Alfie Franco, 20, has been jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years for murdering 16-year-old Syrian refugee Ahmad Al Ibrahim in Huddersfield. Franco stabbed Ahmad in the neck after the teen brushed past his girlfriend. The judge dismissed Franco’s claim of self-defence as “a lie,” saying CCTV showed him calmly preparing the attack. Ahmad, who fled war-torn Homs dreaming of becoming a doctor, had lived in the UK for only weeks.

New Home Office figures show religious hate crimes across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, with thousands of people targeted because of their faith. The rise comes after last year’s Southport tragedy, which sparked violent unrest across more than 30 towns and cities. Communities say the atmosphere has changed, with many now too afraid to walk the streets. Despite the fear, many are still holding onto hope and calling for people to remember the kindness that once brought them together.

More than 30 years after Stephen Lawrence’s murder, one of his killers, David Norris, is begging for forgiveness but still won’t reveal who actually stabbed him. Stephen’s family say his apology means nothing without the truth.

Sir Lenny Henry has urged the UK government to pay reparations to all Black British people for the nation’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. In his new book, The Big Payback, the comedian and actor argues that Britain owes £18 trillion in compensatory payments. “All Black British people… need reparations for slavery,” Henry writes, adding, “we personally deserve money for the effects of slavery.”

Football figure Cristiano Ronaldo has smashed records once again, this time becoming the first player to achieve billionaire status with a reported net worth of £1.04 billion. This hefty figure includes his earnings throughout his 23 year long career, brand deals and sponsorships. The star has been partnered with Nike for over a decade, reportedly earning £13 million a year.

In a shocking case of deceit, a mother fabricated a cancer diagnosis to manipulate her boyfriend into funding cosmetic surgery and lavish holidays worth £30,000. Pretending to battle multiple cancers, she staged hospital visits, falsified treatment photos, and even convinced her own daughter she was dying. Her elaborate web of lies eventually unraveled, leading to a court order demanding she repay the money.