43 minutes ago Strictly Come Dancing exit 'sealed' as Paul Merson dealt crushing blow ahead of live show

Paul Merson has been dealt a devastating blow just hours before Strictly Come Dancing goes live, with the former footballer and his professional partner Karen Hauer in the firing line

Politics

73 minutes ago Scotland's 'dental deserts' reveal folly of SNP obsession with universal benefits

Maintaining universal benefits – giving taxpayers’ money to people who don’t need it – makes no sense when frontline services like NHS dentistry are effectively non-existent in parts of the country

Politics

73 minutes ago British escaper’s stolen Napoleonic uniform and journal go on display in London

PoW Charles Hare, 19, escaped in rare uniform with tall feathered hat and travelled back to Lincolnshire – accompanied by his dogA handwritten manuscript detailing the daring escape of a British prisoner of Napoleon’s troops – with the flamboyant French uniform in which he disguised himself as he fled – have gone on display at the National Maritime Museum in London after being carefully preserved for more than two centuries by the prisoner’s descendants.The “rare and very special” uniform, including its tall and exuberantly feathered hat, was worn in August 1809 by the 19-year-old naval midshipman Charles Hare as he escaped a military prison in what is now western Germany and travelled by coach, river boat, ship and on foot back to his home in Lincolnshire, accompanied by his pet dog. C...

Politics

73 minutes ago Escape To The Country's Ginny Buckley's fans all say the same thing as she poses with teen son

Escape To The Country presenter Ginny Buckley is one of the most recognisable faces on daytime TV - and it seems she's passed her looks on to her teenage son, Zak.

Politics

73 minutes ago Escape To The Country fans all say the same thing as Ginny Buckley poses with teen son

Escape To The Country Fans have all been left shocked by the uncanny resemblance between presenter Ginny Buckley and her son Zak, noting how the teen is a 'mini-me' of the star

Politics

80 minutes ago UK Foreign Secretary Lammy says engagement with China is necessary at start of 2

Britain’s foreign secretary has called engagement with China “pragmatic and necessary” as he makes the first visit to the country by a Cabinet member from the Labor government that took control in July

Politics

98 minutes ago Village scientist set to lead new £1.5million study that could improve treatment for cancer patients

A Balfron scientist is at the forefront of a £1.5million study which he hopes could lead to better and kinder treatments for bowel cancer.

Science

1 hour ago Victoria at risk of tornadoes as storms and giant hail forecast to lash Australia’s south

Bureau of Meteorology expects cold front to bring damaging weather and dangerous wind gusts across Victoria, NSW and Tasmania on FridayFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSevere thunderstorms with “giant hail” the size of golf balls, wild winds and heavy rainfall are lashing Australia’s south-east as a cold front tracks across the nation, bringing the risk of tornadoes to parts of Victoria.A senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Angus Hines, said the focus of the thunderstorm outbreak on Friday afternoon was turning to the south-eastern states of New South Wales, and parts of Tasmania and Victoria.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago UK drivers face £2,500 fines for common indicator defect that violates Highway Code

Motorists across the country are being advised to recognise the signs of a common car defect which could see them hit with a hefty £2,500 fine if left uncorrected

Economics

2 hours ago Biden leads international push for Gaza ceasefire after killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

US president joins western leaders in urging Israeli PM to seek an end to conflict, as Tehran suggests killing of Yahya Sinwar will inspire future generations, and Hezbollah vows to escalate confrontationMiddle East crisis: live updatesJoe Biden has urged Israel’s prime minister to “move on” and make progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza following the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and mastermind of the 7 October attack, as world leaders renewed a push for an end to the conflict.Hours after the killing on Thursday in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost town, the US president congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Sinwar “has a lot of blood on his hands — American blood, Israeli blood, and others”. Continue reading...

Events