60 minutes ago Avoid these DIY 'mistakes' in 2025 as experts urge homeowners to 'steer clear'

Be better prepared for any new year renovations to your property with these handy bits of advice from some of the country's interior design experts

Politics

5 hours ago Parental mental health biggest cause of child protection referrals in England

Public service cuts and ‘stark impact of poverty’ are causing worse outcomes for children, according to surveyPoor parental mental health has overtaken domestic violence as the most commonly reported factor in social worker assessments into whether a child is at risk of serious harm or neglect, according to new research.Growing rates of mental illness – in both parents and children – were an increasingly important driver of child safeguarding interventions in England, the latest comprehensive survey of children’s social care pressures found.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Society

4 hours ago Shona Robison suggests Scottish child payment may have reached peak to incentivise work

Shona Robison has suggested further increases to the Scottish child payment could put off people seeking work.

Economics

20 hours ago Boulter seals British history at Australian Open with six players into round two

British No 1 held her nerve to beat Marino in tight tieNorrie out after illness-affected preparation for slamSix British players have won their first-round matches at the Australian Open for the first time in history after Katie Boulter held her nerve in the tense final stages of a difficult contest against Rebecca Marino of Canada to reach the second round with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win.“It’s awesome to have some positivity coming out around British tennis,” said Boulter. “It’s been coming for a long time. It’s just the beginning. I really think these girls and guys have been working so hard, and everyone deserves a bit of credit. Obviously it’s a great start for everyone, and let’s hope we can keep that going.” Continue reading...

Sport

56 minutes ago Strictly star Tasha Ghouri's dating profile revealed as she 'joins celebrity app Raya' after shock 'split' from Andrew Le Page

The blonde beauty, 26, has reportedly been spotted on celebrity dating app Raya as she prepares to head on the Strictly live tour with partner Aljaž Škorjanec.

Events

15 hours ago Holly Willoughby's new Netflix show Bear Hunt 'rocked by celeb feud so bad producers call emergency meeting to save series'

Holly Willoughby , 43, will be swapping her glamorous red carpet ensembles for a pair of camouflage hot pants and hiking boots as she prepares to host the show in Costa Rica.

Culture

46 minutes ago Energy trading technologies: increasing efficiency and resilience in European energy

THE ARTICLES ON THESE PAGES ARE PRODUCED BY BUSINESS REPORTER, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS

Science

3 hours ago Arsenal and Tottenham prepare to renew bitter rivalry but face the same big problem

Compromises in the transfer market and unrealistic ambition has left Mikel Arteta and Ange Postecoglou in similar positions despite being on different sides of the north London divide

Politics

21 hours ago New renting law now 'one step closer' that will end bidding wars and 'unreasonable' rent increases

The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to be the 'biggest shake up' to the private rented sector in more than 30 years

Society

4 hours ago ‘Cost of dying’ in UK hits record level as bereaved turn to crowdfunding to meet bills

Latest SunLife study shows average total funeral cost at £9,797 with many selling off possessions to help payThe “cost of dying” has hit a record high, prompting growing numbers of grieving UK families to turn to crowdfunding or sell possessions to help pay for a funeral, according to a report.The average cost of a basic funeral has increased by 3.5% in a year to hit an “all-time high” of £4,285, according to the insurer SunLife, which has been monitoring UK funeral costs for two decades. Continue reading...

Economics

70 minutes ago Fire tornadoes: Firefighters in California face a rare and dangerous phenomenon

High winds and severely dry conditions have created a ‘particularly dangerous situation’

Events

18 hours ago Joe Swash 'wants to be more involved' ahead of major TV show with Stacey Solomon

Joe Swash, who is married to Stacey Solomon, allegedly wants to be "more involved" with his family and is aware that they will be under increased scrutiny once their reality TV show is broadcast

Culture

10 hours ago Reframing obesity may end the diagnosis debate, but the health challenges remain

Assessment of the condition could face overhaul, but governments, companies and communities still have work to doCall to overhaul obesity diagnoses amid fears of over-reliance on BMIObesity is one of the world’s biggest health challenges, causing a mass of shorter, unhappier lives and a mounting burden on already overstretched healthcare systems.There is no doubt that more people than ever before are living with excess body fat, and there is no doubt about the dangers of doing so. Obesity has the ability to harm every single organ in the body, and increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental illness. Continue reading...

Science

3 hours ago In the new Trumpian era, liberal democracies must hold their noses – and engage with difficult partners | Timothy Garton Ash

New polling says much of the world will welcome Trump. Europe will need to be more transactional abroad – but less so at homeEuropean jitters about Trump 2.0 not shared by much of world, poll findsWhen returning US president Donald Trump eyes up Greenland, Panama and Canada, as Vladimir Putin once eyed Crimea and Xi Jinping eyes Taiwan, he is both symptom and cause of a new world disorder. Trumpism is just one variant of transactionalism, which is the leitmotif of this new disorder. Liberal democracies, especially those in Europe, need to wake up and smell the gunpowder.Russia and China are now revisionist great powers, which aim to change or overthrow the existing order, while middle powers like Turkey, Brazil and South Africa are happy to play with all sides. This is also a world of wars – in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan. Most Europeans carry on pretty much as if we still lived in late 20th-century peacetime, but the world around us increasingly resembles the late 19th-centu...

Politics

6 hours ago Councils spending £2 billion a year to send pupils with special needs to private schools, report reveals

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found spending has increased by 46 per cent in just four years, highlighting the state's 'reliance' on private schools.

Economics

2 hours ago LA fires latest: Residents warned to ‘stay on guard’ amid wind gusts as LAPD bust arson and looting suspects

Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage through southern California as the death toll reaches 25

Events

4 hours ago Raducanu ‘more comfortable’ with herself now that she’s not fixated on results

Briton showed grit in Australian Open first-round victoryAnisimova ‘incredibly dangerous’ rival in next roundEmma Raducanu says she has become more comfortable in her skin and learned how to enjoy her career journey rather than fixating on results as she prepares to face her friend Amanda Anisimova for a place in the third round of the Australian Open.“I think I’m a lot more comfortable with myself, which helps,” said Raducanu. “I feel like I’m not necessarily trying to prove anything. I’m just doing it for myself. I feel like now I’ve come to the realisation that I just enjoy the process of what I’m doing. Continue reading...

Politics

10 hours ago Investors urged to back climate adaption and resilience as roadmap unveiled

Experts urge investors to prepare for a hotter world as US firms increasingly turn away from environmental, social and governance initiatives.

Economics

4 hours ago How to shockproof the UK economy’s exposure to global risks | Mohamed El

As with US bond yields, the UK economy risks catching cold whenever anywhere else sneezes – but Britain can insulate itself betterThe British government was right to describe the recent bout of market volatility in the UK as having been fuelled principally by “global factors” – in particular, a sharp rise in US bond yields. It was also right in touting how well UK markets have coped with the turmoil. But no one should downplay the additional challenges the UK economy will confront in the months ahead, the structural weaknesses that are compounding its vulnerability, or the policy action that is urgently needed.The recent surge in US yields has three main causes: a string of data releases indicating that actual and potential economic growth are outpacing consensus estimates, higher-than-projected inflation (with a meaningful rise in consumers’ inflation expectations), and increased market sensitivity to the bond issuance that comes with large deficits and debt. Given that advanced ec...

Events

4 hours ago 'I'm a careers expert – four lies you should always tell to succeed in a job interview'

A careers expert has shared the things she would recommend everyone lies about when they're going for a job interview – as it might actually increase your chance of success

Politics

15 hours ago MSPs to receive another pay rise as wages climb to over £74,000 a year

The 3.2% increase, which amounts to more than £2,000, was announced by the Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer in a letter to the Finance Committee.

Economics

8 hours ago As Pep Guardiola prepares to divorce his wife of 30 years Cristina Serra

Guardiola and Serra are said to be keen for relations to remain 'friendly and cordial', but with the possibility of a looming divorce, maintaining that atmosphere could prove challenging.

Politics

18 hours ago Reeves rejects claims economic turbulence is a ‘crisis made in Downing Street’ but admits need to ‘go faster’

The chancellor faced a grilling from MPs in the Commons after the cost of government borrowing increased and the value of the pound fell, putting her plans for the nation’s finances at risk

Economics

5 hours ago LA fire death toll rises to 25 with another 84,800 placed on evacuation alert as dire new warning is issued for smoldering city

Authorities warned anybody in the vicinity of the blazes to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice, amid concerns that increasing winds will whip up new fires.

Events

9 hours ago I bought a mobile phone from Sky but wasn't prepared for what arrived in the post

EXCLUSIVE: Anya Carroll, 31, from Cornwall, was left dumbfounded after ordering a new iPhone 16 from a high street retailer only to receive a package with something very different inside.

Politics

20 hours ago Gustav Isaksen requires Celtic 'sweet talking' as Lazio slam fast forward on transfer exit with £6.7m manoeuvre

The winger looks to be rapidly dropping out of the Lazio plans as Celtic watch on

Economics

7 hours ago Death toll rises to 25 amid new Los Angeles warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders – as it happened

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mph. This blog is now closedPrivate firefighting crews prompt furious public debateTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling...

Events

10 hours ago How much the average house seller made last year compared to when they bought

On average, sellers had owned their home for just under nine years

Politics

22 hours ago Tips to increase your pension pot as survey shows many are unsure how to boost it

Nearly three in 10 do not know the process to increase their pension contributions and a quarter are unsure, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association

Economics

8 hours ago LA fires updates: death toll rises to 25 amid new wildfire warnings and thousands still under evacuation orders

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mphPrivate firefighting crews prompt furious public debateTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling winds, ashen air and the...

Events

11 hours ago Mikel Arteta discloses Jack Wilshere's key role in Arsenal's approach to North London Derby

Jack Wilshere played a key role in forming Mikel Arteta's attitude to North London derbies, one which he has now passed to his players as they prepare to face Tottenham on Wednesday

Politics

22 hours ago Half of workers ‘have never considered increasing current pension contributions’

Just under half of people said they know the process to change their pension contributions with their current employer.

Economics

9 hours ago Joan Rivers' daughter Melissa says parents' tragic deaths prepared her before she lost her home in LA fires

Melissa Rivers is opening up about coping with the tragic loss of her family's home in the ongoing LA fires.

Events

14 hours ago Canada’s provincial leaders in disarray over response to Trump tariff threats

Responses range from conciliation to retaliation, including cutting off electricity and halting the purchase of US liquorCanada’s provincial premiers are sharply divided on how to prepare for US trade tariffs, less than a week before Donald Trump takes office with a threat to dramatically reshape the relationship between the two countries.Canadian officials have sought to defuse the crisis with personal appeals to the president-elect, multimillion-dollar advertising sprees and targeted threats, but the country remains gripped by uncertainty over how Trump’s tariffs might take effect. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that the incoming US administration is weighing hiking tariffs by 2%-5% a month to avoid spiking inflation. Continue reading...

Politics

24 hours ago Britain's care home crisis: Families are forced to spend £5,000 more a year in fees to looks after their loved ones thanks to Labour's tax raid budget

Leading care providers are increasingly concerned about high employment costs after the Chancellor's national insurance raid along with low fees paid by local authorities.

Economics

11 hours ago LA fires live: southern California residents brace for new wildfire warnings as nearly 90,000 people still under evacuation orders

Firefighters expect difficult and treacherous day as red flag warning forecasts winds of up to 75mphPrivate firefighting crews prompt furious public debateTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the terror caused by howling winds, ashen air and the...

Events

15 hours ago West Ham XI vs Fulham: Starting lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest for Premier League today

Hammers increasingly short of options in attack

Politics

26 hours ago New update on calls to increase State Pension payments and stop 'means

Thousands of people have signed an online petition supporting the proposals for higher State Pension payments.

Economics

11 hours ago Megyn Kelly rants about ‘obese lesbian’ firefighters tackling LA blazes: ‘We want a strong man to rescue us’

Conservative media personality took aim at the three women who hold leadership positions at the Los Angeles Fire Department

Events

17 hours ago California fires live: LA officials update public as winds pick up and state braces for ‘extremely critical fire conditions’

Firefighters expect a difficult and treacherous day amid dangerous winds as Red Flag weather warning is in place with winds of up to 70mph forecastLargest LA electricity firm sued over claims equipment started fires‘Convoy of incredible people’ saving animals from firesTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others require...

Politics

27 hours ago Borough seeks permission to increase council tax by massive 10% in bid to avoid bankruptcy

Newham town hall is blaming a £157 million budget gap caused by the spiralling cost of providing temporary accommodation for homeless residents

Economics

13 hours ago Britons will invest their money in places such as Greece and Cyprus instead of Spain, experts warn

Measures being proposed in Spain to ease pressures on its housing situation include tax increase of up to 100 per cent on properties bought by non-European Union residents.

Events

17 hours ago Child Benefit: 2025 rates, how much is it, as allowance payments to rise in April 2025 boost

The April 2025 benefit increase will provide a modest boost for UK families 🌟

Politics

33 hours ago LA fires forecast to be costliest blaze in US history with estimate of over $200bn in losses

Fires have killed at least 24, displaced thousands, destroyed over 12,000 structures as winds predicted until WednesdayFire crews are trying to get the upper hand on blazes that are tearing through Los Angeles before expected high wind gusts threaten their progress. The fires, which may become the most expensive in US history, have killed at least 24 people, displaced thousands, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and have 100,000 people under evacuation orders.Sustained winds of up to 40mph (64km/h) and gusts in the mountains reaching 65mph (105km/h) are predicted through Wednesday, forecasters said. Winds picked up on Monday and were expected to strengthen on Tuesday, fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns said. Continue reading...

Economics

13 hours ago LA fires live: officials warn winds still ‘tremendous threat’ as nearly 90,000 people remain under evacuation orders

Firefighters expect a difficult and treacherous day amid dangerous winds as Red Flag weather warning is in place with winds of up to 70mph forecastPrivate firefighting crews prompt furious public debate Tell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others required large trailers or a gentle hand to calmly coax them through the t...

Events

18 hours ago Joe Swash 'wants to be more involved' as he prepares to face 'scrutiny' with Stacey Solomon

Stacey and Joe are set to be propelled into the nation's living rooms later this year as the pair and their family appear in a reality TV series on the BBC

Politics

13 hours ago Martin Lewis issues warning over major broadband and mobile bill change coming this Friday

Martin Lewis explained how telecom firms are being banned by Ofcom from using mid-contract price rises that are linked to inflation - instead they'll have to outline any increases in cash values

Events

20 hours ago Reeves shrugs off calls for resignation as she promises UK growth plan

Chancellor has faced increasing criticism over her handling of the economy

Politics

14 hours ago Looters 'pose as firefighters' to steal from Hollywood stars' homes as award nicked

The burnt out homes belonging to some of Hollywood's elite, including Sir Anthony Hopkins and Paris Hilton, are now at risk of being rifled through by low-life looters dressed as firefighters

Events

21 hours ago Linlithgow MSP calls for support for families in Scottish Government’s Budget

Government official figures state 12,460 children in West Lothian benefit from the Scottish Child Payment, which this Scottish Budget will increase to £27.15 per child per week.

Politics

14 hours ago Private firefighting crews prompt furious public debate amid California wildfires

Private efforts to combat wildfires are not just for the superrich – many work for insurers seeking to minimize the policies they’d have to pay outCalifornia wildfires: live updatesWhen a wildfire started spreading through the Pacific Palisades last Tuesday morning, employees of Wildfire Defense Systems, which provides “loss intervention services” to insurance companies, were already nearby, Dave Torgerson, the company’s founder, said.Once they arrived at the scene, the private company’s workers stood back for a while, waiting for the government firefighters to complete the most urgent life-saving efforts. When they got clearance from public fire officials, they started their job, which focuses on protecting insured homes and businesses, Torgerson said. Continue reading...

Events

21 hours ago John Swinney’s 'panic' over the state of NHS in Scotland 'is no answer' says East Kilbride MP

The First Minister has taken an increasingly hands-on approach to the health brief and his Government’s response to Scotland’s crisis-hit NHS.

Politics

14 hours ago LA fires live updates: ‘Extremely critical conditions’ in California as 72 mph wind gusts slam city

Palisades and Eaton fires continue to rage through southern California as Santa Ana winds set to return

Events

22 hours ago From tomatoes to broad beans – the seeds to sow in January and February

Prepare now for a rich harvest later in the year

Politics

15 hours ago Foot and mouth risk level in Scotland increased following discovery of disease in Germany

Farmers and livestock keepers have been urged to be vigilant.

Events

22 hours ago Scottish Munro named among the most popular hiking spots in the UK for 2025

Searches for “best hike” have increased by 52% in the UK over the past month alone, according to the Nationwide Vehicle Contracts

Politics

15 hours ago LA braces for more fire evacuations as experts warn of new ‘dangerous weather situation’

Region faces ‘extreme fire risk’ warnings and ‘significant risk of rapid fire spread’ as official death toll expected to riseCalifornia wildfires: live updatesAs forecasters warn of another “particularly dangerous weather situation” across northern Los Angeles, residents braced for new wildfire evacuation orders, even as the official death toll from last week’s fires in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades was still expected to rise.Los Angeles, and parts of Ventura county to the north, faced “extreme fire risk” warnings through Wednesday, with officials warning of “significant risk of rapid fire spread” due to the Santa Ana winds – which have gusts of up to 75mph – and low humidity. The “particularly dangerous weather situation” designation is used very rarely, and was designed by meteorologists to signal “the extreme of the extremes”. Continue reading...

Events

23 hours ago Sixth form college teachers to vote on industrial action over 'unfair' pay offer

The NASUWT teaching union has launched a ballot for industrial action in a fight for a fair pay increase for sixth form college teachers for 2024/25

Politics

16 hours ago LA fires live: officials warn winds still ‘tremendous threat’ as California braces for ‘extremely critical fire conditions’

Firefighters expect a difficult and treacherous day amid dangerous winds as Red Flag weather warning is in place with winds of up to 70mph forecastLargest LA electricity firm sued over claims equipment started fires‘Convoy of incredible people’ saving animals from firesTell us about financial consequences you are facingCalifornia homeowners and business owners who lost everything in the devastating Los Angeles-area fires now have to tackle their insurance companies to recover the value of their homeowners’ policies – if they are lucky enough to have insurance at all.With estimates of the economic damage from the fires now reaching over $200bn, we’d like to hear what financial consequences people face due to the fires.In the rural enclaves tucked close to the canyons most prime to burn, scores of animals – horses, goats, pigs, chickens, and even emus among them – were in danger as the fast-moving fires swept closer. Some had been left behind during chaotic evacuations. Others require...

Events