Local News

Kemi Badenoch has said the Tories are "not doing a deal with Reform" after a Conservative mayor appeared to advocate for a "coming together" of the two rival parties. The leader of the opposition criticised talk of "stitch ups" ahead of next week's local elections and said she was instead focused on ensuring that voters have a "credible Conservative offer". Speaking to reporters from Stratford-upon-Avon, she said: "We are not […]

The urine of thousands of women taking part in the London Marathon this Sunday will be recycled and turned into fertiliser for wheat. More than 1,000 litres will be collected from PEEQUAL's women's urinals - which are 2.7 times faster to use than other portable toilets and reduce queues. The company is pairing up with fellow Bristol-based start-up NPK Recovery to recycle urine and help reduce the event's carbon footprint.Wheat […]

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will be battling it out in an eagerly-awaited middleweight bout this weekend.The British boxers are not just settling their own dispute - they are continuing a family rivalry going back decades. But what exactly is the story between Eubank Jr and Benn and who's on the undercard? Here's everything you need to know ahead of the fight.When is Eubank Jr vs Benn?Eubank Jr and […]

England's schools are under fresh scrutiny after government data revealed a sizeable increase in both suspensions and permanent exclusions.According to the Department for Education, almost 300,000 pupils were suspended during the spring term of 2023/24, an increase of 12% recorded in spring 2022/23. Suspensions have nearly doubled since spring 2019, surging 93% from 153,465 back then.Meanwhile, permanent exclusions were also higher and went from 3,039 to 3,107, a 2% rise.At […]

Nigel Farage has denied Reform would do a deal with the Conservatives after Robert Jenrick made "coalition" comments.The Reform leader told Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates: "We're not going to a do a deal with a Conservative Party that gave us record tax levels since the war, mass migration, I could go on - a list as long as your arm." In a leaked recording obtained by Sam […]

Social media firms could be hit with heavy fines - or even banned from the UK - under new measures to protect children from online harm.Watchdog Ofcom has published the final version of its children's codes, part of the Online Safety Act, to set out what sites must do to protect young people. It says they are a "reset for children online" and will mean "safer social media feeds". However, […]

Bite marks on a Roman-era skeleton found in York are the first physical evidence gladiators fought animals, experts have said.Teeth imprints from a large cat were found on the pelvis of a man buried in a cemetery believed to contain the remains of gladiators. Images of gladiators being mauled by lions have been featured on mosaics and pottery, but this is the first time skeletal evidence of the fighting has […]

Police have launched a manhunt after a convicted murderer absconded from prison.Raymond McCourt, 59, was reported missing to police around 5.30pm on Tuesday after he absconded from HMP Castle Huntly in Dundee, Police Scotland said. The public has been warned not to approach him. Image: The outfit McCourt was last seen wearing. Pic: Police Scotland McCourt was jailed for life in 1993 for the murder of shopkeeper Khalid Mahmood and […]

A deal to resolve the Birmingham bin strike could be "in touching distance", the Unite union has announced. The action by members of Unite, which began on 11 March as part of a dispute over pay, has seen thousands of tonnes of rubbish go uncollected and warnings of a public health emergency in the city. Talks to end the strike are to involve the conciliation service Acas for the first […]