla Denyer, and Reform UK leader Richard Tice. Eyewitnesses described the minister as…

Friday’s newspaper leads feature various stories, but almost all of them are domestic political news. A number of the headlines lead on plans from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to challenge what he describes as Britain’s “sick note culture.” Elsewhere, the EU’s olive branch to UK students, Thames Water nationalisation plans and the Tory MP cash scandal make the front pages.

Several UK papers, and most of the Scottish front pages, of course, lead on news that former Scottish First Minister, Nicola Strugeon’s husband has been charged with stealing from the SNP. 

Most of the papers offer up a snippet of their review of the latest Taylor Swift album on their front pages. So far, it’s all glowing reviews for Taylor’s – The Tortured Poets Department.

PC Lisa Thomas of Holyhead has been making waves in the North Wales Police force, with even the Chief Constable taking notice of her outstanding work. Known for her dedication and commitment to serving her community, PC Thomas has earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues and superiors alike. Her hard work and professionalism have not gone unnoticed, as Chief Constable Carl Foulkes recently joined her on patrol in Holyhead. During their time together, Chief Constable Foulkes had the opportunity to witness firsthand the exceptional work that PC Thomas does on a daily basis. From responding to calls and…

A woman from Harrow, Greater London, has been sentenced to prison for making over 2,000 nuisance 999 calls in the last three years. Sonia Nixon, 56, used 17 different mobile phones to make these calls, with 1,194 calls made in 2023 alone. Her repeated calls cost the Metropolitan Police an estimated £4,500 within five months, impacting how quickly operators could respond to genuine emergencies. Nixon was one of the top three repeat callers last year, and her calls included asking for food, the phone number of the Department for Work and Pensions, and shouting angrily about her belongings. She was…

Heineken Announces 6c Price Increase on Pints Due to Rising Costs In a move that is sure to leave beer drinkers feeling the pinch, drinks giant Heineken has announced that it will be increasing the prices of its pints by 6c. The company cited increased costs as the reason for the price hike, which is set to take effect from June 4. This news comes hot on the heels of a similar announcement from Guinness-maker Diageo, who recently revealed that they would also be raising their prices by 6c per litre. It seems that the cost of enjoying a pint…

The culinary scene in Portadown, Co Armagh just got a whole lot tastier with the opening of a new artisan food restaurant and takeaway. The establishment, which boasts a sleek tent design and cosy lighting, is sure to attract foodies from near and far. Located in the heart of town, the restaurant offers a menu filled with delicious dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. From gourmet sandwiches to hearty soups and salads, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The owners of the restaurant have put a lot of thought and care into creating a welcoming atmosphere for their customers.…

British tourist critically ill after misjudging jump from cliff and landing on rocks A man was seriously hurt after misjudging a leap from a cliff and crashing onto rocks at a beauty spot in Tenerife. The 40-year-old man, thought to be British, was stretchered away from the scene. Footage of the horror incident emerged overnight, showing a group of men believed to be friends of the holidaymaker counting down from five before he launched himself into the air. The man, who authorities have described as a foreigner, smashing feet-first onto the rocks around the small sea surface he had intended…

BBC News presenter launches legal fight against broadcaster after being off air for over a year BBC presenter Martine Croxall is taking legal action against the broadcaster after being off air for over a year. Croxall will be taking the BBC to an employment tribunal which is scheduled to take place on May 1. The two-day hearing in London is likely to be one of the most high-profile cases of tribunal for BBC in recent history. BBC previously lost a case in 2020 with Newswatch host Samira Ahmed over gender pay.

Prime suspect in murder at £4,000,000 flat ‘has fled the UK’ The prime suspect in the murder of a 27-year-old who was found stabbed to death in a £4 million property near Hyde Park is believed to have fled the UK. Kamonnan Thiamphanit, who was known as Angela to her friends, was found dead inside the Airbnb property in central London last week. The property developer, who had dual Chinese-Hong Kong and Thai nationality, was found by police with stab wounds. Police believe the attacker was known to her, but are doubtful the suspect will be charged anytime soon.

Tory suspended over 3am call demanding money saying he was locked up by ‘bad people’ A Tory MP has been suspended from the party while officials investigate claims he misused thousands of pounds of campaign funds. Mark Menzies, a trade envoy who represents Fylde in Lancashire, used the money for medical bills and personal expenses, according to The Times. The MP has disputed these allegations. He has ‘agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip, pending the outcome of an investigation’, according to the spokesperson of chief whip Simon Hart, meaning he will sit as an independent.

Thursday’s front pages lead on a variety of stories, with mostly domestic political news being splashed.

The government’s Rwanda plans, the latest political polling, Angela Rayner’s tax scandal and Brexit are among the headlines. Several papers cover international news, including flash flooding in the Gulf states, Prince Harry is a hot topic for a couple of the tabloids, as the prince lists the USA as his main residence.

The papers also pick up on both Manchester City and Arsenal being knocked out of the Champions League.

The former head of the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) Conduct, Assurance and Professionalism Department (CAPD), Les Brown, has raised concerns about the presence of police officers during the investigation into the death of Sheku Bayoh. Mr. Bayoh, a 31-year-old black man, died in police custody in Kirkcaldy, Scotland in May 2015. His death sparked outrage and calls for justice from his family and the community. Les Brown, who was head of CAPD at the time of Mr. Bayoh’s death, has expressed worries that the presence of police officers during the investigation could compromise its independence. He emphasized the importance of…

Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh Slams Slow Roll-Out of Digital Connectivity in Rural Areas In a fiery exchange during Science, Innovation and Technology questions in Parliament today, Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh took aim at the slow roll-out of digital connectivity to rural areas of Britain. Standing in the House of Commons, the Gainsborough MP questioned Minister of State Julia Lopez on the progress of delivering better connections to people living in the countryside. “Why should people living in rural areas be second-class citizens when it comes to mobile phone coverage?” Sir Edward demanded. In response, Ms Lopez acknowledged the…

In the midst of escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas, authorities are also turning their attention to a different kind of conflict – the battle against vaping among children. As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to dominate headlines, health officials are sounding the alarm on the growing popularity of vaping among young people. In an effort to combat this trend, there will be a crackdown on vapes to make them less appealing to children. According to recent studies, the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has reached epidemic levels, with many young people becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping. Health experts warn…

Shannon Matthews’ kidnapper Michael Donovan dies from cancer The kidnapper who conspired to snatch schoolgirl Shannon Matthews as part of a fake abduction plot has died of cancer. Mick Donovan, 54, held Shannon captive in his flat for 24 days after hatching a bogus ransom plot with her mother back in 2008. The pair cooked up the kidnapping hoax in an attempt to claim a £50,000 reward for her return, and even tried to extort money from the Find Madeline Mcann Fund. They were eventually rumbled after Shannon, then nine, was found tied-up and heavily drugged in a drawer underneath…

Why was ‘Britain’s strictest school’ allowed to ban Muslim prayer? A High Court judge has ruled that a prayer ban at one of Britain’s best performing state schools is “not unlawful”, following accusations of religious discrimination and intense controversy. An unnamed Muslim pupil bought the case last year, claiming it “uniquely” impacted her Muslim faith. Judge Linden ruled that the pupil had signed up to the school knowing its unique policy on prayer. He also found the suspension of the pupil was justified, as the pupil had been “extremely rude and defiant”, according to one teacher at the school’s account. …

UK inflation falls as meat and crumpet prices drop Food prices have dropped on items such as meat, crumpets and chocolate biscuits helping to drive down inflation to its lowest level in two-and-a-half years.  Official figures show rate consumer prices fell to 3.2% in the year to March, down from 3.4% the month before. Inflation has been falling gradually since it peaked at 11.1% in late 2022. However, lower inflation does not mean prices overall are coming down, they are just rising less quickly. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the price rises seen across most types of…

The courtroom was filled with tension as the trial of Ahmed Alid, a Moroccan asylum seeker accused of murder and attempted murder, unfolded in Teesside Crown Court. The shocking details of the case were revealed, including a harrowing incident at Middlesbrough Police Station where a panic button failed to work during a violent altercation with two female detectives.

A massive fire has broken out at an Evri warehouse in Bristol, sending thick smoke billowing into the air and engulfing the entire building. The blaze, which started earlier today in Avonmouth, has also spread to a nearby car in the parking lot, creating a scene of chaos and destruction.

Proposed Mega-Resort Development in Balloch Faces Environmental Concerns and Opposition Plans for a massive resort development near the village of Balloch in West Dunbartonshire have sparked controversy and opposition from various groups, including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer. The proposed development includes the construction of two hotels, 104 woodland lodges, a waterpark, and a monorail on a site that was previously a railway until 1986. However, SEPA has raised concerns about the flood risk at the site where the lodges are planned to be built, stating that the developers need to address this…

In a groundbreaking move towards sustainability, a new housing development in Rhondda is set to become the first in the area to feature A-rated energy performance properties. This achievement is thanks to the implementation of a cutting-edge non-fossil fuel heating system. The development, located in the heart of Rhondda, is poised to set a new standard for eco-friendly living in the region. The non-fossil fuel heating system not only reduces the carbon footprint of the properties but also promises significant cost savings for residents in the long run. Local residents and environmental activists alike have praised the initiative, highlighting the…

Pupil loses High Court bid to overturn prayer ban at ‘Britain’s Strictest School’ A Muslim pupil has lost a High Court challenge against a ban on prayer rituals at a high-achieving north London school previously dubbed Britain’s strictest. The student, who cannot be named, took legal action against Michaela Community School in Brent, claiming the policy was discriminatory and ‘uniquely’ affected her faith due to its ritualised nature. She argued the school’s stance on prayer – one of the five pillars of Islam – unlawfully breached her right to religious freedom and was ‘the kind of discrimination which makes religious…

Theft victim told he can’t have £4,000,000 scratchcard bought with stolen card A man whose stolen debit card was used to buy a winning £4,000,000 scratch card hopes he might have a right to some of the cash. Joshua Addyman’s card was taken by career criminals Jon-Ross Watson and Mark Goodram while they were on a stealing spree in London in 2019. Goodram had seen Joshua use the card and wrote the details of the card on his hand. Soon after, the pair, from Bolton, spent around £180 of Josh’s money, which included buying the winning Red scratchcard.