UK

Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson have led tributes to “wonderful human” Australian chef Bill Granger, who has died at the age of 54. According to a statement from his family, the restaurateur, chef and food writer “died peacefully in hospital” in London on Christmas Day with his family by his bedside. Lawson, 63, said she

The UK is bracing itself for Storm Gerrit which is set to batter much of the country. Multiple yellow weather warnings for strong winds, heavy rain and periods of snow have been issued by the Met Office for 27 and 28 December. Wednesday is forecast to be the worst affected day, with strong winds due

As many begin to travel home after Christmas celebrations, the weather is set to remain unsettled, with a number of yellow weather warnings for ice, rain and wind in place from Boxing Day onwards. The Met Office says low pressure moving across the UK on the 26 December will bring breezy and wet conditions for

The King has used his second Christmas message to praise people’s “growing awareness of how we must protect our Earth”. The monarch described the natural world as a “manifestation of the divine” and said that caring for it is a “responsibility owned by people of all faiths and none”. “We care for the Earth for

Today (Sunday) has provisionally been recorded as the warmest Christmas Eve since 1997, according to the Met Office. The weather agency said temperatures reached 15.3C at Heathrow, west London. The warmest Christmas Eve on record was in 1931, when 15.5C was recorded in Aberdeen and Banff in Scotland. Meanwhile, Christmas Day is expected to be

Manchester United has confirmed the sale of a 25% stake to the British billionaire petrochemicals tycoon Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The sale is likely to be welcomed by United fans who believe the club has been starved of investment under the ownership of the Glazer family. Sky News’ city editor Mark Kleinman learned earlier today that

Flying debris and power cuts threaten to disrupt last-minute getaway plans as forecasters warn of strong winds on Christmas Eve. Millions are expected on the roads today, with the AA warning of “lengthy jams”, while some rail services will likely be delayed as London’s King’s Cross and Paddington stations shut for engineering works. No mainline

A woman charged with murdering her five-month-old daughter has appeared in court in Leeds. Hayley Macfarlane, 39, was charged with the murder of her daughter, Evelyn, following an incident at Woodhouse Moor Park on Wednesday 20 December. West Yorkshire Police were called to reports of a baby in a serious condition at the park at

“Last-minute getaway trips” could be disrupted due to wet and windy weather in the run-up to Christmas, the RAC has warned. A number of yellow weather warnings for rain and wind are coming into force from Saturday 23 December until Christmas Day morning, mainly affecting northern Scotland but stretching down to parts of the east

Sixteen-year-old Luke Littler is stealing the show at the World Darts Championship – and is now tipped as one of the favourites for the title. Nicknamed “The Nuke”, the teenager’s sensational performances have seen him storm into the third round and have won plaudits from his idol Phil “The Power” Taylor. Here’s everything you need

A criminal investigation has been launched into alleged child abduction in connection with Alex Batty – who reappeared this month after going missing six years ago. The investigation has been launched by Greater Manchester Police. Alex, now 17, has returned to the UK after spending years in France and Spain with his mother and grandfather.

FIFA and UEFA acted unlawfully in blocking the creation of the European Super League (ESL), the European Union’s top court has ruled. The court said both bodies were abusing their dominant position in the sport. But it added its ruling does not mean that a competition such as the Super League must necessarily be approved.

Two teenagers have been found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey in a “frenzied and ferocious” knife attack. The pair, known only as girl X and boy Y, were just 15 when Brianna was lured to Linear Park in Culcheth, near Warrington, and stabbed 28 times in her head, neck and back with a hunting

“Every time I go to the hospital, I collect one from the play lady,” Oliver says.  Oliver Chapman, 11, is softly spoken. And he is obviously quite shy. This explains why he does not make eye contact when he talks. He is talking about multicoloured beads and his small fingers are playing with a long

Christmas travel plans could be under threat as Storm Pia is set to bring winds of up to 80mph to parts of the UK. The Met Office has issued a weather warning for high winds for the northern half of the country on Thursday, bringing the potential for travel chaos in the run-up to Christmas.

Prince Andrew’s alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein could come under further scrutiny with the release of hundreds of files from a defamation case. They include 40 documents of evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who has claimed the Duke of York touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in

The long-awaited transgender guidance for schools in England has been published by the government. The main points from today’s developments include:• Schools and colleges to be told that parents should be involved in decisions affecting their children• Single-sex spaces must be protected for the safeguarding of all children• A sea change in approach on social

Alex Batty – the British teenager found in France after going missing for six years – has reportedly told journalists he is “glad to be home for Christmas”. He was 11 when he went on holiday with his mother Melanie Batty – who does not have legal parental guardianship – and his grandfather, David Batty,

A body found in the search for Gaynor Lord has been formally identified as the mother-of-three. The remains were recovered from the River Wensum on Friday, a week after Mrs Lord disappeared. The 55-year-old was last seen on CCTV walking along St Augustines Street in Norwich, at 4.01pm on Friday 8 December, having left work

In the corner of a cramped hotel room, there’s a small Christmas tree. Two stockings hang from the window ledges. There isn’t room for much more. Bunk beds and a double bed take up much of the space. The rest of the room is filled with the possessions of a family of four who have