UK

The government has "no choice" but to cut winter fuel payments for the majority of pensioners, a minister has said ahead of MPs voting on the controversial plan.

The Afghan embassy in London is set to close after the Taliban sacked all staff based there.

A public inquiry into why so many mental health patients have died in Essex has been told "we may never have a definitive number of deaths".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has made a last-ditch attempt to convince her MPs it is the right decision to cut winter fuel payments for the majority of pensioners.

The crimes of Lucy Letby are unprecedented in modern British history.

Prisoners set to be released early tomorrow have been trawled through in an attempt to not let domestic abusers go, the policing minister has said.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are back with their daily guide to the day ahead in politics in under 20 minutes.

Noel Gallagher has said he is "thrilled and honoured" to have his portrait added to the National Portrait Gallery - despite being a "grumpy middle-aged man, who hates having his picture taken".

Firebrand union leader Sharon Graham has told Sky News that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is guilty of "picking the pockets of pensioners" by cutting winter fuel payments.