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Scotland's finance secretary has unveiled the nation's draft budget for the coming year - with plans to scrap Westminster's two-child benefit cap and a record investment in the NHS.Shona Robison set out the Scottish government's tax and spending proposals for 2025-26 in a speech at Holyrood. The MSP previously said the budget will put "the people of Scotland first".Ms Robison told the chamber on Wednesday: "This budget invests in public services, lifts children out of poverty, acts in the face…

British investigators have smashed two Russian money-laundering networks that were helping criminal gangs hide billions of pounds in drugs, ransomware and espionage operations.The international investigation headed by the National Crime Agency has led to 84 arrests and the seizure of more than £20m in cash and cryptocurrency. The NCA said the Smart network was used to fund Russian spying operations from late 2022 to the summer of 2023, but would not discuss details."Over several years Operation Destabilise involved the Metropolitan…

One of Britain's biggest parcel carriers has been hit by a capacity crisis at the start of the crunch festive trading period, forcing it to urge key customers to divert business to rival delivery firms.Sky News has learnt that Yodel, which was due to recruit thousands of seasonal workers to help it deal with a surge in volumes from Black Friday until Christmas, has told clients including New Look, Gousto and eBay that it has been affected by a series…

A man arrested on suspicion of rape at London's Groucho Club, a celebrity haunt, has been released on bail.The 34-year-old was arrested on Saturday at an address in Hertfordshire, the Metropolitan Police said.He has now been released on bail until a date in late February.The private members' club in Soho had its license suspended by Westminster City Council last week after a request by the Met Police. "This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at…

MasterChef presenter John Torode has said he has found the recent reports about co-host Gregg Wallace "truly upsetting".In his first comments since the allegations surfaced, Torode said he would continue to be part of the BBC programme, adding: "The thought of anyone who has appeared on our show not having a brilliant experience is awful to hear." Wallace is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour from more than a dozen people across a range of shows over a 17-year period. His…

A dog owner whose pet was filmed chasing and fatally attacking a deer in Richmond Park is being sought by police.The dog, which appears to be a spaniel-type breed, was seen chasing a deer through the trees and across the road in footage posted by the Met Police on X. "We would like to speak to the dog owner in relation to a fatal attack on a deer in Richmond Park yesterday at about 12:30pm near to Sheen Cross," the…

Cases of winter flu are "rising rapidly" - with England's health boss urging those eligible to get vaccinated.Cases are highest among those aged five to 14, with 16.9% of tests positive for flu - up from 11.5% last week. Sharing the data on X, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: "Influenza is now rising rapidly. Antiviral flu medicines can now be used in primary care.""If you are eligible please get vaccinated."The number of cases is in line with…

The entire British Army would be destroyed in "six months to a year" in a major war – underlining the importance of rebuilding the UK's reserve forces, a defence minister has said.Al Carns, the veterans minister, who is also a reservist, said the casualty rate suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine - killed and injured - is around 1,500 soldiers a day. He said this ability to absorb such losses and keep fighting is part of Russia's plan and is…

Weather warnings have been issued across the UK for strong winds of up to 80mph and heavy rain over the next few days.A Met Office yellow warning for gusty conditions - 65-75mph in places - begins from 4pm today in north and northwest Scotland until Thursday morning. That is followed by another warning for strong and gusty winds on Thursday and Friday covering a band across the UK from Northern Ireland, extending across parts of Scotland, north Wales, northern England,…

Journalists at The Guardian and The Observer have launched a 48-hour strike in protest at the proposed sale of the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.The strike is the first by members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the newspapers in more than 50 years. The action on Wednesday and Thursday is in protest against the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, a start-up founded five years ago by former Times editor James Harding.The union said the strike…