UK

A plot to kidnap a child was being hatched in a Portuguese holiday resort a week before Madeleine McCann vanished there, Sky News has been told. Expat Ken Ralphs said that Christian B, the German drifter suspected of abducting Madeleine, tried to recruit a mutual friend to help find a youngster to sell to a

Rishi Sunak has been criticised for aiming a political jibe about transgender people at Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – while Brianna Ghey’s mother Esther attended PMQs. In Prime Minister’s Questions, his weekly showdown with MPs and the leader of the opposition, Mr Sunak said the Labour leader had broken promises on “defining a woman”.

The King has appeared in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced. He was spotted with the Queen leaving Clarence House as they were taken by car to Buckingham Palace. Image: King Charles and Queen Camilla leave Clarence House. Pic: Reuters Image: A car carrying King Charles and Queen Camilla returns

Heavy snowfall could bring disruption to the UK later this week, with as much as 25cm possible in some areas. Temperatures will drop over the course of the week, with a yellow warning for snow issued covering Northern Ireland and much of Wales, as well as northern and central England, the Met Office said. Up

The King has been diagnosed with cancer and has started treatment today, Buckingham Palace has announced. The diagnosis comes following treatment for an enlarged prostate, although the palace says he does not have prostate cancer. The palace has not confirmed what type of cancer the 75-year-old monarch has. Follow live: King chose to share diagnosis

A man has been bailed after a grandmother was killed by two dogs at the weekend. Esther Martin, 68, was attacked inside a house in Jaywick, Essex, on Saturday afternoon. A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences has been released on conditional bail until 5 March. He was known to the

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi as police release new information about his movements. Police have also released new information about the alkaline substance that was used for the attack – saying laboratory analysis shows it was either liquid

Northern Ireland’s new first minister has told Sky News she “absolutely contests” the UK government’s claim that a referendum on Irish unity is decades away. Sinn Fein‘s Michelle O’Neill, the first nationalist to occupy the office, described her elevation at Stormont as “a historic day, truly representing a new dawn”. In a document, outlining the

The man accused of a chemical attack on a mother and her two young children in south London was in a relationship with the woman, a relative of the suspect has told Sky News. The close relative also said they would hand the suspect in to the police themselves if they had to. Abdul Ezedi,

Dozens of police hunting the Clapham chemical attacker raided a flat in east London where it is believed the suspect’s brother lives – evacuating shocked neighbours and questioning them at 2am. An officer told residents: “We are looking for someone. It’s not safe to be in there, just in case there’s a hazard we need

The two teenagers found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey can be named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe for the first time. They were just 15 when they lured Brianna to Linear Park in Culcheth, near Warrington, where she was stabbed 28 times in her head, neck and back with a hunting knife on

A man accused of a chemical attack on a mother and two children in Clapham, south London, is on the run and being hunted by three police forces. Police have warned the public the suspect is “dangerous”, should not be approached, and anyone who spots him should call 999 immediately. Clapham chemical attack latest: ‘Big

Police have released a new photograph of the suspect in the Clapham chemical attack. Superintendent Gabriel Cameron said the photo, taken at 8.48pm on Wednesday, was of the last-known sighting of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi in Caledonian Road, north London, and was less than two hours after the assault. “The image is taken from the Tesco

One of the members of the Bank of England’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee has voted for a cut in its base-level interest rate for the first time since the pandemic, as Britain’s central bank forecast that inflation could be down at its 2% target within a few months. The Bank opted to leave borrowing costs

Nine people, including children, have been hurt after a “corrosive substance” was thrown in Clapham, south London. London Fire Brigade said they were “called to a chemical incident on Lessar Avenue” on Wednesday evening. It said crews provided immediate emergency care to a woman and two children. London Ambulance Service said it treated nine people,

A man who was shot dead by officers in southeast London was carrying crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet, it has emerged. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) says two shots were fired from a police firearm after officers unsuccessfully tried to speak to the suspect. The watchdog launched an investigation into

Three more people have been arrested over the murders of two teenage boys in Bristol on Saturday. Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been arrested on suspicion of murder while a 46-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. All three are currently in police custody. Detectives investigating the deaths of

A man has died after being shot by officers in southeast London, the Metropolitan Police has said. It was reported that the man, believed to be in his 30s, was armed with weapons including a crossbow and was threatening to harm residents inside an address in Southwark in London, according to the police. The force

The King has left hospital after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. Charles smiled and waved to the public as he left the private London Clinic with the Queen by his side. Buckingham Palace said in a statement that Charles has “rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation”. He will

The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor after abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace has said. A spokesperson said she is “making good progress”. They added: “The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have