Headlines

Pope Francis is in a critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.

Title favourites Ireland survived a major Six Nations scare as they clinched the Triple Crown by beating a transformed Wales team 27-18 in Cardiff.

Claudia Winkleman said she wanted to cry when a father and daughter won £100,000 on Channel 4 gameshow One Question.

Starmer has told Volodymyr Zelensky he will press the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty in talks with Donald Trump next week as European leaders scramble to contain a growing transatlantic rift.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder more than 20 years after Robert Scott Clive went missing in north-east England, Northumbria Police said.

A three-year-old girl has been killed in a crash between a tram and a van in Manchester.

A fire has delayed the start of the British Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to confirm a timeline to raise defence spending and give Donald Trump an invitation for a state visit when he visits Washington next week, according to a report.

Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell have called on the Government to rethink proposals to relax copyright rules in a bid to protect creative talent from artificial intelligence (AI).

A body released by Palestinian militants overnight has been confirmed as Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother whose two young sons also died in captivity, her family said.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa all learned their next opponents in the Champions League’s last 16 after Friday’s draw in Nyon.

Slow Horses actor Christopher Chung is to star in the forthcoming series of Doctor Who.

The UK government’s push for data access which led to Apple withdrawing a security tool from the UK has made users “less secure”, experts have said.

A former Iranian prisoner has warned a British couple who have been detained in Iran on espionage charges to “not submit to making false confessions”.

The boyfriend of a woman who was killed in a shooting has been jailed for five years for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Scotland “cannot afford” to enter a third decade with the SNP in charge at Holyrood, Labour’s Ian Murray has insisted.

The organiser of a pro-Palestine rally in central London has denied breaching protest conditions.

The funeral is taking place on Friday of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at his school in Sheffield.

Sir Keir Starmer is facing pressure to be bold with Donald Trump when he travels to Washington next week, amid a slew of unproven claims about Ukraine that have shaken Western political relations.

The aunt of a woman murdered by an ex-partner has welcomed a “fundamental shift in how victims of domestic abuse are supported” as specialists are embedded in 999 control rooms across some police forces.

The Government has vowed to get NHS dentistry “back on its feet” by starting the rollout of 700,000 extra urgent appointments pledged in its manifesto.

Cancer death rates are almost 60% higher for people living in the most deprived areas of the UK, according to new analysis.

The Chancellor has said she is “absolutely committed” to spending 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, as Nato countries come under pressure to increase their spending amid fears the US could reduce its financial backing for European security.

A “controlling and coercive” man has been jailed for life for murdering his 19-year-old partner at a railway station.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will carry out joint engagements in South Wales next week ahead of St David’s Day.

The Army’s failure to properly investigate complaints of abuse contributed to the suicide of a teenage soldier who died in her room at a base, a coroner has ruled.

Car S.O.S host Tim Shaw says people might be surprised by “how accommodating and kind” Jeremy Clarkson was during an episode of the vehicle repair show.

A coroner who ruled SAS soldiers were not justified in killing four IRA members in a 1992 ambush in Clonoe, Co Tyrone, is to refer his findings to Northern Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

The father of one of the three girls murdered at a dance class in Southport will run the London Marathon to help build a new school playground in her memory.

A coroner is to give his conclusion on Thursday at the inquest of a teenage soldier who was found dead after being “bombarded” with messages from her “psychotic and possessive” boss.

Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford will stand in for Rachel Riley on Channel 4’s Countdown while she takes a short break to work on another project, it has been announced.

An acid attack victim has said he is “so thankful” after his was eye saved by a graft created from a donated placenta.

A first look at a new BBC thriller about a “man who is hated within the deaf community” has been released.

Energy suppliers will be made to offer tariffs with low or no standing charges, allowing customers to pay the costs as part of their unit rate instead, under plans from regulators.

Lord William Hague vowed to champion free speech and warned against “comfort blankets of cancellation” as he was officially admitted as the 160th Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

A vast majority of councils have signalled they will apply a maximum council tax increase of at least 4.99% this year, it has emerged.

Emma Raducanu says she will be OK after a “difficult experience” at the Dubai Tennis Championships where she was approached by a man displaying “fixated behaviour” before her second-round defeat to Karolina Muchova.

Individual members of The 1975 should not be held personally responsible for the Malaysian authorities shutting down a festival after lead singer Matty Healy kissed a male bandmate on stage, the High Court has heard.

Manchester United paid a total of £14.5million to sack manager Erik ten Hag, sporting director Dan Ashworth and other members of football staff, the club’s latest accounts show.

A medal given to Luke Skywalker after he destroyed the Death Star in Star Wars is on sale for 300,000 to 600,000 US dollars (£238,000 to £476,000).

UK inflation jumped more sharply than expected at the start of the year, posing a dilemma for the Bank of England as it considers further interest rate cuts amid weak economic growth.

The airport wants to bring its second, emergency runway into routine use for take-offs

The proportion of first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland who will need to pay stamp duty will double from April, according to analysis by a property website.

The F1 season starts in Australia on the 16th of March

The government wants new powers to tackle knife crime in England and Wales

Contracting Covid-19 or being vaccinated against it during pregnancy does not increase the risk of child developmental health issues, research indicates.

Children are going to be warned on YouTube and Instagram about getting addicted to vaping as part of a new Government campaign.

Andy Murray will continue to coach Novak Djokovic through to the French Open – and possibly at Wimbledon.

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden spoke about the “impact of chemotherapy” with the King as she was honoured at Buckingham Palace, she said.

The number of women in England who are up to date with breast screening is the highest on record, according to new figures.

Defence Secretary John Healey said details of a US security guarantee for Ukraine are “being developed” and decisions made in the next few weeks will define “the security of our world for a generation”.

A British husband and wife who were detained in Iran have been charged with espionage, the Iranian judiciary is reported to have said.

Thames Water Utilities Holdings Limited is in around 16 billion pounds of debt

Neath Port Talbot Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday evening

The 52,888-capacity ground will become the Premier League’s seventh biggest

A Delta plane crashed and flipped over on landing at Pearson International

A man has been sentenced to life in prison in India for the rape and murder of Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in 2017, her family’s solicitor confirmed.

Davide Sanclimenti said he has faced an “ongoing campaign of misinformation and targeted attacks” since leaving the Love Island villa.

Pope Francis’ respiratory tract infection is presenting a “complex clinical picture” that will require further hospital treatment, the Vatican said as concerns grow about the increasingly frail health of the 88-year-old pontiff.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK and Europe are facing a “generational challenge” and “need to do more” after he said he was willing to put a peacekeeping force into Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country will not take part in US-Russia talks this week on ending the war and cannot accept the outcome of the summit if Ukraine does not participate.

The Duke of Sussex looked visibly moved as he attended the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Canada.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he is prepared to put a peacekeeping force into Ukraine if there is a deal to end the war with Russia, acknowledging this could put British troops “in harm’s way” if Vladimir Putin attacks again.

Jeff Goldblum and David Tennant are among the early arrivals at this year’s Bafta film awards.

Rain and snow are expected to continue throughout the weekend before temperatures start to rise again next week.

Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to act as a bridge between US President Donald Trump and Europe on the Ukraine war is “not going to be easy”, a Cabinet minister acknowledged.

A retired head of nursing at Lucy Letby’s hospital has claimed the convicted killer is innocent, describing “shocking” meetings with the nurse who “cried in my arms”.

US President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs on imports of UK steel will cause damage on both sides of the Atlantic, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said.

Leading trainer Gordon Elliott was among those paying tribute to Michael O’Sullivan following the rider’s death at the age of 24 on Sunday morning.

Sir Keir Starmer is poised to join European leaders at an emergency summit on Monday, as they consider how to respond to US President Donald Trump’s push for an end to the Ukraine war.

Labour’s Anas Sarwar has pledged his party will “fix” an NHS that he claims is “no longer free and available at the point of need” for all Scots.

The Government has announced multibillion-pound plans to boost the UK steel industry and help secure its future.

A Syrian man was arrested at the scene in Villach

The suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman at a pub in Kent “may have entered the water” at the Dartford Crossing, police have said.

The Gunners are now 4 points behind Liverpool

The gap to Rangers is now 16 points

Lindsay and Craig Foreman accused of “security-related” offences

The swap means the fragile truce will continue

Police are searching for a man after a woman was shot dead at a pub near Sevenoaks, Kent.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says the time has come for the creation of an “armed forces of Europe”, and says his country’s fight against Russia has proved that a foundation for it already exists.

OpenAI says its board of directors has unanimously rejected a 97.4 billion dollar (£77.3 billion) takeover bid by Elon Musk.

A London resident who has been without water for more than three days has said Thames Water’s plan to charge customer even more than previously agreed is “just greed”.

Caroline Flack’s mother has said she wants her daughter to be remembered “for inspiring people to live”, after a suicide prevention bench was installed in honour of the TV presenter.

The Southport child killer’s sentence will not be referred to the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General has said.

World leaders have been discussing the next steps to end the brutal three-year war

David Newton, 70, will likely die in jail

It's the latest health scare for the 88-year-old Pontiff

They'll see their families tomorrow after more than 400 days

The Government faces questions on how it will respond to US President Donald Trump’s latest trade announcement, which threatens to impose tariffs as a retaliation for charging VAT on US goods.

Robert Pattinson has revealed he “kind of said yes” to being in Bong Joon-ho’s new film Mickey 17 before seeing the script.

Scientists have discovered a new way to predict which cancer tumours will become aggressive before they spread – paving the way for treatments to stop the disease in its tracks.

An artist has added a touch of magic to used tea bags by painting scenes inspired from Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings on them.

Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said she found a trip to Poland to hear the stories of Ukrainian refugee children “truly inspiring”.

Regulators have proposed sweeping changes for the baby formula industry, after finding many brands cost more than the weekly value of people’s benefits, leading some parents to forgo food to buy the product.

A doll’s house which inspired the stories of children’s author Beatrix Potter is going back on display after 300 hours of conservation work.

David Lammy is set to meet G7 allies on Friday as the West reels from Donald Trump’s telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin.

More than half of the public intend to spend money on a spouse or partner this Valentine’s Day, with men marginally more likely than women to mark the occasion, a survey suggests.

Kemi Badenoch has launched a formal bid to keep local elections scheduled for this May, as her shadow business secretary warned cancelling them was “entirely wrong”.

A major opportunity to boost inclusive economic growth will be lost unless a looming £8 billion funding gap in council finances is not addressed in the forthcoming spending review, the Government has been warned.

The Government will “wait and see” whether tariffs announced by Donald Trump on Friday “actually come to pass”, a senior minister has said.

London Museum has announced it has acquired Banksy’s piranhas artwork for display in its new location.

Strikes planned by Avanti West Coast train managers over the next three Sundays have been suspended to allow negotiations in a long-running dispute over rest day working.

A 70-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of 86-year-old widow Una Crown in 2013 after DNA which matched his profile was found on her nail clippings.

Two brothers have denied assaulting police officers in a disturbance at Manchester Airport.

Former footballer Joey Barton has appeared in court accused of sending offensive messages to TV personalities Lucy Ward and Jeremy Vine.

A chief constable promised to “ensure your memory, your contribution and your sacrifice are never ever forgotten” as he spoke at the funeral of a police officer who died after she stopped to help at a road crash.

Britain’s economy unexpectedly eked out growth in the final three months of last year, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was “still not satisfied” as fears remain over a lacklustre performance.

Several people have been injured after a car drove into a group of people in Munich, German police said.

British business is calling on the Government to help get the “flywheel of the economy turning” with concrete strategies and policies as official output figures are expected to show a difficult end to 2024.

Three lynx illegally released in the Cairngorms have been described as “doing well” after completing their 30-day quarantine at Edinburgh Zoo.

The UK economy eked out growth in the final quarter of last year after better-than-expected expansion in December, according to official figures.

Fake adverts featuring celebrities and public figures remain the most common type of scam adverts appearing online, according to new figures from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Nearly half (48%) of UK police forces caught drivers exceeding 90mph on 30mph roads in the 20 months to the end of August last year, an investigation has found.

Certain contraceptives may carry a slightly increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in women, according to a large new study.

Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby produced one of the most dramatic finishes in its history as James Tarkowski equalised in the eighth minute of added time to snatch a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool.

President Donald Trump has said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call to begin “negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war and would “work together, very closely” on winding down the conflict.

That's according to research published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry

That's according to Sir Keir Starmer

Water regulator Ofwat has launched an investigation into Thames Water over concerns it will not complete more than 100 environmental schemes funded by customers.

Around 13,000 offenders did not complete rehabilitation courses as part of their sentences because the Probation Service was unable to deliver them in time under an “impossible” workload, the Justice Secretary has revealed.

A Christian school worker who was dismissed after sharing social media posts about LGBT+ relationships teaching has won a Court of Appeal battle related to her dismissal.

The families affected by the Nottingham attacks “recognise the gravity and importance” of their meeting with the Prime Minister and expect a statutory public inquiry to be announced this year, the mother of one of the victims has said.

The announcement comes as the airport prepares for expansion.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and resume the fight against Hamas if the militant group does not go ahead with the next scheduled release of hostages on Saturday.

Sue Gray, the “partygate” investigator who went on to become Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, has taken her seat in the unelected House of Lords four months after leaving the heart of Government.

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has been cleared of causing racially aggravated harassment after calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white”.

The football community came together to pay their final respects to the great Denis Law in Manchester on Tuesday.

A High Court ruling that the Metropolitan Police cannot dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance “has significant implications for the work the Met is now doing to clean up the force”, the Mayor of London has said.

Former glamour model Katie Price is to have one of her two bankruptcies discharged following a hearing at a specialist court in London.

Heathrow airport said it has recorded the busiest January in its history.

Synod members will debate and vote on a new safeguarding model for the Church of England on Tuesday.

Crystal Palace avoided becoming another Premier League scalp as they eased to a 2-0 win at Doncaster in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

US singer Sabrina Carpenter will receive the global success award at the 2025 Brit Awards and perform at its London ceremony.

Labour officials were repeatedly warned about a WhatsApp group containing offensive messages made by a former minister before they were made public, it has been claimed.

The January sales gave retail stores their strongest growth in almost two years in some good news after a dire Christmas, figures show.

The MP behind the assisted dying Bill has proposed replacing the need for High Court judge approval with an expert panel in a move she argues would strengthen a new law.

Doctor Who star David Tennant, The Crown actress Imelda Staunton and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express are among the winners at a ceremony which celebrated the “diversity and variety of theatre productions” in the UK.

A second MP has lost the Labour whip over his membership of a WhatsApp group containing offensive comments, after a minister was sacked for his involvement.

The King has taken the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister on a tour of the Cornish housing project he inspired – in a rare joint engagement between the monarch and political leaders.

The UK will have to “wait and see” if Donald Trump provides more clarity on his threat to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US, a minister has said.

The Irish government is being urged to enact a bill banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land within the next 12 months.

Simon Vickers will serve a minimum term of 15 years

Farmers will stage another tractor protest outside Parliament on Monday as they continue their campaign against changes to inheritance tax rules.

US pop star Taylor Swift, US President Donald Trump, Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi, actor Paul Rudd and Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway were among the A-list stars watching the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Nearly half of unmarried people who live with their partner and share a pet with them would consider including their animal in a cohabitation agreement in the event they split up, a survey has found.

The Philadelphia Eagles ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ bid to win an unprecedented three straight Super Bowls as they ran out 40-22 winners in New Orleans.

The UK has a target of zero new infections by 2030

It’s 80 years since the liberation of Europe from the Nazis

Health officials in England warn it’s “not just a winter illness”

Plymouth knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup

No more booze-free wine or gluten-free bread

All four lost children in 2022 and blame the craze

Reform UK claim the proposals were made to stop their advance

“The roar at the end was incredible”

He cried “happy, childlike tears” when his was the winning bid

The FA Cup was in full swing on Saturday as Manchester City overcame a potential scare to beat Leyton Orient, while Newcastle left it late to defeat Birmingham in their tie.

The families of two of the three girls murdered at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last summer have spoken of the moment they were told “something awful has happened” as they paid tribute to their daughters.

A Labour MP who was sacked as a minister by Sir Keir Starmer over comments made in a WhatsApp group has said he regrets the “badly misjudged” remarks.

The Church of England is gathering at what has been described as a time of “unprecedented crisis” for the first General Synod since the archbishop of Canterbury’s resignation.

Hundreds of people have gathered to march through Sheffield in memory of 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose who was stabbed to death at his school.

Demi Moore has continued her winning streak at the Critics Choice Awards during a ceremony which also saw Anora take home best picture.

The families of the Nottingham attacker’s victims will meet the Prime Minister next week to push for a judge-led statutory inquiry into the killings.

Hamas-led militants have released three more hostages, all Israeli civilian men, to the Red Cross – and Israel is set to free dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of a fragile agreement that has paused the war in the Gaza Strip.

Bridget Jones’s fictional flat could have nearly tripled in price since the first film depicting the character was released in 2001, according to calculations by a property website.

Harry Maguire’s thumping header secured FA Cup holders Manchester United a controversial late 2-1 comeback win against his former club Leicester and returning favourite Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The King and Queen have been joined by Victoria and David Beckham, Donatella Versace, Dame Helen Mirren, Edward Enninful and Stanley Tucci for a black tie dinner to celebrate Italian cuisine at Highgrove.

Dancing On Ice professional skater Eric Radford will skip this weekend’s show, becoming the latest competitor to get an injury this year.

Re-runs of old Gino D’Acampo shows have been pulled from the ITV schedule following allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against the TV chef.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is looking forward to the “huge challenge” of getting Marcus Rashford back to his best.

A retired police officer has been cleared by a jury for knocking two men off an electric motorbike in order to “protect life”.

Grenfell Tower will be “carefully” demolished in a process likely to take two years, it has been confirmed.

A man who shook his partner’s toddler to death after staying up late playing video games has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the 22-month-old’s murder.

Bereaved families have filed a lawsuit against TikTok in the United States over efforts to access their children’s social media accounts because they “want answers” about their deaths.

The Government’s £22 billion backing of “unproven” technology to capture and store carbon emissions is high risk, MPs have warned.

Women who were harmed after being fitted with mesh have “faced silence” for a year after a major report said there was a “clear case for redress”, a campaigner has said.

As much as 70% of tasks in computer-based jobs could be transformed or replaced by AI, according to a new study.

The King and Queen are to pay state visits to Italy and the Vatican, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Hospitals in England are “close to full” as a significant number of beds are occupied by people who are medically fit to be discharged, health officials have said.

The majority of school leaders are opposed to Ofsted’s proposed report card grading system for inspecting schools, a survey has suggested.

UK interest rates have fallen to 4.5% after the Bank of England voted to cut borrowing costs, as it also slashed short-term growth forecasts for the economy.

Members of a specialist British military unit who shot dead four IRA men in an ambush in Co Tyrone in 1992 used lethal force which was not justified, a coroner has ruled.

A dog treat made from cultivated meat has gone on sale at Pets at Home in a move the retailer claims is a world first.

Two in five parents who have sought help for their child’s mental health said they did not get the required support, according to a survey.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair a summit on smartphone theft after the Metropolitan Police seized more than 1,000 stolen devices in one week.

The Government is pledging to create thousands of highly skilled jobs by reforming planning rules to make it easier to build new nuclear reactors.

Bereaved families of the Grenfell fire are understood to have been told the tower block will be demolished.

Yorkshire are set to become the first county to sell an entire 100 per-cent stake in their Hundred team, after agreeing a reported £100million deal with the owners of Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Prince of Wales has spoken to teenagers about dealing with bereavement during a visit to a charity.

Ozzy Osbourne is to reunite with all his original Black Sabbath bandmates for his final performance.

May elections in nine council areas have been postponed for one year amid the reorganisation of local government in England, Angela Rayner has said.

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the heart with a hunting knife at a school in Sheffield, a court has heard.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced a £55 million package of support aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s resilience, during a visit to Kyiv amid uncertainty about the future of the war.

There are more than 1,000 vacancies in Scotland’s NHS for consultants, figures have shown, as a health body called for action.

Abuse victims will be able to bring compensation claims when they are ready rather than being bound by a three-year time limit, under reforms the Government has acknowledged are “long overdue”.

The Government will not boost economic growth and productivity until it tackles the the mental health crisis in young people, which is costing more than £1 trillion in lost earnings, experts have warned.

A report into the care received by Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane shows he may have been “spared prison on the basis of incomplete evidence”, his victims’ families have said.

Five people have been shot at an adult education centre in Sweden, police have said.

Fashion editor Dame Anna Wintour told the King she will not stop working as she removed her trademark sunglasses when she was honoured at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The convictions of child serial killer Lucy Letby have been branded “one of the major injustices of modern times” as her legal team continued its campaign protesting her innocence.