The High Court is to hear a legal challenge to the government’s emergency surveillance law brought by two MPs. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act was fast-tracked through Parliament in three days last July. It allows Britain’s intelligence agencies to gather people’s phone and internet communications data. But former Conservative minister David Davis and […]
Rescuers have pulled dozens of bodies from a capsized cruise ship in China’s Yangtze River, as authorities promised “no cover-up” over the disaster Hundreds of people are thought to have died, with only 14 of the 456 passengers known to have survived. Rescue workers cut open the hull of the upturned vessel but divers have […]
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been cleared of perjury after the case against him collapsed. Judge Lord Burns ruled the 47-year-old had no case to answer midway through a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, Mr Coulson, who is also the prime minister’s former head of communications, had denied committing […]
Alton Towers has been closed while an investigation continues into a “dreadful” rollercoaster accident that left four people with serious injuries. Two carriages crashed on the Smiler ride at the Staffordshire theme park on Tuesday, leaving some passengers trapped for four-and-a-half hours. Two men, aged 27 and 18, a woman aged 19 and a girl, […]
Fifa president Sepp Blatter is being investigated by US officials as part of their inquiry into corruption at the world football body, US media say. The news came hours after Mr Blatter, 79, announced that he was stepping down from his role. US prosecutors launched a criminal inquiry last week, with seven Fifa officials arrested […]
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned of a “strong backlash” if Scotland were to be taken out of the EU by an UK-wide referendum. The SNP leader will use a speech in Brussels to say a vote to take the UK out of the European Union could cause a “groundswell of anger” in Scotland. […]
Baby Ashes Report Calls for Inspector από wochit A national inspector should be created for crematoriums after bereaved parents were unable to receive their babies’ ashes, an inquiry has concluded. About 60 families are believed to have been affected by failures at Shrewsbury’s Emstrey crematorium between 1996 and 2012. The Shropshire Council-commissioned report said poor […]
A graphic mobile phone video obtained by the BBC appears to show militants from Islamic State (IS) torturing a 14-year-old Syrian boy. The footage, filmed by a defector from the jihadist group, shows the boy being beaten while he hangs by his wrists. The UN has accused IS and other armed groups in Syria and […]
Welfare reforms are making people live in “constant fear” of cuts to their benefits, according to a report. The study by Napier University found those on benefits were anxious that changes to their circumstances would push them into “crisis situations”. Scottish Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil urged the UK government to rethink its reforms. But […]
A Royal Marine trainee has collapsed and died on a exercise on Dartmoor. The man, who has not been named, was based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, and was taking part in a 30-mile (48km) march. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the cause of death was unknown. He said: […]