Two of the Royal Air Force’s most advanced surveillance planes have completed a 12-hour mission patrolling the Russian border. A pair of spy planes flew nearly 10,000 miles along the Russian border past Belarus and Ukraine on Thursday, along NATO’s eastern flank, to “boost operational awareness” in the area.more

The oral microbiome of King Richard III of England has been assembled by investigating the plaque on his teeth, and suggests he had a disease that can destroy the jaw. In 2012, skeletal remains were discovered beneath a car park in Leicester, UK, on the grounds of the former Greyfriars church. more

Rishi Sunak has taken up advisory roles at tech giant Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic. The former prime minister - who remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton - said he was "delighted" to be working "with two of the world's leading tech firms" and planned to donate his earnings to a charity he founded.more

Corrupt Taliban officials are writing fake death threat letters for less than £40 a time to dupe the Home Office over asylum applications, an investigation has claimed.more

More private than a Catholic confessional and more intimate than a peep show, the analogue photo booth turns 100 this year. And to celebrate, The Photographers’ Gallery in London is hosting a four-month survey with a small, special archival display that turns the camera on the mini-studios where billions have sat, whether for fun or function.more

Google may have to make changes in the UK so people have more choice over which search engine they use, following a landmark decision from the regulator. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has designated Google with "strategic market status" under a law which came into force in January.more

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the start date for new eligibility verification and bank account checks which will be rolled out from April 2026.more

Sir Sadiq Khan has urged the Government to pause the introduction of new visa rules that could result in between 200 and 300 Transport for London staff being deported.more

Detectives have smashed an international crime network suspected of smuggling tens of thousands of phones stolen in London out of the UK. The Metropolitan Police says the gang is believed to have smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months – up to 40% of all phones stolen in London.more

Britain has announced the signing of a £350 million ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian Army with Lightweight Multi-Role Missiles (LMMs) produced by Thales in Northern Ireland. The deal marks a major step in the expanding defence and industrial collaboration between the United Kingdom and India.more

The number of hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales has risen for the first time in three years, including increases in race and religiously motivated offences, Home Office figures, external show.more

Pubs and bars in England and Wales could see extended opening hours as the government launches a fast-track review on "outdated" licensing rules. The plans could make it easier for venues to serve food outside and host more live music, in a bid to "remove unnecessary barriers".more

It would take the average earner in the UK 52 years’ worth of earnings to become as wealthy as the richest 10%, according to new research by the Resolution Foundation. In a new report, the influential thinktank analyses the Office for National Statistics’ latest wealth and assets survey, which covers the Covid pandemic period of 2020-22.more

Water bills for millions of households in England will increase by even more than expected after the competition regulator gave the green light for five water suppliers to raise charges to customers – but rejected most of the companies’ demands.more

Incidents of very young children taking knives into primary schools have been revealed by a BBC investigation. Police in Kent recorded an assault involving a four-year-old pupil, while officers in the West Midlands reported that a six-year-old had taken a flick knife into class.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said today he welcomed the agreement reached on the first phase of the Gaza peace plan. He stressed that it was "a moment of profound relief felt by the whole world," especially the Israeli hostages and the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.more

The next Conservative government would abolish stamp duty on the purchase of main homes, Kemi Badenoch has said, in a surprise announcement at the end of her first conference speech as party leader. Badenoch received a standing ovation from Tory activists in Manchester as she declared: "That is how we will help achieve the dream of home ownership for millions."more

The vacant office block at 130 Fenchurch Street, known as Fountain House, will be demolished to make way for two new high-rise towers at a cost of £300 million.more

BBC Weather has predicted the exact day rain is set to hit London after four days of glorious sunshine. While London is in for a lengthy dry spell, rain is just around the corner as the capital creeps towards winter.more

The EU has announced plans to hike tariffs on imported steel in a move the UK's steel industry has said could be "perhaps the biggest crisis" it has ever faced. The commission has set out plans to cut the amount of steel that can be imported into the bloc by half - beyond which the new 50% tariffs will apply.more

Scientists say they have developed the world’s first blood test to diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). There is currently no test for the condition and patients tend to be diagnosed based on symptoms, which means many can go undiagnosed for years.more

Barclays has launched an offer which means some people could get up to £900 if they switch both their current account and ISA savings. Under a new current account deal, you can get £400 by switching to a premier current account and depositing £4,000 within 30 days. more

Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets patrolled the skies over Poland overnight Monday into Tuesday, the UK Defence Journal reported. A NATO official confirmed the incident, saying it was part of a mission to prevent further airspace violations by Russia.more

Research from the University of Birmingham and the University of Munich has found that frequently enjoying a greater number of international foods reduced the likelihood of perceiving immigrants as “cultural or economic threats” by a tenth.more

Up to half of patients who booked to get the COVID vaccine via the National Booking System (NBS) are not eligible under new tightened criteria. Here's all you need to know.more