News

An asylum seeker living in an Epping hotel has appeared in court accused of trying to kiss a 14-year-old girl and telling her he wanted to have a baby with her. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that 38-year-old Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu made inappropriate comments to the teenager and her friend shortly after she offered him pizza because he looked hungry. Prosecutors say he then invited the girls back to his hotel. […]

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a woman reported being raped in Burnham Park, Slough. The incident is believed to have happened between 11:45 on Sunday night and 12:30 on Monday morning. The victim is being supported by specialist officers. Superintendent Clare Knibbs says a thorough investigation is underway, with several lines of enquiry being followed, although no arrests have yet been made. Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel […]

New laws to cut the use of short prison sentences and toughen community punishments are set to be introduced within weeks. Ministers are expected to bring the legislation before Parliament after the summer recess. The plans would abolish most short-term jail terms and create an earned release scheme, based on a system in Texas. Prisoners who show good behaviour could be released earlier, while those who break rules would stay […]

Human remains discovered by builders in Lancashire may belong to children, police have confirmed. Officers were called to Cleveland Road in Lytham on 15 August after bones were found during building work. Forensic tests later established they were human and could be those of children. Detectives say the find is not being treated as suspicious, and believe it may be linked to an isolated historical burial. The UK could see […]

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has accused Israel of causing a “man-made catastrophe” in Gaza, calling its refusal to allow sufficient aid a “moral outrage.” He said confirmation of famine in Gaza City was “utterly horrifying and wholly preventable.” Mr Lammy urged the Israeli government to act immediately, warning the consequences were “sickening, especially for children,” and stressing the situation must not be allowed to deteriorate further. The US Justice Department […]

Donald Trump has launched fresh criticism of Joe Biden, accusing his predecessor of stopping Ukraine from being able to "fight back". In a social media post, Trump compared Ukraine to a sports team with strong defence but no chance to play offense, adding there was "no chance of winning". The remarks are the latest in a string of attacks from the former president, who continues to use Ukraine policy to […]

Two Labour-run councils say they are weighing up legal action to prevent hotels in their areas being used to house migrants. It comes after Epping Forest District Council secured a temporary injunction against the use of The Bell Hotel. Wirral and Tamworth councils say they are considering similar steps, arguing the practice risks bypassing planning rules and undermining local communities. Wirral’s Labour leader, Paula Basnett, said all options were being […]

US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has faced questions about a shift in Donald Trump’s position on Ukraine talks. Before his latest call with Vladimir Putin, the US president said the next step towards peace would be a trilateral meeting. But afterwards, he suggested Russia and Ukraine should meet first, followed by talks involving himself, Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Some have speculated Trump was swayed by the Russian leader, but Leavitt […]

Donald Trump has confirmed he has spoken to Vladimir Putin as part of fresh efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The US President says he is arranging a meeting between the Russian leader and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also wants to follow that with a trilateral meeting involving all three men. That is a shift from what had been suggested earlier this evening, when a three-way summit […]