National News

The Duchess of Edinburgh has said she is “deeply saddened” by the death of a woman who was hit by a motorcycle that was part of her police escort. Helen Holland, 81, was struck at the junction of West Cromwell Road and Warwick Road in Earl’s Court, west London, on the afternoon of May 10. In comments carried by the BBC, Ms Holland’s son Martin said she died after sustaining

Scientists have uncovered how a rare genetic mutation in a woman allows her to live her life almost pain-free and never feel anxious or afraid. Experts from University College London (UCL) have found how mutations in the FAAH-OUT gene work at the molecular level enabling Jo Cameron, from Scotland, to not experience pain. The same biological mechanisms are also believed to allow wounds to heal more rapidly. The researchers said

Riders for Deliveroo are set to confront bosses at the takeaway delivery specialist over pay and “insecure jobs” at the firm. Campaigners at ShareAction and IWGB (Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain) have coordinated for riders to challenge Deliveroo’s board at its annual general meeting on Wednesday. Riders have said they want to raise concerns over their pay levels and worries related to their “independent worker” status. It comes a month after the IWGB

London Underground workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of extending their mandate to continue taking strike action in a long-running dispute over jobs, pensions and conditions. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) voted by 96% to continue taking action for the next six months. Unions have to re-ballot their members every six months for industrial action to continue. The turnout was 56.5%. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch

Bryan Adams said he wrote an anti-war song in response to the “lack of peace talks” amid worldwide conflicts. The Canadian singer, known for hits such as Run To You and Summer Of ’69, has released the track What If There Were No Sides At All, which he co-wrote with collaborator Gretchen Peters. The music video, co-directed by the music star, sees the 63-year-old holding a white flag emblazoned with

A child killer who murdered a seven-year-old girl in 1992 has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 29 years. Sex offender David Boyd, 55, had a “sinister purpose” when he lured seven-year-old Nikki Allan to a derelict warehouse in Sunderland’s East End in October 1992, prosecutors said. Boyd was convicted of murder earlier this month after jurors heard he battered her with a brick and stabbed her

LaLiga will request greater jurisdiction to punish clubs whose fans are guilty of racist abuse after feeling “powerless” at the lack of current sanctions in the wake of the latest Vinicius Junior incident. The Spanish league is engulfed in a racism scandal after Real Madrid forward Vinicius was allegedly subjected to racist chants during Sunday’s game at Valencia and later claimed it was an example of “continuous episodes spread across

Disgraced entertainer and convicted sex offender Rolf Harris has died aged 93, a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall has confirmed to the PA news agency. The Australian-born TV presenter was a family favourite for decades before being convicted of a string of indecent assaults in June 2014. These included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter’s

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it is not expecting the UK to enter a recession this year. In an update to recent forecasts, it said: “Buoyed by resilient demand in the context of declining energy prices, the UK economy is expected to avoid a recession and maintain positive growth in 2023.” But it said the outlook for growth remains “subdued”, forecasting growth of 0.4% this year. In April, it