National News

Gross domestic product increased by 0.2% for the month, after a 0.3% fall in March The UK economy bounced back in April after it was boosted by stronger consumer spending in shopping and hospitality. UK gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.2% for the month after a 0.3% fall in March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed. The latest figure was in line with forecasts for the month from

The BBC has released a first look at Jodie Whittaker, Tamara Lawrance and Bella Ramsey in the upcoming second series of the prison drama Time – this time looking at the lives of women behind bars. The Last Of Us star Ramsey, 19, is pictured with her hair in a bun and arms crossed as she leans against a metal fence next to co-stars Lawrance, 29, and Whittaker, 40. The

Nicola Sturgeon is Europe’s “most impressive” politician, her successor Humza Yousaf has insisted – though he conceded her arrest as part of an police investigation into SNP finances was a “difficult time” for the party. Police Scotland had confirmed on Sunday that Ms Sturgeon, who was Scotland’s longest serving first minister when she she stepped down from the job in March, had been arrested as part of Operation Branchform. She

Police are keeping an open mind over the motive for a knife and van attack in Nottingham that left three people dead. A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a deadly rampage in the city on Tuesday and detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the violence. Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Kate Meynell said the force is working with counter-terrorism investigators to establish

Space-based solar power could help tackle climate change, Grant Shapps said as he promised £4.3 million for research projects. The Energy Security Secretary said collecting solar power in space and beaming it wirelessly to Earth could generate round-the-clock electricity in all weathers. Speaking at London Tech Week, he said: “With the climate clock ticking, innovation has never been so important. “Half of the emissions reductions required to reach net zero by 2050 will have

Liverpool full-back Calvin Ramsay has agreed to join Preston on loan for the 2023-24 season, the Premier League club have confirmed. The 19-year-old managed just 93 minutes of football – across two matches in the Carabao Cup and Champions League in November – due to a back problem and then a knee injury which prematurely ended his maiden campaign. Ramsay underwent surgery in February and is in need of regular

A mother has been found guilty of the manslaughter of her nine-year-old son, who had 50 injuries all over his body and was found submerged in a bath, while her partner has been found guilty of his murder. Prosecutors said that Alfie Steele was repeatedly assaulted, beaten and put in a cold bath as part of a cruel and “sinister” regime of correction by Carla Scott and Dirk Howell in

Bereaved families holding pictures of their loved ones lined up outside the UK Covid-19 Inquiry building as the major probe into the handling of the pandemic officially began its public hearings. Members of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) campaign group travelled to the London site to express frustration at feeling “excluded from sharing key evidence” with the inquiry. The group has previously stated that it feels marginalised, criticising

Matt Fitzpatrick admits to being as confused as anyone about the direction golf is heading but insists it will not affect his thinking when he begins the defence of his US Open title on Thursday. The dust is still settling a week on from the shock announcement of the commercial merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF (Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund), which has been the backer of the