Local News

A bishop has defended the clergy's role in helping asylum seekers with their claims after politicians linked their assistance to abuses in the asylum system, following the case of chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi.Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, said it was "saddening" to hear such comments, as religious leaders are "supporting people who are often deeply vulnerable and traumatised".A national manhunt for Ezedi began on Wednesday, after a corrosive liquid […]

Labour's plans for a new race equality act were announced at a behind closed doors event that excluded equality campaigners who wanted to review the proposals, Sky News can reveal.The party is pledging to be a government that would give stronger legal protections for equal pay for black, Asian, and minority ethnic workers. Politics latest: PM wishes King 'full and speedy recovery'But ahead of today's launch, stakeholders were emailed at […]

Four of the Royal Navy's smallest ships are preparing to head to Norway's Arctic coast and take part in a NATO exercise after a problem was found on the fleet's largest ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.They will be taking part in Exercise Steadfast Defender - the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War - in March. HMS Prince of Wales is set to stand in for HMS Queen Elizabeth which has […]

A jockey has died after falling from a horse during a race in Kent.Keagan Kirkby was riding in the Charing point-to-point on Sunday when his horse ran through the wing of a fence. Wings, usually made of metal or wood, sit at both ends of a fence and guide horses towards a jump.Following the fall, on-site paramedics, as well as a team from the air ambulance, attempted to treat the […]

The Zone Of Interest and All Of Us Strangers dominated at the 44th annual London Critics' Circle Awards - receiving three awards each.British director Jonathan Glazer took home director of the year for The Zone Of Interest, which focuses on the lives of Rudolf Hoss, the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife, Hedwig. Image: Jonathan Glazer. Pic: PA The film, based on the novel of the same name by Martin […]

Barry John, the Welsh rugby legend, has died aged 79.He died peacefully in hospital on Sunday. A family statement read: "Barry John died peacefully today at the University Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving wife and four children."He was a loving Dadcu [grandfather] to his 11 grandchildren and much-loved brother." Image: Ireland's Barry McGann tackling Welsh player Gareth Edwards with Barry John to the right, during an international match […]

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Clapham chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi as police release new information about his movements.Police have also released new information about the alkaline substance that was used for the attack - saying laboratory analysis shows it was either liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate. Investigators believe there are people who know where Ezedi is […]

Protesters who climb on war memorials could face three months in prison and a £1,000 fine under plans being proposed by the home secretary.Announcing the plans, James Cleverly said ascending memorials was "an insult" and "cannot continue". The cabinet minister vowed last year to look into giving police new powers to protect remembrance sites after pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in London following […]

The UK armed forces are losing personnel faster than they can recruit, leaving their "warfighting readiness" in doubt, according to a new report by the Defence Committee.The report also found the military has "key capability and stockpile shortages" that would hamper its ability to engage in "all-out, prolonged war". It comes as the Royal Navy announced that its most powerful warship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, would not be sailing from Portsmouth […]