Author: UK News

A group of youths caused chaos as they raided a busy Apple store in the middle of the day on Sunday. Video footage shows a security guard shove one person away from the shop door as at least seven others, dressed in black, storm in. Panic then spread through shopped already inside the tech store in Brent Cross shopping centre, north London. As the robbers plucked electronic devices off tables, parents with children fled outside. Seconds after entering, the robbers then sprinted away with their haul. Six teenagers, aged between 14 and 18 have been arrested. A Met Police spokesperson…

Weather UK latest: Man’s body found near Yorkshire river as dozens rescued from flooded homes Fresh weather warnings are in place for Tuesday morning across the UK as heavy rains, flooding and snow continue to disrupt travel and cause school closures. One man has died in the winter storm impacting much of the country, with North Yorkshire police saying a body pulled from floodwater near the River Aire has been formally identified. The man’s next of kin are still being informed. Snow and ice warnings are in place across most of southwest England and Wales, and parts of northwest England…

Full list of school closures across UK as snow and ice warnings issued The information below has been gathered from local council websites by The Independent. Scotland Aberdeenshire Moray Highlands England – West Yorkshire Bradford Kirklees Leeds Wakefield England – Lancashire Burnley Chorley Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Pendle Rossendale England – County Durham England – North Yorkshire England – Cheshire England – Derbyshire Wales – Wrexham Wales – Flintshire Full list of school closures across UK as snow and ice warnings issued https://www.independent.co.uk/weather/uk-snow-school-closures-weather-warnings-b2674877.html

Who is Rupert Lowe? From unpopular football chairman to Musk’s candidate to lead Reform after Farage fallout Elon Musk called for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform UK leader – and has since appeared to endorse Rupert Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP, as his possible successor. The US tech billionaire turned on Mr Farage after the party leader distanced himself from Mr Musk’s support of Tommy Robinson. Reform UK needs a new leader, Mr Musk said on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, before adding: “Farage doesn’t have what it takes.” Hours later, Mr Musk said: “I have not met…

Has there been a UK grooming gangs inquiry, what were the results and why are there calls for a new one? Billionaire and owner of X Elon Musk has attacked Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government over its response to grooming gangs in the UK. Pressure has mounted on the prime minister after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips denied requests for the Home Office to lead a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation and grooming in Oldham. The tech billionaire triggered an attack on the government on Thursday, as he suggested Ms Phillips “deserves to be in prison”. He also…

Elon Musk’s father tells public to ignore son as Starmer hits out at billionaire’s lies: Live Elon Musk’s father has urged the public to “ignore” his son in response to a growing row over grooming gangs. The billionaire’s father, Errol Musk, told LBC that “people don’t have to listen to what he says”. “I’d say don’t worry about it. Tell him to get lost,” he added. The Tesla owner launched a series of baseless attacks on Sir Keir over grooming gangs, while also calling for the release of jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson – a development which saw him turn…

Man charged with sending malicious communications to Labour MP Jess Phillips  A man has been charged with sending malicious communications to Home Office Minister Jess Phillips just days after criticism from Elon Musk. Devon and Cornwall police confirmed that a man was charged following three reports of malicious communications in a case involving three victims. The revelation comes just hours after Sir Keir Starmer came out fighting on behalf of Ms Phillips, saying the “poison of the far right” had led to “serious threats” to the safeguarding minister. Man charged with sending malicious communications to Labour MP Jess Phillips https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jess-phillips-elon-musk-grooming-gangs-man-charged-b2674643.html

New snow warnings as cold snap causes travel chaos, school closures and flooding Fresh snow and ice warnings have been issued as freezing weather is continuing to cause travel chaos, school closures and multiple major incidents to be declared due to widespread flooding that has left children stranded. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) said it declared a major incident in response to widespread flooding across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland on Monday morning, after receiving more than 200 calls. Crews have freed cars stuck in flood water, evacuated residents from flooded homes, and rescued at least 17 members of the…

Starmer hits back at Musk and Tories over rape gangs claim, attacking those ‘spreading lies’ and ‘amplifying far right’ Beth Rigby, the Sky News political editor, also asks about Elon Musk, and about his attacks on Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister. Starmer says that he thinks most people are more interested in the NHS “than what’s happening on Twitter”. But he says he does want to address in detail this issue. Let me start with this, child sexual exploitation is utterly sickening, utterly sickening. Having defended his record as DPP, Starmer goes on to attack those who have criticised him and Jess Phillips. He does not name…

Farage and Musk in war of words after billionaire says Reform leader should quit Elon Musk has suggested that Reform UK needs to replace Nigel Farage with a new leader amid a row between the pair over jailed far-right political activist Tommy Robinson. The Tesla tycoon said Mr Farage, who founded the party and is credited with its recent surge in the polls, “does not have what it takes”. His call for change comes as a bitter blow after days of Mr Farage fawning over the world’s richest man, describing him as “a hero” and claiming he makes Reform “look…

Rain and snow clears eastwards, with brighter skies to follow. Staying cold in brisk northerly winds, with wintry showers bringing hail, sleet and snow showers expected throughout the day. Gales around some coasts. Some clear spells developing but further wintry showers expected across the north and west, with a few moving across central areas. Widespread frost expected with a rick of ice.

Manchester and Liverpool Airports have closed runways as workers try to clear heavy overnight snowfall. The Met Office has issued rare amber weather warnings for snow and ice bringing a risk to life for some people amid temperatures as low as -10°C this weekend. It’s proved too much for Bristol Airport, which has already diverted 17 flights to other airports in Cardiff, Birmingham and London. An easyJet flight has even been diverted 400km away to Newcastle. Meanwhile, there have been a ‘number of collisions’ on the M5 motorway between Weston-super-Mare and Taunton in nearby Somerset. Emergency plans have been activated…

A man in his 30s after falling from a block of flats in east London. Officers were called to Gillender Street in Bow after reports a man had fallen from a height. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the dead is not thought to be suspicious at this time. They said: ‘Police and ambulance colleagues were called at 14:21hrs on Friday, 3 January, to Gillender Street, E3. ‘A man had fallen from height at a block of flats. Sadly, the man – aged in his 30s – was pronounced dead at the scene. ‘The family…

From Selfridges to Liberty, London is a haven for huge department stores you can while away an afternoon in. But sadly, a South London staple has revealed it will be saying goodbye to customers as it closes its doors for good. Morleys Tooting released a statement on social media, announcing it will be closing more than 100 years after it first appeared on the high street in the early 1900s. ‘We have some important news to share,’ said two staff members in a video. ‘Morleys of Tooting shall be closing its doors permanently. ‘Whilst this wasn’t an easy decision, we…

A former architect has said he is ready to spend ‘rest of his life’ drawing every single building in London – including the public toilets. Jack Hines has committed to immortalise every one of the capital’s houses, workplaces and garages as he tries to document the changing city where he grew up. In two and a half years he may have only completed 0.177607% of the entire Greater London area – but the 30-year-old says he remains ‘fully determined’ to complete his task. Jack told Metro: ‘The idea of drawing every single building was super fascinating for me. I wanted…

Dozens of flood alerts are in effect across England and Wales and new warnings for rain and snow have been issued following snowfall across the UK. The Met Office has warned we could be in for a ‘rapid thaw’ after vast amounts of snow fell over the weekend, closing runways at several UK airports. But a new amber warning for snow has been put in place until 6am on Monday, covering parts of the north west of England, with up to 15cm forecast on higher ground. As much as 12cm of snow fell in some areas on Saturday night, with…

Two people have been taken to hospital after a stabbing on a major high road in north London. Emergency services rushed to the scene in Kilburn High Road last night at around 5.45 pm after they received reports of a knife attack near the North London Tavern, according to UKNIP. Two people were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Their conditions are not known. Last night police shut off the busy road both ways near the pub, which is popular among locals. London’s Metropolitan Police have been contacted for comment. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at…

Domestic news dominates Monday’s front pages as the recent cold snap that hit Britain has caused widespread travel chaos. Heavy snowfall and ice brought much of the UK to a standstill over the weekend and it will likely continue to disrupt into the week. 

Several papers focus on the ongoing spat between American billionaire Elon Musk and Reform leader Nigel Farage as the foreign tech entrepreneur continues to wade into British politics. The newspapers reacted with shock over Musk’s recent U-turn against Farage after the leader rejected Musk’s calls to free Tommy Robinson.

South Korea’s military says North Korea fired missile into eastern sea North Korea on Monday fired at least one ballistic missile into its eastern seas, South Korea’s military said, extending its heightened weapons testing activities into 2025 weeks before Donald Trump returns as US president.The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday did not immediately confirm how many missiles were fired or how far they flew.The launch event came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul for talks with South Korean allies over the North Korean nuclear threat and other issues.Mr Blinken’s visit comes amid political turmoil…

‘Who wrote the opera Fidelio?’ Jenny Nicholson texted her mother Julie on July 6, 2005. It had been a day of joy for the 24-year-old. With thousands of other excited Londoners, she had flocked to Trafalgar Square to mark the city’s successful Olympic bid. The Red Arrows left a trail of red, white and blue across London’s grey skies as British flags waved beneath. To wind down later that day, Jenny settled down with a crossword and texted her mother for help with a question about the opera. It was the last message Julie would ever receive from her daughter. On July…

Safia Ali, who was in her 50s, was walking down Brixton Road near the junction with Handforth Road when she was killed after she was hit by a tow truck and then struck by a car in south London. Woman killed after being hit by tow truck and then car in south London named Safia Ali, who was in her 50s, was walking down Brixton Road near the junction with Handforth Road when she was killed shortly before 7pm on October 1. She was first struck by the tow truck, which did not stop, then hit by the car, whose…

Why is the UK still so poorly prepared for extreme weather? It is 2025 and we have an abundance of weather warnings but yet flooding, disruption and transport chaos aplenty. So how should the nation prepares for another period of unsettled conditions. Not only were New Year celebrations cancelled and train journeys disrupted due to wild winds, but alerts about potentially life-threatening cold weather conditions also hit the headlines ahead of this this weekend. Why is the UK still so poorly prepared for extreme weather As we see year on year, large areas of the UK can struggle to cope…

Coffee chain Insomnia brews up profit of €2.5m. The firm behind Insomnia coffee chain brewed up more than a threefold increase in pre-tax profits to €2.49m during 2023, the company’s latest financial accounts show. Accounts filed by BHJ Holdings Ltd show the group recorded a sharp increase in profits, as revenues increased by 7%, from €37.32m to €39.87m. The pre-tax profits of €2.49m for 2023 follow pre-tax profits of €797,236 in 2022. The directors, Harry O’Kelly, John Clohisey, and Barry Kehoe said they were satisfied with the performance of the group in 2023 “and will look to further grow the…

Before we tuck in to a whole new year of feasting in the capital, it’s time to look back at London’s best restaurants in 2024 and these are the restaurants we’d go back to in a heartbeat and that’s the criteria of the Top Ten Restaurants of 2024. London’s best restaurants in 2024 From a Korean restaurant with a dish so delicious we just had to go back for seconds to the best pizzeria in Europe, we dined at some truly incredible London eateries in the last 12 months. But after much deliberation, we finally came up with our official…

Fast food chain from Netherlands has launched in London, Fat Phill’s is said to have ‘the best’ burgers in Amsterdam, it is being dubbed as a ‘Mcdonald’s beater’ – which is good news for all those who are boycotting the big American chain. We’ve seen an influx of American and Canadian fast food chains setting up shop in London lately, but a burger joint from the Netherlands has just opened its doors. Fast food chain from Netherlands has launched in London Fat Phill’s, which is said to be home to Amsterdam’s ‘best burger’, has quietly launched in Clapham Junction, serving…