News 22/12/25

Two men who were part of what police have called “London’s most prolific Grindr gang” have been jailed for a combined eight-and-a-half years.

Rahmad Khan Mohammadi, 23, and Mohammed Bilal Hotak, 21, used the gay dating app to target victims, stealing phones, passports and wallets in 35 burglaries and 20 related frauds, totalling sixty-eight thousand pounds over six months, the Met said. One victim was hospitalised with stress after loans and overdrafts were taken out in their name.

Donald Trump has addressed the media in West Palm Beach, Florida, joined by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The president confirmed he has approved a plan for the US Navy to begin construction of two new battleships. He said there has never been anything like them, adding the designs have been under consideration for a long time.

David Walliams has been removed from the line-up for a children’s book event. Waterstones confirmed the author will no longer appear at its Children’s Book Festival.

This follows his publisher HarperCollins UK dropping him amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Walliams strongly denies the claims.

Documents have revealed that the Post Office and Fujitsu agreed a deal nineteen years ago to correct transaction errors in sub-postmasters’ accounts caused by bugs in the Horizon IT system.

The 2006 agreement ensured that errors would be fixed, or Fujitsu would pay the Post Office up to £150 per transaction if corrections failed. This contradicts previous Post Office claims during criminal prosecutions and civil cases, which led to hundreds of wrongful convictions, showing the software could not always reliably record transactions.

A forty seven year old man has pleaded not guilty to allegedly racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Mark Mogan, of Dovecot, Liverpool, was charged with a racially aggravated Section 5 Public Order offence during the fixture at Anfield on Friday, August fifteenth. His trial is scheduled for April twenty second next year, with Semenyo expected to attend. Mogan appeared in person and confirmed his name, address and plea.

A man has been charged alongside five others with sexual offences against his former wife over a thirteen-year period.

Philip Young, forty nine, formerly of Swindon, faces fifty six charges, including multiple counts of rape, Wiltshire Police said. He is also charged with administering a substance to stupefy or overpower for sexual activity, voyeurism, possession of indecent images of children, and possession of extreme images. Five other men have been charged with offences against Joanne Young, forty eight, and are due in court tomorrow.

Singer Chris Rea, best known for hits including Driving Home For Christmas, has died at the age of seventy four, his family has confirmed.

A statement issued on behalf of his wife and two children said it was with immense sadness that they announced his death. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today after a short illness, surrounded by his family.

An urgent appeal has been launched amid a manhunt in Berkshire for a twenty eight year old wanted on emergency recall to prison.

Charlie Banks is wanted for emergency recall due to bad behaviour and failing to return for curfew since Thursday, December the fourth. Police say he is believed to be in Windsor and have warned the public not to approach him. Anyone who sees him is urged to call nine nine nine. Banks is described as a white man of slim build, with short brown hair and a short beard.

A diplomatic row has emerged over the future of Greenland following the appointment of a special United States envoy to the territory.

President Donald Trump announced that Louisiana governor Jeff Landry had been appointed, saying he understands how essential Greenland is to American national security. Mr Landry later wrote on X that it was an honour to serve in the volunteer role, adding that his aim was to make Greenland part of the United States. Denmark has not commented.

A major incident has been declared in Shropshire after a sinkhole breached a canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch.

Fire Control received reports at twenty two minutes past four in the morning that a canal bank had collapsed, with large volumes of water escaping into surrounding land. Firefighters used barge boards and water gates to reduce water flow and establish upstream and downstream safety sectors at the scene.

A Russian general has been killed in a car bombing in Moscow, according to officials.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov died on Monday morning after an explosive device planted beneath a car detonated. The fifty six year old was head of the armed forces’ operational training department. Investigators say one theory being examined is possible involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services. Ukraine has not commented.

Drivers could be paying more than they should for petrol and diesel after the competition watchdog said fuel profit margins remain persistently high despite lower pump prices.

The Competition and Markets Authority said competition in the sector was weak and rejected claims higher operating costs were to blame. The Petrol Retailers Association disagreed. The report comes ahead of the government’s fuel finder scheme launch.

A man suspected of killing fifteen people during a shooting at Bondi Beach “conducted firearms training” with his father before the attack, Australian police have said.

Akram, twenty four, and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly attacked attendees at a Hanukkah event on the fourteenth of December, killing victims aged ten to eighty seven and injuring forty others. Fifty year old Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed was injured and treated in hospital. He has been charged with fifty nine offences and was transferred to prison on Monday.

Reuters reported last week, citing six sources, that US intelligence continues to warn Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his aims of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming former Soviet territories in Europe.

The intelligence contrasts with statements by Donald Trump and his Ukraine peace negotiators, who have suggested Putin wants to end the conflict. It also contradicts Russian denials that the president poses a threat to Europe, presenting a starkly different picture from official Russian statements.

A major incident has been declared in Shropshire after reports of a sinkhole affecting a canal in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch.

Emergency services are at the scene and a multi agency response has been established, coordinated through the Shropshire Tactical Co ordination Group. There are currently no reports of any casualties. Residents in the area are being supported by the fire service while the situation is assessed and managed by responding agencies.

Wes Streeting has pledged to do everything possible to avoid industrial action in twenty twenty six, as doctors in England return to work following a five day walkout.

The health secretary said the strike, combined with rising flu cases, created what he described as the most serious threat to the NHS since he took on the role a year and a half ago. He said the double impact of strike action and flu this December placed exceptional pressure on services across England.

With the festive period approaching, hopes of a white Christmas are likely to be disappointed for many.

Temperatures are expected to fall this week as easterly winds develop, drawing in colder air from eastern Europe. However, high pressure will also build, leading to a lack of widespread precipitation and reducing the chances of snow. Forecasters say a few wintry showers could reach southern areas, while thick cloud in north eastern regions may produce the odd flake, meaning a white Christmas remains technically possible.

The Royal Borough has decided to extend its contract with a domestic abuse charity, describing the move as a moral duty to support victims across Maidenhead and Windsor.

The decision reflects obligations set out in the Government’s Domestic Abuse Act twenty twenty one, which requires local authorities to ensure victims can access support. The act lists abusive behaviours including physical or sexual abuse, violent, threatening or coercive behaviour, as well as economic and emotional abuse.

A leading academic who conducted a recent government review into sex and gender data collection has threatened legal action against the University of Bristol, claiming it failed to protect her freedom of speech.

Prof Alice Sullivan has also written to the university regulator, the Office for Students, after a talk she gave at the university was disrupted by a trans rights protest. Universities have a legal duty to uphold free speech while balancing that with the right to protest by those who object. The University of Bristol rejected her claims, saying the talk went ahead safely despite what it described as “unacceptable disruption,” and stressed its strong commitment to upholding free speech.

The government is promising an end to puppy farming and is considering a ban on the use of electric shock dog collars as part of a new animal welfare strategy to be launched on Monday.

The strategy combines new laws with legislative reforms and proposals, including progressing Labour’s manifesto pledge to ban trail hunting in the countryside. The RSPCA has welcomed plans to outlaw puppy farming, while the Countryside Alliance has condemned the trail hunting ban, calling it “another attack on the countryside.”

A shortage of epidural kits in the UK is expected to last until at least March, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned.

The MHRA told healthcare providers in a patient safety alert that the shortage followed manufacturing issues affecting epidural bags. Hospitals are being sent substitute bags for the pain relief drug given to women in labour, while the Royal College of Anaesthetists is working with the NHS to advise hospitals on managing the situation. Medical staff have expressed concern, although the NHS said women should come forward for care as usual.