News 25/07/25

Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland, touching down at Prestwick Airport following his departure from Washington earlier today.

The US president begins a four-day visit to the UK, and was met by a waiting convoy of vehicles as Air Force One came to a stop on the tarmac. The visit will include meetings with political leaders and time at his family’s golf resorts. Security is tight, with a significant police presence in place across parts of Ayrshire.

Asylum seekers could face homelessness if they refuse to move from hotels into alternative accommodation under a new Home Office policy.

The government says the “Failure to Travel” policy will remove housing support from those who reject transfer requests without a valid reason. The Home Office claims some individuals are “gaming the system” by refusing offers of suitable housing. The plan is part of wider efforts to end the costly use of hotels for migrants awaiting asylum decisions.

Sir Keir Starmer is coming under increased pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, as more than 220 MPs back a cross-party letter urging him to do so.

The letter, led by Labour MP Sarah Champion, points to Britain’s historical involvement in the Balfour Declaration and its former role in Palestine. Supporters argue that official recognition would reinforce the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution and address a long-standing responsibility to the Palestinian people.

A coroner has found there were failings in the care of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe in the weeks leading up to his death.

Thorpe, regarded as one of the finest English batsmen of his generation, died after being struck by a train in Surrey on 4 August last year. He was 55.

At his inquest, Surrey Coroner’s Court heard that healthcare professionals had not considered him to be in crisis, despite being told he had asked his wife for help to end his life.

Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded a conclusion of suicide and said there were shortcomings in Thorpe’s care, though they did not amount to gross misconduct.

Two teenagers have been jailed for life for the brutal murder of 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was attacked with machetes on a bus in south-east London.

The aspiring rapper was sitting on the upper deck of the 472 bus in Woolwich on 7 January when the two boys boarded and stabbed him with identical machetes. The Old Bailey heard the pair were seen smiling during the attack.

Both defendants, now aged 16, had previously admitted murder and possession of a knife. They were each handed life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years and 10 months.

A drug dealer has been jailed for nearly three years after being caught riding an illegally modified e-bike.

Christopher Hamilton, 54, from Teesdale Road in Slough, was stopped by police near Oaken Grove Park in Maidenhead after officers spotted him travelling at speed without pedalling.

On closer inspection, they discovered the bike had been illegally modified. A search was carried out, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction.

Top Boy actor Micheal Ward has been charged with two counts of rape.

The 27-year-old is also facing two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault, following allegations relating to an incident involving a woman in January last year.

The Crown Prosecution Service says it has authorised the charges after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police.

Ward is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Thursday the 28th of August.

The CPS has reminded the public that legal proceedings are now active and the actor has the right to a fair trial.

Israel has confirmed that foreign countries can now begin airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza.

A senior official from the Israeli Defence Force announced the decision on Friday, saying international partners will be permitted to parachute supplies into the territory.

It comes as the aid charity World Central Kitchen resumes its operations, having halted work last year after several of its staff were killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The group began re-opening kitchens in Gaza this afternoon, in what’s being seen as a key step toward restoring much-needed support to people in the region.

The death of British teenager Jay Slater in Tenerife has been ruled accidental.

The 19-year-old went missing on 17 June after attempting to walk back to his accommodation following a night out involving drugs and alcohol.

His body was found almost a month later in a ravine near the remote village of Masca.

At a hearing in Preston, a coroner said there was no evidence of foul play and concluded that Jay died after falling while lost in mountainous terrain.

Retail sales saw a rebound in June, helped by warm weather lifting both supermarket and fuel purchases.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show sales volumes rose by 0.9% during the month.

Shoppers spent more on drinks and summer clothing, while fuel sales also increased as people made the most of the sunshine.

It follows a sharp drop of 2.8% in May, which the ONS says was higher than first estimated.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government is working to keep NHS services running as a five-day walkout by resident doctors begins in England.

The strike, which is the twelfth in an ongoing dispute over pay, sees junior doctors – now known as resident doctors – walking out until Saturday.

Hospitals have been told by NHS England to only cancel treatments in exceptional circumstances, in an effort to reduce disruption for patients.

Senior doctors are stepping in to provide cover, with the NHS aiming to maintain as many non-urgent services as possible.

In previous strikes, the focus has been on protecting emergency care, but this time, the health service is trying to avoid a widespread impact on routine treatments.

The Samaritans are preparing to close over 100 branches across the UK and Ireland, according to information obtained.

In a recent presentation to staff, the charity’s chief executive said at least half of its more than 200 sites will shut, as part of a major restructuring plan.

The move has sparked concern among volunteers, with some warning it could lead to a significant drop in support. One described the plan as “dismantling something that has worked for 70 years.”

In a statement, the Samaritans said the current number of branches is not sustainable and is limiting their ability to deliver the best possible service.

Police have launched a robbery investigation after a teenager was stabbed in the stomach on a residential street in Slough.

It happened at around 7:50 on Tuesday evening, July 15, when four men met with a group of three others on St George’s Crescent.

Members of the second group reportedly lifted their tops to show they were carrying knives.

One of the men, in his late teens, appeared to strike out before being stabbed in the stomach.