Scotland police have seized drugs worth nearly £14 million in the lead-up to Christmas, describing it as a record-breaking week for drug recoveries nationwide. The largest single haul was made on 11 December in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, where officers recovered more than £8 million worth of cocaine during a targeted raid. A day later, police uncovered ecstasy, amphetamine and mephedrone valued at over £3.5 million in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. Additional operations…

British heavyweight Anthony Joshua stopped YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their controversial heavyweight bout, but the long-anticipated mismatch left the boxing world questioning both the spectacle and the safety of the contest. Joshua, a two-time world champion, was expected to make short work of the novice. Instead, he endured a frustrating night as Paul circled and refused to engage, making it embarrassing that Joshua could not find…

The Society of Editors has criticised plans by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government to reduce daily media briefings at No 10, warning the move could weaken transparency and democratic accountability. The organisation, which represents major news outlets, said regular and robust questioning of government was essential to a healthy democracy. Its concerns follow the announcement by Downing Street’s director of communications, Tim Allan, that the traditional twice-daily lobby briefings…

The Vatican has announced the appointment of Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster, making him the leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has stepped down at the age of 80 after serving in the role since 2009. Archbishop Moth has spent the past decade as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, having earlier served as Bishop of the Forces.…

A convicted Lithuanian national was permitted to remain in the UK after an immigration tribunal ruled that it was in the best interests of his teenage daughter for him to stay and attempt to rebuild their relationship, despite his violent criminal record. Arturas Pielikys, who has lived in Britain for 15 years, had faced deportation after being jailed for almost two years for a series of assault offences. The Home…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to set out the next stage of his government’s plans shortly after May’s major elections, with the King’s Speech scheduled for mid-May. The speech has been pencilled in for 12 or 13 May, according to BBC reports, just days after voters go to the polls on 7 May. Those elections include contests for the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, thousands of council seats…

Welsh ministers are being humiliated by the UK government’s approach to devolution, a Labour Member of the Senedd claimed. Alun Davies criticised Westminster’s handling of funding and disputes over devolved powers, saying Wales was being treated unfairly. His comments highlight growing tensions within Labour between the UK government and the Welsh administration over where authority should lie in devolved areas. The row centres on the UK government’s Pride in Place…

A male teenager aged 15-year-old has been charged to court with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare, England. According to Somerset police, the victim, Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at an address in North Somerset town. The boy was arrested in nearby Worle a short time after the girl was found in Lime Close. At a brief hearing, the boy only spoke to confirm his…

Conciliation service Acas has offered to help resolve the deadlock in the ongoing resident doctors’ strike in England. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service said it is willing to become involved in efforts to find a settlement to the long-running dispute, as resident doctors take industrial action for the 14th time in protest over pay and employment conditions. The offer follows recent calls by NHS leaders and the Patients Association…

Children as young as 11 who exhibit misogynistic behaviour will be taught to differentiate between pornography and real-life relationships under a new initiative aimed at tackling misogyny in schools across England, according to The Guardian. The programme, which forms part of a broader government strategy, will empower teachers to refer pupils considered at risk of harmful behaviour to specialist behavioural courses, while also equipping educators with training to intervene when…

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Roman Abramovich to release £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea Football Club for victims of the war in Ukraine or face legal action by the UK government. Addressing MPs, the Prime Minister said the sanctioned Russian billionaire must “pay up now”, as the government issued a formal licence intended to enable the long-promised funds to be released. The warning marks the strongest attempt yet by…

Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting criticism after official figures revealed that more than £60,000 of public money was spent on a private jet trip for him to attend the Women’s European Championship final in Switzerland. The Prime Minister travelled from London to Zurich in July aboard the Government’s Airbus A321 rather than using a commercial airline, enabling him to arrive in time for England’s clash with Spain in the…