Storm Bram, with winds expected to reach 144 km/h, reached the coast of Ireland and the UK today. Seventy-three flights were canceled at Dublin Airport. Some ferry crossings in Scotland and Ireland were suspended. The bridge connecting England and Wales was also closed.more

Christmas shoppers are being urged not to take “serious risks” as Brits report losing nearly £50,000 to beauty treatment scammers so far this year. Since January, Santander UK has recorded £49,846.32 reported as being stolen by beauty scammers, with an average loss of £227.more

NHS bosses fear this is the worst flu season in recent years, as flu cases and hospitalisations rise in time for Christmas across the North West. The number of people hospitalized with flu has increased by 56% over the past week, compared with the same period in 2024.more

The head of the Royal Navy has warned the government to "step up" and fund defence or risk losing the UK's superiority in the Atlantic to Russia. Should that happen, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said it would be the first time since the end of the Second World War that Britain's warships and submarines were not the dominant force in their most vital sea lanes alongside their allies.more

Tens of thousands of young British and European citizens would be given the right to live and work in each other’s countries under plans for a scheme that ministers are aiming to finalise within the next year. Ministers want to secure a youth mobility scheme with the EU by the end of 2026, as part of a broader reset of Britain’s relationship with Europe six years after leaving the bloc.more

A team of UK-based scientists are developing technology to create the first synthetic human chromosome. The ability to write large genomes has the potential to transform our understanding of human health, opening opportunities to develop cell therapies, climate-resistant crops and more. more

A well-known UK restaurant chain faces potential closures after recording losses exceeding £8 million. John Vincent, who established Leon in 2004 and has recently reacquired the business from EG, revealed to the Sunday Times that certain unprofitable locations may need to shut down as part of his efforts to restore the company's financial health.more

Egypt has said thousands of artefacts can remain in British museums, but renewed its calls for the Rosetta Stone to be returned. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said many of the items on show in the UK were legally removed from the country and now form part of "London's identity".more

Severe weather warnings including an amber warning have been issued ahead of Storm Bram which is forecast to hit the United Kingdom on Tuesday and Wednesday. Gusts of up to 90mph (144km/h) are likely across north-west Scotland but strong winds will be felt widely.more

Young people will be stripped of their right to claim benefits if they refuse a taxpayer-funded job after 18 months without a job, the work and pensions secretary says. Pat McFadden told the BBC they would need a "good reason" to decline one of the 55,000 six-month placements, to be rolled out from next April.more

The British government announced today that it is launching a new military program called Atlantic Bastion. It combines drones, submarines, and aircraft using artificial intelligence technology to identify threats from Russia in the Atlantic.more

Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet, London, has been crowned the UK's top-performing secondary state school in the prestigious annual Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026.more

Labour has suffered a devastating blow as their support crumbles to a mere 14 percent in a shocking new opinion poll. The dismal results suggest Sir Keir Starmer's party could be heading for their worst election performance in over 100 years.more

Dog owners in England and Wales now face unlimited fines if their pets worry livestock, including newly protected llamas and alpacas. Peers and MPs have jointly agreed to lift the previous £1,000 cap on penalties for dog attacks on farm animals. more

Heathrow faced anger from passengers and taxi drivers when it said its drop-off fees will go up from £6 to £7 in the New Year. Drivers who go over ten minutes will be hit by an £80 penalty charge, although this is reduced to £40 if paid within a fortnight. The same penalty applies to drivers who do not pay the £7 drop-off charge online before midnight the next day.more

Alex Norris, the asylum minister, said anyone without the right to stay in the UK would be deported. He pledged to "ramp up" removals of families deemed not to be legitimate refugees by officials.more

London’s high streets are bracing for more disruption as Halifax prepares to shut another 14 branches across the UK in 2026 - including one in the capital. The latest round of closures comes as banks continue to scale back their physical presence in favour of digital services. One of the branches set to disappear next year is the Halifax in Wandsworth, scheduled to close on January 15, 2026.more

Heathrow Airport says its teams are working with emergency services after an incident in the multi-storey car park at Terminal 3. Met Police says the incident is isolated and not related to terrorism or protest.more

Four people have been arrested after custard and apple crumble were flung at a display case containing part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. Police were called shortly before 10:00 GMT on Saturday after the case containing the Imperial State Crown - which is typically worn by the King at formal ceremonies - was defaced.more

Festive one-upmanship is alive and well - with more than a quarter of Brits buying extra Christmas lights and decorations to compete with neighbours' displays. A competitive 28% of Brits admit they've snapped up more dazzling holiday decor to keep up with the Joneses, according to a survey by Compare the Market.more

Around 3.3 million pension savers are on course to be clobbered by salary sacrifice changes announced in the Budget, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures indicate. Guidance published online by HMRC about the changes said an estimated 7.7 million employees currently use salary sacrifice to make pension contributions.more

Two and a half centuries after the revolution across the Atlantic severed the imperial bond, the King and Queen are set to visit the United States as the nation marks 250 years of independence.more

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a key part of London's transport network - but why is it the only light railway in the capital and why isn't it in North London?more

The government will commit to bringing in enhanced protections against unfair dismissal from the start of 2027, after watering down its plans last week. Labour ministers agreed to introduce the right to make a claim after six months in a job instead of on day one, after a backlash from business groups.more

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences after 200 homes were evacuated and a major incident declared following a police warrant at a property in Derby.more