UK

I’m watching a black disc of wonder material hovering over a bubbling bath of liquid nitrogen. “This is superconducting magnetic levitation,” says magnet scientist Greg Brittles. “The closest you’ll get to magic in the real world.” And magical it is. The ceramic-like substance, called rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO), is suspended – half a centimetre-or-so

Two missing sisters in Aberdeen made an earlier visit to the bridge where they were last seen hours before they disappeared, CCTV footage has revealed. Police Scotland said a text message was also sent to the women’s landlady on the morning they vanished, indicating they would not be returning to the flat. Eliza and Henrietta

Prince Harry’s legal action against the publisher of The Sun newspaper, over allegations of unlawful information gathering, is due to begin today. The Duke of Sussex is one of two claimants, alongside former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who are continuing their claims against News Group Newspapers (NGN). NGN has always denied unlawful activity at The

The UK will play its “full part” in peacekeeping in Ukraine, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The prime minister told Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby that the conflict with Russia was not just about “sovereignty in Ukraine” but about the impact it also had on the UK, including the cost of living crisis. Sir

A man whose girlfriend blamed him for her death in a suicide note – after he subjected her to years of abuse – has been jailed for six-and-a-half years for controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. Ryan Wellings, 30, was found guilty of the offences but was cleared of Kiena Dawes’s manslaughter by a jury

Patients are dying in corridors and going undiscovered for hours while the sick are left to soil themselves, nurses have said, revealing the scale of the corridor crisis inside the UK’s hospitals. In a “harrowing” report built from the experiences of more than 5,000 NHS nursing staff, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found almost

Former anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq has been named in a third inquiry being launched by authorities in Bangladesh investigating money laundering and power misuse. At a media briefing in Dhaka held hours after Ms Siddiq resigned as a minister, investigators confirmed they were working on another probe involving the Labour MP. It is the third

The Princess of Wales has visited the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank staff who looked after her during her cancer treatment. Kate also met other patients at the London hospital – with the visit the first confirmation of where she was treated. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “The Princess wanted to make the journey to

Women and their partners should be given paid time off work if they experience a miscarriage, MPs have said. As of April 2020, employees can be eligible for statutory parental bereavement leave, including pay, if they have a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, but there is no specific leave for a pre-24 week miscarriage.

The use of drones to fly drugs and weapons into UK prisons needs to be tackled “urgently” because it has become a threat to “national security”, the chief inspector of prisons has said. Charlie Taylor added that police and the prison service had in effect “ceded the airspace” around HMP Manchester and HMP Long Lartin

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Treasury will be “ruthless” in cutting government spending as market turbulence continues. Responding to a question about the economic situation from Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby, he said: “The number one mission of this government is economic growth. “And that was run through the budget, but there’s much

MPs will today debate a change in the law proposed by a bereaved mother who believes social media may hold crucial clues to her son’s death. Jools Sweeney was 14 when he was found unconscious at home in April 2022. His parents and friends who saw him earlier that day say there were no signs

A woman has suffered life-changing injuries after she was stabbed at the Accident and Emergency department where she was working. It’s believed she is a nurse at Royal Oldham Hospital in Greater Manchester, where the attack happened. A 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. It is understood the woman

A police officer has been killed after being hit by a lorry while helping motorists who had been involved in a separate collision. PC Rosie Prior died was killed on the A19 at Bagby in North Yorkshire on Saturday morning. Another driver, Ryan Welford, 41, from Knaresborough, was also killed when the HGV struck him

Nigel Farage has told Sky News he “can’t be pushed or bullied” by anybody after Elon Musk said the Reform MP “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead his party.  In an interview with Sky’s political correspondent Ali Fortescue, Mr Farage said he has spoken with the billionaire owner of X since his criticism on

Specialist search teams, police dogs and divers have been dispatched to find two sisters who vanished in Aberdeen three days ago. Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV in the city’s Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 2.12am on Tuesday. The siblings were captured crossing the bridge and turning right

Temperatures in a hamlet in northern Scotland fell to -18.7C (-1.66F) overnight – the UK’s coldest January night in 15 years, the Met Office has said. Altnaharra, in the northern region of the Highlands, reached the lowest temperature while nearby Kinbrace reached -17.9C (-0.22F). It is the coldest January overnight temperature since 2010, when temperatures

Bosses of leading high street businesses are set to lead a new drive to cut crime and get ex-offenders into stable jobs. It’s part of a government initiative creating 11 new regional employment councils across England and Wales. Leaders from firms including the Co-Op, Iceland, Greggs, and Oliver Bonas will provide voluntary advisory roles in

A 17-year-old boy has been stabbed to death in Bedford. Police say Thomas Taylor was walking along Greenhill Street, close to Bedford Bus Station, when he was attacked by a group of men at 5.50pm on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital after suffering serious injuries and died a short time later. A murder inquiry

Passengers are being warned of major disruptions on Avanti West Coast (AWC) rail routes every Sunday from this weekend until 25 May. Train managers for Avanti who are part of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are launching a walkout campaign from Sunday 12 January in a dispute over rest day working. Here is