Day: January 1, 2026

London braced for snow and ice as Met Office issues ‘risk to life’ weather warning

In parts of Scotland, weather alerts have been upgraded from yellow to amber, while yellow alerts are in place elsewhere as people expect a wintery start to the New Year. Up to 40cm of snow is forecast for parts of Scotland, with high winds likely to bring temporary blizzard conditions, raising the risk of travel […]

Man charged on suspicion of trespassing twice on Kensington Palace grounds

The royal residence is in west London (Alamy/PA) A man twice got into the grounds of Kensington Palace in the days before Christmas, police have said. Derek Egan, 39, has been charged with allegedly trespassing on a protected site on December 21 and December 23, the Metropolitan Police said. Egan, of Hillingdon, has also been […]

King ‘greatly saddened’ by Swiss bar fire tragedy

The King has said he is “greatly saddened” by a fire at a Swiss ski resort which killed around 40 people at a new year party. Charles said it was “utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy”. About 115 people were injured, most of […]

Crans-Montana fire latest: Around 40 people killed and 115 injured in New Year fire at Swiss bar, police say

King ‘greatly saddened’ by fire at Swiss ski resort King Charles said it was “utterly heartbreaking that a night of celebration for young people and families instead turned to such nightmarish tragedy”. Around 40 people have been killed and 115 injured, many seriously, in the blaze. In a statement released on Thursday evening, the King […]

Hundreds tricked into attending fake New Year’s Eve fireworks display

West Midlands police said misinformation incidents such as the one on New Year’s Eve could create “real safety issues in the city”, and that when “large crowds gather for an event that doesn’t exist, it puts pressure on public transport, emergency services, and can lead to congestion in the city centre”.

Elaine Short obituary

My friend Elaine Short, who has died aged 89, was an artist, potter, teacher and Francophile. She was also a skilled and talented weaver. When I met her in the 1990s she showed me some of her beautiful tapestries, many of them inspired by the Sussex countryside. Her work was exhibited in galleries including Hastings […]

BBC viewers ‘obsessed’ with homage to pop culture phenomenon in New Year’s Eve fireworks

Charlotte Minter Published January 1, 2026 11:43am Updated January 1, 2026 11:44am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The fireworks display in London on New Year’s Eve is always iconic, and this year was no exception. An incredible spectacle was cast over the […]

New Year’s Eve: from Sydney to London, how the world ushered in 2026 – video

Man charged with murder after ‘car driven at pedestrians’ in London

Sam Corbishley Published January 1, 2026 7:39am Updated January 1, 2026 7:39am A man has been charged with murder after a car hit pedestrians in north-west London. Shakaine Dwyer, 29, is accused of killing Ruben Nunes, 34, from Peterborough, the Metropolitan Police said on New Year’s Eve. Dwyer, of Willesden, was originally charged with causing […]