A stray German Shepherd–Malinois puppy named Chief was taken to a rescue shelter and was assessed by Durham Police’s dog support unit; at 18 weeks he passed initial tests and is now with an experienced handler beginning training.
Scottish ministers have dismissed an appeal and rejected plans for a £40 million Flamingo Land resort on Lomond Banks. The government cited substantial concerns about flood risk and the extent and location of woodland loss and gain.
Thomas Morgan was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 19 years after being found guilty of murdering five-month-old Jensen-Lee Dougal, who suffered a catastrophic brain injury while in his care in March 2024.
Researchers at EPFL measured gases, particles and microbes from pet dogs in a controlled chamber and found large dogs at rest emit similar carbon dioxide and ammonia levels to adults while releasing two to four times more microorganisms during activity.
The government has added £25 million to Health and Growth Accelerator pilots in northern England to help people with health conditions stay in or return to work. The pilots combine NHS care and employment support in areas with high economic inactivity.
The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV will travel to Monaco, Spain and four African countries (Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea) in the first half of 2026, and will also begin a multi-stop tour of Italy in May.
A man, Thomas Morgan, has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend's five-month-old baby after an incident in March 2024; he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Reports say he must serve a minimum period — reported as 18 years and 136 days, reflecting time on remand — before he can apply for parole.
A UK bin collector on TikTok said labels can usually be left on jars and tins, but containers must be emptied and rinsed; national recycling bodies note local councils may set different rules.
The Treasury and Department for Education are reported to be discussing reversing the freeze on the repayment salary threshold and lowering Plan 2 interest rates after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch backed changes.
Last year, 254,500 babies were born in South Korea, a 6.8% increase and the largest annual rise since 2007, and the total fertility rate rose from 0.75 to 0.80. Demographers link the rebound to the 'echo boom' cohort and to changing childbearing behaviour among women in their 30s.
